What's a good starter car to learn on?

[zudo]

So I've finally started learning automotive by apprenticing with a mechanic friend. I'm picking up things here and there, and I also started reading out of a textbook. Recently though, I've been thinking about getting my own car (although we have a few to drive already) and I was wondering what's a good car to learn on. We've worked on a few toyota camry's, and I'm more comfortable with those (they seem to have a lot of room under the hood), but I was wondering if those can also be made to go fast (I wanna drive like the devil )

Anyway, I was wondering what kind of car is pretty good to mess around with, where the parts can be found for fairly cheap, and can be made to go fairly quick. (I'd prefer a manual although I haven't learned to drive one yet (I know how it's supposed to work...).

Thanks!

[MagicRat]

Personally, I really like working on GM vehicles, especially the front wheel drive cars. Their car designs (esp fwd chassis) are quite evolutionary; that is they are quite similar over the years. Look at the first GM X-cars from 1980 (Chevy Citation etc.) You can see how the basic design there was incorporated into later chassis and cars, and how new technology, such as EFI, ABS etc was added over the years. Therefore, GM tech will be familiar to you, so you can more easily work on a wide variety of GM models and years fairly quickly.

Also, there are so many GM vehicles out there that, IMO learning GM covers the largest quantity of cars you will encounter in the general repair field.
Also, GM cars often are pretty straightforward and demonstrate all the typical systems and concepts that most cars use in a straightforward way.

[Hungrycat7]

You should get a little Geo Metro. Not only will you be happy at the pump but those cars are pretty foregiving.

[vgames33]

I can't find parts for my Mom's Metro around here. I don't recommend one. All the money you save on gas will be spent on ordering the parts.

[zudo]

So GMs are good? Any specific one's other than th metro I should look at?

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by zudo

So GMs are good? Any specific one's other than th metro I should look at?

Well, IMO do not bother with the Metro. It is really an old Suzuki design and shares virtually no components with any other GM design, so there is little point to it.

As for GM cars, I would suggest starting with a mid or full size front wheel drive Chevy, Pontiac (best choice for performance) Oldsmobile or Buick, especially with the 3800 series V6. Post 1995 cars use the OBD II engine management system. It is more complex than earlier EFI systems but much more relevant to the late model cars you want to learn about.

If you want to learn about over head cam engines, look at Cadillac, although many of the Cad systems are unique to the brand and are not shared by other GM cars.

[vgames33]

It shouldn't be hard to find an older Cavalier for less than 700 bucks that needs some love. You could go for any engine size (2.2, 2.8, 3.1). A Cutlass Ciera should also be easy to find on the cheap. Good luck making them very fast, though.

[24kilo]

Dodge Neon would be a good choice lots of hop up and stock parts, and info on the net is all over the place. Buddy in our dodge club is running 300+ horse on a SOHC. It's Spooky............

[zudo]

Why won't this thing reply?

Thanks, if this message gets through...