Comments on Profile Post by spwath

But I am thinking it might be best to wait until after college when I am making real money to get a cool car. IDK though...

As a car guy who, when I was your age, had a bunch of "cool" cars, none of which were very reliable, I recommend sticking with the reliable car until you finish college.

Yeah, that does seem like the smart thing to do. Just less fun. But I suppose my 4wd Subaru hatchback is a better option for the snowy northeast than a rwd miata. Plus can hold more stuff.

The BMW E30 325i in used but good condition is the exception here. You can still learn to fix this car yourself. Even the wagon version can work for you.

Get a cool car kid. You're only young once.

But would it be a better idea to wait the 2 years until I can afford a better, cooler car...

But then you're not driving a cool car in front of college chicks which defeats the purpose. Buy a cool car within your means now and when you get a good job save up for a down payment on a house.

I forgot to say, don't get a Miata. :D

The rational part of me feels like that's a bad idea and a stupid reason. The college guy part of me says yes. I think I will wait until next summer though, so I will have a bit more money. then my final year of college I will have my cool car.

@elmoe What do you suggest instead that can be had cheap, is fun, and wont break every 10 miles?

How cheap are we talking?

IDK, right now I have like 5k, by the end of next summer ill probably have about 8-10k, but don't want to spend it all on a car.

If you’re lucky you can find a supercharged NA or NB Miata for under 6K. Might have cosmetic issues. They will limp along even when a lot of parts are mostly broken. So long as its not snowy or icy, no problems driving it in winter with top up. They breathe fire with the heat on. Just make sure you’re not running summer tires then.

Though I’ve heard poor things about the auto 4 speed, you could find a GTP. Supercharged V6. Fairly basic mods and you’ll put down decent power.

But if you have the willpower and patience, waiting till you get a job, are bringing in good money, and have stability (roof over head and not moving constantly), it’s going to save you money in the long run to save up for something you really want.

Problem is its snowy and icy here a lot. And I have to drive 5 hours home for winter break in snow/ice, and 5 hours back to college.

Do I have willpower is the question... I might not have enough willpower to even save up for this car now.
Maybe it is best to wait, at least until I know what my plans are/where I will live in the future. If I live in a snowless area, then I could get something more RWD and less good in snow.

Rwd is fine in the snow. My first 3 cars were rwd and I never got stuck on the unplowed Detroit roads. Winter tires are key.

I am starting to believe that, but my parents are not. They want me to be safe on my 5 hour trips to and from college. Idk, safety is overrated.

In my experience the most dangerous aspect of driving in the snow is stopping without hitting the person in front of you. Awd/4wd won't help you with that.

LetMeBeFrank has it - and here speaks a Canadian: AWD *might* help to get you *going* in the snow, but it's winter tires that stop you and keep you in a straight line. But to your original question, what's not cool enough about a Subaru hatch? Ok, maybe I'm old...

Repeat after me, I am the pussy magnet. I am the pussy magnet. I am the pussy magnet.

"saving" is the key word in your statement. Yes, by all means, save!

Decide later when you have much saved. Your uncool car will get you back and forth.

Cash is king in an economic downturn. And who knows, those cool car prices may dip.

DO NOT GET AN OLD MIATA... UNLESS IT HAS A 5.0 MOTOR!!!

If you're going to get a V8 Miata, don't settle for less. Get an LS swapped one. Then slap your choice of FI on that. Keeps you quite regular.

@spwath A RWD car with winter tires will generally do better in the snow than an AWD with all seasons. I say generally because there are a couple all seasons out there with higher winter ratings than most other all seasons. But still not quite as good as the real deal.

I've been down the cool car rabbit hole before. I come from a family of Alfisti's (Alfa Romeo nuts). We've had 6 or 7 over the years. They are a shit ton of fun when you finally get them running right. But they have all been money pits and they seem to love the shop more than our garage.

Get something reliable till you have a lot of disposable income. If you have your heart set on a cool used car, go Japanese. Miata's, 240SX and STI's are all pretty reliable and fun to boot.

Don't worry about getting old and missing chances to show off: New youth comes at 45 and then again at 60

It is time for that old joke. Older than I am, so more than three times spwath's age!

--- "Nothing better in life than a fast car and a good woman"
--- "I'd rather have a good car and a fast woman"

I think I'll stick with my current car for now, as right now, it's not "my car" so my parents pay for the insurance. If I get a car, then I have to pay, and that's a lot for a 20 year old guy with a sports car.

@Thad E Ginathom - the correct combination is: cheap cars, fast liquor and strong women.

Eh, I'd rather go with nice car, top shelf liquor and sugar mama

Keep the f'ing Impreza. Car insurance is no joke plus it's perfect for NY.

Oh you drive an Impreza? WRX STI or just regular old Impreza?

Regular 148hp cvt hatchback

I'll be the boring dude. Cars depreciate f'ing fast and girls that like guys for fancy cars need growing up. Also never know when the money might come in handy.

I love hatchbacks since it's enough space inside for steaming f'ing.

Yeah, I do like hatchbacks. I have filled my car with stuff multiple filled. Had filled it and had to put stuff on the roof rack as well as I couldn't fit everything inside