Need A Car For A Beginning Enthusiast - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

ChocoThunder · 12-16-2013, 06:42 PM

So, my girlfriend has caught the bug. But she doesn't drive. I'm not very experienced with driving a whole variety of cars or anything, so I'm not really 100% comfortable with suggesting a good "first car" for her. I was hoping some of you more experienced guys could could help me out on this one.
basically, we are looking for the right combination of easy to learn, safe, good looking, and fun (ish) to drive. we've come to an agreement on no hoonage until she really learns how to drive. Thankfully, she also tends to prefer form over function.

SO FAR she has stated that she likes (in order of want):

Datsun 240z (slow stock, but unsafe??)
07 WRX (AWD for the bad weather, four doors, but a bit too fast)
S13/Sileighty (slow stock, lightweight, safer, but easy to spin?)
Infiniti G37 (Sexy as hell, airbags, but too much power)
CRX ("cute", fun to drive, FF, but 80s safety, dangerously slow stock)
2013 Honda Accord Coupe (FF, cool styling, easy to slam, safe, but maybe a little too fast, and boring to drive)

RULES: NO BMWs or VWs. AT ALL. EVER. PERIOD. it's a thing. Also, inb4 miata- she hates it.

Please help guys!

WillBRZ · 12-16-2013, 06:45 PM

Infiniti G25, Acura TSX/RSX

avp1 · 12-16-2013, 06:46 PM

Get used Mazda RX8. Second gen one - 2009 or later. Looks good, drives even better.

Allch Chcar · 12-16-2013, 06:59 PM

Miata with a hardtop. When she inevitably hates it, show her the Chevy "penalty box" Aveo you really bought for her.

New drivers should never start out in sports cars, muscle cars, or classic cars.

strat61caster · 12-16-2013, 07:11 PM

Asses your priorites, what do you really want?

Economical, Reliable, Fun is probably the top three, don't even bring fast into it. She might get into drag racing or Sunday canyon drives or Autocross, what is a great car for one would be a horrible car for the other. Not to mention she could hate driving and barely touch the thing as it rots away and your dollars spin down the drain.

Your post reads like it isn't terribly grounded in reality, do you know how hard it is to find a quality 240z that doesn't require significant restoration? You're basically looking for a $10k-$20k car that's already been restored, and you're going to go teach someone to drive in a classic? Crazy imho, similar feelings on S13 and CRX, those are going to require serious upkeep and will be tired when you get your hands on them.

Define a price range and we can get cracking. I would suggest a car that can be the only car since I know nothing about your situation. First crack would be GTI, but no VW...

My go to suggestion is RSX, fun, as practical as the 86 and economical as hell, WRX is also good as if she doesn't get into motorsports she still has a decent sedan like everyone else and won't have too much trouble owning it or getting rid of it.

Care to elaborate on the anti German sentiment?

bestwheelbase · 12-16-2013, 07:14 PM

The old Ford Focus is a fun car. I'm partial to RWD platforms... AE86?

n2oinferno · 12-16-2013, 09:12 PM

I actually summed up my thoughts about all of the cars here but strat61caster pretty much summed up what I was going to say before I said it. It sounds to me she's a typical girl that wants something cute. If she was serious about wanting to learn car control, the Miata and an E36 M3 would be at the top of her list.

So here's my go-to that hasn't been mentioned. 09-11 Civic Si. Sedan would be my preference but the coupe is almost as good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

New drivers should never start out in sports cars, muscle cars, or classic cars.

I disagree. Any car can get you into trouble. It all comes down to the maturity level and amount of respect that the driver has.

bcj · 12-16-2013, 10:17 PM

240Z is going to be a bank breaker (crumpled fenders and several cluches) if restored, or a death-mobile if over 200K original.

Get her a Civic to abuse. 2006 hatchi

OrbitalEllipses · 12-16-2013, 10:28 PM

Miata. Not enough power to kill yourself without trying, great vehicle dynamics, manual, rwd.

Oh, IBmiata. Well, she's not an enthusiast and never will be. Dumb skank!

N_A · 12-16-2013, 11:12 PM

Mini Cooper Non-S. Yes, it is slow. But I loved that car. It was a blast to drive. My first choice would have been a Miata.

Allch Chcar · 12-16-2013, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestwheelbase

The old Ford Focus is a fun car. I'm partial to RWD platforms... AE86?

First gen Focus is sporty choice, so long as you get the DOHC engine.

NWFRS · 12-16-2013, 11:54 PM

The new Scion TC is under $20k.

I think those are kinda neat. :-)

86-tundra · 12-17-2013, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avp1

Get used Mazda RX8. Second gen one - 2009 or later. Looks good, drives even better.

I would never recommend anyone to buy a used rx8. Ever. EVER!!!

There have been 2 in my life and both with more than 60k miles have basically fallen apart. please avoid this car.

oh and op, an fr-s sounds perfect.

kALMIGHTY · 12-17-2013, 01:04 AM

+1 on an FR-S or a BRZ. Practical, fun, and safe.
I can speak from experience because my FR-S is my first car, and first rear-wheel drive car that I ever drove, and first manual I ever drove. I feel safer in it than I do in a big SUV, for some reason. Maybe because I feel like I'm actually sitting IN the car and have control of it rather than sitting in a bigger SUV where I feel like I'm sitting ON TOP of the car and don't feel confident driving it.

Plus, then you can be one of those annoying couples who are just made for each other!

12-16-2013, 06:42 PM	#1
ChocoThunder Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: Subaru BRZ- White Location: DMV Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Need A Car For A Beginning Enthusiast So, my girlfriend has caught the bug. But she doesn't drive. I'm not very experienced with driving a whole variety of cars or anything, so I'm not really 100% comfortable with suggesting a good "first car" for her. I was hoping some of you more experienced guys could could help me out on this one. basically, we are looking for the right combination of easy to learn, safe, good looking, and fun (ish) to drive. we've come to an agreement on no hoonage until she really learns how to drive. Thankfully, she also tends to prefer form over function. SO FAR she has stated that she likes (in order of want): Datsun 240z (slow stock, but unsafe??) 07 WRX (AWD for the bad weather, four doors, but a bit too fast) S13/Sileighty (slow stock, lightweight, safer, but easy to spin?) Infiniti G37 (Sexy as hell, airbags, but too much power) CRX ("cute", fun to drive, FF, but 80s safety, dangerously slow stock) 2013 Honda Accord Coupe (FF, cool styling, easy to slam, safe, but maybe a little too fast, and boring to drive) RULES: NO BMWs or VWs. AT ALL. EVER. PERIOD. it's a thing. Also, inb4 miata- she hates it. Please help guys!

12-16-2013, 11:54 PM	#12
NWFRS Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: ‘13 FRS Location: USA Posts: 1,296 Thanks: 3,945 Thanked 1,502 Times in 634 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	The new Scion TC is under $20k. I think those are kinda neat. :-) __________________ http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82872

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12-16-2013, 06:46 PM	#3
avp1 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: Traded BRZ for Supra Location: Princeton, NJ Posts: 164 Thanks: 5 Thanked 49 Times in 29 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Get used Mazda RX8. Second gen one - 2009 or later. Looks good, drives even better.

12-16-2013, 07:14 PM	#6
bestwheelbase Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: 1985 P-Type Location: Nashville, TN, USA Posts: 3,710 Thanks: 3,273 Thanked 2,058 Times in 1,098 Posts Mentioned: 50 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	The old Ford Focus is a fun car. I'm partial to RWD platforms... AE86?

12-16-2013, 10:28 PM	#9
OrbitalEllipses Banned Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: Attitude Location: MD Posts: 10,046 Thanks: 884 Thanked 4,889 Times in 2,902 Posts Mentioned: 123 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	Miata. Not enough power to kill yourself without trying, great vehicle dynamics, manual, rwd. Oh, IBmiata. Well, she's not an enthusiast and never will be. Dumb skank!

12-16-2013, 11:12 PM	#10
N_A Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: 2013 Raven Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 394 Thanks: 115 Thanked 181 Times in 121 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Mini Cooper Non-S. Yes, it is slow. But I loved that car. It was a blast to drive. My first choice would have been a Miata.

12-17-2013, 01:04 AM	#14
kALMIGHTY Banned Join Date: Nov 2012 Drives: TRD Ultramarine '13 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,377 Thanks: 190 Thanked 766 Times in 347 Posts Mentioned: 24 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	+1 on an FR-S or a BRZ. Practical, fun, and safe. I can speak from experience because my FR-S is my first car, and first rear-wheel drive car that I ever drove, and first manual I ever drove. I feel safer in it than I do in a big SUV, for some reason. Maybe because I feel like I'm actually sitting IN the car and have control of it rather than sitting in a bigger SUV where I feel like I'm sitting ON TOP of the car and don't feel confident driving it. Plus, then you can be one of those annoying couples who are just made for each other!

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