[MuseChaser]

Look for something that is safe (not saying the 86 isn't....stay with me here), but has some years and miles on it, needs some repairs, and is relatively easy to work on. Spend $3k-$5k on the car, and some more on tools and needed parts. Ask your Dad if you can put $5k of that $22k in the bank for the next year or two of repairs and operating costs, and anything left over in a good safe indexed mutual fund as a seed investment for your future.

Even if I was filthy rich, I would never buy one of my children a car worth $22k, especially a small low sports car like the 86, especially if they were 16, no matter how much I trusted them. Too much temptation, too little life experience, too much delusions of immortality, too little fully developed frontal cortex. Not your fault...just life and science. I helped all three of my sons woth their first cars...we worked an all three together, they learned to wrench, they loved their cars, and held on to them much longer than I would have thought because of the time and care they put into them.

I'm 60. My sons are all in their 30s now, all married, doing well, providing for themselves and their families, and one wrenches professionally albeit as an enjoyable side job (mostly Miata racing setups).

Just my opinion. The fact that an 86 is not a fast car by today's standards does not mean you won't find trouble with it. I'm with your Dad on this one.