Anybody here drive a classic VW?

[DuManchu]

If you want something quirky, yet safe and reliable I would suggest a Volvo 240 wagon/sedan.

They are slow as all-get-out (unless you get a rare turbo model) but they are built like tanks and will run forever. It's a Volvo so you know it's got tons of safety features, even for the 80's. They kinda suck in the snow, but a set of Blizzaks will take care of that.

The only downside is finding a clean one for sale. I've seen a few 93's (last year of them) pop up around here (KC area) for $2K in great shape, high miles, but great shape.

Even if you find one with 200K miles on it, as long as it's been taken care of it will go another 200K no problem (with proper maintenance, but that goes without saying ).

Heck, even a 740/940/960 would be a great car, the turbo models fly and the sixers are great too.

Hard to go wrong with a RWD volvo.


TurboBrick FTW!

[The Apprentice]

The Volvo looks interresting. I did a search in my local craigslist, and I can get the model you were just mentioning for $1900. If my parents still put max $5000 into getting a car I can get something much more recent, like a 2001. Much cheaper than the Volkswagen equivalents...

[Jrecee]

Yeah but the new ones don't have the cool factor at all imo.

Wasn't that model the one that holds the guiness record for most mileage though?

Volvo's got a pretty cool car out now called the C30. It's way overpriced but still cool.



or you could buy the car that was based on, the p1800es:



not sure how much they go for though. . .

[Jrecee]

Just looked it up. The P1800 was actually the car with the world record.

[lwcook]

If you want something quirky, yet safe and reliable I would suggest a Volvo 240 wagon/sedan.

They are slow as all-get-out (unless you get a rare turbo model) but they are built like tanks and will run forever. It's a Volvo so you know it's got tons of safety features, even for the 80's. They kinda suck in the snow, but a set of Blizzaks will take care of that.

The only downside is finding a clean one for sale. I've seen a few 93's (last year of them) pop up around here (KC area) for $2K in great shape, high miles, but great shape.

Even if you find one with 200K miles on it, as long as it's been taken care of it will go another 200K no problem (with proper maintenance, but that goes without saying ).

Heck, even a 740/940/960 would be a great car, the turbo models fly and the sixers are great too.

Hard to go wrong with a RWD volvo.

My first thought when I saw this thread was to say get a Volvo 240. But I didn't be cause I'm a volvo-fan and am incredibly biased.
Although, it was because my first car was a 240...it made me a believer.

My sister has it now...291k and still kickin.

[DuManchu]

The Volvo looks interresting. I did a search in my local craigslist, and I can get the model you were just mentioning for $1900. If my parents still put max $5000 into getting a car I can get something much more recent, like a 2001. Much cheaper than the Volkswagen equivalents...

Generally speaking, I would stay away from any Volvo model that starts with a letter (V70, S40, etc.). This, of course is assuming you're buying used for around $5000, new Volvos are pretty good, but nowhere near your price range.

It's not that they are bad cars (I have a 98 V70 XC myself), but they can be maintenance intensive. If you do look at a newer Volvo, stay away from anything between 1999-2003, they had all sorts of electronic throttle and tranny issues.

[corn619]

If your looking for a newer model car, try becoming a member of www.consumerreports.com its worth every penny. They have honest reviews and reliability history of most cars under 10 years old.

[Jrecee]

I'll save him the money:

Toyota Good
Not Toyota Bad
Boring Cars reliable
Sports cars unreliable

[nikon_62]

Here are a few things to consider if your going to be a teen driver.

Cops love to hassle teen drivers. Cops love kids that have vehicles that stand out. If your driving a rare vehicle and the local cops notice your a teen you WILL get pulled over for no reason at all.

You might respect and protect your nice car but will your idiot friends? School parking lots in high school and college are a huge risk of fender benders and random pranks.

If your 17 how much stuff will you be cramming into your vehicle over the next few years? College, moving, helping friends move yada yada. You should probably just expect to be using whatever you buy as a freight van.

Personally I would agree with the rule of thumb most parents go with. Get a cheap 4 door sedan that's pretty safe and just drive it into the ground.

[The Apprentice]

Here are a few things to consider if your going to be a teen driver.

Cops love to hassle teen drivers. Cops love kids that have vehicles that stand out. If your driving a rare vehicle and the local cops notice your a teen you WILL get pulled over for no reason at all.

You might respect and protect your nice car but will your idiot friends? School parking lots in high school and college are a huge risk of fender benders and random pranks.

If your 17 how much stuff will you be cramming into your vehicle over the next few years? College, moving, helping friends move yada yada. You should probably just expect to be using whatever you buy as a freight van.

Personally I would agree with the rule of thumb most parents go with. Get a cheap 4 door sedan that's pretty safe and just drive it into the ground.

On the whole thing of pranks and such, I did see an ad at the samba site for a '70 Kharmann Ghia that had a dent in the back corner behind the wheel. The owner had driven it through highschool and college and needed to get a new car... anyway the hole was in a very akward place, I figure somebody kicked the thing, possibly unaware that Wolkswagens are paper thin.

I've never heard anything about the police in my town doing stuff like that. My brother's been driving his '98 Dodge truck, although not a very rare or expensive or even interresting car, for a few years now and the only time he's even seen the cops around here is when some lady rear ended him in her Honda. Apparently it completely destroyed her front end, but all my brother needed was a new bumper.

So yeah, I talked to my dad last night about some of the stuff discussed in this thread. My dad is a whole lot more stingy about this car thing than my mom, he told me he would get the bus if that's what we decide on, but he's really happy that I'm broadening my spectrum a little on the car thing. He wouldn't mind if I got a Ghia, but he doesn't like the Beetle. He also is interrested in the Volvo idea, and the idea of having a station wagon is sounding better and better. I've got a friend down the street that drives one, it's an Oldsmobile I think, and it looks awful, but it's about 30 years old and the engine purs like a kitten. Seriously. That thing's got to be indestructable.