First Car? 16 Years Old?
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First Car? 16 Years Old?
Okay okay, not the best / most economic / safest first car but I am currently saving up for a Fbody Z28 (LS1). I have a job giving me around $300-500 every two weeks and heard mpgs are not bad if not driven like a bat out of hell lol. Insurance quoted me for something under $250 I don't recall the exact amount, but it isn't confirmed until I give a vin. My goal is around $3500 before I start looking more in depth. I'm also going to have to install an OBD device to track any crazy acceleration (parents of course). What do you guys think? People have told me it's too powerful, learn to drive first, I'm gonna crash, but I also heard saving up myself would make me more cautious. I feel pretty dumb typing this, but I just wanted to hear your guy's opinion.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,950
From: Yacolt,WA
Well I wouldn't have wanted either of my sons to have an LS powered car at 16,that said it's all in your mindset if you think you can be responsible with that much power at your hands it could be a great first car.
The temptation to use that power is real, even at my age (62) I have to rein myself in and use restraint when driving on public roads.
Perhaps a V-6 Camaro/Firebird would be a better choice and also more in your price range, finding a nice clean well maintained Z28 or SS is going to cost you a lot more than $3500. I gave $8000 for my '01 SS in pretty nice shape with 86,000 miles on the clock.(In it far more now but that's another story)
If you do find one in that $4000 and under range it will most likely be a big bag of problems.
All that said if your heart is set on an LS F body car they are great cars and pretty fair on gas if you do indeed keep your foot out of it,
I get about 22mpg combined city/highway driving with mine and it's cammed etc., a stock car can get 26-28 on the highway cruising @ 65 mph.
the LS is a great engine and quite reliable as is the drive train is not driven Ricky Racer all the time, the weak point being the 10 bolt rear end but again under normal driving especially if the car has an automatic not a real problem.
Only you will know for sure if at 16 years of age whether you are mature enough to own a fast car, I'd suggest you get your license and test drive some cars starting with the V-6 cars, you might find the V-6 cars are more than enough fun and you'll save money on the purchase and on insurance, just my 2 cts.
PS: Don't feel dumb for asking, as the old saying goes there are no dumb questions only dumb answers. Good luck in your search and keep us posted.
The temptation to use that power is real, even at my age (62) I have to rein myself in and use restraint when driving on public roads.
Perhaps a V-6 Camaro/Firebird would be a better choice and also more in your price range, finding a nice clean well maintained Z28 or SS is going to cost you a lot more than $3500. I gave $8000 for my '01 SS in pretty nice shape with 86,000 miles on the clock.(In it far more now but that's another story)
If you do find one in that $4000 and under range it will most likely be a big bag of problems.
All that said if your heart is set on an LS F body car they are great cars and pretty fair on gas if you do indeed keep your foot out of it,
I get about 22mpg combined city/highway driving with mine and it's cammed etc., a stock car can get 26-28 on the highway cruising @ 65 mph.
the LS is a great engine and quite reliable as is the drive train is not driven Ricky Racer all the time, the weak point being the 10 bolt rear end but again under normal driving especially if the car has an automatic not a real problem.
Only you will know for sure if at 16 years of age whether you are mature enough to own a fast car, I'd suggest you get your license and test drive some cars starting with the V-6 cars, you might find the V-6 cars are more than enough fun and you'll save money on the purchase and on insurance, just my 2 cts.
PS: Don't feel dumb for asking, as the old saying goes there are no dumb questions only dumb answers. Good luck in your search and keep us posted.
4th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,595
From: Va. Beach, VA
Good advice, but buy a beater and learn how to drive, maybe a manual trans so no one steals your car.
Then you can upgrade later and your experience of driving a manual trans will stay with you for life.
Then you can upgrade later and your experience of driving a manual trans will stay with you for life.
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$250 a month or a Quarter? Is that full coverage? The difference was a lot when I was 16 between a base Camaro and a Z28.
I agree with the above, the V6 3800 with the 5 speed is a fun car to drive and can beat 30 MPG on the highway, that may be important depending on where you go to school in a couple of years. Most of the parts for the 3800 are super cheap.
The down side to a $3500 LS1 Z28 is it is going to be clapped out, A stronger running low miles LS1 car is going to run you 5K easy. I just totaled mine and with 90,000 miles on it the insurance company estimated is private party value at $6,400. Hech the engine and trans alone on the totaled car is worth close to 2K.
I agree with the above, the V6 3800 with the 5 speed is a fun car to drive and can beat 30 MPG on the highway, that may be important depending on where you go to school in a couple of years. Most of the parts for the 3800 are super cheap.
The down side to a $3500 LS1 Z28 is it is going to be clapped out, A stronger running low miles LS1 car is going to run you 5K easy. I just totaled mine and with 90,000 miles on it the insurance company estimated is private party value at $6,400. Hech the engine and trans alone on the totaled car is worth close to 2K.
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