Subaru WRX Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

15 Year Old Noob

29K views 298 replies 64 participants last post by  RockoBro 
#1 ·
Hey whats up guys. I'm 15 years old and I live in New York State (on the border of NJ - Bergen County). I'm basically wanting a WRX or an STI as my first car when I'm 17/18, or I'm also thinking about getting a 370z, 350z, Genesis Coupe, or a BRZ. I've thought about an EVO but I've read a lot about them and saw a lot of reviews and turns out it has really bad turbo lag and sucks at handling on the road. Well thats basically it about me.. and thanks for reading.





-SK
 
#73 ·
Thanks rage-wrx, michaelwfox, and everyone else ;D you guys are being extremely helpful in this situation and even though I may not get a WRX as a first car, I'd still like to be a part of the club and eventually become an owner someday..

Rage, what was your first car if you don't mind me asking?
 
#74 ·
I'll throw my hat into the ring. Get a '95-'02 Mazda Miata. Yes you will not look cool in it. However, true car people will come up to you and go, "Nice choice." This is a great decision for a few reasons: 1) Mazda's are Japanese and will be more reliable (like the Integra [I got you Mike]) than an American or European car. 2) You'll be able to tweak on it with relatively low consequences. 3)The Miata is arguably the best drivers car that has ever been made. You will learn more about driving and car control from that car than any other you're likely to purchase now, or ever. It is the pinnacle of automotive handling at a low cost. 4) you can still have fun in that car at low speeds.

There are drawbacks to the Miata though. Obvious ones like storage space and looking like a girl. But kids usually don't realize the value of a Miata until later in life, if at all. That's my $.02 and I WISH I had one for my first car.
 
#77 ·
My first car was a 97' honda accord. I didn't own it, but that is that car my parents allowed me to borrow to drive back/forth to school. When I graduated from HS I bought a s10 blazer zr2, which is one of my favorite vehicles I ever owned. That thing could go anywhere. Unfortunately they don't make them anymore. It was a five speed and was really easy to learn how to drive a manual with that truck. It did start to fall apart after 80,000 miles though (it was a chevy and I beat the crap out of it). I would recommend a late 90's early 00's honda of some kind (not a fan of the civic, but loved the accord). Either that, if you can get your hands on a fairly treated 2.5rs (late 90's early 00) that would be a great car too. Good luck with your decision!
 
#82 ·
My brother's was a '72 skylark convertible. It was pretty nice when he got it, but he wrecked it a bit then got an Earl Scheib paint job (poop brown). I bought it from him years later but it was getting too rusty to deal with then (Cleveland winters). My dad had an 80's K-car skylark that I drove when I was 16 too (along with teh Estate Wagon with the 455 lol).
 
#80 ·
My first 3 cars where old rally escorts. These where never what is known as an Escort here in the States. If interested they are easy to find on the interwebs. Anyways, I grew up in Germany and this was in the mid-late 70's. The first one lasted me a whopping 5 days and I hade it folded up, on it's roof, in the center of the country road at midnight in the Belgian Ardennes in the middle of winter to boot. The next cars lasted me quite a bit longer. All of them had small, 1600cc (about 75HP) engines with 1100cc rears. so they where not fast but could accelerate very well, up to some 80miles top speed. And I was 19 at the time, with very limited budget. Bottom line: there is a learning curve and NOBODY (I'm convinced) is BORN a perfect driver. I've done some stupid stuff, and I'm not even quite over it, might pull some stupid stunt again any day...
WRX is NOT a beginners car, my modded one is really bad as far as not giving warning before it breaks loose, and when it does break loose it goes bye-bye like it was on grease. "Normal" cars squeal tires and start pushing while still under (almost) perfect control. That's where you learn counter steering, or to put in more steering, hit gas or brake, all depending on the driving characteristics of the particular car. A WRX is not at all out of the question, but I'd advise for to wait with that until a bit later. Trust me, whatever car you get, there will be some horse-play and it's cheaper with a cheaper (i.e. beater) car and easier to replace. For one thing you would not like to make payments for a car that no longer exists while you still need another ride.
 
#83 ·
Nothing against SK (StreetKing), nothing at all. He seems to be very reasonable and actually getting his brain around the ideas presented. He will be alright. And I for one have no problem if he would like to hang around.
 
#85 ·
I like this thread and I like SK
Kprugbyplaya you're not so bad yourself.

Nothing against SK (StreetKing), nothing at all. He seems to be very reasonable and actually getting his brain around the ideas presented. He will be alright. And I for one have no problem if he would like to hang around.
I appreciate that sir. :cool:
 
#87 ·
I feel that cars should be earned, always start with a cheap beater and work your way up. I went through 12 cars and 2 motorcycles before I got my WRX.

First car was a 1990 VW Passat, $500 with a snapped timing belt and 16 crushed valves, invested $500 and upgraded after 4 months $2000 richer.:thumbup:
 
#93 ·
I'm regretful to now have to add personal experience to this topic about WRXs as first cars, but I had an unfortunate accident occur last night as a direct result of my lack of experience with a powerful car. I wasn't being a complete idiot with it, but I still couldn't handle the sudden change in grip from hitting loose rocks. I learned a lesson and am now paying big $$$ for it. Thankfully, nobody was injured.

Link to full story and pictures: http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/builds/134368003-subaru-mopar-luvs-typical-teenage-rex-build-2.html
 
#101 ·
30k miles isnt bad for a 13 year old car.. But the price is very bad for a car thats not even that great. I would prefer the older models.

------

But thanks a lot man. You didn't have to do this you know haha. I think I might want to buy a car somewhat around when I'm 17 years old and I can drive the car immediately instead of having it sit on my driveway for a year or so.
 
#102 ·
I can relate to this thread for sure. I have to say though, seeing a complete group of strangers give the advice they are giving, that goes to show what kind of a community this is...

+1 to the fellas giving the OP some advice. I know I could've used this kinda conversation when I was 15 lol.

Im 21 now and I gotta admit that Im just now mature enough car wise to own one of these things(obviously this based on personal maturity). For the first time I own something that I have to TRUELY respect. I can already see just how easy it is to get into trouble with one of these cars, its kinda crazy ha. It'll be hard holding off on one of these, I'm sure, but you'll just respect them that much more when/if you get one.

Happy hunting for that first car btw! My first car was an 86 Silverado(Two-Tone) sitting on some 33'' BFG Mud-Terrain's that had a 4 inch lift.

Thing was a chick magnet and a blast to take through some mud. It was a lot of fun in the deep snow too and the tires helped me get outta some trouble ;) Anyway good luck to ya!
 
#103 ·
Why not get a 98-01 Subaru 2.5rs to learn on and you can do a swap on it later? It'd be a BADASS car with a wrx/STi drivetrain in it... Till then you can save up and read the forums then when the day comes you'll be an expert and have a GC replica WRX!!!
 
#135 · (Edited)
Late to the game, but I'll throw my two cents in here.

First generation Miata can be inexpensive, easy to work on and upgrade, reliable, and fun as Hell. They are lightweight, "tossable", inexpensive to autocross (which is a fantastic way for a new driver to learn car control), and fun as Hell. Second generation are a big heavier and more expensive, but not as old, so probably easier to find in good shape. Like someone else said, nothing is as boring as driving a fast car slow. Driving a slow car fast is fun as Hell! (I have a '58 MG that doesn't go fast, but is a blast to drive)

A '98-'01 Subaru 2.5 RS Coupe is the sexiest production car Subaru ever made. Find one - buy it! Your friends won't understand, but screw 'em; you'll "get it."

I bought my first car when I was 14 for $80 ($560 adjusted for inflation), worked on it for three years before I could drive it, and eventually sold it for $800 ($5600 adjusted for inflation.) It would go 70 MPH tops, had no shocks (they were a factory option), drove like a truck, and was fun as Hell! :)




See a common thread here? Get a cheap fun car and have a blast with it. My two daughter's bought a 12 year old Miata and a 6 year old Smart as their first car. I sent my eldest daughter to Mid-Ohio Teen Driving School and took her autocross racing. She has repeatedly said those experiences have saved her bacon a few times. She drove it in the snow all winter with steelies and snow tires.

Good luck,
Steve
4X your age...
 
#136 ·
You're right. I'm not ready to drive a really fast car like a 13' STI or a modern rally car in general. And yes I have heard the Miata is a very fun car with a lot of personality lol. I actually was considering it but I think I might have come up to a conclusion of a Subaru 2.5 RS Coupe, Nissan 240sx, or a 2013 Nissan GTR (LMFAO jk). But yeah I think the the 2.5 rs coupe and 240sx both look amazing and are pretty well affordable.

Btw your car looks like a boss! ;D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top