help finding first car

[Bob The Great]

I just got my licsense about two weeks ago, and its been nice driving and all, but I've quickly come to the conclusion that the van I'm currently driving (my mums) is out to ruin my life. Its like driving the Titanic, but it uses more fuel (15 passanger dodge van from early 90's). Any way I have enough to pay about $250 a month for a car or about $3500 tops. I want something very fuel efficent, is not a bug, and is reliable. I don't mind about preformance, though I would prefer something that isn't peddle powered.

I've been looking into 80's Mercedies Benz's. They go from $1000 to $3000 about and get about 25-30mpg and are reliable. I've also thought about a bike, but the insurance would probably offset the savings in fuel.

What are some ideas for a good begginers car, or any other advice so I don't make mistakes that others made?

[Telexen]

I think older Toyota Camrys work good ... I had one. It needed a lot of attention - but it had well over 200,000 miles on it (you won't find many cars aside Toyotas that can go that far on one engine)

Right now I drive a Plymouth/Dodge Neon ... but I'm going to be looking to buy a mid 90's Chevy Cavalier soon.

Any Honda. Especially Accords.

Most Toyotas. Especially Camrys.

Lots of not-very-efficient vehicles you could easily pick up for that price though.

[pickel]

You have to think about upkeep. A Mercedes will eat you up on parts and labor unless you know how to fix it yourself. I'd look for mid size like a Maxima or something like that. My daughter has a 1991 model and has served her well. Good luck

[muno]

MB's (at least here) have very expensive parts - though they rarely break up but if they do, it's always expensive.

MBs aren't very fuel efficient either, specially the gasoline models eat like 7litres average drive, that is, six or so litres in highway, and ten or so litres in town.

I'm with whir, Japans MB (honda) would be a good choice. I drove a honda civic for a year and had little to none problems.
-M

[Epidemic]

MBs aren't very fuel efficient either, specially the gasoline models eat like 7litres average drive, that is, six or so litres in highway, and ten or so litres in town.


Just curious, six or so litres per what. per kilometer???

We use MPG where I am and you is confusing me.


On topic I'd say watch out for mercedes unless you live in germany . Toyota or honda's would be good starting places accord and camery.

[Warthog]

If you could find a Maxima like someone said, you would have some good horsepower to go along with a great, reliable car.

[muno]

The average gasoline usage is measured like this ->
litres/100km

But I'm sorry, I lied, eg. MB 190 2.0E has a gasoline consumption average of 9litres per 100km. 7litres/100km in highway and 11litres/100km in town.

I'm aware of the fact that the gasoline costs less there though
I can buy 1litre of 95-octane gasoline here for 1,1E (roughly $1,3).
-M

[Zitch]

My first car was a '94 Honda Accord which I got in Spring '97. Put 100,000+ miles on it and never had any major problems (Changed shocks, radiator, brakes, but nothing that I couldn't drive it to my mechanic). Up until I traded it in a month ago, I was getting ~30 mpg on the highway, ~23 mpg in city, and this was with 180,000 miles on the engine. People that drove it said that it had very surprising pickup too. My girlfriend still has her first car, a '93 Toyota Camry. She got it in '99 and it's still running like a champ. Got the same MPG as my old honda too with "only" 80,000 miles on it. We don't take perfect care of our vehicles either, just paid attention to the standard mainenance (oil, tires, etc...).

I would highly recommend a mid nineties 4-cyl Accord or Camry. I would think the Honda Civics or Toyota Corollas would be good choices too if you want a smaller car (I think the Corolla is smaller than the Camry...) for lower Prices and better mpg.

I liked my old honda well enough that I traded it in for a 2003 Accord last month. Woot!

Edit: "payed" should be "paid"

[Tarp2]

I will toss in a vote here for a used Saturn. The body will always look good because of the plastic panels, and the service is top notch. Not a lot of power but its dependable.