First Car

plushpod988 · 11-28-2007, 01:41 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HolyPotato @ Nov 28 2007, 02:12 AM) [snapback]545098[/snapback]</div>

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Hey, if you're lucky enough to get a new car so young, you really can't do any better.

What do your parents drive? Even if you get the new car for the long term, if they drive an older car that is "cosmetically challenged" or where a few scrapes won't matter, that might be handy to borrow for training, at least until you're sure you're not a "tactile parker". On the other hand, a brand new shiny car might instill a healthy sense of paranoia, so you won't make any mistakes in the first place.
[/b]

I've been driving for almost a year, I shared my older brothers truck with him, and I drove my parent's lexus sometimes (not too often because if I got used to driving that car I would absolutely detest driving the truck because of the major difference) I lived in Los Angeles this entire time, and I know it was only for 11 months or so, but 11 months of driving in Los Angeles without ever being in a wreck is pretty good. So I guess that's why my parent's trust me enough now that I'm back in my small sleepy town for the rest of high school.

And I do have a feeling that if we decide to get the new one that I'll drive it like a newborn hemophiliac baby. But also we found a nice white '06 prius with a pretty basic package and only 12,000 miles for $19,000. So this one is tempting me a lot, it just seems like a good buy to me. Is that about normal price for a prius with 12,000 miles?

**Tideland Prius** · 11-28-2007, 01:53 AM

Hmm isn't the new one (not counting the decontented version) around $21k?

And it comes standard with side/side curtain airbags (which I highly recommend).

lefat1 · 11-28-2007, 07:38 AM

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I'm only fifteen and I'm getting my license in December and my parents told me that they would buy this Magnetic Grey 2008 Prius with package #2 that I've been salivating over forever.[/b]

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I've been driving for almost a year[/b]

how is that possible? driving illegal for a year i suppose thats common these days and your parents are ok'ing a new car for you....smells fishy aka troll

IsrAmeriPrius · 11-28-2007, 05:27 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lefat1 @ Nov 28 2007, 04:38 AM) [snapback]545138[/snapback]</div>

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how is that possible? driving illegal for a year i suppose thats common these days...[/b]

Ever heard of a learner's permit?

patsparks · 11-28-2007, 05:40 PM

Lucky you, My first car was an $800 1969 Ford Falcon which I saved for.
I'll most likely help my son (who is 15 now) with his first car, maybe I'll spend $2,000, no more.

I wouldn't recommend a new car for any kid, get one with a few scratches in it, use the change to get a good education and learn "yall" isn't good english. Try saying this, "What do you think?"

lefat1 · 11-28-2007, 05:55 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Nov 28 2007, 05:27 PM) [snapback]545430[/snapback]</div>

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Ever heard of a learner's permit? [/b]

still dont jive, lets see his/her response, yall

YoungOrganist · 11-28-2007, 07:39 PM

It is of my opinion that buying a new car, especially a Toyota, is a ripoff. A good chunk of depreciation occurs when you drive a brand new car off the lot because it is a "new car" becoming a "used car". Since Toyotas have a knack for remaining trouble free and driving like new into the 90,000 mile range (mine have), there is a lot you can save by looking for a slightly used one.

As a rookie driver myself, I know how easy it is to cause expensive damage to a car in the first few years (I never have, but I've had many close calls :-). It only takes one false move to knock thousands of bucks off your resale value. Insurance is also more expensive for a young driver in a new car...

Other than the new/used thing, I think the prius is a perfect car for a young driver! It is small and maneuverable, safe, obviously cheap to run, and makes you come across anything but macho (very useful for having other parents let their kids ride with you).

lefat1 · 11-28-2007, 08:14 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(YoungOrganist @ Nov 28 2007, 07:39 PM) [snapback]545477[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

It is of my opinion that buying a new car, especially a Toyota, is a ripoff. A good chunk of depreciation occurs when you drive a brand new car off the lot because it is a "new car" becoming a "used car". Since Toyotas have a knack for remaining trouble free and driving like new into the 90,000 mile range (mine have), there is a lot you can save by looking for a slightly used one.

[/b]

cant agree with you there, when looking for a rav4 in 2002, the low mileage (under 20k miles) used ones were about $1000 less than new...so i bought a new 2003. same with my prius, started out looking for an 06 only to find about a $500 to $1500 difference. i almost bought an 07, but gladly i waited for my 08. which is worth more now an 07 or 08? that little difference will be made up in the end when selling as was the case with the rav4..i easily got $1500 more than if it were an 01 or 02 model year.

unless you know where to buy a low mileage used toyota, especially a prius for $5000 less than new, i say go new..

hv74656 · 11-29-2007, 05:13 PM

Got mine for $16,500 with ~50k of the odometer. It also is a pkg 7 '04, so it has all the bells and whistles minus bluetooth and nav. Yeah I had to fly from FL to PA, but a $70 plane ticket on JetBlue vs. coughing up $27,000 for a new Prius in FL was an easy choice to make.

(Yes, the car has a clean title. A salvage is not worth the risk.)

plushpod988 · 11-29-2007, 06:08 PM

I drove with a learner's permit, it wasn't illegal at all.

And just so you know yall is proper english. It is supposed to have the apostrophe after the "y" but southerner's never write it like that. Why don't you try to look things up before you decide to be a pompous incorrect jerk. And just in case you want to know further, I go to the top high school in the South Eastern United States, and the 14th in the US.

Back to the real topic, I do think I am going to decide to go for the 06' Prius because it is a few thousand dollars less, and only has 12,000 miles. Unlike one with 50 thousand miles on it already, for a good resale they said around 60 thousand miles would be a good time to sell. I think I will have mine for longer than that hopefully, but the resale value will be better this way. There really is no reason I should have a brand new car for my first one besides the fact that it would last me longer.

11-28-2007, 07:39 PM	#17
YoungOrganist Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bahstahn MA Posts: 73 My Car: 2002 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It is of my opinion that buying a new car, especially a Toyota, is a ripoff. A good chunk of depreciation occurs when you drive a brand new car off the lot because it is a "new car" becoming a "used car". Since Toyotas have a knack for remaining trouble free and driving like new into the 90,000 mile range (mine have), there is a lot you can save by looking for a slightly used one. As a rookie driver myself, I know how easy it is to cause expensive damage to a car in the first few years (I never have, but I've had many close calls :-). It only takes one false move to knock thousands of bucks off your resale value. Insurance is also more expensive for a young driver in a new car... Other than the new/used thing, I think the prius is a perfect car for a young driver! It is small and maneuverable, safe, obviously cheap to run, and makes you come across anything but macho (very useful for having other parents let their kids ride with you). __________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- 2005 Camry 2002 Prius 1999 Volkswagen Passat 1994 Mercedes S320 (fate undetermined) 1994 POS Ford F-150

11-28-2007, 01:53 AM	#12
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,900 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Hmm isn't the new one (not counting the decontented version) around $21k? And it comes standard with side/side curtain airbags (which I highly recommend).

11-28-2007, 05:40 PM	#15
patsparks Uneducated bird-brain Aussie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 4,905 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 17	Lucky you, My first car was an $800 1969 Ford Falcon which I saved for. I'll most likely help my son (who is 15 now) with his first car, maybe I'll spend $2,000, no more. I wouldn't recommend a new car for any kid, get one with a few scratches in it, use the change to get a good education and learn "yall" isn't good english. Try saying this, "What do you think?"

11-29-2007, 05:13 PM	#19
hv74656 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 145 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Got mine for $16,500 with ~50k of the odometer. It also is a pkg 7 '04, so it has all the bells and whistles minus bluetooth and nav. Yeah I had to fly from FL to PA, but a $70 plane ticket on JetBlue vs. coughing up $27,000 for a new Prius in FL was an easy choice to make. (Yes, the car has a clean title. A salvage is not worth the risk.)

11-29-2007, 06:08 PM	#20
plushpod988 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I drove with a learner's permit, it wasn't illegal at all. And just so you know yall is proper english. It is supposed to have the apostrophe after the "y" but southerner's never write it like that. Why don't you try to look things up before you decide to be a pompous incorrect jerk. And just in case you want to know further, I go to the top high school in the South Eastern United States, and the 14th in the US. Back to the real topic, I do think I am going to decide to go for the 06' Prius because it is a few thousand dollars less, and only has 12,000 miles. Unlike one with 50 thousand miles on it already, for a good resale they said around 60 thousand miles would be a good time to sell. I think I will have mine for longer than that hopefully, but the resale value will be better this way. There really is no reason I should have a brand new car for my first one besides the fact that it would last me longer.