Cars, First cars?

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by CooleyAsCanBe

I bought my first car as a junior in HS for $100 from a neighbor's friend. It was a used, manual transmission, 1980 Honda Civic hatchback that the friend had brush-painted bright yellow.

I sanded it down and used various cans of spray paint "gifted" me by a buddy who worked at Hechinger to paint it like a WWII P-40 Warhawk Flying Tiger; complete with camo stripes and the shark mouth.

It was 1994, so there were still a bunch of WWII vets around and I'd routinely get stopped to say how much they loved the car and how they had a buddy who flew a P-40. I taught a bunch of friends to drive stick in that car since it was such a piece of junk I didn't car if they'd grind the clutch.

Driving stick may be obsolete, but it's also awesome (except for in traffic jams). I've had a few relatively recent situations in rural areas and in other countries when I needed to drive stick, so I guess it still can come in handy.

I know it's just me but I thought they handled better in the snow.

[CooleyAsCanBe]

Originally Posted by Giantone

I know it's just me but I thought they handled better in the snow.

Yeah, downshifting going down a hill in the snow is a good strategy. No need to brake.

[mike340]

Also got my license at 19. Drove around my parents' car.
Then lived in downtown Boston and San Fran, so didn't buy a car.
Finally got one in 1991 (at 34 yo): a '88 Toyota MR2. Except for some rust damage it still works great. (Never had a breakdown except for flats.)
But I had to get another car since the 6 kids and my wife complained that it was awfully crowded when we all piled in, so we got a (used) 8-seat Toyota Sienna. But they all fight for who gets to ride with me in the MR2 when we take both cars.

(When I bought the MR2, I had reduced the choices down to 2 types of sportscar, and I obviously had to get the one with my initials on it.)

[JPPT1974]

Got my license at 18. As really do not and still do not like to drive. Drove like a Yugo like car in 1993 after graduating HS. As it only worked very temporary for me as still only to drive around the block for a temporary job at a small market and gas station. Forget the name of it to be honest with you.

[Back2RFK]

My first car was a 98 Olds with a 454 gas sucking machine. Paid $75 for the car because it had no reverse. The car was so big I could get 8 people in the car and not be cramped. Drove it for a year then the entire trans went. Sold it for $350 so I did pretty good.

https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.J...pr=1.5&pid=1.7

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by Back2RFK

My first car was a 98 Olds with a 454 gas sucking machine. Paid $75 for the car because it had no reverse. The car was so big I could get 8 people in the car and not be cramped. Drove it for a year then the entire trans went. Sold it for $350 so I did pretty good.

https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.J...pr=1.5&pid=1.7

Nice , what year,looks to be around 74/75?My Dad had a 69 olds 98 convertable with a 454 it was sweet!

[Monkeydad]

First car I bought by myself was a 1991 VW Jetta, 5-speed. Did a lot of custom work to it including professional paint job, tint, stereo system (3 subs, like 11 speakers total), wheels, custom headlights, nice-sounding exhaust (no bees in a can), lowered...was really nice...and got hit head-on after just a year and a half of owning it.

First car I DROVE was an '85 Chevy Celebrity, top speed of about 40 it felt like. That was my dad's old car, wasn't really mine.