Yo.

My name is Danny. I am 16 years old, and soon I will be buying my first car, but I am torn on what to get. I can only spend what I can make this summer, or $3500. I want something reliable, cheap to insure, easy on gas, and easy to wrench on. I also want something reasonably unique; i.e. no Hondas or Eclipses (there are enough ridiculously pimped-out ones in the school parking lot already). I am leaning toward an S13 Silvia, B13/B14 SE-R, B14 Sentra/200SX SE 1.6, or Starion ESI-R/Conquest TSi, but I am open to anything. Please help me out!  

Hmm, tough one.  If you can, I'd go Subaru or Mitsu, if you can.  Especially of the STi or Evo variety.  Thats gonna be a hard to find item, but well worth it  

0m3g4:
Hmm, tough one.  If you can, I'd go Subaru or Mitsu, if you can.  Especially of the STi or Evo variety.  Thats gonna be a hard to find item, but well worth it

He's not gonna find an Evo or WRX for $3500 or less, even if it's wrecked.

As for those cars, they're all good choices except the 1.6L Sentra/200SX (there are no engine tuning options). The Starion/Conquest will be hard to find and tuning parts aren't as plentiful as for the SE-R or S13, but they're certainly unique and pretty fast for their age. Watch out for rust on B13s and S13s. I know because my S13's got bad rot. If you're mechanically inclined and wouldn't mind some fixing, a turbo 1st gen. DSM (Eclipse/Plymouth Laser/Eagle Talon) wouldn't be a bad choice. They're wedge-shaped and few people rice those out because they think they're ugly, but the 4G63T in those is stouter than in the 2nd. gen cars. Another rare car is the 1992 Galant VR-4: same engine and AWD as in the Evo I and 1st. gen DSM, only in a family sedan.  

Thanx. A sedan would be practical, since my mom doesn't have a license (!?!), and I will have to cart my sister and her friends around. A 1.6 would be alright, though. SCC has a project one, and I know a guy who has a B13 with the GA16DE and says that its alright, especially if you are on a tight budget. A Galant VR-4 would be cool, as well as an early DSM (I prefer the ones without pop-up headlights), but the Galant has the same issues as the StarQuest-availability. What do you think about a Miata or nonturbo Z32?  

You know what would be cool? An SR20DET powered volvo, especially a wagon. Awesome. Or a replica CHP mustang.  

Yeah I would go for the 200sx or the SE-R. They're both sedans, are quite practical and if price is an issue they can be had and tuned for that amount of money which you are currently constricted to. Preferably the SE-R, but if you want a few more bucks in your pocket go for the 200sx. It is in the project cars after all and all you have to do is follow the directions.  

Come on guys! WRX's and EVO's? We all gotta start somewhere, but come on...But at least we're leading him in the right direction. And that's all that matters  

Is a 1st or 2nd gen Nissan Altima any good? They really look cool, and they make me think of an SR20VE. Or, a 94-97 Accord station wagon. What would be a better engine for it, an H22A, a K20A, a K24, or some sort of hybrid K20/K24? I don't think a hybrid K-series would be a good idea for a car rookie, though, and SCC has a buildup of an H22A into a 94 Accord coupe. A station wagon would be more awesomer, cause I could actually carry stuff in it.  

I also apreciate the practicality of a station wagon. For the engine swaps I'm not that big of a fan though. They might be complicated (or get ridden with complications) even if you follow the directions to the letter and will most likely go overbudget before you know it. In my best opinion I would go for one of them Focus station wagons for a few reasons: First They're really cheap considering their year 01-02', two since Ford is more worried about saving money than inovation (hence bringing the Focus from Europe instead of building a domestic model) the engine and engine bay is the same, and Three There are a lot of parts for them bloody cars even turbo kits! ($2,000-$3,000 dollar level.) From Roush or Turbonetics (preferably turbonetics, but who knows). Look it up you'll be surprised. I don't know if people like Ford anymore I don't I'm more of a Nissan guy miself. I'm just impresed by the Focus' aftermarket potential and like I said it's a European model.  

The SCC buildup of an Accord with an H22 says that it is retardedly simple. I don't think that I can afford a Focus wagon, or at least one that is in any good condition. I wouldn't want one, anyway, cuz for that price, I can get any of the cars I am thinking of right now, plus enough mods to fix any problem areas.  

I to am just starting out.

I personaly am leaning towards JDM honda

which yes everyone in your highschool may have a riced out p.o.s. civic but you my friend could have a awsome jdm civic or crx for cheap

the possibilitys are endless and you can make a covershot car for under 10k

what i have in mind is a crx with jdm front clip a b18c-R engine and just a couple of candy peices here and there

so just because its your first car and everyone else owns a honda dont limit yourself

and the idea of a accord sounds awsome if i was you go with a 95 and drop a k20 in it *** that would be clean!

 

Honda CRX
Acura Integra
Nissan Sentra
Toyota MR2 first or second  

ohh yea... Something to really look into.. BMW E-30s... They are super cars and they are cheap to operate...  

dude he has the right idea the honda crx and acura integra is a good choice and you could make it look unique and really all around bad ass for cheap

look around at passwordjdm.com and other jdm sites and just imagine my friend  

Yeah, integras are cool enough, but they are the #1 most stolen car in america, and trust me, it sux to have your car stolen, my dads 87 camry got stolen twice