Does a DSM make a good first car?

[G-Ride]

I'll be turning 16 soon and im eager to do a bit of racing. My brother said i shoudlnt get something too powerful but something i can learn on. So i was wondering wether an eclipse would work out or any other DSM.

 

[BUCK]

N/T ... maybe ----- TURBO... No.

 

[G_S_X]

My first car was a 90' celica ST with 87k miles, manual. After I took an autotech class at my high school i bought my awd [when i was 17] . At some times i have to get help from some older more knowledgable people, but read the boards, get aquainted... then it isnt so bad.

But if it was my first car? I would have to say no too.

 

[4g63GSX]

i went from a 2G n/t to a 1g AWD turbo and the 2g was great for my first dsm, but the 1G takes the cake

 

[paranoidTSi]

I don't know about the non-turbos but I honestly would not have a turbo'd DSM as a first car...especially if you plan on seriously racing it AND using it as a daily driver. I think a DSM would make a good secondary race car, but I think you ought to look into getting a beater as well if you are going for a turbo DSM.

 

[Attack Eagle]

For the eclipse and talon 2 generations are 95-99 for the n/t you could probably get a pretty good deal on it for under 10k in really good condition. read up on the 2gnts n/t so you are sure its right for you

Actaully chief, I see N/t going for 3-4k all the time.
Values on the Dsm's has dropped a lot more sincethey got more than 3 years out of production.
AWD values are hovering around 8-10k and thats dealer prices.

obviusly this is for relatively unmolested cars and not private tuned cars. but you could get a nice 2g nt 97-98 Eagle for probably 4-5 k... learn to drive it well upgrade the rims and tires and so on and then later either turbo it or sell it and buy a turbo. this way any cosmetics that you get could be swapped to the new car.

 

[NeOzz1]

My parents gave me there old 94 Toyota Pickup 4x4 120,000 miles when I was 16 & 1/2. I had that for only a few months then I upgraded to my 91 Talon TSi 48,000 miles so basically it was my first nice car and I think its working out fine.

 

[midnght]

I say go for the Turbo Model.


These cars have the "POTENTIAL" to be fast. They are not some sort of demon in the factory bone stock state. Buy the car and learn it before you start adding stuff. You can set your own pace.


Most people will say they are too much for a new driver, but they are all 20whp different than a GSR. It is no F1 by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Just Nasty]

you guys make me not even want to get my DSM in a couple months

 

[midnght]

you guys make me not even want to get my DSM in a couple months

You will learn to tune out what is good and bad on your own. If you don't pick up that DSM in a couple of months then some other fool will get it and treat as a beater.

They are outstanding cars. Any turocharged car in a certian $ range is worht getting. Even for a first car. Most everything out there is not all that fast until you MAKE it that way.

 

[DSMKevan]

I have (or...am getting) a tsi for my first car, but am driving our chevy malibu as of now. Unfortunately my uncle, who is getting the car ready for me, has lots of work and is very slow in the first place. I was supposed to receive it last summer....but now its almost this summer and I dont have it.
But I suppose something good did come out of it. Ive been studying the dsm community and everything I can get my hands on almost EVERY day I can, and its amazing how much information this community holds. If you stick with your dsm, and plan on fixing lots of stuff, it will be good in the long run. Just make sure you have a backup car!