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First Car
OneAndOnly |
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WME Metropolitan Runner
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Member No.: 2,718
Joined: May 1st 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
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Hey guys, Well Ive been on this forum for about a week I think, and I love it, Now I have always been into cars since I was like 10. So, I do have knowledge about cars, but when it comes to under the hood, all I know is what I get from movies,car mag's and of coarse anime lol. And so I have been thinking about getting my first car for awhile now, but now with my new job, and my employer wanting to give me as many shifts as possible, I can now think about my first car more seriously, now that I will finally have the money.
So I was wondering if you guys could give me some idea's for a first car, right now I don't have a budget, but Im not planning on dropping a ton of money as I'm still in school. Now I know you guys are probably going to tell me to just get a civic because they are cheap, and good first timer cars. Well as I am on this board longer and you guys get to know me, you will learn that I like to be different.
So thanks for reading that, lol, and I am open to many suggestions, but please note I do live in Canada so not everything is available to me.
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AMON |
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WME Metropolitan Runner
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Location: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
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My first pick would definitely be the Toyota Vitz. It's called the 'Toyota Yaris' here for the 2006 model year onward; 'Toyota Echo' for 2005 model year and earlier. They are powered by the same 1.5L straight-four engine with VVT-i. Excellent fuel economy due to three factors: -light weight; I estimate it to be under 1080kg -small engine -variable valve timing
All Yaris use the same 1.5L engine. Typically, you'll want the 3-door hatchback as it's lighter, cheaper, and has more utility (being a hatchback) than the sedan. I'm guessing it'd be around $15,500 for a brand new 2008 Toyota Yaris base to your driveway, including provincial/federal taxes/rebates and freight costs already combined. Insurance is mostly cheap (the car is cheap), it's reliable as per typical Toyota autos, and extremely easy to drive. The Toyota Echo (chassis ID: NCP13; model year: 2005 and earlier) is already a very highly desirable car on Canada's used auto market, and can be had for between 9,000 and 14,000 with an average 55,000km on the odometer.
From a performance standpoint for either Yaris or Echo, the wheel has good road feedback, brakes are responsive, and suspensions are on the mild side for an 'econobox' hatch. With regards to aftermarket (this includes the Matrix and Corolla as they all use the same stuff), personally, to improve driving feel, I'd find a better steering wheel with better adjustment, aluminum pedals, and maybe an adjustable, mild or semi-bucket seat with lateral support and lower seating position if you'll be driving longer distances or on closed tracks. One typical complaint about the Echo/Yaris is that the shifter is a little awkward.
Plus, after seeing what Yashio Factory did to a NCP13 Vitz, I'm bent on getting an Echo for myself anyway. Your inquiry couldn't have been better timed.
This post has been edited by AMON on May 7 2008, 03:23 AM
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OneAndOnly |
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WME Metropolitan Runner
Group: Members
Posts: 53
Member No.: 2,718
Joined: May 1st 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
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yeah sorry for not clarifying that, Im looking for speed, and I plan on modding it as I go on in life,lol
Also, to any canadians, do you guys know if the Evo V conversion for the Mitsubishi mirage is illegal here, since the Evo V is illegal here because of the new import laws. I say this because, imagine you get pulled over by a cop, and have to explain to him it's a body kit
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AMON |
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WME Metropolitan Runner
Group: Members
Posts: 70
Member No.: 2,598
Joined: Apr 10th 2008
Location: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
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QUOTE (OneAndOnly @ Today at 4:26 AM) | yeah sorry for not clarifying that, Im looking for speed, and I plan on modding it as I go on in life,lol
Also, to any canadians, do you guys know if the Evo V conversion for the Mitsubishi mirage is illegal here, since the Evo V is illegal here because of the new import laws. I say this because, imagine you get pulled over by a cop, and have to explain to him it's a body kit |
"Fast" and "cheap" don't work together. For example, a Honda Fit, modified to any degree, will always be slow on the freeway. A lightly tuned Honda Fit on winding hillside curves is another story. Good luck to you if you really think you'll find a highway-blasting economy car.
As for the body conversion, I don't know. In most cases, the only realistic restraints on Canadian motor vehicles is safety and emissions. If neither are tampered with, then I suppose the aero conversion is legal.
This post has been edited by AMON on May 7 2008, 03:51 PM
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AK-Z |
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Grumpy old guy :p
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In the states is safety, emmissions, lights and bumpers. The definition of bumper can be different from one person to another, but its not a something that the cops can pull you over for. Emissions, any car that was made in 1975 or older, doesn't require emissions inspection (going by cali regs), neither do deissel. My state is doing away with inspections come 2009, so . There isn't any sort of restrictions on aero styling as far as I know of. If its something outlandish then maybe. light effects are a no no. This falls under the "distractions to other drivers". To answer your question on the EVO V kit. it is perfectly legal. if cop pulls you over, they run your registration and see that the VIN is a mirage. If he doubts that, then all he has to do is look at the VIN plate on your dash to see if they match. In Canadaland, I thought they had a lesser restrivtion on emissions, because I saw a bunch of skylines (mostly gt-s) running around there , when I was driving from alaska to washington.
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DreadAngel |
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Request Title - PM Mods
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Look at everything required for car ownership, not just what you like to have or ideal aiming for...
#1 - Affordability - Whats your income like as this will dictate what car you'll actually be able to afford to not only buy it but maintain and running cost (insurance, registeration, petrol which is rising VERY rapidly) as well...
#2 - Practicality - 2 Door, 3 Door, 5 Door, 2 seats, 4 seats, 5 seats, small, medium, large, sedan, coupe, hatch, etc... If you like partying and taking friends, work or do stuff that requires you to load up your car, a small 2 door coupe will make your life with your car a misery...
Unfortunately for most, first car is normally on the need basis, a daily runner to get you from A - B with minimal fuss. Its fine to dream about having a BNR34 as your car, if you worked all your teen and some of your adult life to afford it (or parents $$$ which personally I don't approve, earn it yourself) then thats good for you but for most, this isn't the case so the top two points come WAY before interest...
My suggestion is to save up enough $$$ to get a decent car around 96 - 00 (generally car age dictates the amount of maintence/restoration work needed to be done on a regular basis) to have a decent first car. Don't bother with a beater/project car as your first, you'll come to hate your decision within 3 mths of "constant patch ups and running but not sure how long will it last is crystal ball territory"... A nice small 1.6L - 1.8L to keep petrol worries away like a Honda EK Civic or Toyota AE11X Corolla...
This post has been edited by DreadAngel on May 14 2008, 06:15 AM
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PDK |
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Request Title - PM Mods
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QUOTE (AMON @ May 6 2008, 05:09 PM) | With regards to aftermarket (this includes the Matrix and Corolla as they all use the same stuff), personally, to improve driving feel, I'd find a better steering wheel with better adjustment, aluminum pedals, and maybe an adjustable, mild or semi-bucket seat with lateral support and lower seating position if you'll be driving longer distances or on closed tracks. |
A wicked suspension setup and a set of light weight wheels/stickier rubber is always heaps better then mods that lean towards the cosmetics side of things. A steering wheel, bucket seat, and aluminum pedals wont do much for driving feel. You'll look cool driving your stock Yaris though, if you live in Riceville.
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Top Secret |
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WME Member
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Location: Detroit Michigan
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QUOTE (AK-Z @ May 16 2008, 05:02 AM) | Also "cost of the car" doesn't just mean initial cost. you have
1. cost of car 2. inspection fees 3. insurance (which insurance bracket you and the car in question fall into) 4. registration fees 5. fuel 6. price of parts for maintainence.
all these vary for car to car, except inspection and registration. |
here is your answer, and it must be something slow if it's your first car and you are learning how to drive. I'm tired of kids making my insurance rates go higher everytime they crash lol
or just jump into the bandwagon and buy a civic...
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