OT: Car for my daughter, Might be mine someday. Options

[914Eric]

OK...so I need a nice transportation car for my daughter, that she will supposedly pay me back for. Given past history, there is a 50/50 chance that will happen. Since I might end up owning it, I don't want just anything. I mean it might actually be parked next to a perfect original 914 someday. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)


I’m thinking in the $2-4K range that is maybe 10-15 years old. Maybe something worth putting a new engine in it if it came to that and is a cool driver. Perhaps a particular year/model Honda civic; maybe a particular Subaru that is fun to drive? Maybe a Volkswagen?

I would love to hear all your suggestions. With your suggestion, how many miles will it should run before a new engine is likely?

[r_towle]

Get her a used 911.
She will likely make the payments to you for fear of losing the coolest car a kid can drive...
Or, when you repossess it, you can strip it for parts and convert your 914 ...

Everyone can win here.

[Mark Henry]

Get her a used 911.
She will likely make the payments to you for fear of losing the coolest car a kid can drive...
Or, when you repossess it, you can strip it for parts and convert your 914 ...

Everyone can win here.

A 911 with a 1600cc stock beetle engine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[356'er]

No matter what car you decide to get your daughter in the end, I would recommend getting her some autocross time and track time. Learning the physics of driving, especially in her first car, will go a long way to keeping her safe. NASA (not the space program) has a good one day teen drivers clinic, like a mini autocross school for under $100 and many of the PCA clubs allow for licensed drivers under 18 to participate in their autocrosses.

As far as the car question, we had a 1996 Volvo 850 - 220K miles when it didn't pass smog but was otherwise still in great shape, I agree with others here, the later cars not as good (our 2000 S70 is not as fun to drive and the automatic in it is less responsive). I could recommend an older Volvo easy, parts can be expensive though.

Have friends that regularly track their Miatas (weekly for hours at a time) and can't kill them and they hang onto the road really well. They are cheap to maintain.

My son's car is a 914 and it has been great for him to learn to drive and autocross in and since we went through it, it is as reliable as anything else.

We have an Audi wagon and a Boxster and they are both great cars but the cost of maintenance if done through the dealer is pretty high, even for regular maintenance. Check out Pelican Parts site for do it yourself tutorials for the Boxster.

As for insurance (Allstate), it is $100 a month full coverage for my son on the 914, and can drive any of the other cars. Most of the cost goes toward liability and not for replacement of the 914. So as long as the value of the car isn't over $5-6000 I wouldn't think it would be worse than that.

Hope this is useful.

Jonathan