Getting my first car!

By the end of the summer, I will have saved up enough money to buy my first car! Probably going to be a 1998 Dodge Neon I found for $1,295. I have a few questions though. It has 85,000 miles, is that a lot for a '98 Neon? Is a Neon a good choice for a first car? How good is the gas mileage on a Neon?

Here's a picture of it:



I think that's a decent condition for '98, considering that most '98 Neons I see at my stores parking lot look run-down.

Re: Getting my first car!

I think they figure about 12,000 miles per year average, so 85,000 probably isn't bad. However a lot depends on how well it was maintained or not maintained.
After it has sat for the night, have someone else start it up while you look at the exhaust. Blue smoke & it is burning a little oil, black and the air/fuel mixture may be off. Water vapor or nothing is ok. Listen to the motor for tapping. check the color of the oil. Is it clear or is there a metal flake look to it? Is the coolant that florescent color or does it have a brown tint to it? Check for oil leaks in it's parking spot and on the underside of the motor.
I am currently driving a Ford ZX2 (escort) that I purchased with about 20,000 miles on it. It currently has over 135,000 and I am planning to hit 200,000.
Once you purchase it, are you going to put it in your signature?

Re: Getting my first car!

Probably after some visual modifications.

I was thinking of asking the dealer if I could take it to a mechanic for a check-up before I bought it. That way I'll know what I'm dealing with.

Re: Getting my first car!

Excellent idea. Even if it costs you a hundred bucks or so. If the seller is straight forward they shouldn't object at all.....but make sure it's in writing that you can return it if it doesn't pan out. Let the mechanic change the oil...you can tell a lot about what's inside by what comes out.

Mort

PS. Check CarFax so you'll know that it wasn't salvaged from some lagoon.

Re: Getting my first car!

I looked at a bunch of owner reviews on Edmunds.com and it gets fairly favorable ratings from owners. The price seems very fair and 85k miles isn't bad, especially if you don't plan on putting a large amount of miles per year yourself.

You should ask dealer to see a carfax report and make sure you know what the history of the car is. Taking it to a mechanic is a good idea. (make sure it has a clean title)

Check tires for both amount of tread and cracks (dry rot). Good tires are a must. Expect to replace the battery if you don't know age, that's $50-$75 and good insurance as well.

While you're doing research (edmunds, etc) go to an automotive forum and read posts on the Neon. I have learned tons of great info on my cars from enthusiasts on auto forums.

Buying your first car is an exciting event. By looking for a good value at a low price you also minimize your financial risk and keep you car insurance lower (no comp/collision).

There are lots of maintenance things you can do yourself. Changing oil, air filters, wiper blades are all rites of passage. Part of the fun of owning the car is getting knowledgeable about it and doing some of the routine maintenance yourself.

Good luck and keep us posted on how you make out.

PS: Drive the car gingerly. Lots of problems are caused by pushing it (especially older cars) more than you should. Be nice to your car and it'll be nice in return.

Re: Getting my first car!

Early Neons had horrendous head gasket problems, don't know if this was cured by '98. Definitely have it checked for this--a good shop can put the smog "sniffer" in the radiator cap opening or even the coolant reserve tank once the engine is warm and thermostat is open to find CO2 in the coolant and confirm a bad head gasket. Another thing to try is to start it from cold and sniff the exhaust for a sickly sweet burning coolant smell. Some water vapor on cold start is normal but it shouldn't have a sweet smell.

In any case a good inspection prior to purchase by someone experienced with that model (I.E. a Dodge dealership shop) is highly recommended. I used to work in a Toyota dealership service dept. and we saved some people some real headaches when they brought prospective purchases in for inspections. One particular Celica was brought in 3 different times by 3 different prospective buyers--it was a salvage job and a bad one at that.

Don't be too concerned if it's been in a fender bender, most cars this age have been pranged once or twice. As long as the unibody's straight and there are no obvious signs of it having been totalled it should be ok. Mechanical condition is much more important. My ex is driving a 94 Altima (purchased by her new in "94) that was T-boned by a Taurus nearly 10 years ago. Body shop was competent and the car is totally reliable.

If the head gasket's ok buy it and treat it well. Most "first cars" don't last long due to being driven too hard and/or not maintained well.

Re: Getting my first car!

I certainly had a worse first car

Now if you can afford $400/month in gas/insurance/maintenance/misc. You'll be all set.

PS: Its a 98 Neon, don't bother wasting money on 19" chrome or a wing.

Re: Getting my first car!

Steve is spot on about the head gasket problems. (But when has Steve ever not been spot on regarding any car-related issues? Honestly, Steve, you should have your own car advice column. Any publishers/editors here who could give Steve his first big break?) And the problems were in the '98 Neons as well. It's a design issue: the head gasket gets really narrow where it accommodates a bolt-hole, and that's where it blows.

Other than that, they're cute, fun little cars.


I'm sorry, did I say "cute"? I meant "macho". That's what I meant.

Re: Getting my first car!

After seeing some crash pictures of someone I know from another forum (), I'm not so sure I'd feel safe in a Neon... Maybe a truck would be a safer solution?

Re: Getting my first car!

Umm. Bob. Why do I have a feeling this thread is going to end up like the speaker building one? If you guy a truck your insurance is going to be twice what it would be with that Neon. Im 24 and pay $1200 a year for insurance. I drive a Ford Taurus and have minimum liabilty and no collision coverage. If you dont mind the idea of all of your income going towords gas, insurance and maintenance buy a truck. Otherwise id just buy a beater like that Neon and try to not flip it over like the guy in that photo probably did to his.

Re: Getting my first car!

neon or a caviler, both good starter cars

Re: Getting my first car!

Thanks for the kind words, Brian.

A small car driven by an alert driver aware of surrounding traffic and on the lookout for potential problems is safer imho than a battering ram driven by someone distracted by a cellphone or yammering kids. Just as a Neon is no match for a Navigator in an accident, a Navigator is no match for an 18 wheeler. I guess what I'm advocating is active rather than passive safety.
The Neon, driven within it's limits, is a much more controllable vehicle in a tight spot than a big truck--better braking and emergency handling. I think a number of drivers of bigger vehicles get a false sense of security from all that massive metal around them and lose sight of the fact that the laws of physics make that extra mass a detriment when an emergency maneuver is required, aside from any poor driving habits that false sense of security may engender.

On another subject, in the under 2k price range it's difficult to find a vehicle that isn't going to either already have or soon develope some problem requiring repair, so it's wise to pick something that's cheap to fix and to budget for potential repairs ahead of time. Trucks not only cost more to repair but their higher insurance and gas costs are going to leave less money for repairs and maintenance.

One good idea is to take a basic course in auto mechanics or just basic automotive maintenance. Even if you still don't feel competent to do some repairs you will be less likely to fall victim to a repair ripoff if you have some knowledge of the workings of your car.

Cars that are less than fashionable among the youth culture are likely to be cheaper and in better condition than the popular Civics etc. If purchasing a car with a belt driven overhead cam, try to find one that has a "non-interference" engine--meaning that if the belt breaks the valves will not contact the tops of the pistons and trash the entire engine. If the car in question is an interference design at least make sure the timing belt is in good condition or replace it as soon as possible.

Re: Getting my first car!

Thanks for the help guys.

I've been trying to start good habits behind the wheel by watching my mom drive and improving on it. (she has a completely clean record, not even a warning) I even correct her driving sometimes. (Messing around with her )

But, I wanted to know how to make sure this is a safe to drive car. I know about the car fax, the mechanic, etc. but also wanted to know how to get around that engine problem mentioned above. Would ordering the new parts be a good idea? Or should I talk to the mechanic about it?

Re: Getting my first car!

I suggest ordering as many parts as you can find for that car that you don't own. This car is extremely unsafe. In fact, I dont beleive they came street legal from the factory. A fact about the Dodge Neon, In order to save costs at the factory, grocery bags from the piggly wiggly were used in leiu of standard air bags.

Do you have a drivers license yet?

Re: Getting my first car!

Did I say I was going to order them now? No.

And my mom refuses to get my my permit until I get a car. So, I'm getting a car.

Re: Getting my first car!

Don't you need a permit/license before you can register a car?

Re: Getting my first car!

Have you factored the cost of car insurance into your planning? Car insurance at your age with no experience will most likely cost in the neighborhood of $2,000 per year. A lot more than what you're going to pay for a car, and that's for an older car with no collision.

Some other questions. Have you discussed with your mother, who's going to pay for insurance? Do you know what an "Umbrella Policy" is? Does your state require you to have insurance with a permit or just with a license?

Owning a car is a lot more expensive at your age and experience than the initial cost of the car. It'll take 3 years of driving experience typically before you begin to see your rates fall substantially. And if you get a ticket or cause an accident, forget it.

So you can expect just for the first 3 years of driving to pay probably on the order of $5,000 just for liability insurance.

Re: Getting my first car!

We are going to split it 50/50 until I turn 18.

Re: Getting my first car!

Have it checked for the head gasket problem before you buy it. If it's bad, pass on the car. If it's good buy it and keep an eye out for symptoms of it going bad--frequent need to add coolant, sweet smelling steamy exhaust on startup after sitting overnight, overheating. Unless or until these symptoms appear just drive it and enjoy it. Prices of parts aren't going to go up in the future, no need to buy any in advance.

Be sure to occasionally glance at the temp guage on any car, if it indicates that the engine is too hot, pull over and stop as soon as safely possible and shut off the engine. Continuing to drive an overheated engine can turn a simple leaky hose replacement into a major engine overhaul. Needless to say the same applies if any warning lights come on (charging or oil pressure), the one exception being the "check engine" light--if that comes on and the car is otherwise running fine it's ok to drive until you can get it checked out. Also regularly check oil, coolant, and transmission fluid levels--look for leaks if they are dropping quickly and keep them at recommended levels, and check the tire pressure at least monthly.

You can often save on insurance if the car is registered in your parents' name and insured as a second car with you as one of the drivers vs registering it in your own name. This is what we did with my first car back in ancient times and it saved quite a bit.

Re: Getting my first car!

Steve, The numbers I was quoting was putting my son's on my policy on a 1994 Sable with no collision. I have 3 sons close in age. I was getting hammered for about $2000 every 6 months for many years until they all started getting past that 3 year mark. My eyes would tear up as I wrote those checks out. That was with all the discounts and completely clean driving records. I figure I spent about $15,000 just covering the first 3 years for each of them. When they bought their own used cars and own insurance after the 3 years, their insurance dropped to about $350 a year for liability. Then college started...Parenthood, it's a wonderful thing...

Re: Getting my first car!

Someone on another forum told me that putting the car in my Mothers name and putting me as an occasional driver would help.

Re: Getting my first car!

Is the Neon the best option out of this list of cars?

Re: Getting my first car!

Bobby, I'd say that you would have a tough time going wrong with a Toyota. My Tacoma has 201,000 miles on it, and it is my only four-wheeled vehicle. (My other main vehicle is a Kawasaki.) They are good, bullet-proof cars with astounding reliability histories.

Re: Getting my first car!

For older cars, it's hard to argue Toyota, Honda or Nissan for reliability and longevity. My two son's bought a 1996 Maxima and a 1996 Sentra. Nissan's tend to be the best value of the three. Given that, the history of the car is very important. Both Nissan's were bought off Craigslist from very reputable people. In both cases owners had all service documentation. It took months of looking and jumping on Craigslist ad's within minutes of posting to get these two cars.

Go look at some cars and start to get a feel for what's in your price range and condition, mileage, etc. If you do some homework up front, then you'll know the car you want when you see it. $1500 will be a risky and challeging price point.

Re: Getting my first car!

I have a 1995 Corolla now, and I had a 1995 Chrysler Cirrus before that.

The Chrysler was undeniably more fun to drive, and an absolute tank (I drove away from accidents that would probably total the Corolla). That said, even subtracting repairs that might have resulted from problems traced to those accidents, the car was an absolute lemon. I replaced the transmission, almost all of the tubes, the power steering lines, the gas lines, the brakes and the water pump (and when the new one started leaking I basically carried around a jug of water to pour directly into my radiator when the car started overheating).

By contrast, the Corolla is a downgrade from a V6 to a four-cylinder. But the fuel economy is nearly twice as good (all though that might be partially influenced by a leak I missed in the Chrysler) and after driving it for about a year now I haven't had to take it into the shop once. The only things I've really replaced were the radiator tube (~$5) and the windshield wipers (<$20).

Toyotas aren't especially sexy (but then again, most sedans aren't), but they do hold up extremely well.

Re: Getting my first car!

Second and third the vote for an older (mid-90s) Corolla. These were virtually bulletproof mechanically and did not appeal to the demographic most likely to abuse an automobile. Buying from a private party can give you some idea of the type of person that previously owned the vehicle. A lot of more mature folks bought these cars and maintained them properly.

Yes, they are somewhat dull and boring but short of totalling them in an accident they're really hard to kill.

Re: Getting my first car!

So, look for a Toyota and if there aren't any look for a Nissan instead?

Actually, my parents had a '95 Nissan Maxima that broke down last year at 220,000 miles. It was supposed to be my first car, but once it broke down they sold it for parts. So, I guess I should just look into Toyota?

Re: Getting my first car!

If there's no glaring problems with it -- meaning you won't have to spend and additional $1,295 to make it reliable -- I would say it's a good deal.

Re: Getting my first car!

If the Neon checks out ok go with it. If you're not comfortable about getting it look at Toyota Corolla, then Nissan Sentra, then Honda Civic. This order is not meant to reflect the overall reliability of these respected makes but the likelihood of them having had decent maintenance and having been driven sanely.

Toyota Corolla owners just tend to take better care of their cars than Nissan Sentra owners, on average. Civics were much more popular with folks likely to drive their cars really hard.

If you don't mind something with a bit poorer fuel economy than the Corolla, Sentra, Civic I'd highly recommend a mid-90s Nissan Altima. These were a bit larger and heavier but can't be beat for reliability. They had chain driven overhead cams so no worrys about broken timing belts, and they're built like tanks--very solid and rattle free with a very substantial feel on the road, much more so than the smaller cars. They have actually quite good acceleration and very good handling qualities. Average about 19-21 mpg in town, high 20s to low 30s on the highway. A good bit roomier than Corolla/Sentra/Civic and great freeway cruisers for long trips. My ex has a '94 Altima that was badly T-boned by a Taurus back in '98, repaired, and still runs and drives like new.

Re: Getting my first car!

Well, here's my token thought. My first car was a 1979 Celica GT. It had 250,000km on it when I got it, it had 350,000km when I gave it away.

It went through one litre of oil every three months or so, needed a new battery and alternator during its 100,000km tenure, and needed new tires. C'est ca!

Good reliable car. Ugly as hell, but it did its purpose - get me from point A to B.

YMMV