Which is a better daily driver for me? I have been thinking for roughly 6 months now about what my next vehicle might be. Each day its seems I prefer one car over another. But I've kept my list short. I'm posting this to get other people's thought and ideas on what would be best fitting? o No: What's practical for a 15/16 year old. Thanks in Advance -The vehicle would be daily driven to high school and back, which is short and might not be great for an old engine. And used everyday for whatever else, family parties, friends houses etc. -Cost to get home (shipping) -expenses to get operational -Gas Mileage -ability to eat rice -Theft/vandalism when at school First I was thinking of a a Toyota Tacoma. Yea I know its a import but hey my mom has been bugging me to get one and its probably more reliable then an old car. o No: Second I thought a 1971-1972 Buick Centurion 4-door postless hardtop. I've always liked Adam's (Smartin) car but for me it needed a roof. p The only way i'd get a 4-door is if it was postless. I like the look alot better! One small reason would be show all the "rice burners" at my school a 4-door "grandpa car" beat their tin can! :Brow: Adam, was your LeSabre fun even with a 350? I do like a 2-door too. Like Ted's here on the board. Last is gotta be a 1972 Buick Riviera. Well I use to own one, and the only reason I sold my last one was to find a better Riviera. One with a rust-free body. The bodylines have always attracted me, and the lists upon lists of options. Both this and Centurion I think i'd have a BLAST restoring!
Get a little 4 banger for daily driving and save the power for funner times. The summit gets 28mpg in the city so the extra money I save from that can go to more "useful" things.
You're in high school, you shouldn't be thinking practically - there is plenty of time for that later. I'd say get what you like, what you'd be happy being stuck with for a few years. A newer car will need less maintenence, but an older car's maintenence will be cheaper (and easier for you to do yourself). Gas mileage will probably be the biggest issue, with a newer car winning. You could find a really cheap, beat-up 4-cylinder and save money towards a nice older car. But plan on driving it for a few years. Either way (old or new) plan to put money in the brakes and radiator. If its a newer car, try to find out when the timing belt was changed last. Even if its a non-interference motor, it will be expensive to replace when it breaks (unless you can do it yourself). Obviously, an older car will rarely have this problem.
Go with the Toyota tacoma. Try to get the 4cyl instead of the six. The poer is not much different and the 4cyl is nearly indestructible. (I know, I tried for 2years REALLY hard to kill mine) plus, the pick up is what you will need to pick up all your parts. The stick shift truck will lay rubber like crazy (I used to go through a set of rear tires every year). I sold my 85 Toyota five years ago because the frame rotted out. I still miss it even though I have a c1500 now. Keep the daily driver practical and spend your time and money on your 'fun' car. No one wants to fix a driver.
Do what you like Of the 3 cars you mentioned, I would go with the Riviera. 71 or 72 look the same. They look cool, they stand out, can be really strong runners with just a stock, recurved HEI distributor, and, if you keep it in good shape, value goes up, instead of down. How many others will have one? My buddy got 20+ mpg highway with his 71, before curving the distributor. It did better after that, but we never checked it. The Riv will be cheaper than the Toyota to buy,so you can use the money on gas. If you want to drive a cool, fast car, you can't worry about the "GTO". (Gas, Tires, Oil) The older cars are easier and cheaper to fix, and seem to wear better. My daily drivers for the last 33 years have been mostly 70-71 monte carlos, with a 70 455 SJ gran Prix, and 455 toronados here and there. These things cost me less to drive, than my friends with their car payments. The fact that it is a big car means it should be safer. So, we have; Big, Fast, Cool Looking, Unique, and Fun, on the one hand, and 'transportation' on the other We also have; GTO, Gas, Tires, Oil. Is it worth it to you?
Well, I would hold on, your best bet would actually be an old car. As far as reliablility(this isnt true for all classic cars but for the most part is) my old can has outlasted about 8 or 9 family cars(all of which were newer, and economical) of which have been gotten rid of due to mechanical and other problems here and there, mine has had about maybe 150 to about 200 dollars put into it as far as replacement parts go(seals, brushes, master cylinder, etc), all of which didn't make the car quit running. Right now it needs a tranny rebuild(the tranny has never been touched and its old and got alot of miles on its back) and it will be good to go for another 100k+ more miles. The motor itself has had no known major mechanical problems. The car still runs with a tranny needing rebuilt and still runs good, and the best part is it gets really good gas mileage and still have all the good things about an old car, although im thinking about changing all that with a sbb 350 w/ 4 barrel :Brow: :3gears: :TU:
In all reality, Im probably going to get a Toyota truck and a toy to go with it. Then a few years down the road I'll get a buick again. Not 100% sure, Im still thinking about it.
The Toyota: 1- Cheap on gas 2- More dependable if not loaded in miles 3- Blends in with the crowd 4- Hauling capabilities 5- More modern safety features The Buick: 1- Cheaper to buy 2- Don't have to spend $70 per hour in technician costs. (you fix it) 3- Gets it's daily allowance of rice 4- Makes you stick out in the minds of others (what I wanted in school) 5- Easy performance upgrades you can have fun with 6- Higher resale in 5 years 7- All the info. you need is a keyboard away on V8 with your buds You are asking this on a Buick site, so I assume you love them. Go BUICK! Like to see a poll on this one.
Sounds like an okay idea. Except one thing, does it have to be a toyot*? I know you said your mom wants you to get one(i know how that is, hard to get another idea inside their minds once they get a mindset on something :laugh: ), but why not a chevy? You can get one of those new SSR's or a normal one with a vortec 5.7 Liter motor, those things are fast! :shock: But a toyota would prolly beat it on gas mileage. Just food for thought.
Cody, Im not rich. And If i were I would NEVER buy a SSR. Yuck! :spank: ou: Maybe one of the mods can add a poll for us? o No: Let me say this again, :Brow: Its like this, a Buick and a beater, or a nice Truck and a toy.
Go with the daily driver of 4 cylinder flavor. The Tacoma is pretty decent, and it is built in the USA. You can start projects on your Buick, and not have to worry about it being always driveable. That's what I did anyways... :TU:
Heck, I aint rich either, and you don't have to be rich to buy a good chevy truck. Why not an 1990 SS 454? These things are faster than the vortec stock and when tweaked these things can pack luggage and move down the road. Here's a good example of a 2 in one truck, it can be a toy and yet at the same time a truck :Brow: Here's a good one for example. Link:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...item=4529509466&category=5348&sspagename=WDVW These trucks are really awesome! :3gears: Like I said before, im not to tell you what to buy, but I thought maybe I could at least throw a few pitches at you, so far it's 2-0. :laugh:
3-0 :laugh: p Think about the insurance. Although it looks nice, I wouldn't want to put a dirt bike or atv in the bed. :spank: Keep the pitches coming! :grin:
Put a rhino lining in, they aren't expensive p Insurance? Are you a good driver? What about liability? :laugh: :laugh: :grin:
Cody, If I got a truck that would be one of the things I would do to it. Let's just say I don't drive. Today I don't even feel like owning a Buick, Its like I've lost all passion for one.
That sucks Rob. Sorry to hear that. I love buicks and always will, I love all muscle cars, old cars(not imports though), etc, and I know when I get older I want a 1970 chevelle SS LS6 4 speed, just to have another option, but I want an old buick or so too to play with :Brow: I switch between likes in the brands, but I never quit liking them. Everybody has different likes.
Before the board went down I said pick up an older Lesabre/Regal/Century, around a 90-95 ish. You can get them pretty cheap, it'll last you through college, and then put it out to pasture. You'll drive your first car no matter what it is into the ground. Or a Small pick up truck. Something along those lines.
So, after making a ton of calculations, insurance quotes, parts cost, "sudden" repairs, gas, maint., registration, license plates and stickers. Its probably unlikely I will buy another Buick for awhile. Although Im waiting on a job, its still unlikely I will be able to afford a Buick. The reality is I will be fixing it all the time with money I don't have. The chances are slim, but there is still one possible route for me to go before excluding an old Buick all together. Im persuing that next week. It just doesn't seem practical right now. A pickup does. I know some of you said forget thinking practical, but like many people Im no made of money, and my money tree is the size of a banzai tree, and grows like one too. Great interest rates. ou: Ohwell, more to come in the next few weeks.
You should buy a mopar. A 2 or 4 door 68-70 Dodge Coronet. The 318 V8 is good on gas and the motor is top notch. The Slant V6 is one of the best great gas also cheap insurance. The 318 is peppy and to make it even better you can change the rear end to 8 3/4 or get a suregrip. Or if you want to eat some ricers get a 383
