ti good for first car?

[tiFreak]

I think it would make a pretty good first car, of coarse, I'm a bit biased since this is my first car (technically, my first car was a ford probe but I ended up getting rid of that and getting the ti before I got my license)

[Philly]

Originally Posted by thesk8nmidget

just dont be an idiot! get the ti and respect it! dont go showing off at lunch time with some buddies and end up jumping some curb and detroying your car or worse someones life.

be smart and remember with mods.
quality>quantity

Amen brother!

[themightyquinn]

Great advice so far! I'm 19, but when I got my license at 16 I inherited a beat up 1991 Ford Escort wagon stick. 88hp and faded, oxidized, bright red paint ftw! er...loss haha.

Either way, I learned stick on that car, and when I'd saved up some cash, guess what I bought? Uh huh, another Ford Escort! This time a 1994 "GT" with the 1.8L Mazda engine, still stick. Man, I thought that car was the SH*T! Drove that around for awhile, learned how to do some basic maintainance like oil changes and brakes and the likes. One day the sucker overheated, and while I was still somewhat noobish with cars, drove 25 minutes home. You also guessed it...blew the headgasket and warped the head. That car went right to the junk yard. Lesson learned though, and I'm damn glad it was with a $700 Escort than a $4000+ BMW.

Buy a cheap Escort or Civic for a grand now, learn to work on it and perfect your driving skills, and save up. THEN buy the ti after a couple years.

Just my .02 from another younger guy who's been in your situation

[mc_conor]

I'm 19 and started driving on the public roads just 6 months ago. My first car is a 316i compact and i'm fine with it.

But then over in the states if you can drive at 15 years of age then maybe i can see why it wouldn't be the best idea. RWD in the wet can be a bit dodgy sometimes, even with 102 bhp.

But all in all i think it's a great first car, yes maintenence costs are pretty expensive and it's not the best on fuel, but if you can afford it i don't see why not if you're sensible and understand at least a bit about car dynamics.

And i've driven a good few cars and bearing in mind my cars low power output it is by far the most enjoyable car and a joy to drive everyday.

[elchicano]

It's actually 15.5 with classes. But talking from experience most likely you wont take of the bmw like it should. If you do, most likely you'll rice it out. I know because that's what i did to my first car and so did my friends.

[zboot]

is it a good first car? Sure. Most of the advice here against you getting a ti (first) is that you may end up doing something regrettable. However, that's from the point of view of ppl who already own one.

I'd say if you like it, go for it. In four years, you'll have a harder time getting your hands on one. Now is the time to enjoy one. It's up to you how you treat it. Barring something catastrophic happening to mine, I'm not going to be in the market for another one anyway.

[themightyquinn]

Zboot that bit about them being harder to find in 4 years is definitely true, didn't think about that...

[GoEz]

Thanks for the replies guys, I really do appreciate them. Sorry for not responding to this earlier, been a little busy with AP exams...

I am listening to advice and am looking for alternatives, but that doesnt mean I still wont 'look' at TIs. Anyway I found some on craigslist that are near me and Im wondering what you think and what I should look for in them:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/car/684802651.html - 98 red 146k miles
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/car/687093515.html - 97 black 68k miles
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/car/684599109.html - 96 black 139k miles
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/car/670791295.html - 97 white 100k miles

Again thanks for the replies and I honestly do see where some of you are coming from, I really do

And for the record Im 17, and I really do regret not getting this stuff done earlier :P

[elchicano]

Dude AP exams FTL. I would have recommended taking some college classes in high school instead they are alot easier to do. but yea the 1st one looks like a sports model and the other 3 are base/active models. Probably the last one maybe a good deal.

[thesk8nmidget]

i love the sports so naturally i say the first one.

but it seems a little high in price. so the budget side of me says the last one. looks clean but isnt a sport

[b.u.ti-ful]

Decide if you want stick or automatic first - that will narrow the choices.

Next, I personally look for low miles.

[tiFreak]

get the 3rd one with the dubs

[thesk8nmidget]

ignore any comments for the dub lower

[M3ti-ish]

A 318ti is an amazing car, but i would say its a great 2nd car. my 318 was my first car and yes you do stupid things in it, stuff breaks and because its a bmw its pricey. to be honest a Volvo 240 would be a better first car, because a) the cheap to fix, B) cant kill yourself and C) yes its rear wheel drive but its heavy so it handle better in slick conditions. Personally i dont regret having my 318ti as my first car, my current car is a 2006 Subaru STI and i think the ti really made me a better drive and got me ready for something a bit quicker... now i use my 318ti for track and auto X

[classicronnie]

I wrecked my 00 jeep grand cherokee limited about a year after buying , I would reccomend a blazer / jeep for your first car.