Affordable Sports Cars

Can I take a test drive now or should I wait till I have the down payment?

I'd really love to take a test drive! But I think I should make up how much money I have saved...I took a test drive with the Kia Soul when I hadn't saved up anything, but they were so friendly that they didn't care that I didn't have a down payment...but the car was only $15k and is meant to be a first car...I don't think I'd have the same response if I wanted to take a sports car for a test drive without a few K's saved up.

What I mean by this is that they will help me with making sure I pick out the right car and that I'm not getting screwed over by the dealer. We've already talked about me paying for the car, the insurance, and the maintenance.

good....glad you have already had that conversation about the insurance & maintenance.....now you say they will help you pick out the right car....before you said you get to pick whatever YOU want. What happens if the maintenance & insurance is above your means at this time of life?

Usually a sports car takes so much $ to maintain & for insurance its a first car after settling into a career, not working at McDonalds.

Lol...you are probably right about test driving a sports car being different than the kind of car that would be a first car. They don't want people just taking those kinds of cars out for a spin. I was shocked when I mover to this small town & test drove my truck. They not only didn't go out on the test drive they let me test it for the whole weekend....so not like California.

I'm sure you will find the right car that will fit all your needs with patience & looking around. its probably best to wait on the test driving until you are serious about buying with the $. They like to pressure. I left my H & all his cars broke. He had bad credit & they sold him a car...even qualified him for a loan he didn't have the money to pay when he finally got the house loan modified after being in foreclosure on that. Glad your parents are there to help you in making a wise decision & glad to hear you are willing to listen

I did say to get the car I want. I'm sorry I'm not clear, I have a hard time expressing myself over the internet in a coherent manner sometimes.

What I mean is...They don't want me to get a sports car, but it's my money, so when the time comes for me to pick out a car, I know that they will be there to help me out even if they don't think it's the practical car they were hoping I'd get. They are hoping for me to buy an SUV, but for me...the SUV I have is far too big. If I absolutely have to get an SUV, I'll go with the Kia Soul. At least that is an SUV with a personality, and much smaller than the Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Right now my SUV is a borrowed hand me down from my dad...My parents will "borrow" it from time to time if they need to haul something or they'd prefer to take it if we're going for a bit of a drive. But if I had my own car, I wouldn't let my parents drive it...and I think the Kia Soul would be too hard on my Dad's hip since it's much smaller.

Also, when I took a test drive for the Kia Soul, I noticed the brakes were very touchy, and when I work in the drive through I'll talk with those who have Kia Souls and they all said the same thing, but that you get used to it.

That's why I'd like to take the test drive now...One...because it'd be fun, no doubt in that. But also, I need to do my research on the car and certain things I'd have to ask the dealer about the car that I can't ask here, or things I wouldn't know what to ask unless I take it for a test drive myself. Especially for the mustang and the camaro, it's going to be a LOT more powerful than the rickety SUV and I have to be sure I can handle it. And for the Nissan, I have to be sure I can get it in an automatic. I can say looks alone, the Nissan is my favorite, but I love the Camaro and the Mustang as well, and I won't be able to know how they feel unless I'm behind the wheel.

I'd like to here from the rest of the group. Test drive tomorrow: Yes or No?

My mom has a challenger, but it doesn't appeal to me. My dad, however, has a Camaro and ever since he got it I wanted to take it out on a test drive.

They both only put a couple thousand dollars on it plus a trade in. But on the other hand, they both have stable careers and they can afford having higher monthly payments.

That's why I want to have as big of a down payment as possible...within the next couple years.

In one month I saved up $740. This next paycheck will be pretty lousy, but if I save half my paycheck each pay period I'll have the money in no time!

I feel pretty confident about the test drives.

Since my Dad has the Camaro, I know the car well and the things to ask the dealer like what different interiors I can choose from (I don't like some of the plastic parts in my Dad's car) and some of the special added-on features like Sirius FM, bluetooth, gps, etc. Those are all things to consider if I want to be able to afford driving it. I can live without Sirius FM because I prefer my iPod, bluetooth is standard and shouldn't cost anything (I hope), and my parents use the GPS on their phones...but I get lost so easy I think that would be the only thing I would be willing to pay extra for.

The Ford Mustang should be a no brainer, lots of young kids my age drive them, though usually older models...in fact, that was my "first car" though I didn't buy it myself. Mine was a '98 POS that didn't last a year because it was in such bad shape when I bought it. So I should expect that the dealer should have experience in dealing with college age kids, and they might offer me an even better deal than if I went in looking for something brand new.

I don't know much about the Nissan though, and if they don't have automatic, cross it off my list and say oh well.

In the drive thru a Subaru BRZ pulled up that looked nice, but not really a girls car. I'd have to look at the colors and see if maybe I just didn't get a good enough look.

My only fear is that I'd damage a test car...or any other car on the test drive! When I took the test drive on the Kia Soul the brakes were so touchy that it made me very nervous. The Camaro, Mustang, Nissan, and Subaru should all be smooth rides on the brake...I hope...but I'm worried that it'd be too powerful and I'd get in an accident. I'm sure that's a fear for most people taking out test drives, and I'm sure it happens...but that's not something I want to happen while testing out a sports car...come home and tell my Dad "Hey, I took a test drive on the Camaro! But I hit a car pulling out of the dealership."

So any advice on the test drive itself? What should I be prepared for when I'm behind the wheel? Of course, I'll take it slower than usual, but those cars have serious power and I don't want to cause any accidents!

I bought so many cars & test drove so many living in Ca. All my life. Most test drives the sales person is in the car with you & directs where they allow you to drive....sort of a no brainier sort of drive & IMO doesn't really let you test out what you really would like from my experience.

From your experience you said that they can be pushy....thats why i want to not have to lie about my savings and focus on going in with "this is my top choice car, but i have a couple in mind...show me why i should choose this car"

And yes, my kia soul test drive was with the dealer but he gave me a bit of the reins of where to drive...spent about 20 minutes driving a loop of country and side streets

I think the key is to have confidence...dont tell them im nervous...

Lol.....yes, Never admit nervous to a car salesman.

I have come to know the owners of the Ford dealership in a neighboring town....first time in my life so I would trust them in a way I've never trusted a car dealership before...always felt like I was walking into a swarm of vultures. Think I've purchased over 15 new cars & several used. It was NEVER a fun thing to do for me....but I drove over an hour to get to work so wore out cars quickly in that So Ca traffic plus my almost x-H was a bad driver & I lost track of the number of our cars he totaled

I'm so ****ing pissed. I got talked out of a Camaro and into a Kia Soul (the Chevy dealership happened to have two) and my parents ****ing told me no! They told me I'm not financially stable enough to have a ****ing $14k KIA SOUL! I'm so ****ing pissed right now. I can't have any responsibility.

Start saving hard.

Start a shortlist of prospective cars.

Call or visit Dealers and pick up Brochures - or order them online. Makes it easier to compare Trim Levels/Specs when you have glossy Brochures to peruse.

Make a second shortlist, considering Running Costs and all you have learned.

Visit Dealers for Test Drives.

Dave.

Would your parents have to consign the loan?

I always had a similar problem to yours. My brain & my knowledge was always 3 steps ahead of my reality & I didn't have the patience to wait....thus the fights with my parents but they weren't as educated or as knowledgable as yours sound like. They never communicated about anything in the first place. It was always frustrating from the time I was a kid. I understand you are feeling but if you stop & HONESTLY think about what they are saying there might just be some truth in their words.

I couldn't afford a nice new car until after I got my degree & started my engineering career so I knew my income would be stable. I drove klunkers until I was almost 30. There is nothing worse than getting your dream car then loosing it to repo because the job income wasn't stable & you had the discussion with yiur parents that this one is totally going to be your responsibility.

This is a good time to put all those responsible pieces together in your life for your parents to observe.

I decided to go back to the Kia Soul as I originally intended. There's no way I can afford a sports car, as much as I'd like

But the dealer said that once I pay off my Kia Soul I will have the credit I need to buy a Camaro if I wanted to, so that's a plus. And by the time I pay it off, I should have a stable career I hope where I can afford a Camaro...

Sigh...I couldn't even take the Camaro for a test drive because I don't have my own insurance...

I need to vent...

My dad said $200 should be the maximum of what I should make a monthly payment for, but he said I'm not in a position yet to pay for it and he told the story of how the cadets at his work will buy cars and then had to get their cars repossessed.

What's worse is how they hound me to move forward in my life and then the minute I am ready to make the leap they freak out about it and convince me to be "smart and safe" about it. The minute I entered high school they hounded me to get a job, then they freaked out when they realized I was a horrible employee because I entered jobs I hated only because they were hiring and my parents told me to apply to a million different jobs. The minute I turned 18 they hounded me about looking into apartments and getting roommates, then they told me it's cheaper to live at home. Then the minute they gave me their hand-me-down SUV, they hounded me to save up for a new car. Every time they checked the oil or took it in for maintenance they hounded me to save up, save up, because the car won't last long. Now that I'm saving up money and going to the dealership to look into the car I want, they tell me I'm in no position for a new car. And on top of it, my Dad told me, "You can't have a car now, look at what happened when you take a few days off to go to Tahoe and blow all your money!" I never travel! Ever!

**** ME!

Do you need a car to get to work? I thought you lived where there was good public transportation. Buying a car is a HUGE financial commitment. With payment, insurance, gas, and maintenance, it used to cost me at least $400 a month. I felt like, the only reason i worked was to pay for my car and to have my stupid business suits drycleaned, but the only reason i needed a car and the stupid suits - was for work.

While you still can live at home and get health insurance under your parents if necessary, i would try to build for my future. Train for a vocation. These are the years to do it. And come to terms with the reality of your financial situation. On a scale of homeless to Kardashian, where are you really?

We have a 2004 40th anniversary Mustang GT. Never had a problem with it. It only has 18,000 miles on it though. Think about what your payments are going to be and you car insurance. The rates will go up!

This is what I wrote for my mom

My life has fallen into a routine where I am hounded to move forward in my life and the moment I'm about to make that leap I am reminded to be safe and smart about it, hold on a second, reconsider. The minute I entered high school I was hounded to get a job, and yet I could never keep a job because I applied for as many jobs as possible and didn't take any consideration as to which job would benefit me, and therefore I hated every job I had. I was given the idea into looking into apartments and getting roommates, but then hold on, wait a second, way cheaper to live at home. As soon as I hopped into my hand-me-down SUV for the first time, I needed to save up for a new car. Every time the oil was checked or was taken in for maintenance I was reminded to save up, save up, because the car won't last long. Now that I'm saving up money and looking into the car I want, suddenly I'm in no position for a new car.

I need to take that leap. I'm questioning who I am for the first time in my life, and everything in my life is going *so well*...why hold back? What is my next step? How can I move forward? I'd like to buy my first car, but I've never made a big decision on my own.

If I can get a good deal on the right car, I can handle the payments. I know how much to set aside each month. I know how much insurance costs. I know how much I need for maintenance. And I still will have enough money for myself for the month. And I'm not leaving McDonald's anytime soon, but I can't wait until I become a manager to get a car because there's no knowing how long it will take to become one as it takes at least a year and a half to become truly considered for the position. There's the crew trainer position to consider before becoming a basic manager, and in order to obtain benefits I need to become certified which is months of training (in addition to all the training it takes to become a basic manager). Then there is shift manager. And so on. Waiting until I become a manager won't make my payments that much more affordable, they only make a couple more dollars than I do.

I need a car. My parents keep reminding me that the SUV won't last forever. And I will have at least $400 every month for payments, gas, and maintenance.

I am working towards getting benefits as well, but a car is necessary. Kia Souls are great new first cars, one of the cheapest cars you can get brand new.

I was foolish thinking I could get a sports car.

If you are concerned about the price of a sports car, you best begin with your insurance agent... and find out how much more that sweetie is going to cost in insurance.

It's one of those "if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it" things. hope you can!

BTW if you join AAA (Auto Club) then you can purchase through "them" sometimes as low as 2.5%!

I'd suggest a '12 - '14 Mustang. IMHO the '15s are puffy looking. Plus if you work with your dealer, you can snag a lease return that's been serviced by the dealership for a LOT less money. They have both stick & automatic availablilty.

I've driven a V6 with great power for something that gets 20-24mph. During those years they had the monster GT500KR King Of The Road version at around 700hp. Yikes!

Of course buying a classic is intriguing. Buy the right one and you -may- not lose too much money through the years. Used to be you could make money on them, but as the boomers pass away there's a glut of classics driving the price down...but not down far enough so young people can afford them...so the demand isn't there to drive prices.

Plus there's maintenance to think about with a classic you don't have with a modern car. Those ignitions aren't electronic and you must service plugs, points, distributors and carburetors.

Parts are more rare, and you could guess more expensive. If the valve train hasn't been updated you'll have to use a lead additive. You'll also have to check with your state laws to see what year they start testing for emissions.

Wifey and I had an Infinity G35 2003 with a high performance V6. That thing s-c-r-e-a-m-e-d, but might not have the look you're after.

2002 was the last year this bad boy was made so you would be able to get one pretty cheap actually. Most of them have been driven hard and put away wet though.

At 325 hp, it will turn a 1/4 mile in mid 13's and the governor stops if from going faster than 163 mph, but mine would do way north of that.

I decided to go against the sports car...my parents will have nothing of it, even if I can get an affordable payment...

However, my new goal is the Kia Soul, which just by looking online where they don't have all of their deals...you can get them for $200 a month which my dad said was a good deal after the Chevy dealership said theirs was $384 a month.

So if the online deals are cheap, my dad can come with me and find an even better deal. I just have to convince him that I can make the payments.

Therefore, I talked to my boss and she told me she is going to get me a copy of my pay stubs. That way, I will have something consistent, documented and in hand to show my Dad to prove that I can handle the payments. My boss has to call the county but said it should be ready by tomorrow at the latest.

Ah, the joys of growing up.....we always KNOW that we are one step ahead of where we are in reality.

You wouldn't have known exactly why it wasn't going to work with the cost of a new sports car if you hadn't gone ahead & investigated it though......life is a learning & growing process.....shoot, at 62....I'm still learning & growing every day.

You know that movie "Failure to Launch"......I think parents are afraid that will happen.....it's like with baby birds....the parents keep nudging them to the edge of the nest & sometimes they even get pushed out of the next & land on the ground until their wings really start to work like a big bird. Good parents start their kids thinking about being outside of their growing up environment so that when they are ready to leave they have already been thinking the thoughts they need to in order to survive in the real world.

Just because your parents tell you that you need a new car, doesn't mean that they meant a brand new car or one that you can't afford....maybe they were testing your logic to see just how mature you really are about budgeting & understanding what you really can afford on the limited income that you have.

I know that finding a career isn't the easiest thing in life but working at McDonalds a job that will ever bring in the money that is needed for the lifestyle that you really want to live. My daughter had that problem also. She grew up in a household with 2 professional career computer engineer parents with a good income. She went to junior college & didn't get a professional career but continued to want to live the life style she lives when she was living with us & she got herself into financial trouble just as my H did after I left him.....which was a continuation of what he was doing WHILE I was still living with him.

I budget every cent of my money each month & the money goes for nothing else but what it's budgeted for....I even budget monthly for the annual & semi annual bills I have so that the money is there when I need it. I have cut expenses to the bare minimum & even went to the PVA office & had my property taxes reduced to the value my farm is now, not when I purchased it 8 years ago.

I think what your parents are doing is getting you to start thinking responsibly by pushing you into thinking about those things even if you aren't quite ready to be there yet.....that way when you are....you will have the necessary responsible thinking in place so that you won't destroy yourself financially........it's never fun to have limits on our life....but sadly, it's reality & it's not your parents that are placing your limits, it's your own financial position that is creating the limitations. You can't spend more money than you have. My husband would know he had money coming in & would think of all the ways to spend it......when it actually came in he would spend 3 times the amount because he would end up doing EVERYTHING he had thought about spending it on rather than limiting himself to the actual amount that was received.......ugh, I had no idea he had Asperger's when I was living with him all those years....his brain just didn't think like a normal person & couldn't be reasoned with either.

Dave Ramsey even though he's a bit passionate about money has some good skills to learn from on handling money responsibly....& money management....might be something to look into....it actually becomes a life style of financial responsibility rather than emotional spending though NOT AS FUN, it's definitely more long term rewarding.

This thread is being closed at the OP's request.