Yeah the RA was my third car (1st new car) and I'm glad that it wasn't my first. I mean I have never gotten into an accident yet, but you eventually learn from little things like curb swipes and/or bumper taps on the old beaters. If the RA was my first car I would have probably curbed it already. It hurts more when the car is new and you pay for it yourself, which in turn will teach you to really appreciate it.

1996 Dodge Neon (Tranny went, leaking oil)
2004 Corolla (good car, lack of independant suspension lead to a bumpy ride. Made me want to sleep.)
2005 Lancer Ralliart

 

Either ways... My 04 is great. Still has a warranty on it, and I didn't play that new car price for it just to lose much of the value after driving it off of the lot. My finance rate was good and like most cars I have... No problems arise away from the simple stuff.

It's getting no mods practically till I'm satisfied with the spyder. Don't know when that will be. Perhaps some wheels and eyelids will be in order soon.

 

I'm still cheaper than you by 9 bucks.

 

As for a first car I don't think it's too bad, just baby it for a long while. I mean if you got the money and want a good reliable car RA is a very good choice. First car I had the 88' Topaz was garbage scary and unreliable gave me a lot of trouble for a first car. Just driving 30 minutes on the high way to get to school or around town was just scary. It just gave me a bad taste I guess for used cars. Then tried a brand new spec v after the topaz was slowly rolling to it's death. That spec v was pretty good, tires were better on that and the lsd was fun compared to the RA. Then got into a really bad accident. Next came the RA, definitely getting a lot more looks in the RA. People said before to me "that sentra just looks like an average family car". The transmission is just amazing on the RA even though the spec had the gas saver gear as I call it. I think if you choose the RA you can't go wrong. If you don't know stick or anything like that beat on a crappy car first then once you transition into the RA it will feel like a part of you =)... my 2 cents


1988 Mercury SLOWpaz
2002 Nissan Sentra Spec - V (r.i.p)
2004 RA !!

 

Well, I was getting a large speeding ticket once a year for several years. The last of them was 29 over, and was still on my record when I got my RA. It dropped off in the first 6 months, and then I turned 30, so it dropped again.

Now all I gotta do is get married, and it'll drop again. Nah, not worth it.

 

Yeah, that definately won't save you money in the end

 

my RA is my first car, i got it in january, and iv put 6000 miles on it and im 16..i havent had any accidents yet. i think its a great first car. and no my parents didnt buy it for me! im making my $465/month payments. my parents cover my insurance tho. i was also looking for a good gas mileage car tht was sporty at the same time- and it achievs both with ease.

 

Holy crap! How many years is your financing?

 

Ralliart is my first car.

 

i pay 280 a month jeez

 

4 years and im done

EDIT- and 0% financing

 

I was gonna say... If that was a 5-year loan, you were getting it in the @ss in interest.

 

If you're dead set on getting a new car as your first car then I think a Ralliart's a great choice. It's a good mix of price, performance, practicality, and fun. But I don't think you should get a new car for your first car. I think you should start with a cheap, well-used but still reliable car with great mileage and get a nice car a year or three after you get used to driving and make a few fender-scraping mistakes with your first car.

My Ralliart is my second car. My first was a 93 Saturn sedan handed down from my parents (doesn't get any cheaper than that ). It was reliable and easy on gas, though it did drink a lot of oil by that time in its life. Buying a new car wasn't an option for me financially back then, but even so I'm glad I started with a cheap car. I definately put a few scuffs on it before I started getting a little more careful, and even knock the antenna and right-side mirror off once doing something really stupid I feel like I learned a few lessons in it before I got my Ralliart.

Of course you might start off being a more careful driver than I was, even if it's just from knowing you have a new car.

Edit: Oh, and if you start off driving a slow car (my Saturn had 85 hp!) a Ralliart or similar car will feel that much faster when you eventually get one