first car.

[T-MaKK]

hey, im new here so be nice .

im 16 and currently employed by Hungry Jacks.. which.. is well.. depressing at the best of times..

anywho.. im looking to buy my first car at the end of the year, by then i should have saved 6k and once i get 6 my parentals will be donating 2.5k.

so im wondering what i should be buying with 8.5-10k... i know its ALOT for a first car of some1 my age.. but i dont know enough about cars to enjoy taking them apart and fixing it when it breaks down every 2 weeks.

im thinking VX or VY.. Executive.. v6.. currently there are a few VYs online for arround 10-11k.. with 100-140km on them.
id prefer a VY over a VX mainly because of the interior.

thoughts? suggestions?


also, i live in SA and im prty keen to slap some 19" on and drop ma car on its guts.. does any1 know the laws (or where i can find em) for minimum height, lighting, other mod sorta things.. power/weight of P platers..

i was also wondering what a set of nice 18"s or 19"s with half decent tyres will set me back. ill probly install them myself cuz.. well.. yeah....
..aswell as the cost of lowering.. :P


im probly asking too much.. but u never get what u dont ask for.. ive probly 4gotton some stuff aswell so i may add to it later..


thanks, tom.

EDIT: found what i needed for the ride height.. although its a little unclear. can u lower 1/3 of stock height? so nothing touches the ground when tires are deflated?

[DUK13Y]

Hey, im sorta in the same boat. I'll have about 10g's to spend if I need to buy a car (hopefully i swap my current lancer with my mums berlina). So I'm looking to spend about no more than 7k so I'll have enough for rego + insurance and a bit left over for some nice small mods like exhaust and tint.

I see it as 3 real options:

• vt/vx exec - $4-6k
• vt/vx s pac - $6-7k
• vy exec - $7-8k

Those are my options and i'm guessing your's would be similar. If your looking at spending money on rims and lowering, buy a cheaper one so you can afford everything plus rego/insurance.

Hope that tiny guide helps a bit. Good luck with it.

[T-MaKK]

i plan on having the car sitting around for a few months before i rego/insure for me to look at and sleep in.. what ever i see fit..
just to save up the costs.. currently im in not real need for a car but that will most likely change by then.
i hope to be on $100-150 a week by then rather then $70.. (please!!!!! don't laugh!!)

i think any modifications can happen a little while down the track.. a sound system will hopefully be the first thing going in.

im hoping that by the end of the year VYs will be about 9k (this is a completely un educated guess)

[Cobez]

You need to remember, it's not the greatest idea to buy something semi nice for your first car, for the first few years, you have a much higher chance of stacking it due to inexperience etc. Good chance you might stack it etc. My advice would be to buy a VN - VS V6, drive that for a while with some nice rims on it or whatever you want to do, then eventually, buy something newer.

That way if you stack it, it will be easier / cheaper to fix and insure etc. You can get a clean VS V6 for next to nothing now. Around $4 - $5k easily. Then you will have cash left for rims and lowering it, stereo etc, plus rego and insurance first payment etc.

I wouldn't laugh at you making $70 a week dude, you have managed to save $6k on $70 a week, that's not a bad effort. Much better than alot of others who are around MY age who can barely save that much.

[T-MaKK]

i know what you mean, and ive thought about it.

but i think spending 10k on a car ill be a hell of alot more carefull with it..
im not big into putting cars sideways and laying down terry tuff marks.. occasionally putting my foot down is about as far as id go.

i want a car that looks and sounds really nice, something i wont have to worry to much about mechanically.. and mainly something that will get my appendage fondled with... preferably by young women..

[Cobez]

Not so much the way YOU drive it mate, moreso if someone ELSE causes an accident and you are involved. Or if someone steals it etc. I'd much rather a VS V6 was stolen than a VY V6.

[TrEnNaVY]

i just picked up a 2002 vy s with 120,000kms on the clock for $8,500 in perfect condition, just keep your eyes mate, u can get some good deals

[TVR-190]

in regards to car its all well and good if u treat it well, just dont expect the public to, as we all know they love to hit and run etc.

For a 1s car best off getting something cheap and easy, then when you are more confident, upgrade, i had a crappy lexcen wagon as my first car just until i got half way through my p's then i upgraded to something nicer. if u just started off with something simple like a vn/ vp which are easy to maintaina nd run you could save a bit more and eventually get a nice vz or a nice vy berlina .

[T-MaKK]

Not so much the way YOU drive it mate, moreso if someone ELSE causes an accident and you are involved. Or if someone steals it etc. I'd much rather a VS V6 was stolen than a VY V6.

any car can get stolen or crashed into by some idiot any day of the week..
hopefully ill be getting it regd/insured in my parents name to save some cash..

i just picked up a 2002 vy s with 120,000kms on the clock for $8,500 in perfect condition, just keep your eyes mate, u can get some good deals

thats exactly the deal im looking for! was that a dealership or private?

in regards to car its all well and good if u treat it well, just dont expect the public to, as we all know they love to hit and run etc.

For a 1s car best off getting something cheap and easy, then when you are more confident, upgrade, i had a crappy lexcen wagon as my first car just until i got half way through my p's then i upgraded to something nicer. if u just started off with something simple like a vn/ vp which are easy to maintaina nd run you could save a bit more and eventually get a nice vz or a nice vy berlina .

by the time i have the money id have had over 6 months on my Ps i think. (im currently on my Ls)

[Cobez]

in regards to car its all well and good if u treat it well, just dont expect the public to, as we all know they love to hit and run etc.

For a 1s car best off getting something cheap and easy, then when you are more confident, upgrade, i had a crappy lexcen wagon as my first car just until i got half way through my p's then i upgraded to something nicer. if u just started off with something simple like a vn/ vp which are easy to maintaina nd run you could save a bit more and eventually get a nice vz or a nice vy berlina .

Exactly what i did. I waited until 4 months before i got off my P's before i bought the Senator. We aren't trying to turn you off dude, we all know that you want a nice lookin' cruiser for your first car (i did too ), but it would be a damn shame if it gets hit by someone or nicked.

The insurance difference for a fresh P plater between a VS and a VX or VY is pretty big. A VY will cost you a bit to insure with a decent excess too. Doesn't matter how careful or slow you drive it, the car can be stacked and damaged easily.

Up to you obviously dude, but just a few things to remember. It would be a damn shame if you stacked a nice looking lowered VY with nice rims, as opposed to a VN - VS with nice rims. I had a kitted VP for my first car, had 2 stacks in it, neither of which were my fault. Can happen easily.

[TrEnNaVY]

it was private, saw it on ebay advertised as a VX (lol some people) then i looked at the fotos and fell in love. brought her 2 days later

[TrEnNaVY]

and your right cobez, insurance is a bitch, $2000 with a $2100 excess, lets hope i dont crash ey

[Cobez]

WTF??!?! Dude, that's REDICULOUS!!

I don't even pay half that for a HSV Senator. Damn i don't miss being on my P's.

[TrEnNaVY]

yeah coz of all the p platers that get caught hooning, wrecks it for all of us

[Cobez]

Nah it was pretty expensive before that. Due to the fact that P platers are a higher risk to insure, therefore if there is more risk of the insurance company having to fork out for your accident, they will charge you more money. Hence why when you turn 25, your insurance drops dramatically, due to the fact they don't see you as such a high risk anymore.

[VjamesY]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[VjamesY]

[QUOTE=VjamesY;1070593]Hey mate, yeh welcome to jc
Im on a similar boat to you,
i just picked up a vy for 6 grand (around 180000k's) n have just gotten my p's
You will be able to get a vy for around 8 grand forsure, you just have to wait for the oppurtunity to arrise, just be patient, thats wat i did.

I am planning on puttin rims on n droppin it to hahaha
i just recently bought a set of advanti viennas 19inch of a family friend for cheap, about $500, but dont have the coin for tyres or lowering yet haha

maybe even buying an older holden like a vx for a bit cheaper, and having money to spend on good quality rims n tyres, n lowering, the only thing is that (my cousin has a vx and the interior isnt to appealing compared to vy so im with you their. A vx might be a bit of a better option cause now i dont have any money to ddo my up and im constantly gonna be paying of bills for the car like insurance n all that shit,

Im not to sure about prices so cant help you there sorry, but am also wanting to know, all i know is i was told by a mate that if you get ur rims on, tyres and lowering at the same place its usually a little cheaper

[BullittSV6]

I didn't have my first job till I was 19 (hungry jacks too), had a semi professional job when I was 20 and 21 (all this time I was at uni) and even then didn't by my first car till a year ago when I was 22 when I finished uni and had a job.

All that time I worked I saved like hell for a car deposit and used it to buy my VZ. So if you save like hell now, you be able to afford a VE when you get yourself a job and can afford to run, maintain, register, insure and modify with no worries

[TVR-190]

Nah it was pretty expensive before that. Due to the fact that P platers are a higher risk to insure, therefore if there is more risk of the insurance company having to fork out for your accident, they will charge you more money. Hence why when you turn 25, your insurance drops dramatically, due to the fact they don't see you as such a high risk anymore.

its actually 31 now with many insurers

[BullittSV6]

its actually 31 now with many insurers

Like who? All the insurers I've been to for quotes still go for the 25 rule?

[anonymousmoose]

hso im wondering what i should be buying with 8.5-10k... i know its ALOT for a first car of some1 my age..

Hi Makk, 1st car is always the sweeeetest. If I EVER see my original VN Commodore for sale again... I'll buy it back. I loved that car... not any VN, just my old VN.

Makk, have you considered betting a loan? I know it sounds silly yet hear me out. When I was your age, I had about $5k saved for a car. My parents convinced me to get a car loan... reason... credit rating. I got the loan with no penalties for additional payments and paid the 5 year loan off in 2.5 years. I got a really good credit rating out of it.

With today's interest rates, it may be an option you should consider. When it comes time to get a mortgage for the house in the years to come, the credit rating you had for the car loan may come in handy.

What you can also do is put the money you had saved into the bank and used the money your parents are giving you as an additional payment on the loan. So basically your owning part of the car right away, maybe just finance 60-70% of it.

Just food for thought... think about it. But if you do get a loan, dont blow the money you had saved for the car on other stuff, keep it in a high interest or term deposit account.

As for a car, I'd suggest for that price to get a VY. Try to go for an Equip or Berlina if one comes along in your price range. Cars are sooo inexpensive now

[anonymousmoose]

i plan on having the car sitting around for a few months before i rego/insure for me to look at and sleep in.. what ever i see fit..
just to save up the costs.. currently im in not real need for a car but that will most likely change by then.
i hope to be on $100-150 a week by then rather then $70.. (please!!!!! don't laugh!!)

Do I read your right, you want to buy the car and not drive it for a few months? If thats what your saying DONT DO IT its not a good idea. Car are de-valuing like crazy now and even a few months you'll be kicking yourself because you'd have been able to get something better or the same car for less if you had waited.

i think any modifications can happen a little while down the track.. a sound system will hopefully be the first thing going in.

im hoping that by the end of the year VYs will be about 9k (this is a completely un educated guess)

100% you will be able to get a VY for $9k by then. You can get them now for that price with under 150,000km. I've seen Berlina VY's for $10k. Its just a matter of looking and funding the deals. Remember, people are having trouble selling 'big' cars like Commodores, so if they say $10, offer then $8k - $9k and see what happens.

Thats the problem with buying the first car, inexperience. I sold me VX to a first time car buyer last week, paid exactly what I was asking, $7,500. I would have settled for less but I got what I wanted because he was inexperienced. Good for me Yet saying this, the guy did get a car in great condition.

[minux]

Makk, have you considered betting a loan? I know it sounds silly yet hear me out. When I was your age, I had about $5k saved for a car. My parents convinced me to get a car loan... reason... credit rating. I got the loan with no penalties for additional payments and paid the 5 year loan off in 2.5 years. I got a really good credit rating out of it.

wtf, since when does Australia have good credit ratings? There is no such thing as a good credit rating, you either have no rating, or you have a bad rating. The only thing listed on credit files is bad debts(even when paid until they expire), applications, judgements and access to the file, nothing else. The myth that you have a "good" credit file is just that. If there is no bad debts you have a good credit history. The advantage you have of borrowing is building good relations with your bank.

In todays climate, finance is a bad move, cash is king and you will get much better bargains with it.

To the OP, by this time VZ's may even be popping onto the market, can't go wrong with anything from VXII onwards. Take a few for a test drive and see which you like most

Like who? All the insurers I've been to for quotes still go for the 25 rule?

AAMI is 30, i rang and asked for a quote when i was 29 out of curiosity, said they would not insure me. On top of that they expected me to pay $1400 a year almost double what i pay now heh...

[anonymousmoose]

wtf, since when does Australia have good credit ratings? There is no such thing as a good credit rating, you either have no rating, or you have a bad rating.

Well then at least he will have a rating which helps in the future.

Off topic; and there are (I believe) bad credit ratings... if you default on a loan, yep, the rating is bad.

In todays climate, finance is a bad move, cash is king and you will get much better bargains with it.

From dealers maybe... yet when your buying private, the owner dont care where the money is coming from.

I still believe in this economic conditions, finance is a good option due to how low the rates are. Yet like I also said, dont spend the cash on something else, keep it in the bank.

Best to seek financial advise from an expert tough... I wouldn't be surprised if I'm wrong.

[johnvtls1]

mate ur only 16? meaing you dont need a car for another two years or so. No point getting a car you cant drive around. If i was you i would wait till just before i get my licence and get a car then. In a couple of years you will will able to get a vy/vz for jack all. Theres no point in rushing it.

AND

DO NOT GET A LOAN if you can avoid it. in all honesty its a pain in the ass to have to pay money to the bank every month when you can be spending it on oher stuff. Also earning 70 bucks a week i dont think its affordable. Its still amazes me how you have saved so much already. GOOD JOB