What car? 5-10k

[Bling]

Asking on behalf.

Car is for a learner / young driver.

Needs / wants
1600cc or so
Manual
Good safety - airbags a plus etc
2 or 4 door
Reliable
Not slow, not too quick.
Sweet car, no Camrys.

I'm after suggestions as my opinion will be slightly biased towards a late model 20v / 4afe levin/trueno. So I want some preferably unbiased opinions on what would make a fun reliable runner. Not worried on manufacturer so long as above prerequisites are met.

Post away some ideas / experiences on what are good / bad cars in this market.

[solitaire]

i was going to say blacktop four door so i guess im biased too

[iOnic]

Depends on what he thinks is cool. If I was in that situation I'd look very seriously at a Glanza V turbo. In stock form they're about as fast as a 20v/b16a but they can grow with you and are capable of being properly fast when one is ready for it.

Otherwise EK Civic or DC2 Integra (1800cc doe). $10k can get you a really sweet car nowadays.

[Alex B]

10k Will pick you up a DC5 non type R now days.

[Bling]

I knew I forgot something..... I should have mentioned it's for a guy. Nothing wrong with Glanzas, but yeah not sure that would go down well. What's doe? Will trademe those Honda models.

Speed isn't top priority, 2nd car for the guy. First being a Suzuki 4wd or 2wd thing. So just after something a bit better suited to well... driving. As the Suzuki is a heap / geared all up the shit apparently. I don't want to recommend something that is expensive to insure.

So which of the Hondas would be most insurance friendly?

[Akane]

Just get a B18C, you know you wanna.

[Bling]

Just having a browse.... I thought Toyota tax was bad! A lot of the Hondas in the price range are 200k+ just run in or pushing reliability limits?

[1I1]

Mirage?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 002524.htm

[iOnic]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 723220.htm EK9?

[rolla_fxgt]

What about a cyborg? They can go reasonably well, and don't look too bad.

[Bling]

All suggestions will be noted. I know nothing about most of the cars mentioned so can only go by what is said here

[BZG Wagon]

Anything with a 4age.

I'd go for a bz touring personally. Great learner car, enough room for mates and snowboard / bikes / surf gear, quick once he gets a bit of skill, and insurance companies will still like him.

...not to mention reliable, economical, and plenty of cheap parts for when he crashes it.

[RS13]

$10k would get you an RS180 with moderate kms.

SiR/VTiR/Type R Integra
EK Civic
Jazz/Fit

Levin/Trueno/Sprinter BZG
Carib BZ
FXGT
Corolla GT
IST/Vitz RS

Pulsar VZ-R
Primera

Mirage mivec
Lancer mivec

It just goes on and on.. my advice would get him to trawl through TM for cars he likes the looks of then go from there, just went through this exact situation with my little bro and his wife. Found the type of cars he liked and worked off that, test drove a few to find a good one that felt "right".. which ended up being a CVT Jazz.

[2ToneTezza]

if insurance cost is critical, go for a 4 door. My old s13 1800 non-turbo silvia was twice as much to insure than my 4 door GST-t, and was worth about the same. go figure

[strx7]

either of my 2 AE111 liftbacks would be ideal. 1 of them is that lovely bluey purpley colour that females seem to love.
$4K for the white 1998 - twin airbags and electrics windows done 300K with near new clutch & brakes, or
$5500 for the 2000 bluey purple with single airbag, manual windows, done 200k.

[solitaire]

either of my 2 AE111 liftbacks would be ideal. 1 of them is that lovely bluey purpley colour that females seem to love.
$4K for the white 1998 - twin airbags and electrics windows done 300K with near new clutch & brakes, or
$5500 for the 2000 bluey purple with single airbag, manual windows, done 200k.

We had a 98 wagon with a 4afe... rock solid car, can't go wrong.

[Bling]

Cheers for the help.

my advice would get him to trawl through TM for cars he likes the looks of then go from there

Will do that, saves me wasting my time with cars he doesn't like the look of.

if insurance cost is critical, go for a 4 door. My old s13 1800 non-turbo silvia was twice as much to insure than my 4 door GST-t, and was worth about the same. go figure

Yeah i'm not sure the number of doors was the main factor there

either of my 2 AE111 liftbacks would be ideal.

Any pics online?

Lots of things to consider, will start with getting a list of cars he likes the look of off tardme and go from there.

[2ToneTezza]

Yeah i'm not sure the number of doors was the main factor there

Both the same value, both the same year, both near the top of the "high risk to be stolen" list. the Skyline had twice the power, was modified and was still half the cost to insure (excess was less too). 2 doors = sports car to insurance companies, thats what they told me when i asked anyway.

[nickp]

I would say ae101 corolla but if you want something sportier I'd say a blacktop levin would be the goer

[Bling]

Yeah 101 is probably getting a bit old for the budget, but am certainly considering the likes of a facelift BZG or BZR. Good all round cars really.

Have made suggestions based on posts in here so will see what they like etc and post back if they go with any of them