Got my 17 year old son a car today for his birthday.....

[RS13]

A swift sports does sound good, but they are expensive for what you get tho.

There is a Hyundai GETZ GTi 1.4 manual 3dr. One of only 2 3dr Getz in NZ, has sports suspension system using Koni Sport Yellow shock absorbers (are they any good???) and Whiteline springs. Front 280mm slotted disc brakes with twin piston PBR calipers Rear 220mm slotted and drilled discs.
The standard 1.4L engine makes 100hp in stock form in the normal getz, but now makes 140hp.

140hp in a 910kg car has to be fun! The Hyundai dealership wants $11995 for it, you think its worth it?

A GSi, you mean? And no, after driving the in-laws 1.4 petrol Getz I would only buy the diesel turbo, they're good reliable, economical wee cars but thats' it. The interior looks very plasticky and cheap IMO, also the paint has faded badly for a 6 year old car.

[Bling]

They do make great hire cars though

[BZG Wagon]

They do make great hire cars though

+1

Waaay better then the shit corollas toyota has been putting out lately.

[rollaholic]

cant imagine many 17 y/o boys being too pleased about a getz.

if he wants a WRX have you thought about a non turbo lookalike or something like that

[Tha_INS]

spend a bit more an get a early 00s audi s3 quattro....

more then 190HP and prob weighs less then MG....

turbo 4wd like a wrx and 3 door hatch....

has leather recaro seats

[kiwi4agze]

Good to know, was going to look at it tomorrow, maybe not.

I never actually paid for the car, only a holding deposit pending a AA check, but i pulled out.

A3 you say? Don't know too much about Audi, will look into it.

Lots of cars have drum brakes, most Toyota's, Nissan and Honda still have drum rear brakes.

What do you think about the Ford fiesta XR4? anyone heard anything good about it?

[kiwi4agze]

I found this one and thought it would be perfect, so contacted the dealer and put a deposit on it pending a wof and aa inspection.

Whats the colt sport model like? The ralliart colt or something like that?

[sergei]

A swift sports does sound good, but they are expensive for what you get tho.

There is a Hyundai GETZ GTi 1.4 manual 3dr. One of only 2 3dr Getz in NZ, has sports suspension system using Koni Sport Yellow shock absorbers (are they any good???) and Whiteline springs. Front 280mm slotted disc brakes with twin piston PBR calipers Rear 220mm slotted and drilled discs.
The standard 1.4L engine makes 100hp in stock form in the normal getz, but now makes 140hp.

140hp in a 910kg car has to be fun! The Hyundai dealership wants $11995 for it, you think its worth it?

Getz are utter shit compared to Echo/Vitz/Ist.
I still regret the day I took one for rental, it was gutless compared to my Ist (even though on paper they have same power), it felt like the chassis was made out of straw, suspension made out jelly, and the gearbox was playing up on a car that done 20k.

[rollaholic]

lots of econoboxes have drum brakes. you wont find them on anything remotely decent.

and frankly there is nothing at all wrong with drum brakes on a street car, in fact they can outperform disc brakes in some areas. they just require a bit more maintenance. and in return you get to do awesome handbrake slides etc.

[AE82 FXGT]

lots of econoboxes have drum brakes. you wont find them on anything remotely decent.

and frankly there is nothing at all wrong with drum brakes on a street car, in fact they can outperform disc brakes in some areas. they just require a bit more maintenance. and in return you get to do awesome handbrake slides etc.

+1
(make it +2, for the handbrake slides comment.)
Drum brakes out perform disc if holding from a standstill (what hand brakes are for), and yes they can lock on something special, but shouldn't notice the difference when driving if they are properly adjusted.

Yes lots of econoboxes have them, even brand new ones.

But I've never owned a car with drum brakes, even my first AE82 FXGT had disc brake rear.

[tsoob]

id seriously look into a used swift or one of those accord euros they are good cars. mazda 3 is also a good car.

[rollaholic]

shouldnt you just talk to your son and work out something that suits you both?

$&#$% i would have a field day if my old man was like, lets find a car for you, hitting up the dealerships etc together

[Mr Revhead]

buy him a push bike so he doesn't get fat

[kiwi4agze]

shouldnt you just talk to your son and work out something that suits you both?

$&#$% i would have a field day if my old man was like, lets find a car for you, hitting up the dealerships etc together

Its a surprise.. but i guess it makes sense. I know he wants a turbo hatchback or sedan like a evolution (they are up to 9 now are they?) or a imprezza as he reads, fast 4 and hot 4's etc. I dont think he is ready for a turbocharged car, a peaky n/a car like a VTiR or a.... oh wait what about a pulsar....

A Nissan pulsar VZr.. are they any good??

Please be honest you know more about cars then me.

[Prymal]

Ae82/ ae92 FX GT .. Cheap , handles well , reliable , fun , cheap , did i mention cheap , and fun ?

And if he wrecks it/ dings it , like most kids will with their firstc ars , they are easy to repair. PLUS he can learn all the important awesome stuff like working on your own car , which all red blooded men , with manly man things should know so his mates dont laugh at him and call him a big girly girl

( all men should know how to change oil in a car, for example ! )

[AE82 FXGT]

Familia?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mazda/familia/auction-413587902.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mazda/familia/auction-399771830.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mazda/familia/auction-414541773.htm

thats just manuals, don't know if you were keen on autos?

edit - was looking at pulsars and found this:

WTF
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/nissan/vzr/auction-413016129.htm

[Quint]

all men should know how to change oil in a car, for example !

Wtf?!?! Oil needs to be changed?!?!

[AE82 FXGT]

all men should know how to change oil in a car, for example !

Wtf?!?! Oil needs to be changed?!?!

Not if its a monsta ported rota bra, by the time 10000km rolls around its time for a rebuild.

[rollaholic]

shouldnt you just talk to your son and work out something that suits you both?

$&#$% i would have a field day if my old man was like, lets find a car for you, hitting up the dealerships etc together

Its a surprise.. but i guess it makes sense. I know he wants a turbo hatchback or sedan like a evolution (they are up to 9 now are they?) or a imprezza as he reads, fast 4 and hot 4's etc. I dont think he is ready for a turbocharged car, a peaky n/a car like a VTiR or a.... oh wait what about a pulsar....

A Nissan pulsar VZr.. are they any good??

Please be honest you know more about cars then me.

evo 10 is the latest i believe. pulsar VZR is a good little car, they go like the clappers and are a bit of a sleeper given the relatively nana-ish look of the N15s. it is a peaky NA though?

if hes anything like my bosses son, who is also 17, how it looks is at least as important as how it goes. how much girls will like it is even more important. so nana looking pulsars that you have to explain to everyone why they are cool might not be the best bet.

its all about what he is into i guess. if he is reading hot4s he probably has some fairly firm (and probably misguided ) ideas on whats cool and whats not... would suck to spend 12k for a lukewarm response eh

Wtf?!?! Oil needs to be changed?!?!

he is talking about cars other than toyotas!

[ch4ng]

The VZ-R's go as nicely as my BZG (and you get VTAX noises)
by the time he puts mags lowering tints and sounds in it (and don't forget the stickers) the car will be "cool" enough for his mates

Even if the car is a suprise gift I agree with all the above comments about getting a basic low powered car. Meeting him halfway with a non-turbo wrx may be a good option as the non-turbos go more than fast enough for a 1st car.