ok i just wanted to create this thread again. but i do remember some of u guys suggestions and recommendations. if i remember right some of u guys recommended an old 5 speed 4.0 V6 Ford Ranger, some recommended an old PI Crown Victoria and i also remember someone recommending an Chrysler 300M (idr the username but she has a black mustang with purple stripes). anyways heres what id take in to consideration...(idk why im wanting suggestions right now lol but i guess im planning ahead..kno?)

2003-2006 Crown Victoria

2003-2007+ Mazda 3

2000-2007 Ford Taurus (Duratec 30)

1992-1995 Ford Taurus SHO 5 speed (IM ADDICTED TO THIS CAR AT THE MOMENT)

2002-2007 5 speed Ford Focus

2000-2002 Lincoln LS (i think the 2003-2006 LS is too nice for someone my age to have...especially if im most likely gonna be on my parents insurance policy)

2003+ Dodge Neon (maybe)

late 90s - early 2000s Lincoln Continnental

.....im sure theres more,...hmmm. but give me some opinions guys....and gals.

 

I recommend the mazda 3 or a focus

 

Stay away from the neon, it's a popcan.

 

On This I Agree. I love the Focus and the Mazda 3. As for the Lincolns, They are Expensive to Maintain, Especially the Continentals. The Neon is a Piece of crap, and what kid in their right mind would want to drive a Crown Vic or a Taurus? However, the Taurus SHO would be an exception, but Insurance would be a nightmare on a SHO with a Teen Driver.

 

'77 Pinto wagon painted grabber green with a 351 Cleavland shoehorned in

I'd go with the SHO

 

Full size Ford truck

 

Whatever you think is best. I'd get the Crown, but that's just me, and I'm old and remember how awful a driver I was at first. Big, simple tanks rule.

 

V6 Mustang.

 

the crown vic simply because of the engine it has. that and it having the ability to be tuned for mustang gt like power. however if im lucky enough to get an undercover PI, then maybe that'd keep all the crooks and theifs out of my nieghborhood and have them thinking a police officer lives at my house lol...not that we have theifs right now but just saying though.

 

Safety, economy, and insurance rates are some items to consider. Sporty, powerful, or fast should be excluded as inexperienced teenagers will assume there is a green light for speed.

Mazda 3 or Saturns would be my suggestion and one which I practiced with my heirs.

 

OK,
Lets do a breakdown:
If you need/want a ton of space and a fairly bulletproof car, a good CV is fine. Just don't expect it to be any kind of performer, and don't expect it to be a hit with the ladies.
Fantastic choice. Get the 2.3L engine and it will surprise you with just how quick and fun it is, decent space and efficiency, and they mostly look great. Lots of airbags and traction Control (don't knock it, you're young) on the newer ones, too.
I'd say no. Think all the problems with the CV, only its less durable and the aftermarket support even less.
IF you can get a showroom-quality or IF you're confident you can rebuild one in your sleep, go for it. But remember that the Taurus bits were never really up to the job even in 5-speed variation. As Autoblog Editor Neff will point out, even the cars that looks great on the outside today are dogs under the skin.
Another excellent choice. Fun and efficient, you'll have no problems finding parts if something breaks, and the 5-speed bypasses the Autos' problems from the early years. Main beef is that the interior on these cars is really ugly in the early years and has only recently gotten good.
More importantly, the price difference between a 200-2002 and 2004-2006 is pretty substantial in many cases. If you can afford it and the looks work for you inside and out, its a great pick. It'll be unique compared to the other choices, and has alot of hidden potential under that skin. If you're thinking "V8 muscle sedan" you should be thinking about this and not CV. Real "future classic" potential in these cars.
NO. They're a mess. Period.
eh, I'd say no. Boring, uninteresting to drive, unlikely to be well supported. If you really want to go for a 90s Linc (why?) go for the Mark VIII T-bird ina Tux. But I'd go LS over both of those options.

 

Okay, if you want a bit of a headache and have the cash for it, you could do a somewhat popular swap with the Neon. Since they're lighter than the SRT4 Neon, people just swap the motor in and it works out so long as you don't half-*** it. The Lincoln LS I have not heard good things about, at least performance-wise. I'd personally stay away from the Crown Vic but again, that's just me. I'd say out of your list go for the Mazda or the Focus. You're a teenager, insurance is going to suck hardcore and you're going to end up messing something up eventually. It happens to everyone.

 

to be honest if i could have a 4 banger id def want the mazda over the focus (import over domestic oh noez!). i just think the mazdas are cooler for some reason. i say the lincoln ls as 1 of my choices because my dad had a 2000. had some real good times in it. the rest are either an addiction or they just catch my interest....excluding the neon. the neon is only there because i think its a car i could get used to driving it farily quick (driven one before).

 

Either Mazda 3 or Focus would be a fine choice.

 

Yeah, make it look like a motor pool issued car. People will think your a narc or something. You need the the little hub caps and a couple of two way radio antennas mounted in the trunk lid. Maybe a push bar on the front to polish off the look.

 

Other than that, perhaps the Mazda 3

 

mazda 3, new fiesta or focus

 

I'll go againsty the grain a little bit and say neons aren't as bad as the people here are making them out to be. I bought both a 1996 and a 2001 Neon new, the '96 was a DOHC Sport Coupe with 5-spd, the '01 was an ACR. Both were very good cars, I owned the '96 for 9 1/2 years and put 116,000 miles on it, didn't have any trouble with it (that wasn't my own doing) until the PS started leaking at around 110k miles (then I just removed the PS equipment and converted it to manual steering), I had it to the drag strip quite a few times, autocrossed it for 6 years, had it on a road course, ran a rally with it, and my wife and I took it on trips to more than 30 different states. Best all-around car I've owned in 22 years and 20 cars to date. I had the ACR for four years, kinda wish I had kept it, but it was time to move on. The guy I sold it to wasn't planning on re-titling it, he was going to throw a roll cage in it and go club-racing.

If I were buying now though, I would probably get a later Focus or Mazda3, I don't know what your price range is, but the Mazda3 will be more expensive, the Focus will be less depending what year and mileage/condition you go with, and the Neon will be dirt cheap.

 

I don't think teens should be driving!

Honda Civic... extremely reliable and practically maintenance free.

 

Don't forget the fart can.