Going to save up for a car... cant' choose!!

[3991v]

I'm getting a job this summer, and I wanna buy a car!!!

Stuck between looking at these:
1978 Pontiac Firebird
1979 Chevy Camaro
1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (my dad used to have one, and I loved it)
1986 Ford Thunderbird
1987 Chevy Camaro
1988 Ford Mustang Hatchback

What one would you choose? I personally would go for the 1978 Firebird, just because I think they're so badass.
http://img.techpowerup.org/090619/pic-23496.jpeg
My uncle had one that was blue, with the firebird on it, which is why I love it so much.

[JC316]

Of those, I would take the 87 Camaro or the 88 Hatchback Stang. Was never a fan of the 70's firebirds. In the late 70's, emissions took over and the power levels dropped big time. Had a 78 Eldorado with a 425 CI motor and it only made 140HP. Plus it got about 7 gallons to the mile :p

My first car was an 88 Silverado 1500 with 300K miles. I loved that truck and kept it for 2 years.

Wouldn't recommend a sports car till you have more experience driving. The temptation is just too great. My sister had a 90 Thunderbird that I slid off the road because I pushed it too hard around a sharp curve. I was 15 at the time. Fortunately I didn't get hurt. I do understand the want for sportiness though, so I would recommend one of the following cars.

92-98 Cadillac Eldorado Or Seville - Sporty as hell with the northstar, just check my videos in the 0-???. Easy on the insurance and plenty safe if you do get in an accident.

96-00 Chevy Cavalier. Pretty quick with the 2.2L, great gas mileage, good handling, and cheap insurance. I have seen how much of a shot these cars can take. There was one in the junkyard that was hit so hard, that the transmission and battery was ripped in half. The drivers side fender was on top of the car, and the drivers door was skinned on the outside, but the cabin was completely intact. The driver walked away from that accident.

Ford Crown Victoria/ Mercury Grand Marquis. Drop flowmasters on it, chuck some 20" rims on it and 12" subwoofers in the trunk and you have a pimped out ride that sounds BAD ASS.

All of these suggestions can be had for under $2000, all get at least 20MPG, all have decent insurance rates and above all, they are safe cars.

[Wile E]

The 88 Stang would be my choice, provided it's a 5.0, as it's the fastest of all those you mentioned. If you mean a 4 cyl 88 Stang, it would be the slowest out of all of those. lol.

I would not buy any of the cars JC mentioned. lol. Save for maybe the Cavy, just as cheap transport.

[1Kurgan1]

Get the 78 Firebird, except don't get a Firebird, go for a TA, and get a 78, that was a 79 you posted up, the 77 - 78's have a better headlight design imo.

http://people.bu.edu/wrigley/images/78TransAm010.jpg

Some cars on the list go faster than others easier, but the TA is easily the coolest car on the list, and will hold the best resale value, plus a lot can be done with it anyways, as long as you don't want to stay poncho power a worked 350 would be a great way to go fast on a budget after buying the car (as it's price would be higher than most of the others).

[3991v]

Of those, I would take the 87 Camaro or the 88 Hatchback Stang. Was never a fan of the 70's firebirds. In the late 70's, emissions took over and the power levels dropped big time. Had a 78 Eldorado with a 425 CI motor and it only made 140HP. Plus it got about 7 gallons to the mile :p

My first car was an 88 Silverado 1500 with 300K miles. I loved that truck and kept it for 2 years.

Wouldn't recommend a sports car till you have more experience driving. The temptation is just too great. My sister had a 90 Thunderbird that I slid off the road because I pushed it too hard around a sharp curve. I was 15 at the time. Fortunately I didn't get hurt. I do understand the want for sportiness though, so I would recommend one of the following cars.

92-98 Cadillac Eldorado Or Seville - Sporty as hell with the northstar, just check my videos in the 0-???. Easy on the insurance and plenty safe if you do get in an accident.

96-00 Chevy Cavalier. Pretty quick with the 2.2L, great gas mileage, good handling, and cheap insurance. I have seen how much of a shot these cars can take. There was one in the junkyard that was hit so hard, that the transmission and battery was ripped in half. The drivers side fender was on top of the car, and the drivers door was skinned on the outside, but the cabin was completely intact. The driver walked away from that accident.

Ford Crown Victoria/ Mercury Grand Marquis. Drop flowmasters on it, chuck some 20" rims on it and 12" subwoofers in the trunk and you have a pimped out ride that sounds BAD ASS.

All of these suggestions can be had for under $2000, all get at least 20MPG, all have decent insurance rates and above all, they are safe cars.

The emissions thing irritates me, I mean what's the point in a huge CI engine if they can't put out power :( (My uncle's 79 Firebird had a Olds 455 Rocket in it though, it was mean [both power and gas guzzling]) My parents said I should look out for a Chevy Caviler as well, their 87 was pretty damn reliable, except it rusted out

The 88 Stang would be my choice, provided it's a 5.0, as it's the fastest of all those you mentioned. If you mean a 4 cyl 88 Stang, it would be the slowest out of all of those. lol.

I would not buy any of the cars JC mentioned. lol. Save for maybe the Cavy, just as cheap transport.
I was talkin about the 5.0L. My other uncle (I have a huge family that's all gear-heads. lol) had the 88 or 89 25th anniversary edition, and I loved it.

Get the 78 Firebird, except don't get a Firebird, go for a TA, and get a 78, that was a 79 you posted up, the 77 - 78's have a better headlight design imo.

Some cars on the list go faster than others easier, but the TA is easily the coolest car on the list, and will hold the best resale value, plus a lot can be done with it anyways, as long as you don't want to stay poncho power a worked 350 would be a great way to go fast on a budget after buying the car (as it's price would be higher than most of the others).

I like the 79's style more than the 78's style. Dunno why. They're both great, don't get me wrong, but I like the 79 a bit more. If I do get one, I would put a 455 Olds Rocket in it, because thats what my uncle had.

But as JC said, a Caviler would probably be one of the better choices, until I get more experience. Thanks for the suggestions, I really appreciate it

[JC316]

Some cars on the list go faster than others easier, but the TA is easily the coolest car on the list, and will hold the best resale value, plus a lot can be done with it anyways, as long as you don't want to stay poncho power a worked 350 would be a great way to go fast on a budget after buying the car (as it's price would be higher than most of the others).

Chevrolet has to be numbers matching in order to hold value that well. As soon as you drop a new block in, the collectors value goes bye bye. Look at the price difference between a 69 Z28 with a souped up 350, and a 69 Z28 with a numbers matching DZ302.

To each his own Wile E, I probably wouldn't buy any of those cars anymore either, but when first starting out, it's best to have something that is safe and can take a beating. No way would I recommend a 5.0 Fox, or a mid 90's sup compact to someone just starting. Get in a wreck in one of those and kiss your ass good bye.

I would recommend a Honda Accord, but they are freaking expensive these days with even the 90's going over $3000.

[3991v]

Chevrolet has to be numbers matching in order to hold value that well. As soon as you drop a new block in, the collectors value goes bye bye. Look at the price difference between a 69 Z28 with a souped up 350, and a 69 Z28 with a numbers matching DZ302.

To each his own Wile E, I probably wouldn't buy any of those cars anymore either, but when first starting out, it's best to have something that is safe and can take a beating. No way would I recommend a 5.0 Fox, or a mid 90's sup compact to someone just starting. Get in a wreck in one of those and kiss your ass good bye.

I would recommend a Honda Accord, but they are freaking expensive these days with even the 90's going over $3000.

True, I should get good at driving before I jump straight into a high performance vehicle. :)

[T3hPwn3r3r]

I'd definitely recommend a Cavalier as a first.

I had one as mine, and still drive it daily.

The fuel economy is second to diesels and hybrids only and it has plenty of pep, yet is entirely tame.

Also, parts for them are CHEEEEEEEAP.

As in - affordable.

[JC316]

I'd definitely recommend a Cavalier as a first.

I had one as mine, and still drive it daily.

The fuel economy is second to diesels and hybrids only and it has plenty of pep, yet is entirely tame.

Also, parts for them are CHEEEEEEEAP.

As in - affordable.

On top of that, it's a good one to learn how to work on. I pulled the motor, rebuilt it and put it back in the car in two days on my old 97.

[Wile E]

Chevrolet has to be numbers matching in order to hold value that well. As soon as you drop a new block in, the collectors value goes bye bye. Look at the price difference between a 69 Z28 with a souped up 350, and a 69 Z28 with a numbers matching DZ302.

To each his own Wile E, I probably wouldn't buy any of those cars anymore either, but when first starting out, it's best to have something that is safe and can take a beating. No way would I recommend a 5.0 Fox, or a mid 90's sup compact to someone just starting. Get in a wreck in one of those and kiss your ass good bye.

I would recommend a Honda Accord, but they are freaking expensive these days with even the 90's going over $3000.Actually, the mid90's Jap cars were pretty safe. I wrecked a 97 Corolla at 90mph. Somersaulted it 4 times, and rolled it 3. Walked out of the car. Bigger does not mean safer, at all. If I were in something that wasn't designed to crumple on impact, I likely would've been severely injured, at very least.

[JC316]

Actually, the mid90's Jap cars were pretty safe. I wrecked a 97 Corolla at 90mph. Somersaulted it 4 times, and rolled it 3. Walked out of the car. Bigger does not mean safer, at all. If I were in something that wasn't designed to crumple on impact, I likely would've been severely injured, at very least.

Agreed that the late 90's are decent, I am talking about the late 80's and early 90's ones, which would be in the price range that he is looking at. I have seen some bad wrecks in the junkyards, but I haven't seen a Crown Vic or a Cadillac Seville so busted up that someone wouldn't have walked out of. I did see a Deville with the trunk bumper right behind the rear seats, but the cabin was fine on it.

[Wile E]

Agreed that the late 90's are decent, I am talking about the late 80's and early 90's ones, which would be in the price range that he is looking at. I have seen some bad wrecks in the junkyards, but I haven't seen a Crown Vic or a Cadillac Seville so busted up that someone wouldn't have walked out of. I did see a Deville with the trunk bumper right behind the rear seats, but the cabin was fine on it.

It's a fairly common misconception that the car being intact means the driver would be intact. The more a car holds up to damage, the more force it transfers into to cabin's occupants. Of course, there are middle grounds that need to be reached. A car can't crumple too much, but not crumpling enough can be just as deadly.

[1Kurgan1]

I like the 79's style more than the 78's style. Dunno why. They're both great, don't get me wrong, but I like the 79 a bit more. If I do get one, I would put a 455 Olds Rocket in it, because thats what my uncle had.

But as JC said, a Caviler would probably be one of the better choices, until I get more experience. Thanks for the suggestions, I really appreciate it

Some peopel liek the other headlight design, I personally don't, it's not bad, guess I just like the Smokey and the Bandit feel. I wouldn't put in an Olds 455 asPontiacs made them themselves and you could even look for one that had one and the 4speed. But I would put in something like an LSx (LS1 would be cheapest) and a t-56, would be a real fun car and knock down great MPG since 6th gear is awesome for freeway cruising.

But if you don't have a DD, then yes pick up one, it always sucks to have something fast as your DD, make it harder to put parts on as you have nothing to drive while you have your car apart, or nothing to drive if your car breaks.

Chevrolet has to be numbers matching in order to hold value that well. As soon as you drop a new block in, the collectors value goes bye bye. Look at the price difference between a 69 Z28 with a souped up 350, and a 69 Z28 with a numbers matching DZ302.

To each his own Wile E, I probably wouldn't buy any of those cars anymore either, but when first starting out, it's best to have something that is safe and can take a beating. No way would I recommend a 5.0 Fox, or a mid 90's sup compact to someone just starting. Get in a wreck in one of those and kiss your ass good bye.

I would recommend a Honda Accord, but they are freaking expensive these days with even the 90's going over $3000.

Thats why you keep the old motor, and if you ever sell it off drop it back in there. I agree with the Accord though, I had a 91 I got from #850 luckily and it was a nice car, but most people want to gouge eyes for them.