First Car

[elite marksman]

I will be getting my license in 8 days, and hoping to have a car by then or shortly thereafter. At the moment I'm looking at a 1996 Eagle Talon ES, 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix SE, 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass, and a 1994 Chevy Baretta.
Does anyone know anything about the reliability and characteristics of the cars? I'm leaning towards the Talon because it's the only one with driver, passenger, and side bags, it looks so damn cool, and it only has a 4 cylinder, so i will save money on insurance (God knows I'll be paying out the arse for insurance on a coupe in New Jersey as a 17 year old male...) and gas.

[BMan1113VR]

From the list, I would be leaning toward either the Talon or the Grand Prix. All are good cars, but I would make the descision based on the condition of the actual car you are going to buy (not the model).

[Giteen]

Defenitely go with your own taste of car AS LONG AS IT'S NOT AN IMPORT.
(taking it you're american)

So sad to see american car companies suffering

[Woodlouse2002]

If American car companies are suffering from foreign imports then clearly they are not making the cars the public wants. Maybe if they made a small, economical city car then they might have some success.

[expat]

Defenitely go with your own taste of car AS LONG AS IT'S NOT AN IMPORT.
(taking it you're american) ;)

So sad to see american car companies suffering :'( :'(

                         
>:(NO TOYOTA >:(                                                          
>:(NO HONDA >:(                                    
>:(NO NISSAN >:(                                    
>:(NO SUBARU >:(
>:(NO SUZUKI >:(
>:(NO MAZDA >:(
>:(NO LEXUS >:(

Subtitute for:

FORD
LINCOLN
MERCURY
JAGUAR
GENERAL MOTORS
CHEVY
PONTAIC
BUICK
CHRYSLER
CADALAC
 MANY MORE ETC.

End of political/economic rank rant

...I feel better                                                    .. CHRISTMAS COLORS!  :D

P.S.- I'm not racist against the japanese, I just have a lovely hard conservative thought about their cars!

Jaguar may be owned by Ford, but it is as American as a Spitfire

Matt

[Giteen]

If American car companies are suffering from foreign imports then clearly they are not making the cars the public wants. Maybe if they made a small, economical city car then they might have some success.

To this, I agree.

[Willit Run]

God have mercy on us in Cherry Hill!!

Remember one thing, the Eagle Talon is a nice looking car but, Check to make sure parts are easily available since Eagle is no longer and also if it shares part with another car.  I think some other car company made the Talon for Eagle.

 Grand Prix    O.K.
 Cutlass         O.K.
 Stay away from the Beretta - Not a reliable car!!!

[Giteen]

If American car companies are suffering from foreign imports then clearly they are not making the cars the public wants. Maybe if they made a small, economical city car then they might have some success.

To this, I agree.

[RichieB16]

>:(NO MAZDA

While I do share your feelings about buying American cars, I feel the need to point out that Mazda is owned by Ford...so if you consider a Jaguar an American car (also owned by Ford) you should probably throw Mazda in there too.  They do still have that "tinny" feel that many imports have, but they are owned by Ford.

[Mushroom_Farmer]

It's basically impossible to buy a purely American car anymore. The Corvette may be the exception? Chevrolet partnered with Toyota as far back as the 80's. Ford has had ties with Mitsubishi and others. The Ford Courier pickup was manufactured in and imported from Japan by a company I never heard of. Chrysler has ties with both German & Japanese automakers. Blah, blah, blah...................

Just have all vehicles you are interested in checked over by a reputable mechanic and do your homework. I'll take reliability and affordability over status any day.  ;)

[BMan1113VR]

Defenitely go with your own taste of car AS LONG AS IT'S NOT AN IMPORT.
(taking it you're american)

So sad to see american car companies suffering

He is buying used so. . . . . .Plus all those cars are technically from American companies

 Remember one thing, the Eagle Talon is a nice looking car but, Check to make sure parts are easily available since Eagle is no longer and also if it shares part with another car.  I think some other car company made the Talon for Eagle.

It is a DSM, so a it is a Plymouth/Mitsubishi

[expat]

If American car companies are suffering from foreign imports then clearly they are not making the cars the public wants. Maybe if they made a small, economical city car then they might have some success.

Jaguar may be owned by Ford, but it is as American as a Spitfire

Matt

Hmm...  People do have different views.  My grandfather owns a Jag.  Very nice car, comfortable, can't even feel the roads. And...       ITS FAST

Realy though, what's wrong with Jaguar??  I believe, as much as I may disagree with a topic, that a person deserves to be listened to.  Sooo.. ?


P.S.  Sorry elite,  for dragging this post off topic!

Nothing is wrong with a Jag, I only pointed out that it was not American as listed in the original list of American cars to buy.

Matt

[elite marksman]

Although I would normally agree with you Giteen, it is my first car, and as I only have $2-3000 to work with, I'm buying whatever kind of car I find that looks good and runs well, and is reliable, be it a Ford or a Datsun.
I'll be visiting my father's favored mechanic soon as he sells used cars as well. Looking at a 93 Acura and an 88 Tempo. Probably won't buy the Tempo because my dad doesn't like the idea of no air bags. Still need to get down to My First Car to look at that Talon though.

[RichieB16]

Probably won't buy the Tempo because my dad doesn't like the idea of no air bags.

Just a bit of advice, airbags or not...thos old Tempo's are junk.  My family has a 1989 Ford Tempo and...although reliable so far, it truly is a piece of crap.  If you have $2-$3000 to play with, you can get a much better car than that I'm sure.

[cheesegrater]

Defenitely go with your own taste of car AS LONG AS IT'S NOT AN IMPORT.
(taking it you're american) ;)

So sad to see american car companies suffering :'( :'(

                         
>:(NO TOYOTA >:(                                                          
>:(NO HONDA >:(                                    
>:(NO NISSAN >:(                                    
>:(NO SUBARU >:(
>:(NO SUZUKI >:(
>:(NO MAZDA >:(
>:(NO LEXUS

Subtitute for:

FORD
LINCOLN
MERCURY
JAGUAR
GENERAL MOTORS
CHEVY
PONTAIC
BUICK
CHRYSLER
CADALAC
 MANY MORE ETC.

End of political/economic rank rant

...I feel better                                                    .. CHRISTMAS COLORS!  :D

P.S.- I'm not racist against the japanese, I just have a lovely hard conservative thought about their cars!

You know that "Japanese" cars are manufactured in North America? I don't know how you can classify cars made in the USA or Canada as imports. Also, some of those "Japanese" companies use more "American" parts than "American" companies. For example, Ford uses a lot of parts from Mexico. So, you might be supporting the American economy more by buying a Toyota rather than a Ford. You never know until you do some research, you can't jump to conclusions like that based on such superficial observations.