Son's first car

[ghuns]

...it's a reasonable assumption that certain cars that appeal to safety minded and "boring driver" owners will have lower fatality ratings based entirely on driver behavior per registered vehicle as opposed to physical safety measures.

As I said, just another tool. And I think it can be useful when comparing similar vehicles or vehicles likely to be driven by similar drivers.

The drivers of a Mercury Grand Marquis are likely to be fair boring. The drivers of VW Passats are likely similarly boring, though probably skew younger. Both cars have very similar NTSB ratings. But one rates 16 deaths per million and the other 83. That's a pretty big disparity. I'm sure there's any number of reasons why, but one car is a design that is decades old, the other is based on much more modern design.

 

[Somemedic]

My dad like my 95 so much he bought a 06.

They ride like a caddy, when the rear air suspension starts leaking swap the bags out for the ever reliable springs. No leaks after that.

Millions of cabs and police officers relied for years on the panther platform, either as a crown vic or GM. Looks like an old man's car but has enough 4.6 to move on out. Decent mileage and the back seat is roomy enough to make a fella into a grandfather.

Only other car to suggest would be a Toyota pick up with a 22r. They don't die, respectable enough looking for a young high schooler and slow. Only issue right now with that is they're very sought after on the market and 3k won't get a rusty frame right now. Everybody wants em a Marty McFly toyota....

 

[mmpsteve]

My first car was a 1974 Olds cutlass.

Mine was a '73 Cutlass Supreme. Never saved a dime after I bought that thing. Engine work, paint, wheels, radio, speakers, 8-track tapes. Yep, good times.

.

 

[Destro]

I have a Grand Marquis, I love the car but it has been a bit of a money pit on repairs.

18mpg is a little optimistic for city driving IME with the cars.

 

[jason867]

My first was a 78 f-250 4x4 with the 400 v8, back in 2004. Loved that truck so much, i still have it! But i don't drive it much these days lol.

 

[breakingcontact]

Sweet ride!

 

[Frosty]

My first was a 78 f-250 4x4 with the 400 v8, back in 2004. Loved that truck so much, i still have it! But i don't drive it much these days lol.

I’m jealous, I’d love to find a 70’s ford 4x4 to fix up and have some fun with.

 

[Reverend Dreed]

18mpg would seem great my first car was a 57 Desoto wagon with the big 392hemi

 

[BehindBlueI's]

As I said, just another tool. And I think it can be useful when comparing similar vehicles or vehicles likely to be driven by similar drivers.

It's a tool that tells you a VW bug is 3x safer than an F-250, but since you said similar vehicles let's take a look at multiple iterations of the exact same vehicle. The Ford Fusion:

It's a tool that tells you a Ford Fusion plug in hybrid is over twice as safe as the non-plug in hybrid.

It's a tool that tells you adding AWD to your Fusion nearly doubles your risk of dying in it.

If that seems like a useful tool to you, by all means use it. Again, respectfully, I say it's a horrible metric.

 

[jake blue]

I have a Grand Marquis, I love the car but it has been a bit of a money pit on repairs.

Well the same can be said for any car over about 5 years old. My reasoning is this - if it's paid off, put what you'd be spending on a car payment into a savings account. When a pricey maintenance item arises, either fix it or decide it's time to buy new. After a while, the cost of a repair will outweigh the value of the vehicle and by then you should have a nice healthy amount of money to put as a down payment on that new(er) car.

Now if you're like some people (whose name I won't mention) and don't follow this, every time that repair bill comes up it's this agonizing over is the car worth the price of the repair but can't afford a new car and don't want another car payment... I'm exhausted just reciting it! It's also why I proactively bought a spare used car just for that very reason. So apparently she isn't dumb - she knew if she whined about it enough I would take care of it!!

 

[thunderchicken]

My first was a 78 f-250 4x4 with the 400 v8, back in 2004. Loved that truck so much, i still have it! But i don't drive it much these days lol.

My first car was a 79 Fairmont but I didn't drive it long before I bought a 79 F250 Crew Cab 4x4 with a 400 and 4.10 gears rolling on 33x12.5's from my uncle. We rebuilt the engine together and that thing would've pulled about anything. Sure didn't pass very many gas stations driving around in the city though. I miss that truck but wouldn't want that fuel mileage with prices now

 

[chocktaw2]

A set of curtains, a pillow, and a blanket. Rolling Motel 6! Sold a 2004 last Nov. that had 128k on the clock. I was 2nd owner. Florida model.

 

[WebSnyper]

My first car was a 79 Fairmont but I didn't drive it long before I bought a 79 F250 Crew Cab 4x4 with a 400 and 4.10 gears rolling on 33x12.5's from my uncle. We rebuilt the engine together and that thing would've pulled about anything. Sure didn't pass very many gas stations driving around in the city though. I miss that truck but wouldn't want that fuel mileage with prices now

I had an 81 Fairmont. Was my second car. I'll have to find a pic and scan it and post it. Was hilarious because I got it painted, put some wheels on it, air shocks on the back, tinted windows, New transmission, little steering wheel, even put an aftermarket tac on it,etc. Wouldn't get out of its own way, but looked good for what it was.

First car was a '74 Mustang ii. My brother took it off my hands to give it to his ex wife as he was divorcing her. Yeah, it was a complete POS with more holes than floorboards.

 

[BigRed]

The problem with a large sedan is some like to keep their heels on.

How's the headliner?