BigB270

I am thinking about purchasing a 2004/05 TL or a G35 Coupe 6MT in the next month or two but can not decide on which one is best for me.

What do you guys think I should get if I most likely will be going to college about 3 hrs from home?

matelot

17 or 34 ?

BigB270

17 it will be pretty much a graduation gift and a gift for getting a full ride to college

TL CHROMETIDE

I caught that too.

Well, for a 17 year old, a cool guy kind of car would be the G35c 6MT. The TL is also a cool guy car but the G would suit most 17 year olds. Get ready for expensive insurance.

jz-97-c7

04 TL or G35...for a 17yr old, must be nice. i'd vote for the G

Crazy Bimmer

Congrats on the full ride!

So you driving 3 hours to college? Or you living on campus? If on campus i say dont get a nice car cuz it will get fawked up. Maybe buy a used car and use the rest to party!

SDCGTSX

Lucky you. I'd be buying my 17 yo a 2000 Ford Taurus with his choice of a radio or a cd player.

youngTL

Well, are you looking for a luxury tourer or a sports coupe? The G is more "raw" than the TL. Faster, harder ride/better handling, and less features and worse fuel economy.

The TL is a little bit slower. More compliant ride with fair handling, torque steer under hard acceleration (but if you keep the revs down you won't have to worry about that). Better fuel economy (this is a big one these days). Go check out g35driver.com. A lot of them are reporting crappy fuel economy. But since you can afford a car this much at 17 (somehow, I won't ask how), then you can afford the gas and the insurance.

youngTL

Why would you buy a 17 year old an unreliable POS? What's wrong with a 2000 Honda Accord?

bl^5

I'd ask my insurance agent what would be the best car to get.

If your parents are paying for your insurance too, then fuck it, get whatever gets the best gas mileage and the most p*zzy!

And remember everyone in college is broke and 75% of the students will be driving shitty cars. It will be REAL EASSY to stand out in a crowd.

You may want to also think about something that you can use to haul stuff. I moved at least twice a year while I was in college.

SDCGTSX

Who says it's unreliable? I drove my POS Taurus WAGON to HS and liked being able to take 8 of my best friends anywhere we wanted to go. And it's also cheap and big so in case they get in an accident, it's pretty safe. Sort of reminds me of that episode of Who's the Boss when Sam gets a used yellow cab wagon for her first car... with sticky bumper light things all around.

jz-97-c7

because the kid's 17...do you think most teens are responsible enough to handle a 300hp luxury car?? nope...get em the shitbox and learn to take care of that first. if it survives till graduation...then upgrade

youngTL

I didn't say 300hp luxury car. I said 150hp midsize sedan. There's no reason a first car has to be a shitbox. Why can't it be something safe and comfortable with not too much hp? Anyway, sorry

iamhomin

Hold off for the new Lexus IS250/350.

jz-97-c7

agreed...but a taurus isn't a bad first car either...sorry for the

cdrink80

My vote is for none of them....get an S2k obviously!!!

te3point5

get kid a piece of shit car for 3 reasons

1) he's still learning to drive, and will most likely fuck it up anyway.

2) If he/she's in college, other college kids will fuck it up.

3) If he/she's in college, they generally for the most part do not need a car.

buying a nice car in college is a waste... Save the money for after college to buy a nice car.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

I'd have to agree that any nice car for a 17 year old is a waste.
New driver + new fast car = bad
The teen should prove he can keep a car first.
Some POS beater would be far better. Or a used Honda or Toyota econo box.
However,
The TL is slower & not as hard to get in trouble with. It's also bigger. I'd pick that.

cdrink80

Yea I agree, I think you should wait and get the nice chill TL now, and then wait and get the fast sports car after you finish school or in a couple years. Especially if your traveling to school the TL would better suit you.

derrick

Save the $$$. Get a Civic Si for a 'sport' model. A new G35c or TL? You're too nice a parent. Even a used IS300 would be a great 1st car.

(jealous since I had to borrow my parent's car 'til I graduated university ... then got a hand-me-down 11 yo Accord EX -- wish I kept that Accord 'til it died)

SeCsTaC

Scion tC! It's a nice car, reliable, and not too expensive, about the cost of a civic. That's what I'd get if I was 17, (not too far off)

derrick

Shoot ... I forgot about Scion (not available yet in Canada). That would be a good pick for a 1st car. Good entry price ... Toyota quality.

cdrink80

haha nah guys BigB270 is my best friend, he has his choices set on something that is somewhat quick, good handling, and just pimp....he has allready been driving a 03 4 cyl accord manual for almost a year (so hes allready kinda been there and done that with the econ car)....I cant see him going with anything else besides a G, TL, or maybe an E46 3 series... he also forgot to throw in the factor that he might be going somewhere where it may have a lot of snow(atleast a better winter than NOVA).

youngTL

A good first car would be the 06 Civic if he could wait that long! Especially the Si model. I would drive one myself actually. 6spd manual, 200hp, navi + leather...

DownUnder

Tauruses are pretty reliable and are safer (better crash ratings) then older Accords and on par with the new Accord, safety wise.

Ken1997TL

I'd get a Civic or Accord or equivalently priced/featured car. No need for a luxury car at 17, that'll just get abused.

virtualbong

I hope no one tells you that you're spoiled for getting such a nice car because its not close to how much 4 years of college costs. Congrats to you on getting a full ride and have one with whichever car you decide to go with. I'd personally go with the G35 Coupe

BigB270

As cdrink said my parents were not dumb enough to get me one of these cars as my first car. I have been driving around in an 03 Accord sedan 5 speed for almost lil over a year now, and my parents had said after the year was up and had gotten no tickets or accidents I could upgrade as a grad gift.

MattT516

Congratulations on getting a free ride. You actually seem like a responsible teenager (or so says the 19-year-old). On one end, if you are going to Villanova, you are obviously going to have to deal with snow. I don't think a RWD sports car with 298 horsepower is going to suit you well in those conditions. On the other hand, I personally don't think the 3rd gen TL is not the best look for a young kid unless it's properly modified, which in that case wouldn't be good on a college campus.

Have you looked at the 330xi BMW? Or, since you are experienced at driving a manual transmission, the Lancer Evolution or WRX STi?

cdrink80

I can kinda answer for him, EVO and STI are big no's for him he likes some luxury, doesnt have to be just raw power. I dunno we have been looking for BMW's but most of the time used BMW's (mainly been looking at 325 and 330 coupes) have a lot of miles and its kinda skeptical as far as how the maintence costs would be down the road. Any1 have experience with BMW maintence costs and realibilty? I know some will say its a common mis-belief about the poor relibilty but shit its a european car and it will have quirky shit go wrong that will cost a lot to fix...

F23A4

100%!!! I'm not rich enough to afford the insurance on both a 17 y/o teen son (my son in 2 years) and a late model Acura TL/Infiniti G35 for him. :shakehead

ferrari527

i duno where you went to college but at SC, Kids have range rovers, porsche turbos, sl500's, m3s, s4s, its like a car show in the lot. but then again we do have people like the Waltons (walmart).

anyway girls seem to like anything with 2 doors.

SPUDMTN

Here we go again...

ali.ahmed

it depends on where you are going. if everything is close enough, you shouldnt need a car. take the money and put it in a savings account.

and you might want to make sure if they allow freshmen to have cars on campus. it would suck if you had a new car that you couldnt park on campus.

Sclass88

Get a TSX.. its cheaper than both the TL or G35, just as safe, more fun to drive, and girls our age LOVE it. My

SPUDMTN

With nasty winters coming into play, I'd suggest the TL (front-wheel drive is nice for this). Also, while the G35 coupe would be a lot of fun, it's not incredibly practical for haulin' friends around in...which does seem to happen alot in college.

If you're open to suggestions, I'd also say take a look at an Audi with Quattro, maybe a BMW with X-drive, or even a pre-owned 2005 Acura RL with some miles on it.

Hope your search goes well...go test drive all the similar vehicles you can just to get a feel for everything out there (even those you don't really see yourself in). When you find that right car, you'll know it Good luck!

darrinb

i rather have a g coupe

heyitsme

Having an accord already, I'd just take the money and put it towards apt/condo for junior/senior year or even a house after graduation.

HQuakers

M3 an option?

At my school most people drive normal college cars...but I have seen several lucky ones who drive G35 6MT, FX45, STi, M3...

EDIT, nevermind on the M3. Probably wont want such RWD power in winter weather.

New Audi A4/A6 quattro? Those are sooo nice.

m&b6speed

anyone else confused here.
1. are you 17 or is it for your son?
2. as posted by a few, a TL or G35 is a waste in college, no one drives on campus and drunk college kids and nice cars is a reason to get in trouble.
3. i'd go for the TL if anthing cause you know he/you will be bringing things home(laundry...) and bringing things back to college(mom's home cooking, clothes...) and the extra space may come in handy