I am currently 16 looking to start to learn more about cars. I looked around everyone just said best thing to learn from cars is working on them. Well here I am asking what do you guys think would be the best car to buy for a project car under $4000. I looked around and most people said integras, mustangs, and civics. I'm going to have this car on the side and work on over the summer I drive a Nissan rouge 2009 rn. What's a car that you guys would recommend to get or what should I do to start learning about cars ? also I would prefer a manual car because that's what I want to learn, personally don't like automatic cars makes me feel lazy LMAO

 

civic.

 

why spend $4k on an extra car?
get to know your Rogue. I guarantee the skills you learn from the Rogue, like changing brakes, oil, etc WILL transfer to other cars.

 

Del Sol + JDM H22

 

captain buzz kill right here

 

lol!
I learned on my daily drivers, because I couldnt afford mechanics!

and now, I can diagnose pretty much any vehicle's problems.

What does he really want? a cool project car? or just to learn?

 

Well I should've said I know basic like brakes and stuff but I mean tuning, adding turbos and more advanced stuff that I can't really do with a rouge

 

ahhh! now, we're getting into what you really really want.

keep going.

RWD vehicle, or FWD?
manual or auto?

if a high horsepowered turbo'd car is your goal, you're going to need a platform that can handle that.
a mustang or 240

 

Can you explain to me what Jdm really is, like I understand that it japenease stuff, but is it the car itself has to be Jdm to call it Jdm or is it like parts that you add, and what's the difference of having Jdm

 

tuning is pretty much software and doesnt need much wrenching. most of the time, you pay some one that knows the software to tune it for you.

 

anything that was born in Japanland is JDM.

here in the united states, our stuff is called USDM!

the h22 has a USDM and a JDM version of the engine.....
the JDM version is better.

 

I really don't care if it's rear or front since I really don't be doing much with drifting and stuff like that max I would do is probably launches and burnouts

I want manual, want to learn how to handle them they look more fun and would make me feel more attached
And I was debating on the 240sx I want for sure if it was a nice car to work on ?

 

Ahhhh, okay so like japenease parts of a car, like let's say Fog lights from Japan I would claim it as Jdm ?

 

you choose a vehicle by your goals......

the 240 is rear wheel and can handle lots of hp.

a fwd car is limited in how much power it can make, without spinning the front wheels.....

 

was the fog light born in JAPAN???
if yes, its JDM

 

Miata, because Roadster.
240SX, sideways fun & lots of aftermarket
CL TypeS 6MT? Not sure if fits in 4k budget.

 

Putting that into consideration best thing for me would probably be rwd, so that really narrows it down to a Miata, 240, and a mustang. Which do you think would be cheapest to work on like part wise ? And have more resell value once all tuned and fixed ?

 

you're running around with your goals!!!

which do you want? project car? or valuable reseller??????

 

he's 16, he doesn't know what he wants.

 

Cars are rarely an investment. The amount of time and $$ you put in, you most likely will never get back.. I learned all my car skills on a supercharged 2000 grand prix GTP.

 

pop quiz!

is your Rogue JDM or USDM?

 

If you can find a clean bodied Integra, it might not be a bad choice.


They are nice to learn on. Easy to work on, parts are decently priced, they can be fun to drive (they're not fast, but the beauty of older Hondas is their ability to handle corners very well)- actually, if anything, that's one of the beauties of them- learn to drive a slow car well first. Learn where the apex of a corner is and when do mash the throttle, etc. Learning these skills on a slow car will pay dividends when you move on to something faster.

Anyone can go fast in a straight line. It's the corners where 99% of the population suffers.


The RSX is an option too, but looks wise, personally, I prefer the Integra. Just make sure it isn't horrendously rusting. Also, if it does have body rust, it likely won't make sense to fix it. It is cancer for cars and it will be back within a matter of time.


Learn on it. Enjoy it. Love it. Limit your mods on it. Tthen in 4 years dump it for something better.

 

Pretty sure my rouge is usdm, bit tricky idk if Nissan is Japan based or not

 

you have much to learn, young grasshopper!!

 

Well, I want a project car. Something I can have on the side to drive around when I want

 

Why do you say to limit the mods ? Wouldn't mods be a better thing ?

 

on the drivers door sill, there should be a sticker that displays Tire information like what size tires came stock.
keep reading and it will say where the car was made.

 

Where do I sign up

 

then dont worry about resale value.

 

Really I want to do this to learn, which out of a integra, Miata, 240sx, or a mustang ?

 

Which is cheaper to work on

 

LOL it depends on your goals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

any of those cars are fairly easy and cheap to maintain.
however, if you want boost or swap engines or something like that...it gets expensive fast.
it just depends on what condition you pick up project car in.
if it needs work to just be able to drive, you'll spend money quick....

 

i still think your best bet is to learn about the Rogue, as you have no clue about it!
can you identify where that catalytic converters are?
Do you know how many pistons your brakes have??.
can you change the alternator and starter on it?

 

Is your rogues engine a Gallo 12 or a Gallo 24?

 

 

Don't even know what those even are, I want to get into cars but everyone just said start with a project car and learn from there, I want to learn about them then jump into all of that really

 

Is it bad that I don't know what that means ?!?

 

 

I guarantee you, learn about the rogue. Theses skills will transfer to other cars.
Learn About the brakes and what kind you have. Learn every thing about the rogue.
Learn how to fix simple things. I promise these skills transfer to other cars .

I know a lot about cars because I had to learn how to wrench.

 

1990 mustang 5.0 5 speed. Can find them dirt cheap and parts are stupid cheap as well.