20 year old with two cars?

[TRDCal]

So lately I've been getting this urge to own a manual transmission vehicle again. At first I thought of maybe selling or trading the 4runner for a 2nd gen 6 speed Tacoma but I really don't want to get rid of the 4runner plus there pretty expensive for a nice low mileage one so then I thought maybe a second vehicle?

Currently I'm looking at a 2005 Corolla XRS with 100,000kms (60,000miles) for $10,000 OBO (really nice one owned by a rich older couple). I don't know if you guys are familiar with the 05-06 Corolla XRS's but they are beasts. Just youtube em, you'll be busy for hours. They come stock with a 2zz-ge (170hp w/ 8200rpm redline) w/ 6sp trans...same engine as a Lotus Elise plus theres tons of aftermarket goodies that make them even quicker.

My question to you all is, am I'm being ridiculous? I don't need another car but my feeling is that I'm only going to live once. And I once read a post on here that said something like "Who cares its only money, I'll get more"

I'm not rich by any means but I have graduated college and am now working in my field plus I did just recently pay off the line of credit I used to buy my 4runner but would it be stupid to just spend all that money again? I don't know, and I can't really ask any of my friends or family because I know they'll think it's stupid.

EDIT: As a side note, this isn't just a random "craving", I've had this thought going thru my mind for a couple weeks now and I have wanted one of these Corollas for years now.

 

[OHP]

I know they'll think it's stupid.

They would be right.

Invest that money in something that appreciates, not depreciates.

 

[deedst4r]

my feeling is that I'm only going to live once.

YOLO, man. :lmao: :lol:

In all seriousness, IMHO i do not think it is very smart. Save you money! Dropping 10K is an awful lot for a second car at the age of 20. I can relate to wishing the 4th gen came in a 6speed/5speed though.

 

[BucknutBob]

Cal, just the fact that you're questioning the decision should tell you something--your brain is trying to get through with logic. Yes, you only live once, but you ALSO live for a long time, and you are still very young. You WILL have plenty more vehicles, I guarantee it--no rush to jump into another loan right away. If you find you just can't get the idea out of your mind, then go find a $2000 sporty car and play with that--you'll still have a blast, and you'll pay it off quickly, allowing you to get back to saving something much sooner.

 

[Sherwood4Runner]

I know what you're feeling. I'm 20 as well, and here is how I solved that urge. I save a portion of my money for a year until I had 3000 dollars and bought a motorcycle as my second vehicle. Cheaper than a car (if you get it used), sportier than any sports car you can afford, and easier to store.

On a side note, my first car was a 2000 Celica GT-S (lighter than the Corolla) and that had the 2ZZ-GE with VVTL-i and a 6-speed trans. The 8200 red line is fun for a few months, but then you start to realize how gutless the engine is below 6000 rpm and it's not so fun anymore. BTW my motorcycle redlines at around 14,000, has 100hp to the rear wheel, and weights between 400-450 depending on the gas in the tank. That's more fun than a Lamborghini for 3000 dollars Just my 2 cents.

 

[jca21]

Cal, just the fact that you're questioning the decision should tell you something--your brain is trying to get through with logic. Yes, you only live once, but you ALSO live for a long time, and you are still very young. You WILL have plenty more vehicles, I guarantee it--no rush to jump into another loan right away. If you find you just can't get the idea out of your mind, then go find a $2000 sporty car and play with that--you'll still have a blast, and you'll pay it off quickly, allowing you to get back to saving something much sooner.

^winner winner chicken dinner.


seriously, keep saving the money for a down payment on a house or something.

 

[ZJumper]

Look at it from your current standpoint--your current ride is paid off...many people can't say this especially at 20. Hell, I know people who ALWAYS have a car payment. They get a car, finance it, drive it for 3-4 years, trade it in, finance the new car and start all over again.

I can relate wanting to have this, that and the other when you're 20. If you really want this car, get it, but read the next paragraph first. You only live once. I was 20 once and did the same damn things. When you're older you'll look back on it and have 1 of 2 thoughts. 1 being, "damn that XXX was a blast--I have no regrets", or 2 being "man I blew a lot of money on XXX, sure it was fun, but that $10K invested would be worth XX now." I have a lot of number 2's but a few number 1's.

Being 40 now, my outlook on things have changed a bit. If you really really want it, save up $10K and put it in a retirement or savings or "will not touch this money" account. Then save up another $10K for the car. Chances are by the time you do this, the urge for the car will have waned and you'll have $20K in the bank. One thing I've learned is pay yourself first--having money in the bank is far better to owe money to the bank. If I'm buying a toy (motorcycle, Rhino, guns etc) I always match the "fun" with a bit of sense. I sort of look at it as a "if you can't match it, you can't afford it" type of mantra.

If you're going to buy this as a toy, pay cash and don't finance it.

 

[calikev]

We are currently in the best housing market of your lifetime for buying. $10k is a downpayment for a really nice condo most likely or even a single family home.

How rewarding would it be to be 20-21 with a paid off 4Runner and a home of your own that will appreciate and make you more money?

Forget about cars for now and save like a madman, remain 100% debt free and you can likely drive Corvette's, Aston Martins, M3's, Carrerra's or whatever you want when you're in your 30's and for sure in your 40's

I bought my 1st house at 20. A 4 BR condo that is 1800 sq ft. I paid $46k for it. It's worth about 4x that now and we still own it. Buy a house...you won't regret it and when you're an older man it will pay you back and insure a comfortable retirement for you.

 

[Iroke17]

go pick up a mk1 mr2 you will have a ton of fun with it and you can get one super cheep.
and as for the 20 and two cars?
when i was 20 i have 2 4runners 1 celica 2 mr2s and a bike.

 

[NJshadow93]

Don't worry man. If someone brags about having a manual in their little 4-banger compact car, you can brag about the V8 you have, which sounds way better than whatever they're driving . But in all seriousness, if you're willing to drop $10K in a second car, you might as well look further into the 6 spd Tacoma. But I would just keep and mod the 4Runner.

 

[034RUNNER]

Every since I was 17 I've had two cars (I'm almost 24 now). Had 3 even at a couple points. I'm not a dumb kid looking to blow money. I always made money or at least broke even on my cars. I took care of them all and never bought pieces of crap to begin with. I went from a Camaro z28, to two trans am's (one WS6), a mustang cobra (2003) and then my z06.

My point is, I can justify it if the "fun" car is something that will at least hold it's value and really be fun. A Corolla, though, is not something I can even begin to try and justify.

 

[RiDE]

Are you completely independent from your parents and paying your own rent/mortage? If so, buy toys. If not, well you already know the answer to that.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I think you should find yourself something a little cheaper (cheaper upgrades, more fun).

I just turned 21 at the end of March... I've got 5 cars. 2 isn't bad! haha, I'm trying to downsize to two by the time I'm done with these projects.

IMO, my little stick Ford Probe GT isn't the best looking or the funnest car out there (especially FWD), but it's a hidden Mazda MX6 with a turbo. The 2.2 Mazda motor cranks out unbelievable amounts of torque for its size. My friend's MX6 is a very budget car, though it cranks out over 200 horsepower and makes 300 foot pounds of torque, while still achieving 35 MPG. That was enough for me to go out and buy one... for how much you ask? $500! I haven't even spent $1000 total and I've already rebuilt the engine with tons of new parts, bought 4 tokico shocks, intrax lowering springs, mirrors, seats, wheels, tires, steering wheel, lower tie bar, strut bars, and the list continues! Pick your part is your friend!

The funny part is, my friend is coming over right now, we're off to buy yet another one, a 1988 Mazda 626 GT 5 door hatch for $700. They're silly cheap and oh so easy to fix. Barely any money and we have beat 05+ modified Mustang GT's, Camaros, pretty much every single Civic, Integra, RSX, etc that just roam the streets...

Ultimately... YES, buy yourself a toy fun car and keep your 4Runner as your baby.

 

[Huskey]

It kinda looks like the typical answers you have received are very "responsible". Your a college grad, recently debt free, and still young. Without knowing what you make, I'd say go spend 2 months of salery and treat yourself... You deserve it and can have it payed off in no time. You'll make more money overtime and buy more exspenive things, but sometimes it's nice to live in the now.

 

[jirehn]

Well if you really want to have then go for it.

 

[TRDCal]

So I am being ridiculous...Damn it!!

I do technically have 3 vehicles, but one doesn't run (76 FJ40), one runs but isn't insured (95 Corolla) and the last is my 4runner which I love but it still doesn't fulfill my need to row thru some gears.

I guess I can't argue with the fact that it's stupid to buy something that expensive (about a third of my net salary). I just kinda needed a slap to bring me back to reality. Thanks guys!

What I think I'm going to do is insure my Corolla for like a week. It not fast or powerful by any stretch of the imagination but it's still fun popping the clutch, chirpin the tires and getting up to the redline. That should fix my craving until I can maybe find a cheap little beater sports car like you guys suggested. Maybe rwd like a 240sx or something. I wish I was into motorcycles because that would be really sweet but i've never really been good on two wheels especially at high speed.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

IMO, my little stick Ford Probe GT isn't the best looking or the funnest car out there (especially FWD), but it's a hidden Mazda MX6 with a turbo. The 2.2 Mazda motor cranks out unbelievable amounts of torque for its size. My friend's MX6 is a very budget car, though it cranks out over 200 horsepower and makes 300 foot pounds of torque, while still achieving 35 MPGs

The funny part is, my friend is coming over right now, we're off to buy yet another one, a 1988 Mazda 626 GT 5 door hatch for $700. They're silly cheap and oh so easy to fix. Barely any money and we have beat 05+ modified Mustang GT's, Camaros, pretty much every single Civic, Integra, RSX, etc that just roam the streets...

300ft lbs of torque? Beats modded Camaros? Sounds a little tall without some more info. You're running low 13 second 1/4 mile with it? The import racer in me is curious as I've modded quite a few cars including friend's cars.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

300ft lbs of torque? Beats modded Camaros? Sounds a little tall without some more info. You're running low 13 second 1/4 mile with it? The import racer in me is curious as I've modded quite a few cars including friend's cars.

I'm not saying blown LS-whatever doing wheelies with 400 horsepower. I'm talking about the stuff you'll find on the streets around here. Mainly stock but multiple "modified" Mustang GT's and Camaro Z28s, even up to newer model years.

Believe me, I thought it was complete bull when he told me the same stuff. Yesterday, we picked up a 1989 Mazda 626 GT 5 door hatchback. It looks like hell, half of the interior is destroyed, the paint is a nightmare, and the transmission barely works with 3 out of 4 gears. Even on stock 6-7 PSI boost and low compression, that thing slapped my moms 4.0 V6 4th gen silly.

Then, my same friend's MX6 (originally N/A) has a stock Mazda turbo running 15 PSI, with high compression valve springs ($150), new lifters ($50), 400ft-lb south bend clutch ($250), walbro 255, MSD and whatnot... but the real killer is N/A high compression pistons (versus lower compression GT pistons). Let me tell ya... That little mofo SCREAMS. It's pretty much at the point where you've got to ask yourself how much traction you'd like (no LSD yet). It weighs about as much as a toothpick. I tried keeping up with it in my 4Runner, prior to turbo, and I couldn't keep up at all.

Stock GT F2T motor, intercooled 6 PSI: 145hp, 190tq. GT's come with larger 4 wheel disc brakes, 3 way adjustable suspension.
Stock N/A F2 motor: 110 hp, 130tq.

GT compression ratio: 7.8:1
N/A compression ratio: 9.2:1

More perks with using an F2 block in place of an F2T are better gas mileage (2-3 mpg more than the GT), they are just about everywhere, easy to find, and make more power per PSI of boost.

For example, running 10 PSI of boost on an F2 block yields an effective compression ratio of 14.45:1.

Running 12 psi on an F2T block yields an effective compression ratio of 14.17:1!

So, on 10 PSI on a non turbo, you'll be making more power than 12 psi on a turbo block, in addition to having a more stout block/stronger pistons.

Due to the increased torque output, Mazda was forced to increase the strength of the transmission for the F2T, producing the H-type, the strongest FWD gearbox Mazda produced at the time.

Mazda's stock GT sway bars and factory rear strut bar/lower tie bar make it pretty stiff. A simple addition of a front strut bar/energy suspension endlinks and it's already great at cornering (really surprising since I've always doubted/hated FWD). Get into thicker addco bars and you'll want some Australian DOM tube braces. I just picked up a set of Intrax 2" lowering springs for my Probe (Probe being a mechanically identical copy of the MX6 aside from body structure) and I'm excited.

Once Probe is running, I've got the N/A pistons and I'm definitely making videos... I only wish I'd ended up with a lightweight flywheel.

Of course, changing compression ratios is not just as simple as that, many measures are taken to prevent detonation and proper running condition. Play hard, maintain hard.


Sorry, end thread jack.

 

[dropped 95]

My 2 cents. If you are looking for a small fun 6 speed go out and find a 92-95 civic hatchback and swap in a k20. With the addition of some coilovers and good brake pads (so handling and stopping matches the go part) and you have a tight little car .
A jdm K20A will net you between 210-220 hp and redlines well over 8000rpm. With engine in, and in cx trim, the car would weigh just over 2000lbs. It's a setup that I plan to build in a few years.

I am biased towards hondas though and k20's sound very nice.

 

[J. B.]

T4R 5spd. with Supercharger.

or

Porsche 944 Turbo.


I have to make a tough decision every day.

You can get a 944 turbo for pretty cheap these days...