Your First Car


Recommended Posts

  • 2 months later...

1992 Pontiac Grand Am Coupe

In the 3 1/2 years I owned the following happened:

Broke both regulator arms on the windows

Loose bearing in the A/C compressor (in turn causing me not be able to use my A/C. This happen during my broken window phase)

Snapped a tire rod end (happened in the middle lane of the NJ Turnpike during bumper-to-bumper rush hour)

Engine Ceased up due to bad compressor bearing (single serpentine belt)

4 or 5 coolant leaks resulting in multiple replaced hoses

Leak in my power steering hose

I felt like I was replacing my brake pads & rotors every 10-12K miles

I know I'm missing more

first care ever driven was Dacia back in Europe when I was 5 with my godfather

my first car bought with my own money and still own is a 96 civic

I changed:

pad/rotors

alternator

radiator

exhaust manifold - midpipe

and now I need to fix the door lock actuator

will sell it for a new golf tdi whenever I have more money saved for the down payment

ha, just found my post from June 2008 when i got my car....

still got it...

even after new engine, new head gasket, new fuel pump system, new starter motor, new rear lights, new wing mirrors, new brake discs and pads (front only, done by myself which im quite proud of) whole new front end (crash not my fault) whole new back end (crash not my fault) and its now on 90,000 miles and still working! MOT in may cost £400 for several reasons being mainly shock absorbers and a new exhaust and tyes.

ahhhhhhhhh love it, and its got a nice big dent in drivers side door.

There is something so gratifying, yet infuriating, about owning a car that is 10 years older than. It's something that a great majority of people will never understand and I feel bad for them. When my first car finally kicked the bucket I was a little said because of our love/hate relationship.

First car....

1992 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT

Engine: 4.0L Inline 6 (190hp)

Automatic / 4 X4

Pros:

Good for four wheeling

Excellent in 2 feet of snow

Gutsy engine

Cons:

Gas Hog

Leaked every imaginable fluid on earth

Had a very light steering rack (i could switch lanes with my pinky on the wheel)

MODS:

K & N Cone filter with a custom made mount

Interior trim dressup kit

STATUS:

Sold it several years ago, but i miss it.

  • 2 weeks later...

First vehicle was a 1994 Ford Econoline F150 van, with the Explorer conversion package. The paint job was two tones of poop-brown, and it had roughly 125kmi on it. Absolute piece of crap! But, it did provide for some fun times in high school and college. It earned the name "The Party Barge" :D

Here's a generic pic of something close:

4FE1D321-2AB9-4A15-BDC8-A98C7E55DEB0_1.jpg

  • 2 weeks later...

Mine was a 92 Saturn SL1, paid 650 bucks, was over 110k miles and it didn't start, the owner didn't want to spend money on the car hence why it was cheap...my brother who is a mechanic fixed the fuel injection problem (they were just dirty) and changed the oxygen sensor and the car was ok. Was with me for 2 years then I sold the car for 900 bucks. Couple of months later the guy who bought the car got into a car accident and totaled the car. Damn it was a good one...

saturne.jpg

  • 1 month later...
  • 2 months later...

First Car:

Nissan Sunny/Sentra 1987 1.5L it was a POS. inherited by my mum.

Pros: It got me to places

Cons: It was falling apart, rust, paint job...

Man that car broke down so many times I can remember, overheated, had the block and head gasket rectified (sp?), radiator had leaks, ac system was stolen by some crappy mechanic, the right front tire would have a bit of a pull when breaking, so it would eat braked like corn flakes. The back windshield had a leak I tried getting it repaired many times, then I just siliconed it and foamed it and presto. CV joints went bust, springs needed urgent changing. Driver door knob (sp? it's not a knob, I just don't know teh word in Ingrish) had to be wiggled in order for it to be open. etc. The carburetor was also rectified and had a small leak/inlet, not a leak per se, but where the carburetor went mounted on the head, it didn't come in 100% contact so it let in a bit of air. The deck light would go on/off all of a sudden for no apparent reason, then came back on. The wheel shaft/bearing where it comes in contact with the tires to make it turn was "tightened" and because of that when turning to teh right, the wheel would stay slightly a bit longer If I didn't use my hands to turn.

I sold it for $788 (which is a CHEAP price for old cars around here...)

Now with job and help of family bought a new Mazda 3 2011... but man I miss my trashy old car :( I seriously miss it, it was an investment, not just money, but teh time spent and teh memories :shifty: ... the aggravation :laugh:

My first car

Chevy Lumina 2003 LS (aka Holden Commodore VY)

post-32221-0-32491900-1299694782.jpg

Sorry about the sloppy pic :blush:

Pros

- Nice looking

- Sporty with allot of room

- Absolutely fun to drive (lil press on gas and feel that backend come off the line :woot:)

Cons

- Constant electrical issue with Power locks, power window, 6-CD changer.

- If buying used one, check chassis, engine, cooling, gear box, front suspension and steering rack. Rear suspension is solid its the front where the problem may arise.

- Gas-guzller :rolleyes:

Mods & Fixes History

- New radiator

- Replaced front passenger side steering tie rod

- New fluid pipes for power steering

- Two new power locks and knobs

Current Status

- Still driving

  • 2 weeks later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • WhatsApp slams Isreali firm, NSO Group, for trying to spy on its users by David Uzondu WhatsApp has come out accusing Israeli cyber-intelligence firm, NSO Group, of deploying a fresh wave of highly targeted "spear phishing" attacks against users, which its security teams successfully thwarted. The Israeli firm, according to WhatsApp, ran this operation like its usual one-click phishing campaigns, trying to get people to click malicious links that lead them to external sites. To coordinate the campaign, the spyware vendor created fake test accounts and groups on the messaging app. WhatsApp said it is sharing the specific malicious domains, ikhwancast[.]com, ghazacast[.]com, and fr24cast[.]com, because potential victims need this data to check if they were targeted across other messaging systems or email platforms. The NSO Group is infamous for creating and selling Pegasus, a military-grade commercial spyware capable of silently compromising smartphones simply by sending a message or placing a missed call via apps like WhatsApp or iMessage. Users do not even have to interact with the incoming notification before the infection takes hold. Once Pegasus manages to break in, the spyware harvests private data, letting operators read private messages, emails, photos, and documents. It also tracks precise GPS locations, records keystrokes, activates the device's camera, and monitors live microphone audio. Independent investigations by cybersecurity watchdogs like The Citizen Lab and human rights organizations like Amnesty International have proven that governments use this software to track humanitarian workers, journalists, diplomats, and political dissidents. These findings directly contradict NSO Group claims that clients use the technology to spy on criminals and terrorists only. In late 2021, the U.S. Department of Commerce added the firm to its Entity List, effectively banning the vendor from buying hardware and software from American tech companies. WhatsApp said in its blog post that the spyware vendor violated a permanent court injunction with this new spear-phishing campaign. This injunction, which took effect in 2025, strictly prohibited NSO Group from targeting WhatsApp and its users. The platform is now asking a federal court to hold the firm in contempt.
    • It would be surprising if even 3 year old Apple Watches (and not SE models at that) cannot run watchOS 27. Granted, it doesn't mean it would work as well. We'll see.
    • Apple launches new website for parents and a revamped Screen Time experience by Aditya Tiwari At WWDC 2026, Apple announced new parental control features for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 to keep kids' device usage in check and keep them safe online. As a parent, you'll get access to a simpler setup experience, Ask to Browse, Time Allowances, and a redesigned Screen Time. You'll be able to pick exactly which apps your child can access on their device, choosing from just a few essential apps, a curated set, or the apps you feel are appropriate. There will be an option to gradually add more apps. Ask to Browse is a new feature that requires kids to request permission before visiting a new website in Safari on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can also turn on a setting that requires your kid to ask for approval before connecting with an unknown contact via Messages, FaceTime, or the Phone app. You can manage your child's screen time more effectively with Time Allowances that work across categories, including Games, Entertainment, and Social Media. You can set time limits based on your kid's age and get suggestions informed by expert research. Speaking of expert guidance, Apple added that it's working with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to adapt its Family Media Plan to create a guide parents can refer to when using Apple products. Moreover, the company has also set up a new dedicated website, where you can find tools, resources, and answers to common questions around parental controls and child safety. Apple also allows parents to set daily schedules to manage screen time, configuring access to different apps at different times of the day and across the week. Overall, the Screen Time section has been revamped and provides a bird's-eye view of your kid's average device usage and most-used apps. "For example, to help protect important family moments, parents can quickly limit access during meals, outdoor play, and other times that deserve full attention. If kids need a little extra time to finish something in an app, parents can also easily extend access," Apple said. Apart from these, Communication Safety has been updated to block gore or violent content when detected in shared images or videos. The feature already blurs nudity in Messages and FaceTime calls, and is enabled by default for users under 18.
    • They already threw the Ultra 1st gen under the bus? It really feels like someone screwed up, and that advanced AI features will only be available on the list above but someone screwed up and said that Watch OS 27 in general will only be available for those models. I think they will pull it back. I did see someone also put a snap shot of their series 9 watch being offered the watch os 27 beta. As the backlash online is already in full swing.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Very Popular
      Captain_Eric earned a badge
      Very Popular
    • One Month Later
      amusc earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      DJC50PLUS earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      DJC50PLUS earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Proficient
      Eric Biran went up a rank
      Proficient
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      513
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      231
    3. 3
      ATLien_0
      87
    4. 4
      +Edouard
      84
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      80
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!