what would you do

[gazzaEBXR6]

ok when im 18 im thinking of going for a loan i dont know whether to do my XD up and get it licsensed or get another car

[Outbackjack]

Lots of variables when it comes to doing up an old car.... Some old girls are not worth spending a penny on.

[Steffo]

My personal rule is - newer is better. If I have money to have several cars, sure, I'll have something older and modified. But for me to rely on something? It will always be the newest and best I can afford. Also, as a general rule, I try never to go backwards in age of vehicle. So if my previous car was a 1990 model, I'll shop '91+ for its replacement. I'm a bit pedantic and/or fussy about this though.

My recommendation is to buy a newer car if you can.

[xbgs351]

Originally Posted by Steffo

My personal rule is - newer is better. If I have money to have several cars, sure, I'll have something older and modified. But for me to rely on something? It will always be the newest and best I can afford. Also, as a general rule, I try never to go backwards in age of vehicle. So if my previous car was a 1990 model, I'll shop '91+ for its replacement. I'm a bit pedantic and/or fussy about this though.

My recommendation is to buy a newer car if you can.

As long as you properly maintain your older and modified cars there is no reason why you can't rely on them. My basic rule is that my cars should be ready to do a trip to an interstate trip tomorrow, with nothing more than an oil change. My brother has a 351 XD that runs on lpg. Recently we had to travel from Dubbo to Wodonga to Adelaide and back again, in the space of a weekend, whilst towing a car trailer. We could have taken my BA ute, but instead we chose the XD. Why - Because the XD is cheaper to run and is more comfortable on long trips. To be honest I have had more reliability issues with my BA Falcon than I have ever had with 20 to 30 year old modified cars.

Another factor that is to an older cars advantage is depreciation. If you keep buying newer cars, you keep getting hit with depreciation, but if you buy an older car and keep it you won't get hit with depreciation. If you are to modify and older car there is a possibility that it may even appreciate in value.

Something else I wouldn't do is borrow money for a car. If you are going to borrow money, use it to buy something that will make money such as shares, managed funds or housing. I have been lucky enough to see all of my personal cars appreciate in value, but I would think that is an exception rather than the norm.

[Black XR6]

There is always they dont build em like they used to!

Newer cars are fine as are older cars really. Older cars have an advantage that you can do most of the work yourself on them if your that way inclined. Newer cars not so much.

I guess you have to ask one simple question. When you imagine yourself driving something ford, what do you see yourself driving? An older car or a newer car. Go with what you feel.

another angle is, this is your first car I assume, some people when they have a first car have no idea how to look after it (not meaning you), point in case, my cousin bought a brand new $20+K car (as her first), within a few years, she and her friends had almost destroyed it, allot of things needed to be fixed, I think she got like 4.5k back on it...

so depends on the kind of person, she was not into cars, so .... you sound like you are.

If you got the dosh, try an get something new secondhand, good buys to be had.

the old xd whilst a classic??, not to many around, so maybe worth it, but maybe you'll be throwing money away too

friend did up an xd, spent over 30k+ was tough as, very rairly drove it, was a show car or close too, took it for a drive, booted it, to overtake a truck, truck turned in front of him, wrote it off...

[AWD Chaser]

I got my my first car when I was 16 - My mums barina.


Got my P's when I was 17, and drove it around for about a year. I decided when I was 18, that I wanted a newish car, so I got my AU.

If its your first car, keep your XD, but don't spend a penny on it. Drive it for a bit, then get a new car. You just can't appreciate a newer/ish car if you have never had a crap box that doesn't have a/c and just starts heating up by the time you get home, etc....

Plus, being young, you won't mind a few dings here and there on an XD...

My 2 cents...

[gazzaEBXR6]

Originally Posted by ziggee

another angle is, this is your first car I assume, some people when they have a first car have no idea how to look after it (not meaning you), point in case, my cousin bought a brand new $20+K car (as her first), within a few years, she and her friends had almost destroyed it, allot of things needed to be fixed, I think she got like 4.5k back on it...

so depends on the kind of person, she was not into cars, so .... you sound like you are.

If you got the dosh, try an get something new secondhand, good buys to be had.

the old xd whilst a classic??, not to many around, so maybe worth it, but maybe you'll be throwing money away too

friend did up an xd, spent over 30k+ was tough as, very rairly drove it, was a show car or close too, took it for a drive, booted it, to overtake a truck, truck turned in front of him, wrote it off...

it will actually be my sixth car

[gazzaEBXR6]

i was gunna get another car to criuse in on the week ends i mean i got my everyday cars and i have learnt so many lessons in my other cars im just thinking of doing it up to drive around friday saturday and sunday nights just a street sleeper.

my everyday car is my patrol the XD or the newer car will only be for wekkends and criuses

ok just for the people thinking he has had 6 cars must of smashed the rest i havent i just like changing cars

[Full Noise]

Spend a little on the XD and get some experience in that before getting a loan. Better still, while you’re cruising in the XD, try and save up the cash for your new car and avoid the whole loan thing altogether.

Cheers, Danny

[volcom20]

I'm 17, and I have 5000 dollar loan. I bought an EF Fairmont for my first car, and I believe it's one of the best cars I could have bought.

I'm happy paying it off at a minimum $68 dollars a fortnight, and I can still live.

The loans over a four year contract and can be paid out at anytime with a fee of 50 dollars.

Atleast being 18 you can get the loan yourself, my parents got mine, and I pay it. We talked about it with the bank and it was fine.

Being 18 you can up your credit rating Me, I'm just helping me parents credit rating :( :P

I'd get a newer car, just make sure you have plenty of spare tires, and any left over loan money you spend on things needed for the car...

I got my car for 4200 and bought a 1500 dollar sound system, I'm kicking myself now as I need tires, break pads, wheel bearings and petrol :P

[Falcon]

I'd say stick with the XD, from personal experience and watching my friends, the car is probably gonna cop a fair bit. The older cars are cheap and easy to fix most of the time (Like my EA).

Also, not saying you will, but 5 of my friends (all were 18) have written off their first car within 8 months of getting their license. Two of them came out of it with nothing, so at least you wont lose as much money IF that happens.

[[Tonko]]

go the XD i'd do it up eventually but im biased...
its good havin another car so you dont have to worry about where you park it, can flog it, smoke in it. (if you smoke) and just treat it like its an A to B car,
plus XD V8's are thirsty... very thirsty
how much work needs to be done to it?
what condition is it in?

[gazzaEBXR6]

Originally Posted by Tonko351

go the XD i'd do it up eventually but im biased...
its good havin another car so you dont have to worry about where you park it, can flog it, smoke in it. (if you smoke) and just treat it like its an A to B car,
plus XD V8's are thirsty... very thirsty
how much work needs to be done to it?
what condition is it in?

a set of tyres will and a paint job will get it licsensed the paint job im doing my self bodys in good cond motors fine but might rebuild it

[OldManGhia]

My son aged 20 was given an unregistered XF Fairmont Ghia. Cost him $1800 of Dads money to get it registered and insured. Got over it in 2 months because it was heavy on petrol and went out and borrowed $8g to buy a Rodeo Ute done up as a Mini truck. Nice ute only trouble is he cant get rid of the Fairmont and it still has rego to Feb 07. Anyway I reckon forget the old Ford and either save up your money or get a small loan and buy something economical to run at least for your first car anyway.

[gazzaEBXR6]

my patrol is economical ill drive that every day

[janek]

Originally Posted by AU98C-Wagon

My son aged 20 was given an unregistered XF Fairmont Ghia. Cost him $1800 of Dads money to get it registered and insured. Got over it in 2 months because it was heavy on petrol and went out and borrowed $8g to buy a Rodeo Ute done up as a Mini truck. Nice ute only trouble is he cant get rid of the Fairmont and it still has rego to Feb 07. Anyway I reckon forget the old Ford and either save up your money or get a small loan and buy something economical to run at least for your first car anyway.

I could use a runaround xf. whats he selling it for?

[Hotwire]

Having spent big $$ on my first XD, then selling it for pittance when you get sick of old cars... spend it on the XD :P

I say this because whatever car you have, you'll spend money on, and then sell when you tire of it. This may be 2 years, it may be 10. But either way I think you are better off to start on a cheaper base, and then you wont be up for a loan + mods, just the mods part.

However, as a rule of thumb, I wouldn't spend more than about $6-8k on it, cos you will lose about $5-7k of that ;)

[vino3o2]

Id say stick to the Xd, will look good with a few mods but as previously stated, keep the spending to a minimum as you'll never get that back if you sell it later on down the track...lowered with some nice mags and an exhaust with the engine running right would be it I'd say

[Low Orbit]

Well, if you've got a daily driver then do the XD up then. Easy really.

[perthxr6t]

I wouldn't do it up just yet mate just spend enough to make it road worthy.....Not taken the mickey out of you but use the XD and learn all the driving skills you will need to survive on the roads and save your cash for a new or good second hand car in the years to come.

Learn all you can about fixing your own car and that will help in the following years when you do purchase a better car and want to do any mods as you can apply what you have learnt doing to your XD

If your looking to spend say $10-15 grand on the XD that money would be better spent on a 02-03 EB,ED V8.

Most of the older drivers who are in the prime that's the 30's to you young'uns have been through what you are thinking about doing and while we had a blast with the older cars and learnt a great deal and smoked up many tyres if i had saved all them thousands of dollars i spent on my XD 351 i'd have 2 Phoons in the garage.

But you do what you feel is right and enjoy your ride whatever it may be and use this Forum to your advantage as it will save you many dollars with spare parts and mods. :1syellow1

[boss-290]

Umm, pretty silly taking out a loan for you first car. By a nice well looked after car around 3-5K and pay it off a quickly as you can. Then save for a house. Then get a new car when you are in your house. You will never regret it.

[Ryan]

I think keep the XD and modify it mate. ;)

[max]

Originally Posted by boss-290

Umm, pretty silly taking out a loan for you first car. By a nice well looked after car around 3-5K and pay it off a quickly as you can. Then save for a house. Then get a new car when you are in your house. You will never regret it.

To be sure this is good advice! Although we all absolutely LOVE our cars I'm sure many would agree they are the worst investment known to man. When you're set up with some real estate which actually will appreciate in value, then a few $K on a car thats depreciating by the second will be offset by your property value going up (theoretically).

[RG]

Originally Posted by perthxr6t

I wouldn't do it up just yet mate just spend enough to make it road worthy.....Not taken the mickey out of you but use the XD and learn all the driving skills you will need to survive on the roads and save your cash for a new or good second hand car in the years to come.

Learn all you can about fixing your own car and that will help in the following years when you do purchase a better car and want to do any mods as you can apply what you have learnt doing to your XD

Probably the best advice that you're going to get. Don't take it personally but at 18 you won't know too much about driving or car control and the last thing you want to do is learn all that in a high powered car.

[HLC]

Buy a newer, economical car and GET COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE!

Insurance is the most important thing here. spend the money on it. a mate of mine has crashed 2 or 3 cars now. one was a late 60's cortina, a write off. was a FANTASTIC car, but no insurance. his 96 LTD is now on his front lawn with the front smashed in. no insurance. insurance is the most valuable thing you can have.

[FRDXR6]

If you already have a car to drive around in i would just use that until you save up some cash to start working on the XD (if you actually want to do up the XD that is).

DO NOT take out a loan to do up a 20+ year old car that will only see the streets 3-4 times a month. You are wasting your money and putting yourself in uneccesary debt.

Take what you have now and invest it whilst building it up while you save and just drive around the daily. Then when you definantly know what car you to do up take the money out and start your project. I say this as if you spend big $$$ doing up the XD and decide you want something different you will lose at least half the money that you put into when it comes time to sell.

[TEaaron]

Fix up the XD and keep it. In 10 years people will look at xd's the same way people look at xt's and wish they never sold theirs. If you want a daily reliable driver get a newer car though.

[Feathers]

I was doing up an XD before I got my licence, but my father bought me an identical XD which was at least roadworthy, so as I could get used to the size and feel of the car, and so that if I had any accidents, I wouldn't be damaging the car I'd put so much work into to straighten out.

I say buy another car, nothing flash, just clean and reliable, and do up the XD.

I still have the project XD, but once I bought the BA, Dad sold the second XD to a friend, who is slowly killing it.

[rag top]

Originally Posted by gazzaEBXR6

ok when im 18 im thinking of going for a loan i dont know whether to do my XD up and get it licsensed or get another car

What has the XD had done to it? What condition is it in now??

If you did it up, what would you end up doing to it, and over how long??

Also consider:
If you like XD's, do it up. If you prefer something else, get that and do that up... Not much point doing the XD up, if you prefer something else...