My First Chase Vehicle: Whaddya Think of It?

[Dustin Wilcox]

Dont Buy a nice first car :cry: when a Nebraksa winter comes around 16 year old male and rear wheel drive cars dont mix I learned that lesson quick!! That PARKED car shouldnt of been parked where it was. Or I shouldnt of tried to show the V8 power off after school either way it was a huge mistake

 

[Amos Magliocco]

Nick, what about this beauty instead? Watch out for gorilla hail! Doh!!

 

[Mike Gauldin]

Gee, I dunno... Maybe the parents of smart kids, who knew what they are doing when it comes to chasing severe storms? Please don't even get started on that subject...

I understand if a teen is smart, but there is no substitute for driving experience. My first car (truck) was a $4500 Nissan Hardbody and I drove it it for about 3 years and did a lot of work on it (see pics below). I never got a ticket or in an accident until a lady cut through traffic and I hit her (her fault). It was when I was 19 and got my 2004 Nissan 350z that I got stupid and wrecked it (thank God no more car payments). I know how I drove when I was 16 and even though I matured, I still went over the edge when I was 19 (guess cause I didn't get it out of my system when I was 16, heh). So as far as knowledge in general, that has nothing to do with driving experience, especially in bad weather.

As for the Mustang, yeah, too expensive and unless it's a second car, I'd opt out for payment reasons and like my 350z, my insurance was as much as my car payment (full coverage).

I'm more of a cash car kinda guy anyway.

 

[bill mudd]

if that thing needs a water pump (or anything else) in BFE you might be toast
my preference is american made.....more parts available when you are in the middle of nowwhere
good luck though

 

[John Gnuechtel]

First off, welcome to car ownership, Mark. My first ride was an '85 Pontiac Parisienne station wagon (just like the Caprice) with a 6.2 liter V8 and faux wood panels. Ah, the cheap gas days... Now for a word of caution:

Originally posted by Mark Farnik
...just had $4500 in maintenance done on it (which I means I shouldn't have to put anything into it for a while...

They may have dropped a pile of cash on <some part>, but that doesn't mean <some other unrelated part> doesn't have an equal chance at breaking tomorrow. I don't suppose they gave you documentation of what they fixed that cost so much? $4,500 in repairs for most cars translates to something major like an engine or transmission rebuild. Yikes. I recommend that if you've got any kind of warranty, now would be the time to beat on it and shake out any possible problems remaining. Then, you can try to get as much fixed for free as possible.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

Nice first car but when it breaks down it will be expensive and as others have noted, hard to get parts for in the plains.
The cost to replace a windshield alone would steer me away from it.
Hope it holds up and you drive it for a long time.

My first car was a 1972 Javelin AMX just like this one except mine was all black. Talk about a fun car!

 

[HAltschule]

woops

 

[HAltschule]

Yes, I have to agree. Anyone in their right mind would not bring a brandy-new car chasing. Whether you think you know what your doing or not, one large hailstone will cause major headaches and dollars. Nobody knows what mother nature will throw at you. (See previous threads of gorilla hail).

Do what I do, get a rental car for $150-$250 a week with unlimited mileage (astrovan or explorer) from Alamo when chasing. Be sure not to offer too much of your plans to them, but buy the extra insurance coverage.

PS: I like how Mr. Gauldin pimped his red pickup truck up. That's da bomb. Big ups to you yo.

 

[Justin Teague]

My first car was a 90 Geo Metro. It came equipped with 55hp 3 cyl and a 3-speed automatic. My friends gave it an appropriate name...."The Beast". I wrecked it after 13months of driving. I was waiting to make a left turn when a car stopped and waved me on. I turned and BAM! It wasn't good, but I'm glad that I was driving a Metro and not the 67 Chevelle that a desired. My next car was an 87 Toyota Supra non-turbo. I thought it was a hot car(it wasn't LOL). I went through 2 trannys and blew the motor within 6 months. My next car was a 1993 Toyota Corolla, what a great car. It was a great little chase vehicle and daily driver combo. It didn't have alot of room for equipment, but I didn't have alot equipment.

After the Corolla I made another attempt at a sports car. I purchased a 1991 Toyota Supra Turbo and did some major head work to get it ready for high boost. Let me say one thing.....sports cars are money pits and impractical for a 20 year old that is trying to get on his feet. I ended up with a 4-Runner and just drove the Supra occasionaly. I bought a 2000 Toyota Celica GT-S and sold the supra a couple of months later. Now the Celica has a RMM Intake, TRD Exhaust, Unorthodox Racing pulleys, a Centerforce Clutch, TRD(Eibach manufactured) suspension, and a Veilside body kit. This is another money pit.....but I have a little more now and I understand that you can't go around racing all of the time.

I think that it would be best to avoid sports cars until you are at least 21. Insurance is terrible and teenagers, no matter how intelligent, will do stupid things from time to time.

Nick and others......the people that are telling you these things are speaking from experience. One thing that I have learned over the years is to pay attention to people with more experience. I'm glad that my dad made me drive "The Beast" when I was 16. I would have killed myself(or someone else) with a sports car and it would have been difficult to chase in. In the end, buy what you want, but don't say that we didn't warn you. 8)

 

[Mike Gauldin]

Originally posted by HAltschule

PS: I like how Mr. Gauldin pimped his red pickup truck up. That's da bomb. Big ups to you yo.

Thanks, it was a good 'lil truck till that lady cut through traffic. The messed up part was she was in a '99 Rodeo and it put a FOOTBALL size dent in her door. Nothing else, and this is what it did to my truck (her insurance totaled it)

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

Yes, I have to agree. Anyone in their right mind would not bring a brandy-new car chasing. Whether you think you know what your doing or not, one large hailstone will cause major headaches and dollars. Nobody knows what mother nature will throw at you. (See previous threads of gorilla hail).

I've done it since I started chasing. So you get a bunch of bumps in it, oh well(this is very very avoidable if one wants too). The engine will still be new, shocks new, tires new, and interior.....you'll just have some bumps. What do you do with those bumps? Take them out with you the following year. I've probably had 140 chases in my Mustang now and I do not go out of my way to avoid hail(half the time I get bored and just punch something). Only if you are right by it looking at it will you see the bumps. I think if you buy a new car you are planning to not be able to resell it anytime soon anyway.

Then again I'm not likely in my right mind as I have not bought one vehicle with chasing in mind, lol. I figure if it has wheels and runs it'll do the job.

I will say that I've liked the sporty cars for chasing(01 Mustang now and my old 96 Probe GT). For all that driving it sure is nice to feel glued to the road. I can think of a few corners I probably wouldn't have made in any other kind of car.

 

[bill mudd]

which brings us to the beauty of RENTING a new chase vehicle....
(ahh yes)
I stepped into a NEW BUICK RENDEVIEx in denver this summer, and the next day put her on the doorstep of the 6/9 HILL CITY blow out....
The all wheel drive SUV did great, and for about a couple hundred dollars I couldnt have been happier - dropped her back off with about 1500 miles
and never looked back!
(ps upon renting it I asked about hail damage and they said it was considered an act of God and that I shouldny really worry about it cause it was the Summer) lol

 

[Dan Robinson]

The first car I drove was an 86 Caprice wagon, then later an 85 Buick LeSabre wagon (basically the same car). What a tank. Those things sure did break down a lot though when they approached 100K.

I brought a new car into the Plains this season and yes, put a few dents in it at Hill City on the 9th. Nothing major as I plan to drive the car until it completely dies anyway.

I still wonder when the rental car companies are going to throw the hammer down on chasers. I'd love to rent a car and put the miles on it rather than mine, but just too risky from the liability standpoint.

What I am seriously considering for next year is spending a few $k or so on a small, high-mileage used car and a good AAA membership. Then just get liability coverage on it, and chase without damage or mileage worries.

 

[Dave Gallaher]

Renting is required for me, at least on long chase trips. I did manage to ruin the electrical system in a rented Plymouth K car I drove into a flash flood at about 80 mph outrside of Gatesville, TX, in 1986, but other than that have enjoyed a variety of models on chase trips.

Renting is necessary due to my 1984 Dodge van having 597,900 miles on it. Still, it's the best for local and regional chasing. Just put in the fourth transmission, but the engine (318) was rebuilt once (by a local speed shop that races Dodges) over 335,000 miles ago.

Wish I could keep people from writing "Vote For Pedro" on it.

I'll decline mentioning gas mileage...

First car: a 1957 Ford Sunliner convertible bought in 1964--my father said he would match whatever I saved up, so I got a nicer ride than I could afford alone. No ham radio, but a 12" speaker jammed under the dash on the passenger side made the r&b sound good.

Dave Gallaher
Huntsville, AL

 

[HAltschule]

I did manage to ruin the electrical system in a rented Plymouth K car I drove into a flash flood at about 80 mph outrside of Gatesville, TX, in 1986

Didn't they tell you that you that that's not a good idea while trying to sell you $500.00 in additional insurance and fees? Wow...that must have been scary and frustrating at the same time.

More impressive though...597,900 miles on your van. That's more than the A-Team van. Awesome. Congrats. (Even Buckwheat is suprised. See his screen pic).