I totalled my max last weekend (lost control after I hit a bump in the road and then went for a rollercoaster ride across the highway @ 75mph) and I'm wondering how people, especially younger people, have deal with the situation. I go to school in NYC so the car was only a daily driver in the summer. I'm still waiting on insurance money, not sure how much, but I'm unsure of what to do next. I figure insurance will go up a lot (I'm 19, this is my first accident) so I think i should hold of on getting a car for a little while. I'm still recovering from a back injury cuz of the accident so all I have is time to think. Anyway, I'd like to know what cars you guys think are good, inexpensive (sub$2500) options to learn manual on...I figure if this college thing pans out, i can save up for a car I really want later on down the line, like a Z or newer Max. So, what's a good beater car that I can learn to hone my driving skills on? Power, modding potential arent important but price and "hassle-freeness" are.

 

Dang man, how big was this "bump"?

Tell the truth, how fast were you goin?

 

well it WAS 75, but i was accelerating hard (just love the growl of the intake)...i was coming down an incline, the car hit the bump, lifted up off the ground a little i think (cant quite remember since everything happened so fast, swerved to the left hitting a guard rail and then bounced across the highway into a ditch...if i didnt have my seatbelt on i would have gone through the windshield...thank god i remembered to put it on. The worst part of the whole thing was that i was actually moving all my stuff to my family's new house. My family was still @ the old house loading stuff into their cars. It wasn't quite the housewarming I was looking for.

so, kids, buckle up and obey the speed limit....at least i learned something out of it

 

I hear ya... same thing happend to me a while back. I loved the growl, but a curve came up on me fast, and the rear came around on me. Over countersteered, and that was it... head on into another car. The important thing is your ok, cars can be replaced. Insurance may take time, but be patient.

As far as another car goes, honda's and acura's are pretty relaible. But if you get a honda don't start modding it, as this takes away from its reliable reputation. Good luck my friend, glad to see you are still here.

 

sorry to hear that man, hopefully you recover soon, as for a cheap car... lol - i had the same problem last year, totalled my maxima, no insurance company will want to cover you, give it about 2 years. if its under your parents name, get a civic or a sentra, maybe a corolla

 

thanks for the kind words guys...you have no idea how much it helps to have some human contact (sort of i guess). just moved to a new town, don't know anybody here, and without a car i can't make the 45min trip to my old town, so for the majority of the summer, im gonna be relying on the ORG for a lot of my entertainment .

anyone know the insurance on a 240sx, at least compared to a Maxima. I'd like to stay nissan, but only if its worth it...again thanks and happy modding

 

The best bang for the buck in that price range would have to be a 1g DSM AWD turbo baby!! those phuckers can be QUICK for cheap..After college save up and get a G35 coupe

 

i hate that, i always feel the back coming out, on bumps during turns, its like a maxima thing, i hope a drop solves that problem, sorry to hear that just sucks

 

get a b13 SE-R, NX2K or an S13

 

get an A2 VW GTI. you'll have a lot of fun learning to drive stick.

 

cool. i definitely can't wait to get back on the road. I already miss the Max, but with the ORG it's almost like its not even missing...........OK, not quite, but things could be worse. thanks for the suggestions, I'm gonna look into all of them and make sure my next car decision was as good as the first.

Stay safe guys

 

i lost control of my car due to the weather, and hit a tree. i know how you feel man, and i was only 17 when i did it. the car was totaled and much like you, if i wasnt wearing a seat belt i would have gone the the windshield and hit the tree with my body. but its good to hear that your ok.

i wouldnt start looking into 1st gen DSM if you still want reliability, and i think you do. if you dont car about speed, all you want is a reliable manual, i would say look into something like a 91' or 92' acura integra 5speed, they handle nice and arnt too slow. or if you want to stay nissan, maybe an old 93' sentra 5speed.


good luck man, hope your enjoying the new house at least.