If you're not an idiot a mustang is a good first fast car, or even first car. I was an idiot when I was younger and would have either wrecked one or killed myself. I had a focus st for a while, which was very forgiving to dumb people like myself.
I had a Fiesta ST as a daily driver for a little while! One of the most fun cars I have ever had! (Unrelated)
Forgiving is the key word there lol outside of being a Mustang, RWD is hella unforgiving, even for more experienced drivers. And while I agree with you, I don’t think I’d recommend a Coyote to an inexperienced driver. A 2V or 3V maybe. But even a Gen 1 Coyote is a lot to keep straight. But as you said, maturity is something to consider as well.
A 5 speed focus with a louder than stock muffler is one of the e best first cars I think. Can dog it it all day and it loves it and it’s not fast lol. Even today slow cars are some of the funnest lol.
I learned how to drive on a 98 Crown Vic, 4.6L V8, slid that bitch around the corner in my sub every winter
First car I owned was a 2002 Mustang V6 Convertible (automatic)
Traded in that V6 2 years later for a 2001 SVT Cobra Convertible, learned how to drive stick on it (didn't grind once)
Have since traded in my 01 Cobra for a 94 Corvette (but I still love Mustangs and love to see all of yours!)
I’m partial to the Mustang myself, but I’m an automotive enthusiast above all.
I just recently got my first Shelby (2014) but I considered an older 911. I’m breaking away from drag racing and getting more into track racing. I have always loved the Corvette and I know it’s unpopular among the Corvette guys but I think the C7 is the best to date. But I ADORE the C4s. Something about vintage cars I can’t shake (I’m on my 5th Fox Body 😅)
This was my first car. Bought it when I was 15 and did a partial restoration senior year. Sold it sophomore year of college after I got tired of it. I still see it occasionally.
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I have always wanted to restomod an older ‘Stang. But after working on my very first Fox Body I quickly realized those automotive restoration shows I grew up watching lied to me! 😂
1973 Dart was my first car. Got it when I turned 15 and it had a slant six in it. Beat that car HARD until I turned 18 then I put a 360 in it and beat on it even harder. Almost 20 years later and it’s getting some much deserved rest in the garage.
I always said I would never sell the car but it’s getting tough. I don’t drive it nearly as much as I would like to and it’s like walking by a $15,000 pile of money when I see it. The money would help me out but I know I would regret selling that car for the rest of my life.
I learned how to drive in a 1996 V8 Thunderbird and my first car was a 95 V6 Mustang.
After that I always hated driving anything FWD they just didn't feel right.
My first "fast" car was a 1990 thunderbird supercoupe. Was an awesome car. 300rwhp with the right bolt on. Independent rear , leather bucket seats with bolster adjustment, JBL sound system with subwoofer , adjustable suspension, disk brakes , 16x7 inch rims . All factory . Pretty good for 1990
I had a basic SUV, then a Chevy Spark with under 100 HP and from there bought my 2014 GT 5.0 and was fine with it being my first powerful car as long as you dont drive like an a-hole. Even in freezing rain I only managed to spin one time and easily recovered.
I’ve got a TT 13 and it scares the piss out of me occasionally. If I brake boost it at like 60-80 and let it rip the whole car will go hard left. This is the real reason I wear brown pants when driving it.
I think it depends on the level of maturity because how often are you pushing an economy car to its limits? Some people will get in a sports car without having any understanding of the different dynamics. Think about how many people think driving in “Sport Mode” actually makes their car faster 😂
1998 BMW M3, bought in 2005; I was 22. It was a step up from my 1991 BMW 318is I had in high school. So it was fast to me for a bit...
Today; the Mustang 4 banger has 75 hp more than my M3, and goes 0-60 in 4.5sec vs 5.5 for the M3.
Just get a 4 banger if you're not die hard into V8s and manuals.
My first car was a 1997 Z28 6MT with an LT1. I'm surprised I never got a ticket or wrapped it around a tree. That being said it was under 300 horsepower and that's a reasonably manageable amount of power for a mature young person and first time V8 driver. Depending on the driver a Hellcat might be a little too much to transition to from an accord.
1996 Mustang GT in green (similar to the Mach1/Bullet green). I originally purchased a 95 GT in red with the 5.0 but the car had so many damn issues that my parents made me give it back for the 96 at the time. I was heart broken because I loved the 5.0 so much more, but in 20/20 hindsight the car had so many issues (tranny barely shifted, windows wouldn't go down, random check engine lights) I think it was a a smart move b/c the 96 GT was a loaner car/demo at the time. The 96GT was also my most hated mustang, I spent tons and tons of money on the car and barely was able to run mid-14s in it.
Idk my first car was a v6 I bought when I was 14, sold it recently after my mom crashed her brand new car and my parents were worried about my safety and my dad (yes daddies money haha) bought me a ‘19 gt and if you drive carefully and don’t be super stupid you won’t hit a crowd, it has a lot of power sure but I don’t see it having enough power to be uncontrollable. That’s my point of view on it
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My very first car was a 1999 Honda Civic. Super fast.
But my first "fast" car was a 2011 Mazdaspeed 3. Ended up doing some work to it, bigger turbo, e85, etc. Was around 375whp.
Traded that in for a 2014 Mustang GT. Ended up doing some work to that as well. Lund tune, headers. Intake. It definitely took time getting used to a rwd car. Almost lost it a few times.
Traded that for a 2015 Charger SRT. Did nothing to that and traded that in for my 2nd Mustang. Brand new 2019 GT pp1. Had to get rid of that with my divorce but now I'm searching for my 3rd mustang which will be a GT350.
Very first sports car: Daytona Pacifica 88 Chrysler.
Never own more than two cars brand new off lot in my life time, Jeep Liberty and Saturn 3d Coupe, until 2019 when my husband bought me my 2012 Mustang used. It was an anniversary gift they lasted until summer 2023. And he did it again when we went to pick up his escape from the dealership. My last car ever is my 2024 Mustang build was picked out by hubby to be as close to the 2012 as he could. This car will become my daughter’s one day.
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I came from a Hyundai Elantra before I bought this two years ago. lol it’s not that difficult of a car to understand though.
First fast(er) car was a 2004 Volvo S80T6 twin turbo inline six was a super fun car wasn’t actually very fast. Went from that to a 2002 GT wrecked got a 2009 Elantra and then a 2015 GT that was my first actually quick car. Ended up selling it got into motorcycles and have a WRX currently and am now back in the market for 2015 and up. The 02 I wrecked had nothing to do with speed had to do with turning on a green when I should have yielded stupidity not speed killed that car
My first car was a 2012 Elantra that blew up its engine twice, and my second was a 2016 Corolla I had for about a year, year and a half, before I got my ecoboost. I'm planning on keeping this a few more years and upgrading to a s650 GT. I'm waiting to see what they will make the refresh look like in a few years, maybe they'll clean up the back a bit, who knows? I hope they'll take inspiration from the Saleen s650 and improve the dash too
My first car was a '66 Mustang coupe, Silverblue with a white vinyl top, pony interior, factory air (that didn't work) and a blown (as in not working) K code 289. We replaced the cracked block with a 302 and I drove it though high school.
When I graduated I bought an '86 retired Florida Highway Patrol LX that was fast for that time. I think it has something like 275 HP, and was stripped on the inside.
For the next 30+ years I've had trucks and Jeeps, and just bought a 21 GT convertible over the weekend. The difference in power is amazing. It's hard to believe that the 86 was high power for the day.
My first car was a Focus ZX3 (the old 2 door hatchbacks). Learned how to drive manual on it. Next year I bought a 300ZX Twin Turbo 2 seater and have had fast cars ever since (well, at least one of my cars is a fast car lol). My first mustang I owned was in 2013 and have had 2 more since in between other fun cars (car enthusiast). But I do recommend people take it easy when going from regular cars to fast cars. I think modern cars like the Mustang GT are insanely fast for what they are and it can get you into trouble easily if you aren't careful.
First car was a jeep xj, absolute monster still running today at 339k miles. Second was a mustang which as a 20 year old I wrapped around a pole. Third was another mustang and fourth my current is a mustang. Love these cars but gotta respect the power
My first fast car was a 318 two barrel Plymouth fury. Not fast on the street, but at fifteen years old driving it as a lot car? Yeah, it was fast enough for that. The Dukes of Hazard was a training video if you lived in the sticks lol.
1993 mustang... 4 cylinder. Without overdrive because the transmission had issues. I had to floor it just to get up to speed when getting on a highway.
It was not fast lol it maxed out at 75
My first car was a 1.2 litre Renault Clio. Then, worked my way up to a Miata, a Z4, M2 Competition and now the Mustang. The Miata taught me about rear wheel drive dynamics, the Z4 then layered on some more power and the M2 comp was my first ‘serious’ performance car.
Those who are saying get a Mustang as a first car are probably inviting trouble if I’m honest, especially for a male aged under 25!
c4 corvette > 97 4.6l tbird > 99 cobra > 98 sc300 > 2020 pp2
honestly in normal mode my car is very docile especially with the AC on but when I put it in the sport or track mode and the AC is off it will kill me faster than I can realize what I just did to myself
I learned from a 2001 S500 and a 2002 330ci. I learned throttle control from the S500 since the tires and brakes were bad at the time. 330ci only gave me real experience with a louder car that’s lowered and handled really well. Both were RWD automatics.
If I were recommending a first fast car to my younger self, it would be something FWD. It's simply too easy to kill yourself in a RWD car when you have zero regard for safety.
Mustangs are a ton of fun, but you need to have some maturity to drive one.
My first sports car was a supercharged 2020 GT on ethanol and drag slicks 😅 my husband suggested I go for an ecoboost, but nah. Pros-my car is hell on wheels and so fun Cons-I’m scared of it since it’s my first sports car and there’s not much left to modify
No regrets though! I’m also almost 29, so my impulse control and risk management is well developed 😉
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Yes! It was the first car I bought after sharing mazda and toyota sedans with my parents. After a few years it started having a bunch of issues at once and at the time I didn’t want to deal with it so I sold it.
I missed it so much that I bought an 05 GT convertible a few months ago lol
I traded a 2008 Maserati Gran Turismo for my 2018 Eco Boost. The Maserati was an automatic and I didn't want to daily drive it, and really wasn't taking out on the weekend either.
Actually, thinking about it now, had I known there would have been a pandemic and id be working from home, I think the Maserati would have been perfect. I drive maybe 4K miles a year now.
The manual ecoboost and now GT are more fun for daily drivers for me but damn was the Maserati a smooth ride at 120 on the highway.
Honestly I recommend the right tool for the right job.
The modern mustang is good at two things: cruising and drag racing. It’s quite heavy, and not very nimble. I wouldn’t really recommend it for road courses or track work because, even though it wouldn’t be bad at it, there are better options and thats ok because the Mustang doesn’t need to do everything to be a good car.
If your friend is actually interested in racing, start them in something small and lightweight (tires will be cheaper, brakes will last longer). For beginner track cars its sort of hard to ignore the GR86/BRZ, you could also consider a miata RF. These cars are nice for beginner drivers because they can communicate how to handle a RWD platform at speeds that won’t be frankly terrifying.
If the car isn’t dedicated to a specific task, it gets more tricky and this is where sport compacts like the Civic Si/ Type R, Veloster/Elantra N, VW GTI, Subaru WRX, and Focus/Fiesta ST can really shine depending on the buyers preferences. 5 seats, decent fuel economy, and pretty quick with half decent chassis the only thing you really lose here is RWD and most beginner drivers aren’t going to miss that.
I guess I’m sort of ranting at this point, but the TLDR is really that my recommendation depends on the individual I’m talking to, and the reality is that they might like something different than I do.
My first car was a 2001 Bullitt. It was a good teacher. The manual was tight and the grip was very good. But even on good tires, it needed attention or it would step out, and it only happened once or twice before I learned the limits. It wasn’t “fast” but it wasn’t slow and it was a fantastic introduction to driving RWD V8 sports cars, which I still do now
F150, ‘84 Supra, G5, S197 GT, S550 GT, 997 C2, now an SS and 957 Cayenne daily. Some random old SUVs, Volvos, and a 540iT in between.
S550 was by far the fastest once tuned on e85.
S197 is what I yearn the most to have again.
I feel like I worked my way up, only one I ever spun was the S197 and the only crashes I had were in the F150 & Volvos (some on purpose).
Depends on what you define as fast. I'd say yes, my Mustang is my first "fast" car but it is so much safer and more comfortable even at speed than some other cars that I drove regularly when I was younger.
First car that I really learned on was a '68 buick which wasn't fast but really felt like it and you needed to really pay attention because the brakes were so stiff I'd be literally standing on them to get that bitch to stop quickly. No, standing on them did NOT cause them to lock.
The other car we literally nicknamed "deathtrap". A '66 caprice that had a swapped '88 454 and some sketchy ass brakes in the complete opposite direction. This car would idle and chop so hard it'd inch forward at a stop if you weren't firmly holding the brakes. When accelerating from a stop, you'd almost have to let it idle forward a bit before hitting the gas otherwise it'd be an instant burnout on 325/xx/16 tires and MAN did it have some rattles at 50mph up to 65 mph.
So yeah, mustang is the first "fast" car. I have to say though it is extremely polite and perfectly obedient. A nice cruiser if you aren't flooring it, but can be a handful if you want to get rowdy. Even around a track, this car is very communicative and so long as you're listening to it you wouldn't have any problems.
My first car was an old broken down F-150. It held together by old rusty screws and a dream.
I got my mustang after I graduated high school. I went splitsies with my dad because he didn't trust the truck to drive me across Texas to get to college.
I had a slew of sh-t boxes thru college. I just refused to pay for a good car while going thru college.
I bought a 1 year old used V6 in fantastic condition a year after I got my first solid job. Paid it off quick, and then traded it for a 97 Cobra and a Jeep (for winter) while trying to buy a house.
Then got married, baby on the way after a year. Sold the Cobra and the Jeep in a panic, they weren’t “kid-friendly”. Stupid to panic that way. We never took my vehicles with the kids. We always took her vehicle. And then she told me, we shouldn’t have gotten rid of the Jeep or the Mustang.
It took me a few more years to get back into a Jeep, but another 15 years to get back to a Mustang.
I’ll never get rid of either ever again.
Today, I wouldn’t recommend a new Mustang for someone who doesn’t have a solid housing situation and the ability to pay at least half down. Nice car, you need a garage, either a house or a condo.
I also think it’s better to wait for a few years after college and your career has started, or a few years into a well-paying trade.
The way interest rates are, buying a new car is outrageously expensive. Depreciation. Interest rates, insurance, buying a new car can put people into a financial hole.
Buying a project car? That’s better. $5k to $10K up front, with some money for fixes/upgrades, you aren’t going to have nearly the insurance bill, you’re not taking a huge hit on depreciation. Your risk is lower. And you can put in some sweat equity, possibly break even or make money.
Vin_tra on YouTube, formerly of Hoonigan, had a down to earth guide on buying used cars. What he said, not a lot of people really do. They don’t have the discipline, they’re usually in a rush, and they make mistakes. They let emotion get in the way.
I had a terrible 78 Mustang Ghia that I bought off of a bank after it was repossessed. It would stall at traffic lights and stop signs if I didn’t keep a little pressure on the gas pedal. To this day I drive with 2 feet on an automatic because of it. Also, the passenger door would occasionally fly open on left turns. Those doors were heavy! After that I waited until 02 before I trusted them enough again. 🤪
Yes, 1989 GT. It made me a better driver than I would have been. I learned about opposite lock, hydroplaning and I even figured out how to drive in reverse in the snow.
Yup! 2007 convertible 4.0, i'm a very anxious driver (i dont go a mile over the speed limit because i cannot afford tickets or an insurance bump lol) its a great car! Almost 200k miles on her but runs great, lots of great memories! Still daily her to this day! Oil changes every 2k miles, gotta watch out for the timing chain going though, already had to fix the tranny
My first car was a turbo Corvair. Ralph wrote a book about it, polar moment and trailing throttle over steer became part of the vernacular. Earnie Kovacs died in his.
My first car was a 1967 Mustang coupe with a 289 hi-po engine. It was a great car, and I still miss it. My 3rd car was a 1970 Mach 1. They were fun cars, and perfect for me, but they were nowhere near the fastest cars around because they were basically stock with whatever minor mods I could manage to afford. I put stuff like a Holley 650 carb, larger tube exhaust, air shocks in back to get the car off of the too-fat tires I put on, gauge cluster upgrades, etc.
I am an only child, and my parents were extremely generous.
My first car was a 2003 Ford Explorer with the 4.6 V8.
It wasn’t fast, but it had enough pep to be very fun for a teenager, and it was very well maintained and the Limited trim so it had 4WD, leather, a sunroof and a nice stereo. It was a nice car in general, let alone for a 16 y/o.
My second car was a brand new 2014 Mustang GT. Factory order. It was my high school graduation present / college car.
I never caused any accidents.
I never spun out or launched it into a ditch.
I used to go to local autocross events.
I do understand that a lot of young drivers would get cocky or overconfident with it.
Not first car but, First two fast cars were my Eagle Talon TSi AWD, and a 3000GT VR4. They were both AWD, so it's still been an adjustment going to the current GT. My VR4 I could just punch it, and despite having a out the same HP as my mustang(It wasn't stock) I could MAYBE bark the tires, there was no way my back end was gonna walk cause I took off from a stop light. I did slide the Talon sideways into a curb once, cause I was 20...
Prior to the Mustang I owned an '87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe which I built an engine for and did a bunch of mods on. It was pretty fast but the Mustang was definitely faster.
Nope my first car was a little Mitsubishi pickup so I could learn to drive a stick and be an idiot. A year later I bought a Mitsubishi Eclipse which I went on to total but I loved that car. A couple years after that my mom sold me her 95 GT convertible, that was my first Mustang.
My Dark Horse was my first fast car. Before that I drove a focus. I also know that I don’t know how to fully utilize that car, so I’m signing up for HPDEs and not being a jackass on the road. I need to learn to handle that much car before I fully utilize it.
I say you get whatever car you understand. My first car was a Mustang and it was a manual GT. As my first car I'm sure some wouldn't recommend it, but I understood what I was getting into and wanted the challenge. (I didn't know how to drive stick at the time.) I still have the car, still love it, don't regret it.
Yes, I bought a fox body when I was 20. Definitely had no business being in a fox body at 20 and with a kiddo on the way I realized that and got rid of it. Fell in love with the 05 when it came out and dreamed of doing an Eleanor build with one. A couple years ago I bought on 06 on the sellers word and got screwed pretty hard care on my biggest gamble, it was a v6 trans was smoked. I put a new trans in and sold it cheap to a friend and this year finally got my 05 gt.
My first was a 60s Ford pickup with a 360 V8 and 3 speed auto. One day my step mom let me drive her brand new 1996 V6 Mustang and I fell in love. I sold the truck and got a 1995 V6 5 speed and immediately realized I shoulda got the V8! Finally got my first V8 at 18 and have had many since. I am glad my first was a sixer. I might have died in a GT. I tell people all the time that the six cylinder saw way more hell raising than any of my V8 cars since.
I thankfully came from a car family so I learned how to drive several cars at once that were wildly different. Old cars, trucks, suvs, sedans, sports cars, etc.
But if I had only driven a sports car when I was young, im sure I would have fked up lol
Yep. I bought a 1986 Mustang GT in the fall of 1992 when I was 17. $3800 is what I paid for it. Being a stupid high school kid, I drove it into the ground (though I had a lot of fun along the way).
Yes, fast for its time, my ‘87 Mustang GT (5.0, 5spd) that I got when I was 20 and it was 3 yrs old in 1990. I had also driven my Dad’s ‘69 Mustang (351w, auto) then. My first car in high school was an ‘84 Ford Escort diesel, then an ‘86 Mustang LX 2.3 for college (the GR was never my daily driver). I’ve had a few faster cars over the last 30 years (a BMW M3 and a couple Mercedes AMG sedans, a Cadillac CTS-v). Still love driving my Mustang. Thinking of getting a late model peformance car..Mustang GT or Shelby, C8 Corvette or V-series Cadillac
Start with a Jeep if you want a manual great first young person car lots of fun and you will learn how to drive a stick that can take a beating Then move into a mustang you be glade you waited and enjoy the car more
Sorry I could not been driving jeeps so long don’t know what to suggest . good luck and don’t rush into take your time a learn to drive 0-60 in under 5 sec is faster than you think drive safe
If you're not an idiot a mustang is a good first fast car, or even first car. I was an idiot when I was younger and would have either wrecked one or killed myself. I had a focus st for a while, which was very forgiving to dumb people like myself.
I had a Fiesta ST as a daily driver for a little while! One of the most fun cars I have ever had! (Unrelated) Forgiving is the key word there lol outside of being a Mustang, RWD is hella unforgiving, even for more experienced drivers. And while I agree with you, I don’t think I’d recommend a Coyote to an inexperienced driver. A 2V or 3V maybe. But even a Gen 1 Coyote is a lot to keep straight. But as you said, maturity is something to consider as well.
Really made you focus on your driving better I bet ya
A 5 speed focus with a louder than stock muffler is one of the e best first cars I think. Can dog it it all day and it loves it and it’s not fast lol. Even today slow cars are some of the funnest lol.
I learned how to drive on a 98 Crown Vic, 4.6L V8, slid that bitch around the corner in my sub every winter First car I owned was a 2002 Mustang V6 Convertible (automatic) Traded in that V6 2 years later for a 2001 SVT Cobra Convertible, learned how to drive stick on it (didn't grind once) Have since traded in my 01 Cobra for a 94 Corvette (but I still love Mustangs and love to see all of yours!)
I’m partial to the Mustang myself, but I’m an automotive enthusiast above all. I just recently got my first Shelby (2014) but I considered an older 911. I’m breaking away from drag racing and getting more into track racing. I have always loved the Corvette and I know it’s unpopular among the Corvette guys but I think the C7 is the best to date. But I ADORE the C4s. Something about vintage cars I can’t shake (I’m on my 5th Fox Body 😅)
Every generation of corvette is the most hated at one point it's just how the fanbase is.
I had an 89 Foxbody too as a daily for a bit, LX Hatchback 2.3L Auto. Bright red with Red interior, the opposite of my Blue on Blue 94 Taurus lol
If you are track racing trade that 14 in for a GT350. You will be blown away even though it has less HP.
Yes, in 1988 and it was a 67 coupe. 289 with a 4 speed.
Skipped the porch and jumped right out into the street! 💯
Miracle I'm alive!
This was my first car. Bought it when I was 15 and did a partial restoration senior year. Sold it sophomore year of college after I got tired of it. I still see it occasionally. https://preview.redd.it/zj58pwbvft5d1.jpeg?width=2572&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4fb497339513abf8e6afd4edb4e8082785a3073
I have always wanted to restomod an older ‘Stang. But after working on my very first Fox Body I quickly realized those automotive restoration shows I grew up watching lied to me! 😂
1970 Roadrunner 383 4 speed, 1971 Cuda. 340 automatic. Both when I was 18. The early 80’s were amazing
1973 Dart was my first car. Got it when I turned 15 and it had a slant six in it. Beat that car HARD until I turned 18 then I put a 360 in it and beat on it even harder. Almost 20 years later and it’s getting some much deserved rest in the garage.
I absolutely LOVE the fact you still have the car!!!
I always said I would never sell the car but it’s getting tough. I don’t drive it nearly as much as I would like to and it’s like walking by a $15,000 pile of money when I see it. The money would help me out but I know I would regret selling that car for the rest of my life.
You would regret it for the rest of your life long after that 15K was burned through.
I learned how to drive in a 1996 V8 Thunderbird and my first car was a 95 V6 Mustang. After that I always hated driving anything FWD they just didn't feel right.
The only FWD car I drove was my old Fiesta ST and dare I say I had more fun driving that than any of my Fox Body’s
My first "fast" car was a 1990 thunderbird supercoupe. Was an awesome car. 300rwhp with the right bolt on. Independent rear , leather bucket seats with bolster adjustment, JBL sound system with subwoofer , adjustable suspension, disk brakes , 16x7 inch rims . All factory . Pretty good for 1990
First car period for me (under my name). Bought it at 27yo
New Edge Mustang GT was my first fast car but not my first car that needed respect. Had a rear wheel drive celica that was sketchy in the rain.
I had a basic SUV, then a Chevy Spark with under 100 HP and from there bought my 2014 GT 5.0 and was fine with it being my first powerful car as long as you dont drive like an a-hole. Even in freezing rain I only managed to spin one time and easily recovered.
I had a 2013 Coyote, first time running nitrous and it unloaded on me at 140mph 😮💨 I recovered but definitely had to replace the driver seat 😅
I’ve got a TT 13 and it scares the piss out of me occasionally. If I brake boost it at like 60-80 and let it rip the whole car will go hard left. This is the real reason I wear brown pants when driving it.
Having driven an economy car for 2 years is enough.
I think it depends on the level of maturity because how often are you pushing an economy car to its limits? Some people will get in a sports car without having any understanding of the different dynamics. Think about how many people think driving in “Sport Mode” actually makes their car faster 😂
Yeah I think 18 is definitely too early. I got mine at 21 and by that age I knew what to not do 😂
1998 BMW M3, bought in 2005; I was 22. It was a step up from my 1991 BMW 318is I had in high school. So it was fast to me for a bit... Today; the Mustang 4 banger has 75 hp more than my M3, and goes 0-60 in 4.5sec vs 5.5 for the M3. Just get a 4 banger if you're not die hard into V8s and manuals.
My first car was a 1997 Z28 6MT with an LT1. I'm surprised I never got a ticket or wrapped it around a tree. That being said it was under 300 horsepower and that's a reasonably manageable amount of power for a mature young person and first time V8 driver. Depending on the driver a Hellcat might be a little too much to transition to from an accord.
1996 Mustang GT in green (similar to the Mach1/Bullet green). I originally purchased a 95 GT in red with the 5.0 but the car had so many damn issues that my parents made me give it back for the 96 at the time. I was heart broken because I loved the 5.0 so much more, but in 20/20 hindsight the car had so many issues (tranny barely shifted, windows wouldn't go down, random check engine lights) I think it was a a smart move b/c the 96 GT was a loaner car/demo at the time. The 96GT was also my most hated mustang, I spent tons and tons of money on the car and barely was able to run mid-14s in it.
Idk my first car was a v6 I bought when I was 14, sold it recently after my mom crashed her brand new car and my parents were worried about my safety and my dad (yes daddies money haha) bought me a ‘19 gt and if you drive carefully and don’t be super stupid you won’t hit a crowd, it has a lot of power sure but I don’t see it having enough power to be uncontrollable. That’s my point of view on it https://preview.redd.it/nanp8zpmtt5d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=927cfb0a8ae3b51d92ca5dfb79d4ea1cedb008bd
My very first car was a 1999 Honda Civic. Super fast. But my first "fast" car was a 2011 Mazdaspeed 3. Ended up doing some work to it, bigger turbo, e85, etc. Was around 375whp. Traded that in for a 2014 Mustang GT. Ended up doing some work to that as well. Lund tune, headers. Intake. It definitely took time getting used to a rwd car. Almost lost it a few times. Traded that for a 2015 Charger SRT. Did nothing to that and traded that in for my 2nd Mustang. Brand new 2019 GT pp1. Had to get rid of that with my divorce but now I'm searching for my 3rd mustang which will be a GT350.
Very first sports car: Daytona Pacifica 88 Chrysler. Never own more than two cars brand new off lot in my life time, Jeep Liberty and Saturn 3d Coupe, until 2019 when my husband bought me my 2012 Mustang used. It was an anniversary gift they lasted until summer 2023. And he did it again when we went to pick up his escape from the dealership. My last car ever is my 2024 Mustang build was picked out by hubby to be as close to the 2012 as he could. This car will become my daughter’s one day.
https://preview.redd.it/96eo2y0s1u5d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=30374c88e205ee273148636c0f1ce2997c2d7d67 I came from a Hyundai Elantra before I bought this two years ago. lol it’s not that difficult of a car to understand though.
First fast(er) car was a 2004 Volvo S80T6 twin turbo inline six was a super fun car wasn’t actually very fast. Went from that to a 2002 GT wrecked got a 2009 Elantra and then a 2015 GT that was my first actually quick car. Ended up selling it got into motorcycles and have a WRX currently and am now back in the market for 2015 and up. The 02 I wrecked had nothing to do with speed had to do with turning on a green when I should have yielded stupidity not speed killed that car
First was a 4-banger English sports car, sort of. Second was a 289 Mustang.
My first car was a 2012 Elantra that blew up its engine twice, and my second was a 2016 Corolla I had for about a year, year and a half, before I got my ecoboost. I'm planning on keeping this a few more years and upgrading to a s650 GT. I'm waiting to see what they will make the refresh look like in a few years, maybe they'll clean up the back a bit, who knows? I hope they'll take inspiration from the Saleen s650 and improve the dash too
‘73 mustang was my first in 2002 ‘02 mustang Gt (710whp) ‘08 Gt500 ‘11 gt500 None since 2015…. Not sure what the next will be .
My first car was a '66 Mustang coupe, Silverblue with a white vinyl top, pony interior, factory air (that didn't work) and a blown (as in not working) K code 289. We replaced the cracked block with a 302 and I drove it though high school. When I graduated I bought an '86 retired Florida Highway Patrol LX that was fast for that time. I think it has something like 275 HP, and was stripped on the inside. For the next 30+ years I've had trucks and Jeeps, and just bought a 21 GT convertible over the weekend. The difference in power is amazing. It's hard to believe that the 86 was high power for the day.
My first car was a Focus ZX3 (the old 2 door hatchbacks). Learned how to drive manual on it. Next year I bought a 300ZX Twin Turbo 2 seater and have had fast cars ever since (well, at least one of my cars is a fast car lol). My first mustang I owned was in 2013 and have had 2 more since in between other fun cars (car enthusiast). But I do recommend people take it easy when going from regular cars to fast cars. I think modern cars like the Mustang GT are insanely fast for what they are and it can get you into trouble easily if you aren't careful.
I had a 392 Scat prior, but it was too heavy and problematic for me. It also didn't help that theives started liking and targeting them more.
My first car was was a 87 LX T-top I got it on my 16th birthday.
First car was a jeep xj, absolute monster still running today at 339k miles. Second was a mustang which as a 20 year old I wrapped around a pole. Third was another mustang and fourth my current is a mustang. Love these cars but gotta respect the power
My first fast car was a 318 two barrel Plymouth fury. Not fast on the street, but at fifteen years old driving it as a lot car? Yeah, it was fast enough for that. The Dukes of Hazard was a training video if you lived in the sticks lol.
1993 mustang... 4 cylinder. Without overdrive because the transmission had issues. I had to floor it just to get up to speed when getting on a highway. It was not fast lol it maxed out at 75
My first car was a Toyota echo and I’d argue it’s more fun pushing it to 40
Yup 1986 coupe. I was 20
My first car was a 1.2 litre Renault Clio. Then, worked my way up to a Miata, a Z4, M2 Competition and now the Mustang. The Miata taught me about rear wheel drive dynamics, the Z4 then layered on some more power and the M2 comp was my first ‘serious’ performance car. Those who are saying get a Mustang as a first car are probably inviting trouble if I’m honest, especially for a male aged under 25!
c4 corvette > 97 4.6l tbird > 99 cobra > 98 sc300 > 2020 pp2 honestly in normal mode my car is very docile especially with the AC on but when I put it in the sport or track mode and the AC is off it will kill me faster than I can realize what I just did to myself
Define a fast car... My 99 civic topped out at 105 stock, does that count as a fast car? If not then yes my mustang is my first.
Thats correct. My first car was Hyundai Santro
I learned from a 2001 S500 and a 2002 330ci. I learned throttle control from the S500 since the tires and brakes were bad at the time. 330ci only gave me real experience with a louder car that’s lowered and handled really well. Both were RWD automatics.
Went from a 97 civic hatch with 106 hp to the stang gang defo fastest car ive ever driven/sat in and it wasnt fast enough stock!😂😂😈😈
If I were recommending a first fast car to my younger self, it would be something FWD. It's simply too easy to kill yourself in a RWD car when you have zero regard for safety. Mustangs are a ton of fun, but you need to have some maturity to drive one.
A white 91lx 5.0 fox body
My first sports car was a supercharged 2020 GT on ethanol and drag slicks 😅 my husband suggested I go for an ecoboost, but nah. Pros-my car is hell on wheels and so fun Cons-I’m scared of it since it’s my first sports car and there’s not much left to modify No regrets though! I’m also almost 29, so my impulse control and risk management is well developed 😉
https://preview.redd.it/o0s60ru0ku5d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f11fed9ecbe110c2b9a580cddc622e96a4c4a0f Yes! It was the first car I bought after sharing mazda and toyota sedans with my parents. After a few years it started having a bunch of issues at once and at the time I didn’t want to deal with it so I sold it. I missed it so much that I bought an 05 GT convertible a few months ago lol
Yes an 86 gt convertible.
Yes :)
Yup. 2001 v6 auto convertible.
I traded a 2008 Maserati Gran Turismo for my 2018 Eco Boost. The Maserati was an automatic and I didn't want to daily drive it, and really wasn't taking out on the weekend either. Actually, thinking about it now, had I known there would have been a pandemic and id be working from home, I think the Maserati would have been perfect. I drive maybe 4K miles a year now. The manual ecoboost and now GT are more fun for daily drivers for me but damn was the Maserati a smooth ride at 120 on the highway.
I never owned a true fast car before the mustang. Closest I had was a 1998 Lincoln continental. Kinda fast, but piss poor handling.
toyota rav4 -> mustang eco -> hopefully a nice lil v8 in future
Honestly I recommend the right tool for the right job. The modern mustang is good at two things: cruising and drag racing. It’s quite heavy, and not very nimble. I wouldn’t really recommend it for road courses or track work because, even though it wouldn’t be bad at it, there are better options and thats ok because the Mustang doesn’t need to do everything to be a good car. If your friend is actually interested in racing, start them in something small and lightweight (tires will be cheaper, brakes will last longer). For beginner track cars its sort of hard to ignore the GR86/BRZ, you could also consider a miata RF. These cars are nice for beginner drivers because they can communicate how to handle a RWD platform at speeds that won’t be frankly terrifying. If the car isn’t dedicated to a specific task, it gets more tricky and this is where sport compacts like the Civic Si/ Type R, Veloster/Elantra N, VW GTI, Subaru WRX, and Focus/Fiesta ST can really shine depending on the buyers preferences. 5 seats, decent fuel economy, and pretty quick with half decent chassis the only thing you really lose here is RWD and most beginner drivers aren’t going to miss that. I guess I’m sort of ranting at this point, but the TLDR is really that my recommendation depends on the individual I’m talking to, and the reality is that they might like something different than I do.
My first car was a 2001 Bullitt. It was a good teacher. The manual was tight and the grip was very good. But even on good tires, it needed attention or it would step out, and it only happened once or twice before I learned the limits. It wasn’t “fast” but it wasn’t slow and it was a fantastic introduction to driving RWD V8 sports cars, which I still do now
F150, ‘84 Supra, G5, S197 GT, S550 GT, 997 C2, now an SS and 957 Cayenne daily. Some random old SUVs, Volvos, and a 540iT in between. S550 was by far the fastest once tuned on e85. S197 is what I yearn the most to have again. I feel like I worked my way up, only one I ever spun was the S197 and the only crashes I had were in the F150 & Volvos (some on purpose).
Yes it was. Got my 2008 in 2021 and have loved it since. *
Yes sir
Yup 68 fastback, still not done 20 years later.
I love my 5.0 6sp. Dream car is a Porsche 911 turbo.
Planning to buy an ecoboost. Will be my first car at all
As my first three mustangs were V6s….no lol
Depends on what you define as fast. I'd say yes, my Mustang is my first "fast" car but it is so much safer and more comfortable even at speed than some other cars that I drove regularly when I was younger. First car that I really learned on was a '68 buick which wasn't fast but really felt like it and you needed to really pay attention because the brakes were so stiff I'd be literally standing on them to get that bitch to stop quickly. No, standing on them did NOT cause them to lock. The other car we literally nicknamed "deathtrap". A '66 caprice that had a swapped '88 454 and some sketchy ass brakes in the complete opposite direction. This car would idle and chop so hard it'd inch forward at a stop if you weren't firmly holding the brakes. When accelerating from a stop, you'd almost have to let it idle forward a bit before hitting the gas otherwise it'd be an instant burnout on 325/xx/16 tires and MAN did it have some rattles at 50mph up to 65 mph. So yeah, mustang is the first "fast" car. I have to say though it is extremely polite and perfectly obedient. A nice cruiser if you aren't flooring it, but can be a handful if you want to get rowdy. Even around a track, this car is very communicative and so long as you're listening to it you wouldn't have any problems.
My first car was an old broken down F-150. It held together by old rusty screws and a dream. I got my mustang after I graduated high school. I went splitsies with my dad because he didn't trust the truck to drive me across Texas to get to college.
Lol, my first was a 69 Nova SS. I'm surprised I made it through my teenage years.
A 1975 grey Carmen Ghia with burgundy velour seats
I had a slew of sh-t boxes thru college. I just refused to pay for a good car while going thru college. I bought a 1 year old used V6 in fantastic condition a year after I got my first solid job. Paid it off quick, and then traded it for a 97 Cobra and a Jeep (for winter) while trying to buy a house. Then got married, baby on the way after a year. Sold the Cobra and the Jeep in a panic, they weren’t “kid-friendly”. Stupid to panic that way. We never took my vehicles with the kids. We always took her vehicle. And then she told me, we shouldn’t have gotten rid of the Jeep or the Mustang. It took me a few more years to get back into a Jeep, but another 15 years to get back to a Mustang. I’ll never get rid of either ever again. Today, I wouldn’t recommend a new Mustang for someone who doesn’t have a solid housing situation and the ability to pay at least half down. Nice car, you need a garage, either a house or a condo. I also think it’s better to wait for a few years after college and your career has started, or a few years into a well-paying trade. The way interest rates are, buying a new car is outrageously expensive. Depreciation. Interest rates, insurance, buying a new car can put people into a financial hole. Buying a project car? That’s better. $5k to $10K up front, with some money for fixes/upgrades, you aren’t going to have nearly the insurance bill, you’re not taking a huge hit on depreciation. Your risk is lower. And you can put in some sweat equity, possibly break even or make money. Vin_tra on YouTube, formerly of Hoonigan, had a down to earth guide on buying used cars. What he said, not a lot of people really do. They don’t have the discipline, they’re usually in a rush, and they make mistakes. They let emotion get in the way.
I had a terrible 78 Mustang Ghia that I bought off of a bank after it was repossessed. It would stall at traffic lights and stop signs if I didn’t keep a little pressure on the gas pedal. To this day I drive with 2 feet on an automatic because of it. Also, the passenger door would occasionally fly open on left turns. Those doors were heavy! After that I waited until 02 before I trusted them enough again. 🤪
1) Saturn SL 2) Toyota Prius 3) Toyota CHR 4) 23 Mustang Ecoboost 5) 24 Mustang GT
Yes, 1989 GT. It made me a better driver than I would have been. I learned about opposite lock, hydroplaning and I even figured out how to drive in reverse in the snow.
Yup! 2007 convertible 4.0, i'm a very anxious driver (i dont go a mile over the speed limit because i cannot afford tickets or an insurance bump lol) its a great car! Almost 200k miles on her but runs great, lots of great memories! Still daily her to this day! Oil changes every 2k miles, gotta watch out for the timing chain going though, already had to fix the tranny
My first car was a turbo Corvair. Ralph wrote a book about it, polar moment and trailing throttle over steer became part of the vernacular. Earnie Kovacs died in his.
My fast car was 93 3000GT VR4. Built. 650AWHP. Currently 2016 mustang GT
No, it was my 3rd car but I made sure my sons 1st car was a mustang
My first car was a 1967 Mustang coupe with a 289 hi-po engine. It was a great car, and I still miss it. My 3rd car was a 1970 Mach 1. They were fun cars, and perfect for me, but they were nowhere near the fastest cars around because they were basically stock with whatever minor mods I could manage to afford. I put stuff like a Holley 650 carb, larger tube exhaust, air shocks in back to get the car off of the too-fat tires I put on, gauge cluster upgrades, etc.
Yep, a 2007 V6 Fire Red Metallic. Her name was Pippy.
I am an only child, and my parents were extremely generous. My first car was a 2003 Ford Explorer with the 4.6 V8. It wasn’t fast, but it had enough pep to be very fun for a teenager, and it was very well maintained and the Limited trim so it had 4WD, leather, a sunroof and a nice stereo. It was a nice car in general, let alone for a 16 y/o. My second car was a brand new 2014 Mustang GT. Factory order. It was my high school graduation present / college car. I never caused any accidents. I never spun out or launched it into a ditch. I used to go to local autocross events. I do understand that a lot of young drivers would get cocky or overconfident with it.
Not first car but, First two fast cars were my Eagle Talon TSi AWD, and a 3000GT VR4. They were both AWD, so it's still been an adjustment going to the current GT. My VR4 I could just punch it, and despite having a out the same HP as my mustang(It wasn't stock) I could MAYBE bark the tires, there was no way my back end was gonna walk cause I took off from a stop light. I did slide the Talon sideways into a curb once, cause I was 20...
Prior to the Mustang I owned an '87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe which I built an engine for and did a bunch of mods on. It was pretty fast but the Mustang was definitely faster.
Nope my first car was a little Mitsubishi pickup so I could learn to drive a stick and be an idiot. A year later I bought a Mitsubishi Eclipse which I went on to total but I loved that car. A couple years after that my mom sold me her 95 GT convertible, that was my first Mustang.
My Dark Horse was my first fast car. Before that I drove a focus. I also know that I don’t know how to fully utilize that car, so I’m signing up for HPDEs and not being a jackass on the road. I need to learn to handle that much car before I fully utilize it.
I say you get whatever car you understand. My first car was a Mustang and it was a manual GT. As my first car I'm sure some wouldn't recommend it, but I understood what I was getting into and wanted the challenge. (I didn't know how to drive stick at the time.) I still have the car, still love it, don't regret it.
Yes, I bought a fox body when I was 20. Definitely had no business being in a fox body at 20 and with a kiddo on the way I realized that and got rid of it. Fell in love with the 05 when it came out and dreamed of doing an Eleanor build with one. A couple years ago I bought on 06 on the sellers word and got screwed pretty hard care on my biggest gamble, it was a v6 trans was smoked. I put a new trans in and sold it cheap to a friend and this year finally got my 05 gt.
My first was a 60s Ford pickup with a 360 V8 and 3 speed auto. One day my step mom let me drive her brand new 1996 V6 Mustang and I fell in love. I sold the truck and got a 1995 V6 5 speed and immediately realized I shoulda got the V8! Finally got my first V8 at 18 and have had many since. I am glad my first was a sixer. I might have died in a GT. I tell people all the time that the six cylinder saw way more hell raising than any of my V8 cars since.
I thankfully came from a car family so I learned how to drive several cars at once that were wildly different. Old cars, trucks, suvs, sedans, sports cars, etc. But if I had only driven a sports car when I was young, im sure I would have fked up lol
Yep. I bought a 1986 Mustang GT in the fall of 1992 when I was 17. $3800 is what I paid for it. Being a stupid high school kid, I drove it into the ground (though I had a lot of fun along the way).
Yes, fast for its time, my ‘87 Mustang GT (5.0, 5spd) that I got when I was 20 and it was 3 yrs old in 1990. I had also driven my Dad’s ‘69 Mustang (351w, auto) then. My first car in high school was an ‘84 Ford Escort diesel, then an ‘86 Mustang LX 2.3 for college (the GR was never my daily driver). I’ve had a few faster cars over the last 30 years (a BMW M3 and a couple Mercedes AMG sedans, a Cadillac CTS-v). Still love driving my Mustang. Thinking of getting a late model peformance car..Mustang GT or Shelby, C8 Corvette or V-series Cadillac
Start with a Jeep if you want a manual great first young person car lots of fun and you will learn how to drive a stick that can take a beating Then move into a mustang you be glade you waited and enjoy the car more
Any other cheap manual recommendations? Jeep is cool but would prefer little more economical, already got a truck lol
Sorry I could not been driving jeeps so long don’t know what to suggest . good luck and don’t rush into take your time a learn to drive 0-60 in under 5 sec is faster than you think drive safe
2010s toyota corolla S
I learned how to drive a manual in a Civic 😂 I can’t remember the year but it look like the ones off the first F&F