Hey im getting my first car n i need help picking my car. Im new to tuning cars but my reason behind wanting to learn is i want my car to be my work of art...like no other car on the road!...i want it to be as different as i am....So what i need help with is what would make a great first car (5,000 to 7,000)...and once i have my car what upgrade should i install first (2,000 5,000)
Thanks for taking time out to read my post ,any reply will be greatly appreciated!  

if you really wanna start out right the best way is to do what already has been done and add your own style to it you should try looking for a mitsubishi eclipes manual trans. 95-99 or anissan 240sx 90-94 price range between $1000-3000 then go for and engine swap for the eclipse 4g63 swap and exhaust and for the 240sx a sr20det swap with exhaust after that have fun driving it for a while untile you get used to the car and basily while you take your time learning about your car beef up the suspenssion and if you wanna go with more power later then upgrade the internals and get a port n polish (dont forget to regularly maintain your car and make sure you like the car before you buy otherwise there no point)  

People try to stand out here when they buy a car presumably because they think that everything has been done to a car of choice... GSX's, 240SX's, Civics, GTI's, etc. etc. In my view it has to be a misconception about the subject altogether.  I say, "It hasn't been done right...(most of the time)" Meaning when you see a "supposedly" modded car. I guess to put it simply Dilution. "There is nothing to be done to one of those now, because everyone has done something to them..."  But my view of art is different of anybody elses, but this is it, and I pick any run-of-the-mill car you can find for cheap and turn a cube or box into a landscape...With Crayons! (A la Bob Ross!)

Uhm...screw it a civic I guess......

Lets pretend our cube is a 96 EX Civic 1.6; mismatched colored panels and a crack in the back windshield with faded paint, but low miles (Hypothetically). Maybe a happy little tree here and there...and the radio is perpetually set on country-western  



What I'd do now?....Oh!

*Edelbrock Turbocharger kit with a GT28R turbo with a Tial B.O.V. W/ Intercooler,
*BBK 62mm throttle body
*AEM Cam Gears set at -2 degrees on the Exhaust
*Unorthodox Racing Crank pulley
*AEM Fuel Rail, Filters, and Regulator
*HKS Hi-Power Cat-Back exhaust
*ACT Clutch Kit
*Unorthodox Racing Flywheels - Ultra Series (Aluminum)
*JIC Coilovers - FLT-A2
*JIC Strut Bars - Front Strut Tower Bar Braces (Carbon)
*Polyurethane Suspension bushings
*Cusco Sway Bars - Rear Sway (18 mm)

"Now depending if the car has 4 disc brakes (which it should by anybody's standards when going all out) You could get a Big Brake upgrade, but mind you... It is better just to upgrade the front brakes to maintain brake bias if it is to be street driven and make sure or call the guys who make it if it is compatible with the stock master cylinder... (the big thing where you put brake fluid)"

*Wilwood Brake Kit - Front Dynalite Big Brake Hat Kit w/ Black Calipers (HP Rotors)
*Wilwood braided stainless steel brake lines
*BBS RGR Forged 17x7 rims w/ BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2 Tires
*A happy little tree here enjoying the morning sun...

Now think about all that worthless typing I did up there ^. That's close to 13K-17K including car. Now get a car that cost just in the same ballpark and say to yourself Hypothetically... "Was it worth it?" Where I'm going with this is. Consider your options, because all of that ^ is available for most sports cars that you're wondering about! Now you don't have to get all of it, and it's best that you work on it incrementally but hey! Look at all that stuff and if you have good credit you could by getting a loan...  

Art is in the soul. Don't let anyone tell you its ugly...  

^I agree, dont shy away from a car just cuz it popular and been done over again and again by someone else.  A car should show the drivers tastes, and own personal flare persay. If your into body kits etc. but dont like the ones on the market, either find a shop that will custom make one, or make one yourself. A homemade front bumper cost me about 250 in material and molding supplies.

Oh shake, "colored panels and a crack in the back windshield". As a former auto glass tech, the back windows on any car made after 1981 when the FMVSS (fed motor vehicle saftey standards) where started, all windows but the front windshield are "tempered" glass. Tempered, when broken shatters into square cubes, most of which are harmless.  Front windows crack due to the layer of poly ethel vynal butate (PVB for short). which holds the glass together, and in the event of a crash helps prevent ejections.

I just realized what sort of a rant ive gone on about windows. Im going stir crazy at this friggin truckstop.  

 You can't blame me for thinking up an ugly car...

How bout a big sticker that says "Metalica" on the back windsield. I had a Fiero with one of those when I bought it. Fiero's are cruddy  even for 200 bucks.  

i get what carkiller is sayin...an Master_Shake029 gave me a detailed instruction manual lol ..i realy like the 96 eclipse gsx n i dream of getin a 240sx the one w/o the flip up lights ...or like Master_shake get a car i do see modded much ...maybe a later ver celica...one more question tho should i worry about milage since i might be doin a engine swap???...how much does an engine swap cost...oh im leaning more towards get an eclipse gsx  

Well if your leaning towards the GSX, an engine swap wont really be neccassary, as the 4G63 is an amazing engine. If you go to look at one tho, make sure they had the timing belt changed when it was supposed to, as they have interference head (valve can hit piston if t belt breaks). other than the tbelt problem, they have a tendency to leak oil, so if its higher up in mileage, you might wanna do a rebuild. AND BEWARE OF CRANKWALK  

Just buy a 240 sx and do what you want with it or you could get an older supra if you like them also you can never go wrong with a civic