[teenager]

Hey guys, Im new here and looking for my first car to use for High School and work. My budget is 8K (Some mine and my parents are helping). I really would like a Ram. My dad has an F150 so I learned to drive on a truck. I am looking at a couple different trucks and would like your opinions on if any of them would be good:

1. 2008 Ram 1500 ST Reg Cab Short Box 2wd Manuel 3.7L (73K)

2. 2008 Ram 1500 SLT Red Cab Long Box 2wd Auto 5.7L HEMI (81K)

3. 2006 Ram 1500 ST Quad Cab Short Box 3.7L Auto (158k)

Thanks guys!

 

[sethmark]

Buy the cheapest one. I GUARANTEE you're gonna wreck it.

Everyone seems to wreck their first ride.

With that said.. the hemi would be my choice.

 

[JimmyTheKid]

Hey guys, Im new here and looking for my first car to use for High School and work. My budget is 8K (Some mine and my parents are helping). I really would like a Ram. My dad has an F150 so I learned to drive on a truck. I am looking at a couple different trucks and would like your opinions on if any of them would be good:

1. 2008 Ram 1500 ST Reg Cab Short Box 2wd Manuel 3.7L (73K)

2. 2008 Ram 1500 SLT Red Cab Long Box 2wd Auto 5.7L HEMI (81K)

3. 2006 Ram 1500 ST Quad Cab Short Box 3.7L Auto (158k)

Thanks guys!

Personally I would choose the Hemi, but I can afford the gas. Think about the long haul. The smaller engine will prob due better for high school, but if your anything like the rest of us youll want the speed which isnt always best for high school students haha, but hey. :wavey: i would avoid the quad cab, unless you want to be the kid who trucks everyone around, plus its got 158k miles... ANYWAYS, i say choice number 2!

 

[SilverHemi]

id also choose number 2.....but gas isnt cheap son.... honestly id just say none of these and get soemthing like a 97 nissan 4 banger and save urself soem money on both ends....btw dont rush for ur first car man i bought mine and was pissed cuz there was another truck that came abotu a week later and i wanted it sooooo bad oh well

 

[titanman2789]

id also choose number 2.....but gas isnt cheap son....

x2, unless you truly need it for work or aren't paying for gas, I would stay away from the truck. I know you really want a truck, and so did I when I was in high school, but the trucks I drove (budget of 5k) were all crap and needed a ton of work done. At 8k, you might do a little better, but I agree with the above post and get a 4 banger. I would say find something less than 10 years old though. The Toyota Camry I got as my first car - 4 banger - and I just traded it in for my new Ram at 216,000 miles. It probably could have gone longer but with all the work it was needing we decided to get rid of it. At times it got 31-33 mpg.
As for those 3 trucks, I of course would go with the Hemi. You're going to get pretty damn close to the same mpgs with any of them, so might as well get the power.
Again though, gas isn't cheap. We can afford it no problem, but I still hate having to fill up my new truck - so much so that I plan on buying a 4 banger Dodge Dart as soon as I get it paid off

 

[highlandchef]

First, welcome to the forum!!!

First let's be straight, if I was you I'd want the Hemi. I had fast cars when I was growing up so heck yeah I'd want the Hemi! :smileup:

Ok, now for a little advice from someone who has a little more time and grade on the planet than you do:

Things are not the same now as they were when I was growing up.

Cars were cheap, parts were cheap, gas was cheap and insurance was cheap.

That Hemi is going to be thirsty particularly if it's driven by a teenager. (No offense intended but I remember being a teen) So if you're paying for the gas think twice.

The other thing you and your parents should check is the difference in insurance if you are the primary driver of a vehicle with a high performance engine.

On a different note one thing that bothers me about your list is the price of the Hemi. I looked KBB and even in only fair shape that truck is well off what it's worth; much more than the others. It might be just a great deal or you might want to be careful.

Last as mentioned before you're probably going to wreck it so maybe spend a little less for the first one. Everyone has a wreck sooner or later