Originally Posted by blackbelt_010892

I am also a young owner here on the forum. My first car was a 1994 ranger with 250,000 million miles on the odo. Just recently I purchased my crossfire at the age of 18 after the tranny began to slip in the ford. There is no doubting that the crossfire is a lot of bang for the buck or at least that is was I discovered after test driving several other models. I also had a little more than 10 grand to play around with after a couple years of saving. Although I love this car I'm not for sure if it is a great first vehicle. During those first 6 months or maybe up to the first year on the road, there is a lot to learn no matter how skilled of a driver you are. Your depth perception is still lacking and at least one minor accident or traffic citation is sure thing.
Financially I do not know your situation, whether or not your folks are helping you get the vehicle or if you are taking it upon yourself to buy and maintain the car. If the latter is the your situation be prepared to make a few sacrifices. Oil changes come a couple times a year at $100 dollars or more, decent set of tires will set you back about a grand all said and done, and then there is insurance. Unless you are expecting a pay increase in the near future, owning and maintaining this car properly will replace some prior activities. Personally these sacrifices are well worth the rewards. I greatly enjoy having an item that puts a smile on my face daily, and a vehicle that I can actually take pride in.
Your friends will constantly want the pedal pushed to the floor and the tires roasting around each and every bend in the road. It is important for you to understand that it is your car not theirs, turning down their request will most likely earn you more respect in the long run. This is not to say that at times you can't go out and have a little fun from stoplight to stoplight.
All in all you wont be disappointed with the purchase. Simply remember that this car was designed as more of a grand tourer than an all out street machine. (SRT6's excluded) Learn to enjoy the car for what its worth and you too, will adorn the perma-grin like so many others.