What is the coolest most economical car for a daily driver?

Root, have you shown her a Ford Falcon? Show her the one out of Custom Rodder that they did on Overhaulin, for a clean decent example. There is a reason they are "little old lady cars"! Cause girls really like them and their economical.

 

I agree on a inline six 60's econo car like a falcon or chevy2. work over the six with a cam/header/carb and let her drive on that and if she proves herself then let her go for a small block. either of these cars has huge support so getting patch panels, hard parts, upgrades will be easy.

next choice would prob be a 60's/70's short bed truck. toss some bags and a mild small block and you got a nice ride (plus lots less interior to have to do) if you get something with a steal dash then all you really need to do is get some carpet and repo door panels or make your own and it is done. I would mainly look for a straight complete truck that maybe needs cab corners or a little bed work. this way she has to do a little body work and will know what it takes to fix stuff so that she will not rip it up.

third would be a early 50's shoebox. swap on a new front clip and some bags and a small block or a hot six and it would be a nice ride. most of these will prob need more interior work to them.


Either way I say paint it in a single stage solid color so if there any learning curve mistakes they can be fixed at home easily. (granted a top could be something more wild since it shouldn't need fixed ever)

 

This...

 

when i was 10 i wanted a pro street 65 nova. when i 12 i bought a 72 chevy truck. then when i was 17 i bought a 55 bel air ( still regret selling it). now i am almost 22 with a 63 nova wagon with a 250 straight six as my daily driver and i am happy as shit with it. just somethin to think about with your daughter in mind

 

oh yeah.....63 wagon was cheap too, and i am the second owner!

 

Looks like a lot of good ideas, some based in solid reality, others, well....

Check the stats, teens are involved in more accidents per mile driven than any other age group save possibly blondes on cell phones. DO NOT bet that your daughter will not be one of these stats. DO put her in something safe until she learns how to drive, and drive well. And by "safe", I don't mean early iron, becuase no matter how much you all would like to believe that an early car is safer than a new car, you are WRONG.
Quick example, known to all: The crash that killed Princess Diana was remarkable not for the people killed, but for the fact that a front seat passenger LIVED. LOOK at the wreckage; it just doesn't seem possible, but it is fact.
SO, yes, I am thinking new-er.
Next on the stats is the loaded car syndrome. Did not someone post here a couple days ago about a drunk driver who killed someone and a few others were injured?? More than two seats exponentially increases the risk of stupid behavior, IMHO, so either a two seater (Merc 380 SL anyone), or remove the back seat ala business coupé.
Performance also increases stupid behavior, so a six is the most I'd get, but I'm leaning towards four or less. Though Dad could sneak in a governor, I'd bet. A set of weak valves springs, maybe??
Stick shift. Manual transmission. Ever wonder why the only person to come look at your old Celica with the five speed is the Mexican from down the street?? It's because HE (or she) knows HOW to drive a stick. My girlfriend is itching to drive my 2CV because she hasn't driven stick since she moved here, but how many of your GFs and wives know how to drive a stick?? Teach her. It also teaches car control and a knowledge of what's happening under the hood.

Let us be very honest: does your daughter REALLY want an old car, or do you want to look cool through your daughter BECAUSE she has an old car??
I got my first rod due to the latter.

Get her a safe, slow car for her first, bet on her wrecking it (but hope she doesn't), and have her choose a car for the both of you to build together when she is more mature and able to understand all that that means. Realise, too, that no matter how involved you may keep her in the hobby, she is her own person and may choose to exert her energies somewhere else. Support her, no matter what.

Cosmo

 

The 67 Beetle was the best year ever produced. 1600 CC engine, 12 volt electrics and the cool old body styling. Then again anything with a L6 is a good choice.

 

Like said above, early mustangs are good cars, my 67 is a piece of cake to drive (get power brakes though), it's very easy to fit in parking spaces because it's small. Not real cheap to buy into, but they hold their value, and they seem to be popular, so you could unload it quickly when you are ready.

 

Okay, finally. I was reading through this waiting for VWs to come up. It doesn't get much more economical than some form of air cooled VW. And they're just exactly what 10 year old girls think is cute. Lashing the valves every 3K miles is a good lesson for a kid. And if it pukes you can swap in another motor for a few hundred bucks and an hour's work.

Put some disc brakes up front though. I just did it. A huge huge improvement. Easy swap. About $300 for all new parts. Best safety improvement value I've seen.

If you don't want a backseat, how about a Karmann Ghia? Makes a neat custom too. Well, the Beetle doesn't have much of a back seat either. At least not functional for what you're thinking.

Come over to the dark side. We've been waiting for you.

 

If you're willing to go the sixties route, I'd endorse the GM A-body. The '64 and '65 non-Chevrolets seem to go for dirt cheap. Olds Buick Special/Skylark, Olds F85/Cutlass and Pontiac Tempest/LeMans cars still have virtually no demand and accept most/all of the aftermarket Chevelle updates no problem.

I'm thinking a practical lowering job (something that still has good ground clearance and improves handling), power disc brakes for safety, some colored primer (so when she scuffs it in the parking lot you can make her fix it and not have to worry about paint), five-spoke mags and some skinny whitewalls. All this on even something as tame as a V6 Buick Special four-door will still make her the coolest kid in school!

 

An ideal starter car is a YUGO, followed by one of those 3 cylinder GEOs.

Next is a Ford Fiesta or Festiva.

But a VW Rabbit Diesel ranks real high on the list too!

When these get destroyed by a beginning driver we've done the environment a service to beautify America.

And yeah, it not a matter of "if" , it's just a matter of "when" the first car gets destroyed!!!!

 

Chalk up another vote for a VW bug. Economical and easy to work on. That's why I drive one...

 

get her what she wants... make it a tri 5 chevy.... i can get you a rollnig chassis, 55, no post 2 door, setup for small block, VERY clean frame, duals already there, with most parts and a few extras for around $1800..... let me know,.,.. when its done, it can be a 10k car with ease!

 

I think a mildly done 52 deluxe is a perfect car for a young woman to drive.

Drop in a decent V8 with AC and PS and you're good to go. Lower maintenance than the 6's.

 

ps------------open to trades, and has title

 

I agree...some 16 year olds know how to drive. It is how they were taught. Young drivers need to be immersed with machinery from an early age...mowing the lawn, working with car know how it works, and driving up the block to the house. even if the kid is still in diapers. That is what my dad did with me...he had his diesel rabbit and put it in gear, let the clutch out and it motored right up the hill with me standing on the seat and him walking beside the car. My sister didn't do these kind of things and i do notice it when she had her permit...yikes!!!! but she did get better.

As for car...i like those 53-54 chevs and the 55-56s or a 57 fairlane.

 

You're absolutely right. My first car is sitting behind the barn where I parked it, getting destroyed by the elements.

 

Four banger fox body Mustangs are at the bottom of their depreciation curve (just picked up a '91 ragtop for a hundred).........cheap, economical with great aftermarket support............you can bottomfeed off the 5.0 guys for all sorts of improvements both mechanically and cosmetically.