the Tribe

WIN THIS NEXT MONTH! MOTOR MAGAZINE PRIZE PACK Winner Samuel has his reading for lockdown sorted with a fresh 12-month MOTOR subscription and a sweet Le Mans tee from T-Lab. Next month, we’re giving a Unique Cars Aussie Muscle Car Legends book and a classic MOTOR tee to sweeten the deal. We award ideas, opinions, prose and originality. So get typing!

FIRST CAR THRILLS

COVID HAS CAUSED the restrictions to tighten in Melbourne again which means for better or worse we’re stuck at home. So, I’ve been contemplating my first car. There are so many options. I currently have my eyes on a 2002 BMW 540i. Beautiful-sounding V8, gorgeous leather interior and rear-drive for some mad skids (on track of course). Most are auto, though I would prefer my first car to be manual.

My other thought was an EG6 Civic, though I am concerned it would be a thief magnet. And sure, it might be six years until I can legally drive, but I will work my arse off in order to afford a decent first car. So the question I’d like to pitch to the MOTOR team is: what is the best first car under $15K? (P.S. love DC’s AE86!)

Samuel Sporry, age 12, via email Love the variety there, Samuel. You should consider an NB MX-5. Great to learn in, easy to drive, fun, cheap to modify. Bit safer than an NA. Once you’ve mastered it on a track – and done some dirt skids in a few khan acrosses – that’s the time to look at something with more power.

TOO LATE FOR ME