I'm looking for a first car and am considered purchasing a Datsun 1200 sedan? Does anyone think this is a good choice?

I was also wondering the cost of everything, i have around 4k saved up but i'm not sure if that will be enough.

Any help with be very appreciated. Thanks.

How long is a piece of string...

hey mate, welcome.

4k should buy you a very nice little sedan.
As to whether or not it is a good first car, well that really depends. They are no where near as safe as a modern car which is really the main problem. Other that you just loose out on niceties like air conditioning and comfortable seats and power steering and and all those type of things. Also you will probably end up spending all your money on it like most people here.

If it were me, I would go for it if you won't drive it too much, but if you drive alot then get something more modern and buy a project 1200. I do 500km a week and tow trailers and drive to melbourne and those kind of things which simply would not be possible in my datsun.

Its worth filling out the location thing in your profile as well so people don't yell at you.

Good luck!

Air Conditioning PFFT Just wind down the windows and go faster. While your out drop in to a hardware store and buy some concrete powder and pour it on ya weeties every morning that will harden you up.
$4000 will buy a nice little rig.

Oh ok cool, so how much should i consider spending on the actual car?
I'd just use it to get from A to B no excessive driving so only a few KM per week.
Does it cost alot for fuel, and what about repairs?
thanks for all the help

At the moment fuel isn't costing much at all, about 25-30 bucks to fill up. I drive everywhere in my car, just the other weekend I drove over 600kms all up for a motorkhana and that included the racing!!

As for repairs, some of us just break things more. Things I find annoying is the starter motors dying on me cos of the amount of driving I do, general oil leaks, tyres, brakepads\rotors, and a couple of the bushes but otehr than that it's really good.

I learned to drive in the family's auto VR commodore so there was a lot of time in that before I ever got into Datsuns and otehr cars

My first car was a 1200 ute, And when I got rearended in that I had to get another 1200. so yes I would say radicle first car only majorproblem is that you get hooked.

And if your going for a standar cheep sort of car then they are great aswell its only realy when you modify or abuse them that they giv you grief..

Good Luck!

Depends. How good are you mechanicaly? Its a old car and as you would expect things go wrong!

But you will spend every dollor you earn on it like everybody else. But thats not a bad thing. What got you wanting a 1200 anyway? My first car was a 260Z and loved it!

Go drive some (if you can find em) and see what you think... But i recon you should get a 1000, not a 1200. But im bias.

There was a real nice 1200 sedan for sale in W.A some time back when i joined here but it still hadn't sold about a month ago. It was a yellowy color and had like pulsar turbo wheels on it or something. Oh whats his user name ??? Sorry brain fart. Search the classifieds it is there somewhere i will have a look to. Think prospec may have owned it.
EDIT: Yep Prospec

Here it is matey. He may still have it
Prospecs Sedan