First Project Car Buyer's Guide
Your first project car sets the tone for everything after it. This guide helps you decide what you actually want, pick a starter platform with good parts support, avoid the cars that eat beginners alive, and negotiate a fair price without the awkwardness.
It's a 5-page printable and fillable guide (US Letter PDF), in two versions: fillable for your computer and clean for printing:
Starter Criteria: a checklist for what makes a good first project, plus a driver-vs-project table and a "My Purpose & Must-Haves" page.
Starter Platforms: example models across economy cars, sports cars, sedans and wagons, compact and full-size trucks, 4x4s and American classics, plus how to size up any model.
What to Avoid: the red flags, a plain-words budget section, what to bring, an inspection order, paperwork checks and questions for the seller.
Negotiating: tips, things you can say, an offer worksheet and a "Before Money Changes Hands" checklist.
Shortlist Comparison: compare 3 cars across 14 points, with decision notes.
Instant download, for personal use. Model examples are examples, not endorsements; always inspect the car in front of you.
Highlights
5-page fillable + printable PDF
Starter platform examples across every kind of car
Red-flag list and seller questions
Offer worksheet and negotiating scripts
3-car shortlist comparison
