Z Draci said:If you're so concerned about safety, just buy any old car and get a full FIA approved roll cage welded in. Also, get a racing seat with a 4-point harness. Don't forget to wear a helmet too!
If you're going to die, you're going to die no matter how safe of a car you're driving. Driving is all about taking the risk to do so. If you don't put yourself in a dangerous situation, you can avoid most accidents.
That is so true, Z Draci. Sorry mate, maybe I overreacted with the safety thing. As I said, dont buy a car just because of Ncap score. I was looking for a Saab before I got my car. Actually I did found a '97 Saab 900 turbo that I really wanted (I didnt care about the 2 stars, didnt even know it took 2 stars untill know) but the seller was asking too much. I was lucky my parents had the money to buy me this Volvo. For example, my dad had started with a romanian car (an old one, it was called Dacia 1100 or something, from like 1994. Safety features: 3 point seatbelts. Nothing else, no reinforcements in side doors, no airbags, ABS etc. And he didnt die, although he had a crash...the car wasnt happy after that crash, but it got fixed.) Anyway, it depends on how you drive and sometimes, on luck. If you drive safely, you'll never have problems. Think of all the people that buy old, really old porsches or ferraris (for their beauty, I'd get one...and old ones--meaning like 60-70s cars--didnt have airbags and stuff...Dont even know if they had seatbelts.. ). Its not like you'll die just cause your car took 1 or 2 stars in Ncap. As I said, look for a car for your needs. Look at insurance costs too (dunno how Saabs are at insurance costs) and maybe maintenance costs (prices for parts etc).
Either way, dont rush as I said, try to study the market and your choices. Also, research on sites like www.cars.com (click where it says "research") to see standard equipment for each car and stuff.
I still cant believe it took only 2 stars (more like 1 cause one was crossed out) in Ncap because in NHTSA it took 4!.
Dunno what to say...guys...any other ideas? :?
Edit: Its still your first car, I know everyone wants nice cars (BMW, Mercedes etc- I wanted one too!) but sometimes its better if you start with a modest or "so-so" car as you'll really appreciate cars for what they are. If you start with a BMW, sometimes you get too spoiled or worse, you can risk your life because BMWs are begging you to rev them and go fast...