Well, I'm currently a senior in high school, turning 18 in a week, and entering college next year.

I drive a 2003 5spd Dodge Neon SXT, about 45k miles on it now. Parents bought it for me last february, it serves well as a high mpg daily driver, insurance isn't too bad either. Plus I learned to drive manual on it.

Now, I'm most likely going to keep this car as my DD until its too expensive to repair. These cars can last a decent amount of time from what I've heard. The thing is, it's not the fastest thing in the world, and I desire a toy to drive. I've been very interested in bikes for a while now, and that's what I've planned on getting. I have 2 jobs right now, and am guaranteed a paid internship next year at my college, so I have alright income, even with paying for insurance/gas/weed. Budget is most likely gonna be 1000-2000$ though.

I was considering getting an older sports/street bike, maybe with a few problems if I can get it real cheap. I figure learning more about the bike and fixing it up will be a good experience for future maintenance.

I'd be real satisfied with something like:
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/938411261.html
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/938876880.html
I'd think learning to ride wouldn't be too bad on something like that.

On the other hand, I'd also take a fun and quick weekend/summer car instead of a bike. Don't really have ideas about this for under $2000, what do you guys think?

You're on the right track with the bikes. Look around carefully and you can get a nice condition 500-700cc bike for under 2k. Don't let people talk you into getting a smaller engine bike as they work fine for beginners but your average rider will outgrow a 200-400cc one in a month if not weeks. That's not to say that a 250-400 street/race bike can't be sick.... just try to look up the numbers on whatever you're buying. 50-60hp is enough to start with unless the bike is a pig.

I doubt you're gonna get anything cool enough car-wise for under 2k. Sure, you could find something with a big engine or something sporty enough but it WILL have problems or it will look like crap.

You're on the right track with the bikes. Look around carefully and you can get a nice condition 500-700cc bike for under 2k. Don't let people talk you into getting a smaller engine bike as they work fine for beginners but your average rider will outgrow a 200-400cc one in a month if not weeks. That's not to say that a 250-400 street/race bike can't be sick.... just try to look up the numbers on whatever you're buying. 50-60hp is enough to start with unless the bike is a pig.

I doubt you're gonna get anything cool enough car-wise for under 2k. Sure, you could find something with a big engine or something sporty enough but it WILL have problems or it will look like crap.

I talked to a guy whose dad has bikes, and he started on his dads SV650 and was glad he did, and recommended I learn on something that has the potential to be quick. Id figure it'd be a tad easier to learn on something like a Ninja 250 cause theyre light and lower-powered, but I'd rather do it that way.

I was thinking I couldn't get much better than a DD in terms of cars for that little money, but a bike's fine with me. Might actually try to sell my neon and buy up an old toyota tercel/paseo/corolla for real cheap and with great reliability, and then I would be able to afford a $5-6k bike :) But I also feel like I should make my current car last as long as possible.

sell the neon, buy an 1992-1995 civic hatchback (or better yet, buy a rolling shell), and do an engine swap of your choice (I'd recomend an H22A). Then you'll have a ballsy car you can drive every day, get good gas milage, and have fun with (an H22A has 200hp stock, in a car that weighs less than 2000lbs, that's plenty)

yes great idea sell a moderatley new vehicle with low mileage to buy a ten year old civic with no motor....

yes great idea sell a moderatley new vehicle with low mileage to buy a ten year old civic with no motor....

Indeed. Trying to own a DD & toy.