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Best Car for a new teenage driver

554 messages,  Last post on Nov 08, 2009 at 7:33 PM

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#491 of 554 Re: at least somewhat OT... [explorerx4] by oldfarmer50 Jul 30, 2009 (2:59 am)
Replying to: explorerx4 (Jul 27, 2009 3:27 pm) "...if it gets a bit bunged up..."   I sold my Chrysler to my son last week. Already it looks like a dumpster for a fast food restaurant (including a milkshake thrown on the window).   Even if your kid is an angel, it doesn't mean her friends are.
#492 of 554 Re: Car for 16 year old daughter [pasquali56] by tankbeans Aug 01, 2009 (12:47 am)
Replying to: pasquali56 (Jul 23, 2009 7:54 pm) Personally I'd give her the TL. It's at that age where it's paid for and it's still reliable. I don't agree with the practice of giving a kid a car just because they turn 16, but that's just me.   I'm only 21 so I'm still close enough to the teenage years where I remember the thought processes. She can either learn to like a hand-me-down Acura TL or she can walk. I personally would enjoy an Acura TL immensely. Right now I drive a 2003 Accord LX Coupe that I'm paying for myself.   The only thing I would worry about is that she would really start liking the car and would start showing off to her friends.   Long story short give her your TL to use until she can save up to buy her own car if she hates it that much. Don't take out a loan if you don't have to. Replies to this message: euphonium (Aug 01, 2009 12:37 pm) tankbeans (Aug 01, 2009 4:56 pm)
#493 of 554 Re: Teen daughter car [pasquali56] by explorerx4 Aug 01, 2009 (3:52 am)
Replying to: pasquali56 (Jul 24, 2009 6:46 am) you may want to check if the acura is on the airbag recall list.
#494 of 554 Re: Car for 16 year old daughter [tankbeans] by euphonium Aug 01, 2009 (12:37 pm)
Replying to: tankbeans (Aug 01, 2009 12:47 am) I don't agree with the practice of giving a kid a car just because they turn 16,   Both of my kids were taught at the end of their 8th grade that from now on their grades determined where they would attend colleges. They knew that a 3.5 in a 4. scale they had to maintain at least a 3.5 GPA just to get a license.   Driving is a privilege granted to those who have successfully completed their Duties, Responsibilities, and Obligations.   I chose the cars I allowed them to drive as the cars were titled to me. Was I too tough, did I expect too much? No, because both graduated from the University of Washington, Seattle. Replies to this message: tankbeans (Aug 01, 2009 4:56 pm)
#495 of 554 Best car for new male driver by elburn Aug 01, 2009 (1:41 pm)
what do you think about a 95 Volvo 850 GLT? 160K miles. We are looking for 16 yr old son Replies to this message: tankbeans (Aug 01, 2009 5:00 pm) fezo (Aug 01, 2009 5:09 pm) plekto (Aug 11, 2009 12:08 pm)
#496 of 554 Re: Car for 16 year old daughter [euphonium] by tankbeans Aug 01, 2009 (4:56 pm)
Replying to: euphonium (Aug 01, 2009 12:37 pm) Now I do like your style of parenting. You are one of the few parents I've seen that required something of their kids before they were allowed to drive. I'm sure there are others like you, but I don't see them often. It seems like too much of the time kids are used like accessories, which is to say, "look what I can afford to give my kids." Lexus, Acura, Mercedes, Audi, etc are not cars to give kids at all. Some of the kids I went to school and graduated with had D averages and didn't work more than a couple hours a week and were handed a $50k car for their 16 birthdays. That is the practice I don't agree with.   Your philosophy, which is to say..."You are going to earn the car that you drive or you are going to find your own way." is something that I can agree with. Please forgive me for paraphrasing.   If I'm confusing let me know.
#497 of 554 Re: Best car for new male driver [elburn] by tankbeans Aug 01, 2009 (5:00 pm)
Replying to: elburn (Aug 01, 2009 1:41 pm) Volvos, at least the older ones, are bullet-proof. And they aren't exactly the type of car that screams hey let's show off in front of our friends and act like idiots and maybe turn into road pizza. Also since they're loaded with safety features even in 95 they are cheapish to insure. I'd say it's plenty decent for a 16 year old boy. With 160k miles I wouldn't worry too much as the engines, at least from what I've read, tend to last a fairly long time.   I'm only 21 as I've stated and I would have like that car plenty when I was that age. If I'm wrong somebody please tell me as I know sometimes I can get it wrong. Replies to this message: fezo (Aug 01, 2009 5:09 pm)
#498 of 554 Re: Best car for new male driver [tankbeans] by fezo Aug 01, 2009 (5:09 pm)
Replying to: tankbeans (Aug 01, 2009 5:00 pm) As long as you've got a mechanic's OK a Volvo 850 is a good choice in my book. Built with safety in mind and a zero cool factor to boot - unless you have a bunch of young Volvo fans around...
#499 of 554 government mule... by explorerx4 Aug 06, 2009 (3:48 pm)
my 02 explorer went in for service the other day and they told me the rear brakes were toast. i had put quite bit of money in it a few months ago and was not happy to hear that. i told my daughter, who is the primary driver, that i was putting it in goverment mule mode. (just run it until it dies). it has 95k on it and replaced the brakes at 55k. going back over the maintenance records, i found that the front rotors were replaced 70k. so 95K for the rears isn't really that bad. in the mean time she shined it up including cleaning the wheels with a paint brush. ok,, no government mule.
#500 of 554 Re: Best car for new male driver [elburn] by plekto Aug 11, 2009 (12:08 pm)
Replying to: elburn (Aug 01, 2009 1:41 pm) I'd actually go one slower and simpler.   Get a 1993 Volvo 940 or 240.(last years they made them). Find one in minty condition. They are really amazingly simple cars to work on and fix, yet have the modern safety features as well.   The big plus, though, is RWD and manual. Force him to learn manual. It requires much more concentration and it's loads cheaper to fix a clutch($600 or so) versus an automatic. He will drive better(takes serious skills to eat a burger and drive stick vs two-fingering the wheel with an automatic), can do the work himself(the 240 was literally made to be taken apart with hand tools!), and it's dirt cheap to insure.   I'm a huge fan of teaching manual to kids if for no other reason than 90% of the world uses them still and if they ever travel, they will need one. There are other issues as well like being able to push start it and a having plenty of warning when the clutch is about to die versus my last three automatics that died all did so within 2-3 *blocks* and then were bricks that had to be towed out of traffic.   Plus, it's slow and stable, though with manual, not dangerously so. The wagon versions also are a bit "retro" looking, and while his friends might laugh a bit, hauling half of their gear to a gig is a huge way to change their mind.

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