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Smart Shopper Best Car for a new teenage driver
554 messages, Last post on Nov 08, 2009 at 7:33 PM
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Replying to: exb0 (Nov 01, 2009 3:49 pm) /agree |
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Replying to: exb0 (Nov 01, 2009 3:49 pm) |
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Replying to: exb0 (Nov 01, 2009 10:23 am) Find a parking lot or very quiet road and teach them how to control the car without the benefit of ABS, traction control, stability control, etc. That's the true 'driver's education' - knowing the car's limitations and nuances, instead of just mashing the gas or brake pedal & letting the gadgets do their thing. My Dad took me to the local high school parking lot on Sunday afternoons & allowed me to merely 'get the feel' of driving his car... how much gas pedal = how much acceleration, how much brake you need, how much steering input changes the direction how much, etc... before I ever started Driver's Ed. Made a huge difference, and this was in the early 70's - before all the gadgets  Cheers! Paul |
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2 girls 4 accidents 18 months. My 12 year old Chevy Luminia, 140K miles standard equipment with snow tires all around. All accidents at 10 MPH (or so they say). 2 they hit, 2 they got hit. No injuries. #1 daughter #1 accident she slid on ice into back of snowplow. Crushed her hood, I banged back down with sledge, looked like hell and still drive-able. She paid town $600 for paint damage. #3 accident young guy hit her making a left turn from far right lane crossing in front of her going straight ahead. His insurance paid $3200 for crushed front right fender, bumber and crushed HOOD. Banged that hood back down again, wired bumper on and pulled fender out so tire no rub. Boy was she upset we did not get the dentmobile fixed with the little bit on money we got. But she an her sister continued to drive it because it was that or nothing until accident #4 #2 daughter #2 accident hydroplaned at 10 MPH (yea I did not believe that either) into rear of Delivery truck, paint damage on it. Had tio do insurance $800 to the delivery truck owner. Crushed the damm hood again. Banged it back in place again. #4 accident cutting through a parking area during a snow storm she says a little old lady turning on access road pushed her into curb....yea right with enough speed to hit the curb and wreak the whole under carriage and crack the wheel. Est cost to get going again $1500. To the junk yard it went. I came out with $300, the almost new snow tires, and battery I had just put into it, and oh yea and I still had the $3200 from accident #3. A total of $3500 to start tank shopping with. Got the message out and found it a 2000 Chevy Impala low milage from dead guys family $5000..... But mom its so ugly....can I have it first I want to go........ You think they are catching on yet??
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Replying to: specialthings (Nov 01, 2009 9:46 pm) I don't know if they caught on, but you as a parent certainly have it down! Good work. |
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Don't rely on this.... the car will do 100 mph... Almost any car will go that fast.. You'll never be able to get your kid a car that won't go too fast for the road conditions.. Education and strict discipline are your friends.... no matter what car you choose.. My story: My son turns 16 in January... My uncle is giving him his '92 Acura Legend with 36K miles... Very sweet car... too nice and fast for my son.... but, free...
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Replying to: steine13 (Nov 01, 2009 2:05 pm) LOL You are sooooooo cruel. And sooooooo right!  Maybe remove the back seat too, so they can't cart their buddies around.
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Replying to: kyfdx (Nov 02, 2009 5:55 am) This used to be a no-brainer with cars like the Volvo 240 and similar. They want a wagon or SUV or something like that because they or their friends always will be wanting to haul or move or tow stuff. Why a manual transmission? 1 - less cost 2 - requires both hands and attention to the vehicle. 3 - Good skill to learn anyways 4 - can push/roll-start it in a pinch. A replacement Toyota automatic transmission runs over $3000 currently. A replacement clutch is $250 plus 2-3 hours labor. Also, the kids can't eat or text or whatever else they do besides driving if they need both hands and both feet to be engaged in doing something. My recommendation, then, would be to get something like an old Tacoma or similar. With the 4 cylinder engine, they are economical, get good MPG, and have all of the advantages you'd typically want in a SUV. My exact pick would be a short bed standard cab(no rear seat) 4WD model with manual transmission. Just enough room for one passenger and some cargo. Slightly raised so it's on the same level as a SUV. Just a tough and indestructible little thing that is for driving and not hauling everyone around to a party with the automatic while texting and not paying attention. I can't tell you how many big SUVs I see with kids doing this in Los Angeles... At least one every other day... Oh, and they can also use it to haul their stuff to college or tow a trailer. Note - don't be scared off by high mileage commuter models. My similar old SUV(original 4Runner - basically a Tacoma with a shell and rear seats added) has nearly 400K miles on it and still is a fine daily driver. 120-200K miles is fine as long as it's less than ten years old. |
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Replying to: exb0 (Nov 01, 2009 3:49 pm) I would sell the Corolla, give half to the sister, and take the balance to buy something else. Not that I have anything against the Corolla. I just think its too new and nice to suffer as a teenager's first car.  You will be paying $4k-$5k out of your pocket for a $10k car that, odds are, will be wrecked/damaged in some way. So I would sell, take the $5k you wind up with and buy a car for that much. That way, you spent nothing and won't want to kill your kid when they wreck it. 
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Replying to: exb0 (Nov 01, 2009 10:23 am) This car is in great shape. Probably never driven over 70 MPH...if that fast. Back seat looks showroom fresh. All maintenance performed at the dealer she bought it from. It's got 4 wheel anti-lock disc brakes and a sunroof. I figured it was too good to pass up as a car for a first-time driver. Good luck to you. |
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