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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: tankbeans (Nov 02, 2009 4:56 pm) |
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Replying to: qbrozen (Nov 04, 2009 8:52 am) http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/1446645843.html It's cheap, affordable, indestructible, and has all of the things you want: 1 - high driving position and no blind spots and good visibility. 2 - no rear seat or party passenger space. 3 - good in snow and bad weather 4 - cheap as dirt to keep running. 5 - no worries if it gets banged up. 6 - manual which means no texting or chatting as all hands and feet are required to do something 7 - can haul stuff which should make for happy friends (and can tow their crap to college and back without a U-haul) 8 - put some nerf bars as step on the sides and some bull bars on front(I suggest black) and the thing's got more than enough "impact protection". edit - and the best part - pocketing nearly $2K in the whole deal. |
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Replying to: british_rover (Nov 04, 2009 8:57 am)
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Replying to: exb0 (Nov 04, 2009 2:48 pm) But I will say that I have never actually worked in a body shop. My experience with body work is just being able to spot bad to questionable work on a car traded in. I wouldn't be able to spot really good quality work most people can't. That is why we have paint meters.
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I would not recommend any small pickup, 2wd or 4wd for a new driver. The handling characteristics of these vehicles are just not forgiving enough for the occasional careless maneuver. With no real weight over the drive wheels, its just asking for trouble. Any small FWD car is preferable, or something RWD like the Volvo 240/940 - especially if you are going to teach them auto maintenance. I gave my own daughter my 02 Prizm - a Corolla twin. But she had to earn it with all A's in HS. The 06 discussed previously is larger and has a better transmission. The prior accident damage is the only concern. But it would be hard to turn down that 9300 offer. My Prizm-orolla was wonderful in the snow and I once drove 300 miles in a bad blizzard without a single slip, passing many fancier rides that had slid off the roads (tires a big factor here). I have my own teen driver favorite - the 94 Subaru Legacy that I sold (yes sold) to my son for his first car. It is the last year for the simpler FWD version (all Legacies after 94 are AWD), has an airbag, and uses r-134, and wonderfully simple to teach auto maintenance. He drove it 1.5 years in HS and 3+ years so far, in college. The 2.2 subaru engine is rock solid reliable and all the basic maintenance could not be easier. You could get an AWD Impreza with the same engine up to about 1999 or 2000 if you're in snow country.
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Replying to: british_rover (Nov 04, 2009 2:54 pm) As far as finances, it gets complicated. My mother really loves this car, it was the first new car she ever bought, and unfortunately the last. She wants to keep in the family. However, if it is sold, the money will go back to her. |
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Replying to: exb0 (Nov 02, 2009 6:15 pm) a) The right fender was replaced with an aftermarketpart (CAPA = Certified Automotive Parts Association) b) Recy means recycled (used) doors were utilized. Assy means that the entire door assembly was put on the car, as opposed to buying a brand new part which would have only been the shell and then you have to transfer all the "guts" c) Looks like both right side doors were replaced - the full version of the estimate should specify front and rear d) The body/structure pulling is very minor in nature based upon the hours allowed and if performed in a reputable repair facility I wouldn't let this bother me at all. This was probably to pull out the B-pillar some or pull the quarter before performing the body repair Hope this helps.
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Replying to: morin2 (Nov 04, 2009 4:21 pm) I'd have recommended a Volvo 240/940 as well, but they are approaching 15+ years old and are a potential problem as a result. Still, the 240 with manual was by far my favorite car in the last ten years aside from my 67 Mercedes. Oh - one interesting thing to note is that old Mercedes can be had for almost nothing as well as they are fine things to get around in. But maintaining it is a bit of money each year as you might expect. The best examples are anything from the 60s and 70s. Somehow, the sedans aren't appreciating at all in value despite being reliable and fun to drive. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/1451940927.html Awesome cars.  Big, slow, safe, reliable, and a +5 on the visibility score since everyone looks twice at it. The trunk is almost as large as the entire interior of a Smart Car. 
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Replying to: plekto (Nov 04, 2009 6:48 pm) **** Of course, my personal beater truck - mind you I could afford most anything used - is an old 4Runner. Dirt cheap, reliable, and a nice 45/55 weight ratio so the rear stays planted. I've made emergency maneuvers at 70mph on the freeway and the rear end didn't budge an inch. http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=61461.0 Mine's not nearly as nice as this, but you get the idea. - fun to work on and indestructible. Mine's approaching 400K miles rapidly as my daily driver and when this engine does, it'll cost me $1300 for a new one. If it ever dies. It goes like stink with the new header I put on it. The transmission was $1200, brand spanking new three years ago, installed, with a clutch. It's a fun, aggressive thing that costs nothing to maintain and can literally go to Alaska and back. Old Land Cruisers are also nice as well, but are a bit pricey lately. http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=59811.0 I'd love to own this thing... heh. My next rig will likely be one of these. There are so many better ways to spend that money and keep your kid safe than buying some jellybean-mobile commuter box.
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Replying to: js06gv (Nov 04, 2009 5:59 pm) I decided to keep the car for the kids. The kids are excited, and my mother is happy to do this for them. I am sure that in the hands of two teenagers, this car will see the inside of body shop a few more times. With 12K on the clock, how can I go wrong. In six years or so I'll sell it for $3K and nobody will care about the previous body damage. |
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