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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
You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester
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Replying to: kirstie_h (Aug 24, 2006 8:27 am) I'd be surprised if my daughter goes that way. One of them is wayyy more likely to go nuts on the interior, tricking it out in velvet or something. But you never know. Danicka Patrick is having an impact, I'd guess. As is Pimp My Ride. |
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Here is my 2 cents worth... First note that I am only in my mid twenties and my child can't even say the word car yet, but I still want to throw in my 2 cents have recently been in the exact postition this forum is discussing... I am the oldest of 4 with the last one still at home. In my high school days I went through 3 vehicles. One for every year I drove. My advice? Get something cheap that can be thrown away, and don't let them break in a new motor. In my case, my Grandfather let me break in a new motor on a car he had and it was dead within 6 months. I had no idea about maintenance or having pride in something. I didn't pay out for the car so I really didn't care for it. Car #2: Parents bought an old 100K mile vehicle from a family friend. I took out a loan from the bank to fix it up. They paid insurance, but I paid for everything else. Gas, parts to fix it up, etc. I took better care of it because I had to come up with the money to keep it on the road, and I was not given an allowance each week. Even with my "care" it was still dead within the year. Mostly due to the condition I recieved it in and which couldn't be helped, but I am sure that the way I drove it didn't help either. 115 MPH at redline probably doesn't do very well for a car on it's last legs. Car #3: Old farm truck that my Grandfather had that he let me drive until Car #2 was repaired. Never repaired Car #2 because Car #3 had the motor blow (I unknowingly ran it out of oil). Replaced motor in Car #3 because it was cheaper than Car #2. Car #3 became the vehicle I drove the longest and took the best care of. Again I paid for everything, but I was working a better job and had more money to spend on it. So my point is, I don't see a problem buying a car for your kids. My parents helped or bought my sister's a vehicle when it was time. They were much nicer to their vehicles as they only went through one car their entire highschool career. One of them is still on the road today. They other was wrecked a year or so after the 2nd sister graduated. Anyway, buy a car for your kids. But make sure even if you can afford it, it ain't the nicest car in the parking lot. I don't car how popular it is to have a nice car. Don't fork out a lot of money for it. The kid(s) will trash it. Or maybe they won't. But that doesn't mean you still have to spoil them. Get them a car that cost less than 5K. There are reliable vehicles out ther for less than 5K. It can be a small truck, a 4 door sedan or a station wagon, but I don't think it should be a coupe. I would also recomend you pay thier insurance if you can afford it, but that's it. The rest is up to them. The gas, the maintenance, I would suggest that if you can show them how to change thier own oil, and how to do simple checks like fluids and tire pressure. Also show them how to change a flat tire so when the need arises you don't have to go rescue them. If it's major repairs like a tranny or motor, than maybe help a little, but I would try and avoid this by purchasing a vehicle that isn't prone to having these things happen... hence they will be stuck in a family moblie such as an older Accord or Camry or an older Nissan or Toyota truck... they would make great 1st vehicles as they run forever and are insanely slow. What ever you do, don't run out and buy them a brand new Civic or Jeep or anything brand new... I just don't think they can learn anything that way.... that just my 2 cents worth.
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Replying to: the_big_al (Jun 27, 2008 3:16 pm) myu only problem with buying them something slow is that we live at the top of a three-mile grade, and it's very dangerous to be coming up that road in the slow lane. but I wouldn't buy them anything that is too speedy, and there's no risk that I'll buy them the nicest car in the lot. This forum would probably be more entertaining if I set the dollar limit lower, at 5 or 10K, as that would pose more of a challenge than the $20K limit. ps It's your dad or mom's fault that you didn't put oil in the car, not yours.
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Replying to: alp8 (Aug 25, 2006 8:18 am)  . My Grandpa told me I needed to make sure I checked the oil. I unfortunately had failed to do that and since I didn't realize how imperitive that was, I ran the truck out of oil... Anyway, good luck on finding something that will suit your needs. Are you really willing to spend 20K on a car that your kids will drive? I barely spent 20K on the car that we use for a family car. If you wanted to lower your price to between 5K and 10K you could probably get a decent Camry for that price. The model years 1992-2001 (2 different body styles) fall within that range. It isn't "slow" - meaning that it won't be behind the trucks going up steep grades, but it isn't a road rocket either. The insurance rates would probably be more favorable and the cars are pretty reliable. It's not flashy and may not be the star of the parking lot, but at least it will be safe, reliable, probably able to make it up the steep grade you mentioned at Tahoe and be able to hold its own that steep 3 mile grade.... Spending only 5-10K instead of 20K even if money really isn't the issue in my mind makes more sense. Than when she is ready to head off to college she could use that extra money saved for a nice apartment, books, tuition etc... just some more of my 2 cents....
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Replying to: the_big_al (Jun 27, 2008 3:16 pm) and with that saved money, I can help pay for my Z4?  actually, a buddy tonight may have talked me out of the Z4 and into a Saturn Sky it's funny how buddies can do that |
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Hey there, My son is going into his senior year of high school and he has had his license since the end of his sophmore year. he currently drives a 1991 Buick Regal Coupe. Unless you really need AWD then a large front wheel drive car should be enough. AWD does have its advantages and it really does work in bad weather, however many cars that have it are undesirable for teen drivers. If you don't mind putting your daughter in an SUV then that is fine. I see many teen girls driving in Grand Cherokees or smaller SUVs like Honda CR-Vs or Ford Escapes. If AWD is a necessity, than i would suggest you look at a Subaru Impreza 2.5 (Non WRX) or a small SUV such as a CR-V but no larger than a Chevy Equinox. If you find that you don't need AWD, then i would suggest looking at post 2000 GM W-Bodies (Regals,Impalas, Grand Prixs, Monte Carlos), Honda Accords, Nissan Maximas, and Toyota Camries. If New England snow storms are any indication, large, V6, front drive cars should be enough to tackle mostly any weather.
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Replying to: exo425 (Aug 26, 2006 6:45 pm) how reliable are those cars? Given how much money I'd save by buying a used GM, I could afford a few repairs.
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I'm not sure about the rest of the GM lineup, but Buicks have very good reliability. One of my sons' first car (actually second, as he totalled the first one!) was a 1988 Buick LeSabre which was still in good condition when he sold it years later. He then bought a 1998 LeSabre which has also held up very well.
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| I'd bet you could pick up a new base model Subie Forester for under your 20k limit. Has AWD, a few power goodies , good safety ratings and enough go under the hood to keep her out of trouble, but not in trouble if that makes sense. | |
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Replying to: alp8 (Aug 27, 2006 8:36 pm)
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