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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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What is this discussion about? Car Buying


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#541 of 554
Re: Have to weigh in on the small truck suggestions [plekto] by morin2
Nov 05, 2009 (4:57 pm)
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Replying to: plekto (Nov 04, 2009 7:22 pm)

Yes - I would agree with the 4Runner suggestion. Also, the visibility from the 4Runner's driver's seat is far superior than a small pickup with a cap. The cap weight helps a bit in handling, but is more than offset by the increased blind spot - so not good for a new driver. I've owned many pickups, big and small, and there's just no way they can be recommended for a new driver. The vehicles with the highest teenager fatalities are small pickups (Ford Ranger is #1 in fatalities).
#542 of 554
Re: Have to weigh in on the small truck suggestions [morin2] by plekto
Nov 06, 2009 (7:25 am)
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Replying to: morin2 (Nov 05, 2009 4:57 pm)

Also, Toyotas with the 4 cylinder and manual get reasonable mileage and aren't really fast. MIne maxxes out at around 80mph but really starts to complain above 70-75.(gearing issue, not power) But thanks to short gearing, it does 0-60 in about 10-12 seconds, which is about what normal traffic does. I have to rev it to 3-4K rpm while they loaf at 1/4 throttle, but I have no issues with traffic, and this is in Los Angeles as well.
 
Plus they're cheap - just stay away from the 3.0 V6 and you'll be fine. Mine is about 4-6 inches higher than a typical pickup and has big metal bars on the sides(added - $200 used) plus I added another roll bar inside. It's safe and then some. Probably run over a Smart Car without realizing it
#543 of 554
Re: Have to weigh in on the small truck suggestions [morin2] by explorerx4
Nov 06, 2009 (4:36 pm)
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Replying to: morin2 (Nov 05, 2009 4:57 pm)

where did you get your fatality stat?
#544 of 554
Re: Have to weigh in on the small truck suggestions [explorerx4] by morin2
Nov 06, 2009 (6:53 pm)
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Replying to: explorerx4 (Nov 06, 2009 4:36 pm)

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/iihs-crash-tests-small-pickups-majority-flunk- /
 
3rd paragraph, last sentence:
"The IIHS also tells us that small pickups have the highest driver death rates of any vehicles on the road, which makes these tests all the more significant."
 
Somewhere there are rates by model as well. Ranger was highest for many years. The data for small pickup death rates has been the highest of any vehicle type for at least the past 3 decades.
#545 of 554
Re: Have to weigh in on the small truck suggestions [morin2] by plekto
Nov 06, 2009 (8:20 pm)
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Replying to: morin2 (Nov 06, 2009 6:53 pm)

Yet a small SUV/4x4 is worlds better. The big problem is side impacts with trucks and being a foot higher (or more) off the ground plus extra off-road bits and pieces... well, I know one guy who had someone turn in front of them(didn't look) at 45mph. Guy's back is still kind of messed up, but he survived. The woman was in the hospital for two weeks. His dog broke its back in two places it was so violent.
 
The reason he survived was certainly because his old Toyota was so solidly built and all the extra stuff he put on it(the big bull bars and so on saved the engine from ending up in his lap, though the truck was totaled otherwise))
 
Look, nothing is perfect. little econoboxes aren't much better. If it was me, I'd get my son an old Town Car, but....
#546 of 554
Re: Have to weigh in on the small truck suggestions [plekto] by tankbeans
Nov 07, 2009 (7:16 am)
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Replying to: plekto (Nov 06, 2009 7:25 am)

If it's as high as you say it is the Smart probably wouldn't be damaged either.
Maybe if the driver of said Smart was shaken you could load their car into the cargo hold and bring them someplace to calm down.
#547 of 554
Re: Have to weigh in on the small truck suggestions [tankbeans] by plekto
Nov 07, 2009 (8:22 am)
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Replying to: tankbeans (Nov 07, 2009 7:16 am)

http://arch.smugmug.com/photos/103108729_5TuaV-L.jpg
Looks like someone already had that idea.
 
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/smart%20car%20crash1.jpg
Of course, you're right - it might be easy to just load into the cargo bay after a crash. I honestly haven't seen anything that bad since VW Bugs were on the road.
#548 of 554
Re: Have to weigh in on the small truck suggestions [plekto] by tankbeans
Nov 07, 2009 (11:23 am)
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Replying to: plekto (Nov 07, 2009 8:22 am)

Yikes. I'm not a fan of Smart cars myself, but that's sad. I hope nobody was hurt.
 
The sad part is that the first one was probably loaded with 2 or 3 decent sized guys without a forklift. I think they're just too small for our roadways and the number of huge land barges that are floating around. I wouldn't feel safe in one.
 
I'm not talking down about choices that people make about what they drive. That's their prerogative, but something that small is not Smart (pardon the pun). They're barely more visible than a motorcycle.
 
/end off topic discussion.
 
Nice finds with the pics though.
#549 of 554
Re: Have to weigh in on the small truck suggestions [morin2] by explorerx4
Nov 07, 2009 (11:53 am)
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Replying to: morin2 (Nov 06, 2009 6:53 pm)

there numbers are measured this way:
 
In 2006 small pickups experienced 116 driver deaths per million registered vehicles
 
I see that as a fairly meaningless stat. some people drive 5,000 miles a year, others 50,000. i would prefer passenger miles, like airline safety is measured.
#550 of 554
Re: Have to weigh in on the small truck suggestions [plekto] by british_rover
Nov 07, 2009 (12:52 pm)
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Replying to: plekto (Nov 06, 2009 8:20 pm)

Those oil 4Runners don't even have side impact door beams. That is a big problem in a side impact and putting some nerf bars or rock crushers on the side isn't going to help.

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