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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 (Jan 23, 2007 8:50 am) The only non Japanese made cars that are as reliable as Hondas and Toyotas are Buicks. I am sorry, but putting a teenager in a Buick is just cruel and unusual punishment.  Besides, I don’t think Buicks are that safe. They have fairly powerful engines, but they don’t handle that well.
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Replying to: jmonroe (Jan 23, 2007 9:05 am) However, it turns out that the $400 mountain bike is just not enough... My wife insists that I purchase a $250 Ipod prior to this weekend (he won't have anything to open). He is indeed neglected... But, I do understand about planning ahead for the driving situation.. In my case, my wife's BMW lease is due to expire the year before my son attains driving age.. You can be certain that she won't be driving anything nearly that nice, the next time around..  regards, kyfdx (who still bears the scars of six years of school bus rides) |
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Replying to: exb0 (Jan 23, 2007 8:19 am) I had talked to my insurance guy to see if there were particular manufacturers or models, and to bounce the idea of a Camry LE off of him. He indicated that was a great plan, but just avoid VW's because apparently replacement parts are fairly high priced around here for some reason (and hence insurance rates were higher). YMMV in your particular geography. Accord and Camry were on my shortlist when I bought. |
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Replying to: exb0 (Jan 23, 2007 9:06 am) But I guess that's just me. With what you are saying, it sounds like you are giving yourself no choice in the matter. You won't buy a used car and you won't give your kid what you are currently driving ... so I don't see how there is any option left for you. |
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Replying to: exb0 (Jan 23, 2007 9:06 am) since when have all the parents started purchasing new vehicles? i guess they must feel guilty of failing to give them something when they were growing up. giving a new car to a teenager is doing them a disfavor actually. not only will insurance be higher, they will not know what it is to acquire something the hard way, by earning it. a new car sets the bar pretty darn high. if they can't keep a used car in good working condition, they don't deserve a new car. heck they don't deserve a car... there's no such thing as a right to one. anyway, until they can buy it, fuel it, maintain it, and insure it with their own money you really are doing them a disfavor by enabling them. |
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Replying to: exb0 (Jan 23, 2007 9:06 am) There is indeed maintenance costs on new cars, too except for new BMWs (not a good teen car). Buick's are unsafe? Since when? Cruel and unusual punishment for a teen to drive one? I guess that begs the question, what are they driving now? If their main mode of transportation is labled converse, keds....or Schwinn, then I would think any motorized vehicle would be a comparative luxury. As you can tell, I've got some real issues with teens and their so called driving/car "entitlement" that I keep hearing about.
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Replying to: graphicguy (Jan 23, 2007 9:31 am) probably most kids today would break out in a sweat if they had to negotiate getting on the bus. "does your bus fare machine take AMEX"? 
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Replying to: exb0 (Jan 23, 2007 9:06 am) Now that's a stretch. Have you checked recalls lately and not so lately... And you haven't driven any of the more recent Buicks if you think they still have the exressway ride... stereotypes are hard to break. But you need to broaden your horizons.
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Jan 23, 2007 9:56 am) However, there is a lot to be said for giving a teen a used car, and a AAA membership. Owning a car is a lot of responsibility, as is adulthood in general. Obviously, said used car should be evaluated thoroughly before purchase, but I still believe it is the best route to go for a teen driver. It is good for the kid to tell them to call AAA when they have a mechanical failure, instead of automatically calling mommy and daddy to come rescue them. After all, when they are 40 and their car breaks down, mommy and daddy may not be a viable option for them when they have car troubles - and they need to learn some self-sufficiency at some point. Lastly, why do you have to "suffer" through driving the slow, safe car until they get old enough to drive? It has been my experience, that when one is in need of a used car, there are typically a fair # available just by word of mouth when talking to friends and family. You could probably get a dependable used car through a trusted friend or family member with relatively little effort.
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Replying to: 1racefan (Jan 23, 2007 9:48 am) |
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