Best Cars For A New Driver?
Watch it, world- my 15 year old is driving. In less than a year he’ll be driving without my supervision. Someone hold me, I’m scared. Now, the kind of car he wants is either a Lancer Evolution (Mitsubishi) or a Volkswagon Jetta. If my wallet didn’t already say no, I have the feeling the technicians at the shop would definitely curb that desire in no time. The general consensus around the shop is to get something that isn’t hard to work on, passes safety standards, and is old, but not so old it’s falling completely apart.
The difference in opinion comes with the size of the car. Some say to get something huge, that way if he’s in an accident, he’s less likely to get hurt. Some say to get something small, so he doesn’t go around hitting things constantly when he’s parking. The only REAL opinion I have is that it has to be something that doesn’t cost a fortune with my insurance company.
So, let’s hear it, readers! What kind of car would you get for a new driver?
I get the kind of car for my new driver that’s already paid off. The 1996 Honda Odyssey van is her poison. Except I worry that it’s a van and she’s going to college. You know… don’t come knockin’ … LOL. Did I just say that? Crap. She’s going to kill me.
My 1st car was a land-yacht… a 4-door 1973 Chevy Impala. It got really crappy mileage and I made next door to nothing at my job. It was a good, safe car.
My oldest daughter got my paid-for ‘94 Chevy Blazer. She drove it like a Ferrarri, but she’s still alive and all in one piece and now she’s paying for her own car… ‘06 Chevy Trailblazer.
My youngest daughter has a paid for ‘95 Geo Tracker. It’s a fun little car that she adores and it doesn’t have any bells or whistles, it’s just a very student-friendly-wage car. If she had a lead-foot and Andretti ambitions like me, she would be in an Impala. LOL!
Ask the guys at the shop what kind of car can’t be tricked out and what they would get for their kiddies? They might surprise you…
No matter what age you are, you invision your first car to be “cool” and something you are proud of. My first car was a Pontiac Bonneville that I semi-shared with my mother, that was back in 1993. Even in ‘93 a Pontiac Bonneville (that was previously my grandfathers…oops, forgot to throw that in!) wasn’t a “cool” car. However, I was very, very proud of it. Why? Well, because it was my first car! No matter what he gets, he will love it. Why? Because it is his first car!! After that, let him earn the money to buy his own car. Then you can update us again on what his preferences are!!! I bet he’ll be just as proud in whatever he got..because…it was the first car he earned with his own money!
Put me firmly in the “paid for” camp — far less angst for a student AND the parents. I also prefer the small car, as long as it’s recent enough to have air bags and crumple zones that do their jobs. He’ll love it, especially after he upgrades the sound system =).
Yeah..definitely a “paid for” car. It should something relatively small too and easy on gas…..it seems gas prices keep going up lately…and it will be easier on the insurance too…
“Paid for” status is a MUST. I also think that he shouldn’t be given a car. Allow him to earn some of the money to go towards said car, I guarantee he’ll appreciate it more and gain some respect about the responsibilities of being a car owner. Start looking through the local paper or craigslist for a $1000 “special” and start talking with him about maintenance costs, gas, insurance, etc. Also mention to him the cost of painting the vehicle if he chooses to “customize” it for personal reasons. It really doesn’t matter what kind of car it is, if he doesn’t understand true operating costs, you’ll be pouring money into it more often than you’d like.
P.S. Now, just a good buying tip, find him a Honda Accord or better yet, an older Civic…they run FOREVER and rarely break down. Keep in mind, it pains me to say that word (Honda) b/c I’m a Chevy/Mopar girl myself but, fact is fact.
I’d go with an older toyota, honda, or nissan. Of course, the less it’s worth, the less your insurance will cost. And since he’s a male…well, good luck
<~~~will have a 16 yr old in 3 months. She’s already expecting a car for her birthday gift.
The Honda Odyssey my daughter drives has 180,000 miles on it. So far. I’m hoping it’ll last through college.
I’m also in the paid camp, taking out a loan on a depreciating asset like a car almost never makes sense. I’d go with a late nineties vintage Toyota or Honda sedan. They’re safe, reliable, easy to find parts and service technicians for and they’re very reasonably priced in the used car market.