The Perfect Car for a Teenager

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  1

  yalta2

  05/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  First off, I think the fact that a parent would cater to a child who says a certain car "won't due" has issues far greater than finding a "suitable" car. Leaving my judgementalness out of it though, I would also suggest they look at low mileage versions of the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa, as well as most Scions. VWs are not typically reliable at all...how many 10 yaer old jettas do you see on the road? Not many.... I think you do a great job of demonstrating that a bigger car is not always the best decision, espeically for an inexperienced driver who may inadvertently and incorrectly learn to be overconfident on the road. Plus, the cost of gas in SUVs would negate the savings from spending under 10K on the car....

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  2

  Stacey Bradford

  05/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  @yalta2 -- I was thinking of a Honda Fit too, but couldn't find any that met the budget. But if I were to buy myself a new car right now, that's what I'd go for. I love that little car.

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  Eric Schurenberg-22422237519604129817692170820727

  05/29/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Thanks, Stacey. These are good suggestions, and of course, it's my daughter we're talking about. You're right: safety, reliability and efficiency are the key considerations. Safety is my problem with a Honda Fit or Mini Cooper or other miniature car, even if they were in the budget. Kids have accidents. I have philosophical problems with SUVs.
  
  As for yalta2's judgment about whether teens should have a say in what kind of car they get, I take it in good spirit, but I'd say this: If you don't think that teens care deeply about what kind of car they are seen in, you must not have one or remember what it's like to be one.

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  4

  Richard Eisenberg

  06/01/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I went through this exercise a couple of years ago and had one other criteria: The car needed to have a trunk or hatch big enough to fit my New Jersey son's Big Amplifier for his rock band (most small cars flunked this test). We wound up with the Pontiac Vibe, which is identical to the Toyota Matrix except it cost less (because it was Pontiac, not Toyota). Now that Pontiac is heading to the junk heap, I wish we had gone with the Matrix. But the car has been great--and I've been driving it now that my son's at college in California. He now says he wants to buy a California friend's used car...

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  5

  Marni Danya

  06/01/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  It's interesting to see Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla on your list. 25 years ago when I began driving the Civic and the Corolla were popular with new drivers. I think Honda and Toyota deserve some recognition for maintaining their niche. I loved my Corolla!

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  dmrdano

  06/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  My budget, unfortunately, does not allow for a $9,000 car. I am looking for wheels that will carry my son for his last two years of high school and, hopefully, at least part of college. My criteria (in order) are:
  
  1. Safety (must at least have dual air bags);
  2. Reliability (as low a mileage as possible);
  3. Utility
  4. Cost (less than $4,000 - sorry, son), and finally;
  5. Style (what he likes does matter a little).
  
  Any suggestions?

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  7

  yalta2

  06/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  dmrdano, I dont know of any cars off the top of my head, but I think for 4K, you should stick with a used Honda Acord. They tend to have very long lives, even those with high miles or those that are old.

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  8

  Stacey Bradford

  06/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  @Eric Schurenberg -- I can only imagine your daughter is getting a bit impatient waiting for her car and her freedom. Would love to hear what type of vehicle she ends up with.

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  9

  Stacey Bradford

  06/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  @dmrdano - Chances are you're going to end up with an older, used vehicle. So you want to make sure you select something that's reliable. Check out Cars.com's advanced search feature for used cars. You can plug in your budget and your zip code and see hundreds of vehicles that are for sale in your area. It's a great way to get an idea of what your money can buy.

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  Stacey Bradford

  06/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  @mrchancely - Buying a car from a friend sounds like a recipe for disaster. Is your son really going to get a friend's used car checked out by a mechanic? I doubt it. He also probably won't negotiate very hard. And should something go wrong after the purchase, he's just lost a pal. Can you talk him out of this?

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  Stacey Bradford

  06/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  @Marni Danya - No one ever claimed a Civic or Corolla was sexy, but they are reliable and relatively inexpensive. Would you buy another Corolla? What are you driving now?

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  Stacey Bradford

  06/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  @Yalta2 -- Good suggestion. The Accord is very reliable and should last for years.

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  Eric Schurenberg-22422237519604129817692170820727

  06/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  No decisions will be made on my daughter's car until after final exams. But a new wrinkle is in stick shift versus automatic. Getting a stick will save money and being the only girl in the senior class who can drive a stick must confer some bragging rights. Boys should be impressed. She's coming around to the idea.

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  mikespur

  06/05/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I think a Honda Accord, anything 1990 on, would be great. They
  are reliable, relatively cheap to insure, and efficient. That's
  what we (my son & I) are looking at for his first car. As far as
  style, the 2-door is not bad...
  Of course, have any used car checked out by a reputable
  mechanic - spend a couple of hundred, it is worth it!

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  Richard Eisenberg

  06/05/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Stacey,
  So sorry to see you have so little faith in my son's friend.
  Do you really think he would stick my son with a lemon,
  knowing that they'll see each other at school every day? Or
  that he'd jack up the purchase price? Maybe I need to take
  off the rose-colored glasses, but I want to believe the car
  will be in good condition (the friend says it just got a clean
  bill of health at the mechanic). And you can be sure I'll do
  my research on the purchase price before agreeing to buy.
  Hope I'm right and you're wrong on this one.

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  16

  yalta2

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  mrchancely, I think the risk of buying from a friend is not that the friend will purposely mislead you, but rather the impact an unforseen vehicle event can have on the relationship. For example: My sister bought a used car from a family member. The car had been fine, but two weeks after the purchase, the oil pump failed. The seller was not trying to mislead anyone; it was just bad timing, but it did impact the trust factor.
  personally, I don't think you have rose colored glasses on. I just think you need to consider the risks to the relationship.

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  17

  raywright

  06/11/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Borrowing the title from another article, "Use the Recession to Teach Your Kids Money Lessons", $9,000 is double what you should spend on a car for your teenager. There are plenty of safe, reliable cars availabe for less than $5,000 and any teenager who refuses to drive one can walk! My teenage daughter saved $1,000 as a down payment, borrowed the rest from me and made payments when she wanted a car. That's the type of money lesson today's teenagers need to learn!

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  sonarrat

  06/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Before you buy anything, have a chat with your insurance agent. Small cars tend to have big insurance bills, especially for young drivers. Also, the Civic is a perennial target for theft.

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  jenyj89

  07/01/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  The first car my son had, as a teenager, was my old car...a 2-door 1996 Dodge Neon. I burned oil (needed a valve job but the car wasn't worth it) and the paint was peeling on the roof (the curse of Neon's from the mid-90s) but it ran like a dream, had great A/C and heater, good mileage and kick-butt stereo....plus it was free to him.
  
  I told him he could have my old car (his stepfather was buying me a used Volvo off of Ebay - we don't buy new cars). My son's response was "I don't want to drive that paint-peelin' piece of crap old Neon!", to which I calmly stated, "Then I guess you don't want a car." He quickly looked out the window at it and said, "Wow, that Neon looks hot, Mom...when can I get the keys?"
  
  It's been a number of years now and my son will be turning 20 this year. He saved up his money as the Neon chugged along and with a little help bought a 2002 Dodge Sebring Sedan (which we promptly took to our mechanic to get checked out, oil change and tune up and it was given a clean bill of health). It cost around $5,000 on a used car lot. I hope this car takes him through college and then some.
  
  He learned alot from his car experiences...such as "beggers can't be choosers" because not all his friends had cars and his "crappy Neon" looked pretty good when he had a car and no one else had a ride. He also learned about saving for a better car on his own...."Mommy and Daddy" weren't just going to hand him whatever he wanted, when he wanted it!! Good lessons for this generation to learn these days!

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  ceh4702

  07/09/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I would not ever recommend purchasing a Volkswagon. German parts are really expensive. Maybe you should ask around about that. There are plenty of used cars I have seen that sell for between $5,000.00 and $7,000.00. Keep in mind that young adults often have a tendency to go out and have their first accident killing your investment, so purchasing new may not be a good idea.
  
  However, for a little more money you could buy a Nissan Cube for around $14,000.00. It is trendy, Hot, and happening. If it is good enough for Heroes, then it will do fine. Pretty upscale for a college car. At college my take is you may not even need a car and on some campuses it is almost impossible to find a parking place.

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  21

  dmintonti

  07/14/09 | Report as spam

  Cheap Lease Would Help...

  How about one of those $189 per month Accord or Civic 36-month leases? When you start looking at older cars, you don't get ABS, side airbags, and, unless it's really recent, traction control. Reliable? Check - it's new. Safe? Can't get safer. Plus, you get the benefit of helping your daughter or son build credit... anybody look out the window and see the challenges that folks have buying homes these days? You can't give your kid a better leg up than to help 'em with a major investment / installment loan. I heard that there was a 100% accident rate among new drivers... now, at the end of the lease, if there was a real bender... you can just walk away. Teach them how to make payments! Teach them how a lease works! There are so many opportunities here...

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  barnabas2009

  07/15/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  @dmintonti Please, please don't got for a lease.
  
  Look, there is no need to "build" credit for a teen or anyone
  else for that matter. Leases are fraught with other problems
  that I won't get into here, but suffice it to say that many
  financing companies have dropped their lease programs
  altogether.
  
  Buy a car that is safe, yes, but teach your teen to drive safe
  is even more important. Reliability? Look some of the best
  life lessons most of us learned were through dealing with
  automobile problems.
  
  I agree with others. Letting the teen say they won't drive a
  particular (affordable) car is silly. Anything with four wheels
  and an engine looks pretty good when the freedom of the
  open road calls. Get what you can pay for with cash, let
  them see you pay for it in cash, and make them take
  responsibility for gas and/or insurance if possible. Teach
  them that a car is just a tool, not a status symbol.

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  23

  pinkotter

  07/16/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I don't know if the car we got for our teen was "perfect" or not -- but she's in a 2000 Subaru Legacy wagon. We found one with low miles and no accident history. We had a set budget but our primary criterion was safety. We were looking for ABS brakes and stability (not tippy) and relatively underpowered. And after watching videos with Smart, Fit and Yaris colliding with larger models from same manufacturer, we didn't want her in a small car (never mind that they're maneuverable and might be better able to avoid accidents). But we don't worry about rollovers, she has ABS brakes and the crumple zone is large (and insurance pretty reasonable).
  
  It is not cool, but kid sees possibilities for taking it on trips, etc. Anything on wheels would have made kid happy, including the '94 Corolla with 211,000 miles and no ABS brakes. If I were going under $4K, I would try really hard to find ABS brakes. We paid more, but we have ABS brakes, daytime running lights, four-wheel drive (not on the wish list but made me feel better her first time out at night in flash flood), and a whole lot of metal between kid and other cars. It will look out of place in the student lot (where the cars are newer, and tend toward BMWs, smaller Toyotas and Hondas, and SUVs).
  
  I guess it's a tank. I hope so, anyway.
  

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  Sunlandlord

  07/21/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Since safety is important to you, let me suggest that the
  most important thing you can do for your daughter is to use
  $500 or less of your car budget to put her in a teen driver's
  course.
  
  I don't mean cones in a parking lot! Try a teen drivers or
  new drivers course at a race facility. There is no substitute
  for understanding the dynamics and kinematics of a vehicle.
  
  The focus on what kind of car your daughter drives is truly
  secondary to what kind of driver your daughter becomes.

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  rdadbhawala

  07/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I remember reading a book where the author recommended his friend to "empower" his child to earn adequate money to buy the car he wants. He asked his friend to give half the money budgeted to his son to invest / save such that he makes the other half of the money and then buys the car. Friend's son puts the money in the equities, and although he lost some money in the beginning and did not have any car for some time, the child developed a huge sense for "money", which the father is very proud of ... something which wouldn't have come with the "free car".

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  clarkm

  07/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I'm a big car person and I would agree that you can't go wrong with either of the 2 top selections, or an older Accord as has been mentioned. The Scions are also very (kid) stylish but even I like the Tc. I would also agree that $9.0K for a kid's first car is a bit much and it really isn't their decision what it is, they should feel grateful to have whatever they get. What is it with this youthful entitlement crap.
  
  As for the standard transmission over the automatic, they are much more fun to drive (in my opinion) but it is always good for a young driver to learn how to drive a stick. You never know when it may come in handy in an emergency. An interesting caveat, and one you hope you never have to experience; recently one of my wife's dental patients relayed a story about their daughter who was carjacked. The thief couldn't drive a stick. The daughter ran into a local shop for help and was able to call the police who arrived while the knuckleheads were still trying to figure out how to put the car in gear. It was a Honda Accord btw.

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  clarkm

  07/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Older Volvo's are also something to consider. Safe and reliable. Don't be afraid of high mileage if it's a car with decent maintenance records.

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  28

  Milton F.

  07/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I find it unsurprising that a small toyota (built on the most efficient manufacturing line in the world, all products) and a small honda (built with the world's most reliable combustion engine, all products), and driven by every accountant who wasn't a partner in the firm that I have ever met, were the top values.
  
  If you took sexiness out of the equation, and made car buying 100% logical, I suspect that 90% of us would drive small Hondas and Toyotas.

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  clarkm

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Sunlandlord

  "The focus on what kind of car your daughter drives is truly secondary to what kind of driver your daughter becomes"
  
  I missed this quote. Excellent point Sunlandlord. This is the plan for both of my kids. One is ready to start driving this fall. You wouldn't want your child's first experience figuring out how to handle a slide in the snow or hydroplaning when they are on a busy highway. In fact, that is an issue with too many drivers. How about this one, driving on a single lane road with a bad/low berm and the right side tires leave the hard surface. First reaction is to pull it back onto the pavement only to realize you're suddenly thrust across both lanes into on coming cars. A common mistake even for some veteren drivers.
  

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  30

  krar4

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Dmintonti - You said, "Teach them how to make payments! Teach them how a lease works! There are so many opportunities here..."
  
  I'm not sure where you learned how you handle money, but the last thing I want to teach my kids is "how to make payments". Instead, the opportunity I'm going to take is to teach them how to NOT make payments. As Dave Ramsey says, "Act your wage." They've known for several years that you save up and pay cash for a car. They also know that leasing is the most expensive way to drive a car... There's a reason it rhymes with "fleece". No, those are 2 "opportunities" that I refuse to burden my kids with.
  

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  31

  Silent Observer

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Make the teenager work for it - match the amount dollar for dollar. Let them learn the value of working for a goal.

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  32

  mulder9927

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Mazda 3 Or slightly older Mazda Mx-6. they are sporty and some would call them Cute but all in all an extremely reliable and safe vehicle that wont nickle and dime a family to death. i have had nothing but Mazda, after owning my first one. i have driven pretty much every make and model out there and always come back to Mazda. they are quite often overlooked but try one and you'll be amazed.

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  33

  boxplayer

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I completely agree with 2 previously-expressed ideas -- make sure the child is a good driver, and high school driver ed probably won't do that. Then, and only then, buy the car you are willing to provide. A child always has 2 options -- "yes, please" and "no, thank you." The person footing the bill should be the one who decides what will or won't do. Good luck.

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  34

  rudyxhiebert@...

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Once the car is part of the teen's life, consider recommending application of synthetic lubricants and related product options. May I show you www.lubedealer.com/hiebert where product options will reduce operation and maintenance expenses? Protection during extreme conditions, ie. cold hot and even the occasional laying rubber is always helpful. I know because I've had three teenagers and believe me, maintenance is the the last thing teens think of so it's good to know that an oil change can be a semi-annual or even an annual obligation, as is the insurance.

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  35

  jhstoneca

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Too often consumers (and the writer of this article) equate the age of a vehicle with reliability. If I were buying a car for my daughter today, I would look for a Mercedes E class, model year 1998-2002. there are many readily available with around 100,000 miles or less, they have an extremely reliable engine (usually good for about 250,000 miles) and are literally, built like tanks. There are many to be had in the used car market for between $6-8K. No one gets laughed at for driving an MBZ, they don't attract undo law enforcement attention, they were originally purchased by wealthy professionals who took care of them. IF your daughter is in an accident, you'd much rather have her in the Mercedes than a Honda Civic. Remember the law enforcement adage: the vehicle with the larger axel wins. Get online or ask a couple of Mercedes owners and they will point you to a quality, certified independent mechanic who will be able to handle routine maintenance for a fraction of dealer costs (regardless of make). One more comment; if you do this for your daughter, don't be surprised if you find your self looking for a Mercedes for yourself in the near future.

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  36

  Junibob

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I'm from the old school. When he gets a job and saves his money he can purchase his own car. I'll bet he takes a whole lot better care of it than is it's a gift.
  
  Besides, the parents should buy the car of their choosing - not the one the child wants because he wants to look cool. That takes a lot of nerve on the child's part!!!

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  37

  dtbdc@...

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Ford Explorer? Not for a teenage boy.
  Teenage boys don't account for mass and velocity until they're already sliding off the road or rolling over.
  If you're a teen girl, don't be too smug. Teen girls don't pay attention as driving's not as attention gripping interesting as it is for boys. There's just too much other stuff going on to prevent you from looking up soon enough to avoid rear ending the car that stopped in front of you to turn.
  Girls can drive the Explorer though. It's safer to hit someone in than the teeny Vibe they'd prefer.
  Yes, it's sexist.
  Been a doctor for years and have no research to support such, but that's my anecdotal 2 cents.
  

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  38

  Alella

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I am faced with this same decision this year, as the first of our large brood reaches driving age. We are still debating as to the exact model, year, etc., but for me there is just no question as to brand.
  
  There is only one company that has consistenly over the years put safety as their first consideration above all others, even when it caused them to lose profit or even market share.
  
  This is our kid we are talking about, and there can be no consideration more important than safety. I can't imagine I will feel too good about how much CO2 I spared the environment, how much I saved in fuel cost, how much I saved on repair bills, how happy my daughter was with her stylish car, etc., if she is dead. Give me the strongest, biggest steel cage around her possible, with the most advanced features for both preventing and surviving accidents.
  
  Those are built by Volvo.
  
  And no, I am not a Volvo dealer - just one of those many loyal owners, who has unfortunately had occasion to see what happens when a less-solidly-built (though possibly more "fun" or "sexy" or "economical") vehicle plows into mine.

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  39

  MSST8DOG

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  dmintonti You said:
  How about one of those $189 per month Accord or Civic 36-month leases? When you start looking at older cars, you don't get ABS, side airbags, and, unless it's really recent, traction control. Reliable? Check - it's new. Safe? Can't get safer. Plus, you get the benefit of helping your daughter or son build credit... anybody look out the window and see the challenges that folks have buying homes these days? You can't give your kid a better leg up than to help 'em with a major investment / installment loan. I heard that there was a 100% accident rate among new drivers... now, at the end of the lease, if there was a real bender... you can just walk away. Teach them how to make payments! Teach them how a lease works! There are so many opportunities here...
  
  Consider this:
  How about one of those $189 per month Accord or Civic 36-month leases? This is one of the most expensive way to drive that I have ever seen. Everyone that I know who leases a car, can't seem to get out of it without spending a ton of money on it because
  they have exceeded the allotted miles.
  
  Plus, you get the benefit of helping your daughter or son build credit... anybody look out the window and see the challenges that folks have buying homes these days?
  Why do you need to go into debt to build credit? If you pay your rent and utilities on time, you are building credit.
  
  You can't give your kid a better leg up than to help 'em with a major investment / installment loan.
  You might just as well tie an anchor around their neck and pitch them into the river.
  
  I heard that there was a 100% accident rate among new drivers...
  I have never heard this statistic, but here is one for you: 100% of all people who file bankruptcy, borrowed money and were in debt.
  
  now, at the end of the lease, if there was a real bender... you can just walk away.
  Have you ever leased a vehicle? If there is a real bender as you say, you won't be able to just walk away, you will have to pay for the repairs, or file it on your insurance, which will make your premiums go up.
  
  Teach them how to make payments! Teach them how a lease works! There are so many opportunities here...
  How about teaching them to save their money? What an opportunity! Teach your kids to become millionaires.
  
  I failed to do this while a teenager, but do the math before you say it won't work.
  
  At 18 years old, put $2000.00 in a mutual fund every year for 10 years. You need to do some research and pick a mutual fund that has a good 5 year history. Most proven funds will average 12 percent return over 10 years. If you do this starting at 18 years old, and stop after 10 years, this is how much money you would have had at the age of 60: $1,477,306.34
  I hope you really enjoyed the car, because it cost you nearly 1.5 million dollars.

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  40

  papaderf

  07/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  If the kid wants a better car, and try to find one that doesn't, tell him/her to get a job to pay for the difference. For the difference in the insurance, gas, etc. Reality will soon set in.

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  41

  clarkm

  07/29/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I have both a 2006 volvo wagon and a 2002 E320 Mercedes. Both are excellent cars but the MB beats the newer volvo, hands down. Volvo has a great safety reputation but that's more just marketing today.
  
  I would agree with jhstoneca, the MB is simply a tank. And ignore those who say it cost too much for maintenance. I've compared my service with that of others driving american and japanese cars of similar age or newer and it matches almost dollar for dollar, aside from oil changes. The MB requires 9 quarts of synthetic oil, which drives up the cost somewhat. But that's at 10K mile intervals and it's why they last so long. Love that beast!

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  42

  Alella

  07/29/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  clarkm - Having been a couple of times at the Gothenburg Volvo factory and having therefore had the opportunity to speak with some of the lifelong Swedish Volvo employees, I really do believe that safety for them IS more than just marketing - it is really a long-held philosophy.
  
  With that said, neither do I consider an E-class Mercedes to be a poor choice, really, if the alternative is some cute little fuel-efficient tin can. The main point of my post was that I personally believe that safety should be the one and only consideration for any parent, without it nothing else really matters.

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  43

  clarkm

  07/29/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I fully appreciate your position Alella and I probably didn't express myself clearly. I think that many manufacturers have incorporated, maybe even copied, most/many of the safety features available on the volvo. I didn't intend to downplay their commitment to safety or insinuate they are sitting on their laurels, just that they have continued to market their safety reputation as a differentiator while others offer similar features. But I feel that safety goes beyond crash/impact resistance. Accident avoidance is more critical in my opinion and I feel that my mercedes is a much better performing vehicle than my volvo. I can fairly easily find the driving limits on the Volvo while I haven't had the fortitude to push the MB that far.
  
  I really like the volvo and I actually bought it with the consideration that my kids may be driving it in the near future. I think the euros offer many things that one may not get from the japanese and american brands. btw, I also offered up the volvo as an alternative earlier in this blog. I was never a big fan of their styling but, by all accounts from commited fans of the brand, they are long term drivers. So I bought one too.

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  44

  ejhonda

  07/29/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Ford Explorer? Wrong - exactly the type of car you do NOT want to put in the hands of an inexperienced driver who may very well depend on the emergency handling capabilities of it. The small cars listed here are great choices because of their maneuverability and crash ratings, but I'd never put my child in an SUV that's prone to rolling over in an accident.

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  45

  lvbags

  08/05/09 | Reported as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Ford Explorer? Wrong - exactly the type of car you do NOT want to put in the hands of an inexperienced driver who may very well depend on the emergency handling capabilities of it. The small cars listed here are great choices because of their maneuverability and crash ratings, but I'd never put my child in an SUV that's prone to rolling over in an accident.

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  46

  lvbags

  08/05/09 | Reported as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I'm a big car person and I would agree that you can't go wrong with either of the 2 top selections, or an older Accord as has been mentioned. The Scions are also very (kid) stylish but even I like the Tc. I would also agree that $9.0K for a kid's first car is a bit much and it really isn't their decision what it is, they should feel grateful to have whatever they get. What is it with this youthful entitlement crap.
  
  As for the standard transmission over the automatic, they are much more fun to drive (in my opinion) but it is always good for a young driver to learn how to drive a stick. You never know when it may come in handy in an emergency. An interesting caveat, and one you hope you never have to experience; recently one of my wife's dental patients relayed a story about their daughter who was carjacked. The thief couldn't drive a stick. The daughter ran into a local shop for help and was able to call the police who arrived while the knuckleheads were still trying to figure out how to put the car in gear. It was a Honda Accord btw.

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  47

  rawhite1969

  08/17/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  also remember that the more kids in the car, the higher the chance of an accident. Something in the range of doubling the chance for each additional friend. My 15 y/o son will be driving our 2003 VW Beetle, which we purchased new and my wife currently drives. We have found our VW to be uber-reliable, and it only seats 4, reducing the potential number of people in the car. As other posters have said, it's not the teen's choice on this one, and there are a myriad of factors to consider.

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  48

  rgillim@...

  08/19/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Buy them an old Cadillac or Lincoln or some such. The requirements are:
  1) big -- so when (not if, since they will) they get into an accident they will survive.
  2) good (or better) tires.
  3) all the safety things like safety belts work.
  4) Lousy gas mileage, since they wont drive it a lot.
  
  Ask around at senior citizen centers, churches, etc., for such a vehicle. In many cases, seniors take excellent care of their cars and dont put a lot of mileage on them.
  
  Make sure they sign a pledge to never, never use a cell phone while driving. (God created shoulders on roads so that you can pull over and use a cell phone.) If they violate the rule even once, sell the car.

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  49

  AJTedesco

  08/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Stacey, being from an era where if you wanted it you worked for it and Father did not falter on this fact. When it became time for my first vehicle the tools came out and we were going to get greasy. Back then buying a 50.00 thats right 50.00 dollar car and fixing it up from junkyard parts and the local Pep Boys gave you what you wanted after all you picked out the parts. But today technology has taken the place of many teenagers tooling desires and their views do meet current trends and ecological attitudes I concur with the need for safety, dependability, and economy. I will continue to monitor this discussion and await the outcome thank you Tony

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  50

  odle

  08/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Actually, there's no car that I like to choose from. But if I had to choose, I would choose 2005 toyota corolla. I think, this is the best car that you've to given to your teen's. reliable and safety. Don't you forget to tell them for maintenance of that car.
  regards,
  stop dreaming start action

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  51

  rudyxhiebert@...

  08/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  A good condition, used, never been in an accident or flood, paid for, not older than 10 years, Toyota is my suggestion. These cars seem to run forever. Car and education loans are the biggest mistake both parents and kids make.

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  52

  rgillim@...

  08/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  All of these cars, Corolla, Honda Fit, etc are too small for new teenage drivers. Get them something big and heavy so they will survive an accident that they WILL have.

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  53

  tlm_pa

  08/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Our teen-age son knew that he was inheriting the 3rd spare auto which was one of those "1 at this price" special which we had used tooling around town for 6 years. He griped that it wasn't a cool-looking car, but I reminded him that it was free and had low mileage (less than 20,000) when he got it and would be reliable for years to come. He now has made peace with his Chevy S-10 truck and is appreciative that he has a set of wheels that get him from point A to point B. His only gripe is that it's a gas-guzzler. My response was that he could get a dream car when he could afford to pay for it.

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  54

  percychow

  08/27/09 | Report as spam

  My Vote - 2001 BMW 323is

  It's got guts, safety, and incredible handling. And cach?!
  
  Expensive to maintain? Make a phone call to the local toyota, honda and BMW dealer and ask about labor rates. You WILL be surprised that BMW parts and labor are no more expensive than anyone else.
  
  Also BMW is a FIRM supporter of Teen Driving schools like "Street Survival" which uses local race car drivers (SCCA, NCSA, BMW CCA, etc.) to teach new drivers how to brake, turn, avoid accidents, etc.
  
  The 323is is BMW's smallest 6-cyclinder and should deliver a good mix of power and gas mileage. You can get a 323is for around $8k with about 50k to 60k miles. Maintenance at that point should only be fluids (oil, radiator, and powersteering). If you want to go preventative, upgrade or swap out the radiator and the car should be good to 100k+ miles.
  
  Of course, I am biased, I used to be the BMW club rep for the SF Region. I normally would recommend a 1995 BMW M3 for around $5k, but you/you child might need to turn a wrench every now and then. (FWIW my 1995 BMW M3 has 260+hp, commutes 80miles a day into San Francisco and has 155k miles on it, and still runs like a swiss watch).
  
  

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  55

  smithers505

  08/29/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Actually, a friend of mine's son is getting a 2010 Audi R8...120k for a teenager's car? That's the perfect car.

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  56

  fandy6466

  09/04/09 | Report as spam

  fandy

  i believe same this all..
  thats the perfect car..
  Entertainment News Today

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  57

  MJR60

  10/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Both my daughters drove Volvo 240s for their first cars.
  Price range $5000-$6000. One was totaled, driver was not
  injured.
  When they graduated from college they "upgraded" to
  Subarus. A legacy station wagon and a sedan, newer, but
  still in the $5000 to $6000 range. Both had ABS breaks and
  were all wheel drive, an excellent feature if driving in
  snowy conditions. I wouldn't spend more than $5000 on a
  first car. Check any purchase with Carfax, for mileage and
  accident record. Chances of a first car being totaled are
  high. My daughters were sixteen and a half before they got
  their licenses they have Nov and Dec. birthdays, better to
  start driving in the spring rather then in winter conditions.
  
  

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  58

  gabi532

  10/06/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  This is too funny! I didn't get my first car till I was 30! Good grief...if my parents gave me a vehicle of any sort, I would NOT be complaining about it!
  
  I agree with the user who mentioned 'the youth entitlement' crap has got to go! Just because JR is driving age, doesn't mean he NEEDS a car. When they go to college, it's a diff. situation, but 16?? GIVE ME A BREAK! IT's no wonder the USA is in such a mess!
  
  Consequently, I still have my Corolla and love it. Also, I went through the car-buying experience with my other half and it was a nightmare.
  
  

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  59

  fandy6466

  10/07/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Maybe a little advice, before you buy something, especially a car, you must know the relevant notice. Small cars also have a big risk, especially the Civic.
  Google Top Trend

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  60

  stephenmichael3@...

  10/21/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  The Bus! It is what gets my son around at U.C. DAVIS in SACRAMENTO, CA. for his transportation and his bike. Along, with any gas or hybrid scooters and/or Solar Powered bikes available through VoisenMotors!
  
  LOOK UP THESE WONDERFUL PRODUCTS AT
  Brad@TravElectricUSA.com or also at
  www.Eco-CycleUSA.com
  or www.VoisenMotors.com
  These are wonderful options for many university students at many Colleges and Universities! They also have solar powered
  bikes, that one just plugs into!
  
  OTHERWISE! YES! A NEW CAR LEASE ON A HONDA OR TOYOTA! OF WHICH MY DAUGHTER JUST BOUGHT A COROLLA
  AT A GREAT PRICE! My first car in 1976 was a 1972 Dodge Dart with a 318 engine!, it was good;yet do your maintenance!
  
  My second car in 1977was a 1976 Dodge Dart Sport with a
  slant 6 engine, which was good reliable and safe! YET! TODAY! AFTER BUILDING CARS FOR CHRYSLER AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND SELLING TOYOTA'S AND HONDA'S AND ACURA'S!. THAN YES! A CIVIC, ACCORD, COROLLA, AND EVEN A NEWER FORD FOCUS ARE GOOD CARS!
  
  Boys have higher insurance premiums! SO--THE BUS AND THE BIKE ARE GOOD FOR NOW! BUT! IF YOU CAN FIND A GOOD USED CAR AT $4000.00 OR LESS, THAN GO FOR IT! OR LEASE A NEW ONE! AT $180.00 PER MONTH AND LOWER!
  BUT! INSURANCE AND LOW DOWN OF $2000.00 MAY NOT BE
  COMFORTABLE FOR MANY! MUCH LESS! HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA SAVE $150-240 PER MONTH IN THE BANK, SO AS TO BUY THE LEASED CAR 5 YRS FROM NOW!?
  
  WE ALL HAVE IT HARD! SO-BUY USED! AT GOOD PRICES!
  RE-SELL THEM FOR A PROFIT AND BUY AGAIN! AND KEEP MOVING UP! IT'S CALLED TURN AND EARN! BUT STATES LIMIT HOW MANY YOU CAN SELL! SO PUT THEM IN OTHER NAMES, LIKE YOUR WIFE ETC.!
  
  OR HAVE THE STUDENTS, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TAKE THE BUS! AND/OR VOISEN MOTORS BIKES, SCOOTERS TOO! AND SAVE MONEY! THAN BUY AND FINANCE THAT GOOD 4 TO 5 YEAR OLD CAR! WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND/OR UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE AND THAN FINANCE AN EXTENDED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AT $1000.00-$1300.00, IT'S GOOD FOR THREE ( 3 ) YEARS AND
  THAN THEY CAN SAVE AND BUY THAT NEW TOYOTA COROLLA, LIKE MY 24 YEAR YOUNG! DAUGHTER DID! AND OF COURSE! WE WERE BLESSED! AS PARENTS TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE DOWN PAYMENT! BECAUSE MANY PARENTS CANNOT HELP AND MANY PARENTS WILL NOT !
  
  I AM 52 YEARS YOUNG AND STILL MAINTAIN 3 TO 5 CARS
  AT A TIME! ONE FOR MY WIFE! ONE FOR ME! ONE OLDER 1992 HYUANDAI SONATA FOR MY SON! WHEN HE COMES HOME FOR VISITS! AND THE SUMMER! YET! THAT IS TO KEEP INSURANCE LOW! SINCE HE CAN DRIVE OUR NEW FOCUS! AND IT WAS A 2003 FORD EXP 2 DOOR FOR MY DAUGHTER, BUT! SHE WORKED HER WAY UP TO THE NEW TOYOTA COROLLA! AND SOMETIMES A 5TH CAR FOR FUN AND EXTRA INSURANCE! IN CASE ONE CAR BREAKS DOWN!
  I HAD A 1973 DODGE CORONET FOR MANY YEARS AS THE 5TH ONE!
  
  THERE ARE A LOT OF CHOICES AND OPTIONS AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED AT WHAT IS AROUND YOU! WHEN YOU PAY ATTENTION AND SHOP AND LOOK! HECK! EVEN A 1979 280Z IS COOL! MUCH LESS A 1983 TOYOTA TERCEL FOR BASIC STUFF OR A 1979 TOYOTA TRUCK!
  
  SO THINK AND PLAN SMART! AND BUY LOW! AND SELL HIGH! AND DO SOME MAINTENANCE! BUT NOT EVERYTHING THAT SOME MECHANIC RECOMMENDS! FIND A GOOD HONEST ONE!
  
  BRAKES ARE A GOOD TESTING POINT! WITH MOST CARS, FRONT BRAKE PADS INSTALLMENT WITH LABOR--SHOULD COST YOU, $180.00 TO $240.00 PLUS TAX ON THE AVERAGE! DEALERSHIPS ARE HIGHER AT MANY TIMES! I EVEN HAD A DEALER TELL ME TO REPLACE MY REAR BRAKE SHOES ( OR I SHOULD SAY, THEIR FAVORITE WORD WHICH IS " RECOMMEND "! ) AFTER THEY INSTALLED RE-BUILT, REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS, ( OF WHICH WERE COVERED WITH MY EXTENDED WARRANTY! ) ALL THEY TRULY HAD TO DO! WAS CLEAN OUT THE BRAKE SHOE AREA!
  AND USE A BLOW HOSE, TO BLOW OUT THE BRAKE FLUID THAT HAD SEEPED AND SATURATED THE REAR BRAKE SHOES! BUT! THEY " RECOMMEND " TO REPLACE AND CHANGE THE BRAKE SHOES! SINCE THEY WERE SATURATED WITH BRAKE FLUID! ALL THEY REALLY NEEDED TO DO WAS, CLEAN THAT WHOLE AREA!
  
  WHEN I WENT TO TAKE DELIVERY OF THE CAR,THEY EVEN MADE SURE, THAT MY BRAKES WERE SOFT TO THE TOUCH OF MY BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON THE PEDAL! NICE TRY! BUT! I TOLD THEM TO RE-ADJUST AND CLEAN OUT THE REAR BRAKE AREA BETTER! IT'S AMAZING! ABOUT AND OF THE STUFF! THESE REPAIR PLACES AND DEALERSHIPS! WILL TRY! TO EARN MORE MONEY!
  
  WHERE ARE THE STATES ATTORNEY GENERALS, MAKING TIME TO INVESTIGATE AND PLAN UNDER COVER OPERATIONS TO CHECK UP! ON THESE DEALERSHIPS AND OTHER AUTO SERVICE CENTERS!!!???
  
  A PERSON TAKES A CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE!!! HA!
  STAY ON TOP OF THINGS! AND STUDY REPAIR MANUALS!
  
  I EVEN HAD A DEALER PUT A NEW DISTRIBUTOR IN MY 1979 CHRYSLER LEBARON IN 1983 AND THAN THE OIL PUMP FROZE UP! AND THE DEALER SAID, " THE DISTRIBUTOR HAD NOTHING DO WITH THE OIL PUMP! " HA! IT DOES TOO!
  WHEN YOU INSTALL THAT DISTRIBUTOR, BE SURE TO LINE UP THE SHAFT OF THE DISTRIBUTOR WITH THE TOP OF THE OIL PUMP! SO AS, WHEN IT TURNS, THAN THE OIL PUMP TURNS! THE DEALER FAILED TO DO THAT! AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME! WELL! THANK GOD! I WON! IN COURT!
  
  EVERYONE! GOOD LUCK!
  IN YOUR ADVENTURES!
  I HOPED THIS HELPED SOME PEOPLE!
  
  SINCERELY YOURS!,
  BIRDFLIGHT!
  

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  61

  dukeric

  10/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  stepehen, I love your opinion. My son wants a 1973 240z for a car and he knows how to build one from the ground up but would it not be smarter to get him an 80's Yota or even late 90's Dodge truck for reliability? That way, he might crash in his Dodge or Yota, and not the Datsun.

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  62

  Gooshnads

  11/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  @dukeric
  
  your son wants a 240z meaning he wants a good looking CAR not a big lugging TRUCK...
  trucks dont pick up girls...

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  63

  jarethburr

  08/15/10 | Report as spam

  RE: RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  @Gooshnads I bet a sports car will get the girls for all the right reasons, huh?

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  64

  archebald23

  11/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  i was once a teenager and in my point of view, the FORD EXPLORER LXT wins hands down, your right, teens do love big cars. It sort of uplifts ones ego when inside it, and she wont be ashamed of driving it. I remember volvo has created a concept car for TEENS that performs a brethalyser test and requires the use of a seatbelt before the engine will start. Parents can even program the key for a maximum speed limit.

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  65

  Holeinone11

  11/30/09 | Report as spam

  Pelgranio

  I've gone the safety route for the 16 y/o - drivers ed and a newer heavier car/cartype suv with 8 air bags... Until there is legislation dictating uniform vehicle size it's gonna be that the bigger one wins - all that metal protecting the soft squishy stuff inside.
  
  Something I've noted lacking in this discussion is liability. Not only for your child but the passengers (there WILL be passengers). Such a vehicle will save you (and you child's friends) and world of hurt should he be at fault for a serious accident.
  
  If you can't afford it payments are better than a massive judgment against you. This includes payments for the advanced drivers course; also doing this for your teen will make them a better driver once a young adult and on their own w/o your rules.

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  66

  Maverickxeo

  01/16/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Instead of getting a newer vehicle, its best to get an old cheap
  junker. Chances are they will not take care of it, and will most
  likely crash it. Also, insurance would be cheaper.
  
  I know I could never afford insurance on a 4 year old car. I was
  having a hard time on a 12 year old car in school.

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  67

  Repth

  01/23/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  It so much depends on the individual at hand and the amount of money expendable on the car. If you make big bucks and you have a young boy (or girl) that values hard work and wants a hot rod to work on and drive around town, don't be afraid to get them a nice car if you have the money because you'd know they'll take care of it. If you can't afford it then it doesn't really matter what an excellent kid they are. If they won't take care of it then it doesn't matter how rich you are. But if they're responsible and you have the money, buy them something nice to take care of.
  
  I'm an 18 year old boy with a 2008 Dodge Charger R/T, and I live for taking care of the car. It has given me a greater sense of responsibility in general and has been a real hobby of mine. My parents agreed to put every dollar I saved them in paying for my college in terms of scholarships toward a car. That ended up being about $16k. I asked them if I could get something better if I paid the difference and they agreed if I could afford to pay the monthly payment difference and gas when financed for 4 years. With a little bit of work from me, the car will be paid off in 4 years, with my own work paying for 2/5 of it (it was $25k). I'm very thankful for the opportunity I've been given, and I feel like any parent that has a kid like me (sorry for sounding arrogant) that really values cars and really wants to take care of their vehicle and has the money to pay for it should buy them something nice.
  
  Just my $.02. As far as reliable cars go, the Charger is like a rock. Say what you want about Chrysler, but I definitely don't baby my hemi and it has held up to all kinds of abuse.

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  68

  flolac

  01/27/10 | Report as spam

  DUMBEST thing ive heard in a while

  in what world r these ppl livin in that they would consider spendin 10k on a car for a KID
  
  im 27 and i would think my parents were nuts if they would have told me they were doin that
  
  and what parent out there is gettin they kid cars that r only 3 yrs old or less lol wow
  
  i dont expect to have a car that new til im closer to 40 lol
  
  u can get a reliable car without spendin that much money on a TOY for a CHILD...
  
  cuz thats how they treat the car.. n thats what they act like
  
  i know from experience :0) as im sure most everyone does
  
  -Lace

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  69

  goldenstandards

  01/28/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Wait wait wait... in an economy like this, there are teens
  that can afford $9000 cars? I am sorry, but as a high school
  senior, who has worked on several jobs, I am trying to save
  money for college! Why would want to throw away your
  money to buying a car, which honestly equates to being a
  short term goal, especially at that price?
  
  I can understand that your teen does not want to "cramp his
  style", but there are cars for $3000 that are just as reliable
  as $9000 cars. And honestly, your teen should be spending
  money on college.

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  70

  clarkm

  01/28/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  You think 10K is a lot for a kid's car? I've seen two different kids from our local high school driving brand new cars, an AMG Mercedes and an M3 BMW. These are high-performance versions @ about $55K+ each. Regardless of the economy some, actually many, folks DO have money to waste. I certainly wouldn't spend that much but if I made half a million a year I wouldn't hesitate to spend $10K on a quality, safe vehicle for my kids.

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  71

  carolona

  01/28/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Again, show me a vehicle of good size with a rock-solid passenger cage in case someone crashes into my daughter, four-wheel-drive, antilock brakes and active traction control in case in her inexperience she overreacts on a slick road, front, side, and overhead curtain airbags in case all else fails, and reversing radar so she doesn't back over her baby sister in the driveway - for $3000 - and I will very happily buy it. Otherwise, I think I am stuck paying closer to $20000. For some of us it has nothing to do with what seems cool or fashionable for our teenager. It is all about keeping them and those around them alive.

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  72

  Maverickxeo

  01/29/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Ive never had a vehicle with ABS brakes, traction control, nor
  air bads. Ive never been seriously injured, and Ive never 'lost
  control' or 'overreacted.'
  
  Im 21 now, and I drove a high powered rear wheel drive
  sports car that weighs nothing with NONE of these features
  with bald tires in a bad snow storm. Did I crash? No. Did I get
  stuck? No. Did I even spin the tires or slide? No.
  
  Id much rather rely on skill and education than technology
  that can fail, cost a lot more, and adds unneeded weight,
  making the car harder to handle in reality.

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  73

  Maverickxeo

  01/29/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  And I do have a vehicle with 4x4... although I wish it wasnt. I
  never have a need for it, and all it does is cause issues.

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  74

  clarkm

  01/29/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  carolona: I think you'd be better off spending your money on a real driver education program, complete with actual, behind-the-wheel training, including emergency and hazardous weather driving, so that the child understands how to drive rather than spending big dollars on a car that attempts to drive itself while dumbing down the driver. I am impressed with all the capabilities available in cars today but nothing will substitute for knowledge and experience. Simply look at the Toyota situation. While I wouldn't defend Toyota in any way I believe many of the reported accidents caused by "uncontrolled acceleration" could have easily been avoided with simple emergency training. First, there is a thing called 'neutral' that will easily stop acceleration while maintaining power to the vehicle. Also, it has been proven by Autoweek and the Nat'l insurance institute that simply standing on the brake will stop the vehicle even with the accelerator nailed to the floor. Autoweek showed, in fact, that the stopping distance wasn't so far off of normal stopping distances with some cars. A little knowledge easily trumps technology and electronic gizmos, particularly when it's the technology that fails.

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  75

  rudyxhiebert@...

  01/29/10 | Report as spam

  A Little Knowlege...

  Knowledge on basic car maintenance also fits into teens owning their "Perfect Car". Fluids - ie. engine oil, antifreeze, windshield washer, transmission, power steering, brakes are foundational. Teens probably shouldn't get involved with components like brake fluid or the transmission, or oil changes, that is what service technicians do best but it still is good to know how and what to do to monitor them. You'll be ahead of the gang by using synthetics in your engine and transmission. You can supply your own (from www.lubedealer.com/hiebert) if your mechanic or dealer doesn't have it.

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  76

  Maverickxeo

  01/30/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I agree that knowledge is better than technology, and I am a
  tech buff. Id rather know what to do than rely on something
  to do it for me. What if it fails?
  
  Aside from that, new cars arent going to save lives if the kid
  was doing something stupid, wasnt wearing a seat belt and
  flipped the car or hit a brick wall at 100KM/h.
  
  And I also agree that taking care of the car is important too.
  How many high school students (girls, especially) get cars
  from their parents, and dont even know where the oil dipstick
  is? They dont have to change fluids, but they should be able
  to check them.

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  77

  tjleeland

  02/17/10 | Report as spam

  Kid's Choice

  I make over $100,000 and three of the last five cars
  I've bought were Hyundais. I don't care how much my
  kids are against Hyundais, if it's good enough for me,
  it's good enough for them.
  
  Hyundais are reliable, safe, and well built cars. I get
  not wanting an Accent or Elantra, but all their other
  cars are worth looking at. In fact, the new Tucson is
  really nice and the Genesis may be the best muscle
  car for the money out there. I'd rather have the
  Genesis than the $45k BMW Z4 I used to own.

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  78

  MSST8DOG

  02/18/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Amen to that! I will buy a safe reliable car. If it doesn't meet their social status, or aesthetic requirements they can get a job, save their money and buy what meets them.
  I graduated high school in 1977 and I bought a car (plus another just like it that had been wrecked for parts) for $75.00. I drove it for quite some time and had to use some of the spare parts. When I saved enough to do so, I bought a pickup truck and sold the cars. I actually sold them for around 250 bucks so it was worth the ridicule received by driving what was (not so jokingly) referred to as a POS (Piece of you get the picture).

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  79

  MSST8DOG

  02/18/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Safety and reliability is priority number one. Efficiency plays much less part in the decision than Economy of purchase and upkeep. My children are required to maintain their own car. Because of that, I don't want them to have a car that replacing a headlight costs $300. IF they want to buy one, I don't care if the headlight costs $1000, it's their money. They will learn.

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  80

  clarkm

  02/19/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Just a final word of advice; all new(er) cars have a relatively high cost of maintenance these days. I just bought a new headlamp for my MB, it was $12.50. A bit more than a typical GM bulb at your local Autozone but hardly outragous. Also, in comparison the common maintenance (brakes, rotors, tires, tune-up) on the benz (y2002) was virtually the same, dollar for dollar, as compared to my Nissan Maxima (y2000). Although, the benz was done at the dealer and the Maxima was done at a local non-dealer shop. But the MB dealer gives me a C-class loaner for free. I was on my own with the Nissan. Go figure. And sorry, if you really dig deep and know anything about cars, there is absolutely no comparison between a Hyundai and a BMW. Try driving a Hyundai into a concrete peer at 75mph and see what happens. Dodi and Princess Di would still be alive if they simply wore their seatbelts. The 7 Series is a tank. And for the doubters, let me remind everyone that there was a survivor and he was sitting in the front passenger seat. The only person in the car wearing a seat belt.

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  81

  MSST8DOG

  02/19/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  There can be no question that the Hyundai is nowhere close to being safe in comparison to a BMW 7 series. Of course, you can drive anything with wheels fast enough to kill yourself if you try to hard enough.

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  82

  nyk001

  04/24/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Hi,
  peter this side from Canada. This blog really have valuable information for everyone.
  
  Thanks
  Peter
  
  audio conference

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  83

  Kelsey22

  04/26/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I am almost 17, and i've had a 2001 VW Jetta for over a year now. It was a great car, and it was the car I had my eyes set on for a while. . . However, a few months after I got it, the "check engine" light came on. . . I was able to get a few more months out of it before finding out that the catalytic converter for that year was recalled. We had that fixed, but found out that the electrical wiring was also in need of replacing. . . which set me back more than $800. And now, the "EPC" light came on, and when in the shop and hooked to the machine, my car set off 11 other codes for problems with the car. I really wish I would have done my research on that car in full because now I have to try to trade it in for something more reliable. I do NOT recommend getting a VW for a first car. . . All it's been lately is a hassle, not to mention the two VW dealers we took it to for repairs were horrific when it came to service. Never again will I own a VW.

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  84

  rudyxhiebert@...

  04/27/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Generally I agree because there's two sides to every story. For a 17 year old guy, an American/"Canadian" made car that can be easily understood and maintained w/ DIY, is a better choice. On the other hand, a car that has a good maintenance history may be a good choice for 17 year gal who just needs a vehicle that is reliable and relatively inexpensive initially but keeps its value over a three to five year period. If you have "AirCare" that another thing to keep in mind when getting a car that has emissions issues.

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  85

  spen3165

  05/06/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  hello
  my son has recently purchased his first car and i said i would pay half (knowing it wouldnt be a very expensive car because he did not have that much) and he could have whatever he wanted . my son ended up getting a 1995 trans am ws6 for $6,000 ths was three years ago he never got into an accident because he babied that car because it was his dream car but if a big v8 will not suit you i suggest a jetta gli which is what my daughter has it is very sporty safe and reliable , as for parts being expensive if you shop around you can find them for cheap

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  86

  demoman_chaos@...

  05/08/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  My 1979 Ford Ranchero hit a stopped semi on the highway (land yacht decided to live up to its name and sail into it during a rainstorm). Not only was I unhurt (not even bruised), the car drove home. The police officer that responded told me that if I had been in a newer vehicle, I would have been hurting (newer vehicles crumple and have slanted noses (for when you run over a pedestrian), so the car could have gone under the bumper and had a face-to-face with the tailgate (my flat-nosed hard American steel Ranchero took the impact, not me). All I had to do was rig up some headlights, turn signals, and a bumper and she would have been street legal again (unfortunately the chassis bent so she was unrepairable and totalled). Of all thigns to hit, I had to hit the 1 thing bigger than it.
  If you can find one of those, I recommend it. Looks unique and can take on a semi and will suffer the broken nose you would in any other car.

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  87

  johnhassell

  05/12/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  I think the best cars for teenagers are old junkers. They teach appreciation. Also, especially for boys, its a great way to be forced to learn how to work on cars. (while still having the convinence of living at home) Working on cars is a good life skill that I think everyone should have a basic understanding of.

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  88

  EJWaltz

  05/26/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  Well, I only have experience w/teens as a aunt and as having been one - I had a job and saved up $400 - my dad found a car for me for $250 - which left money for the insurance. The car was 13 years old at the time and he had to install seat belts! It was a 1964 Ford Falcon and I love it! Mainly because it gave me freedom and I paid for it myself. Having a niece turn 16, I was scared stiff as a passenger while she drove - teenagers wait until they are right under a red light before they step on the breaks! Her first car was a Honda two-door, hatch back, used. She totaled it shortly thereafter and was luckily not hurt. Her next car made me very happy - it was an old, HUGE, Ford truck. Ah! Probably didn't have airbags but it had a lot of steel around her and that was better than the coupe!

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  89

  EJWaltz

  05/26/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  PS - this same niece ended up managing Jiffy Lube and being skill enough to work on her own car.

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  90

  jarethburr

  06/17/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  jenyj89, I am so with you. my daughter wants a car. So I
  offered my 1999 gold Nissan Altima, with cracked windshield
  and peeling paint. She said no just like you're son at first.
  Even though her boy friend drives around in the same car.
  Only his looks like it has been thru a demolition derby. She
  is finally coming around and I am looking at the salvaged car auctions for my next ride. Why a salvaged car, one I have a
  friend that does it for parts and labour. My last car was a
  2005 Nissan Altima with 9000 miles for 10,456. The first of
  course was the !999 Altima. My wife and I have not had a car
  payment for 9 years. how ever we pretend that we do and
  invest what would be a payment. That way we have plenty of choices and cash for when we do need a new car.

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  91

  Stacey Bradford

  07/08/10 | Report as spam

  RE: The Perfect Car for a Teenager

  @johnhassell --
  
  Thank you for your comment. My husband drove a '79 Oldsmobile when he first got his license. The car was 10 years old and ugly. He still talks about how much he loved that car and what a great lesson it taught him -- teenagers should appreciate any car a parent gives them.

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  92

  insurancecar

  07/30/10 | Report as spam

  Car For Teens.....

  Good post. The cars are almost have same similarities but some have the extra modifications done. Though teenagers have there own choice to choose there cars but at first they need to insure it and also most important they should know to drive it. If it's for first time then they need to learn it more so that they should not meet with any accident or should not do any damage to others. The car insurance provides the schemes where they get suitable insurance policy for teens and also benefits which really helps to save money on car insurance. carinsurancetemporary.co.uk

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  93

  iowastate

  08/14/10 | Report as spam

  perfect teenager car

  If a scion or hyundai or Kia will not do then a used Buick or wait until they can buy their own damn car.