At first I thought the Olds was a no-brainer especially if it had the 3.8L engine which is bullet proof. My two sons drove my 1991 Olds for years and bounced it off everything they could. It finally went to it's reward when the K-frame rusted out.
They other posters have a point, though. With gas so high a 4-cyl. might be better. If the Intrigue has some big muscled up engine I wouldn't put a new driver in it.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I think you underestimate the engine in the Intrigue.. It's a screamer
It has the same 3.8 engine that I have in my Buick Regal doesn't it? While fairly strong I would hardly call it a "screamer". Handling sure doesn't inspire one to go fast. I thought the Intrigue and Regal were pretty much the same car, with a different skin. :confuse:
But, the Olds has plenty of torque and is quick off the line, and quick GM steering, with pronounced lack of road feel... It just isn't what I would recommend for a new driver..
Seeing how the #1 cause of death for Teenagers is DRIVING, especially 17 year olds, I'd have restraint assuming your kid will know it all once they get behind the wheel, and if anything, let them drive a big older car. Once they have their first wreck in the new car, you will enjoy the enormous insurance payments just so your kid can be seen in a nice new car. I think parents need to buy their kids a $2000 car with decent gas mileage to mitigate the risks, which are proven and huge. Let them learn to drive and be responsible. Then when they can afford a new car and pay for the insurance, let them get anything they can afford. My two cents.
The chances of your kid dying in a new car is greater than any other risk factor, even more dangerous than sending them to Iraq!
Nissan Versa or used Sentra are good choices. Who ever gives a kid a hot rod is purely irresponsible in my books... unless you want you kid to get killed or become a paraplegic.
I've said it before and I'll say it again .. it doesn't matter what you buy them, any car can go fast enough to cause serious injury or death.
Used Volvo's, 70's era Detroit iron ... doesn't matter.
When my stepson turned 16 (this was 5 years ago), we had bought him a used Chevy Tracker ... 60K miles, GM employee owned, great condition. Stepson had done all of his practice driving in a Ford Explorer, so we figured he was well aware of the driving characteristics of an SUV. We figured that 96 HP and an automatic transmission couldn't get him into too much trouble.
We were so wrong.
5 weeks after getting his license, he rolled said Tracker on a dirt road coming home from school. His sister went to the hospital in a helicopter; stepson and a friend went by ambulance.
Fortunately, nobody was seriously hurt - step-daughter had a moderate concussion, but there were no broken bones or permanent injuries suffered. Which, frankly, is amazing considering what the car looked like when I arrived on scene. The Tracker was totalled.
All my kids pay for their own insurance, and must keep an amount of money set aside equal to the deductible in case the indescribable awful does happen.
I did the same thing a week after getting my DL in 1971 - rolled the family station wagon while on vacation 600 miles from home. Lucky to not have killed anybody.
A few months later (for reasons that I'll never understand) was able to convince my parents why I should buy a 325 hp muscle car. Fortunately, they never had cause to regret allowing me to do so - I had already learned my lesson.
Anyone wondering about the impact of having a high performance car or having one that is imaged as high performance needs to sit around a high school parking lot when school dismisses several different days in different weather. Fridays that are sunny are good ones to pick.
The showoff tendency affects the males badly. Although a 4-cylinder can still "gofast" on the open road and get them in trouble, much of the driving to impress others is really dangerous. A more moderate car choice helps moderate the showoff factor. The girls tend to make timing errors deciding if they have enough time to pull out in front of an oncoming car.
The other factor is the number of kids around to impress. Our state limits drivers with new licenses to 1 other passenger in the car that's not related or something like that unless an adult is present. I'm not really aware of the intricacies of the law but support it greatly. Most parents of new drivers like I am jus tell their kids NO one else in the car or only a particular 1 extra person is to ride with them home from school.
I was waiting in one of the main lots to pick up kid and realized I had parked next to a BMW with rubber band tires and huge chrome wheels and a spiffy look. Hope it stays that way.
"...needs to sit around a high school parking lot..."
The affluent school district I work for has constant problems with inexperienced teen drivers driving too much car for their abilities. Many of these kids are given high performance cars as birthday gifts and proceed to show them off.
One day as all the buses were leaving school little Johnny hot rod decides to impress the girls by peeling out in dad's SUV. As you might suspect, Johnny didn't factor in the tipping point of a high profile vehicle and rolled the 50K car over in a drainage swale. No one got hurt thank God.
Another time, one of our buses was going through a development with multiple speed bumps. Each time the bus slowed to go over a bump this kid would fly up behind the bus and slam on his brakes to impress some friends riding on the bus. Sure enough, on one of the bumps the kid misjudged his speed and skidded underneath the bumper of the bus. Took the front of his car right off.
Moral: Chain your kids in the basement until they are 27.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Echo the center of gravity/high rollover thoughts.
My 16 year old will be driving our 2007 Camry, as opposed to the SUV, for this exact reason. I think visibility is actually better in the SUV because of sitting up higher, but we've had a number of deadly accidents where new drivers get off the right shoulder and over correct. The SUV's just flip right over, or send them spinning into oncoming traffic I bought the Camry couple of years ago, knowing it would be the vehicle she would drive when she got her license. She's been driving it for a year now with her permit, and is doing great with it. Wife will drive the SUV.
Any midsize sedan would do (stay away from coupe's and higher insurance). 4 cylinder auto, 4 drs, antilock brakes, air bags and curtains, stability control.
Personally, I think an SUV or crossover is a poor choice for a first car.. and, I drive a CR-V..
Step son did all his permit driving in a 2002 Explorer, so we figured he understood the physics of driving an SUV. We bought him a '98 Tracker with 60K on the clock for his first car.
an '02 explorer is a much better handling vehicle than those who have not driven one are willing to give an suv credit for. my oldest drives it as their main ride. a dream fulfilled, my youngest drove the 5.0 tonight. it is older than she is. :surprise:
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
In 1994, I got a 1974 Oldsmobile 98 Regecy. I was born in 1974!
That was my first car, bad on gas, handled horribly, but built like a tank. Overall I think kids should get fairly crappy cars for their first cars so they can learn to appreciate a much nicer car. If they always have a nice car there is no baseline!
>>Overall I think kids should get fairly crappy cars for their first cars so they can learn to appreciate a much nicer car. If they always have a nice car there is no baseline! <<
And parents get a loss less pissed off with a dent in a 15 yo beater than they do on a brand new 2009.
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....
Actually it is my fault I didn't put oil in the car . 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...
The kid will be a big hit with his friends in the few months he has left to live.
I never understood why any parent would buy a performance car for a new male driver. That's just asking for trouble.
I supose there are a few 16 year old boys who could drive that car in a responsible manner but you'd have a long look finding one. Heck, you couldn't trust ME with a car like that. :sick:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
We went through this just over a year ago. I laughed that it was the first time I shopped for a car based on dual airbags, ABS, and full perimeter frame.
Put son in a '99 S10 Blazer 4dr. He did most of his driver training in a Yukon, so was familiar with the handling. The 2dr Blazer is not a stable beast. The longer wheelbase on the 4dr makes a LOT of difference.
He has been driving it for 18 months with no tickets, dents, not even a scratch. And when unknowingly observed, he has shown to be a much more conservative driver than his dad was at that age.
Regarding the 16yo in the Camaro SS: his parents are idiots, and I hope the kid survives their stupidity.
I got a brand new 03 Pathfinder for my first car on my 16th birthday. It's still in mint condition, and I've had the cattle guard and taillight guards put on since then. I'll be putting in remote start this weekend and a supercharger soon. Never had an accident. Of course I learned to drive when I was seven, so that may have something to do with it.
All of these videos are showing young people learing to drive a stick shift vehicles from their friends; when it should be their parents. If any of you saw your son or daughter drivng around and it being shown on youtube or mysapce, what would you think/or do about it?
After watching a small sample size of videos from "Youtube" and "Myspace Videos."
These links leading the videos are jsut a small sampling of what's really out there on you tube or myspace. Just type in "Learing to drive" or "Trying to drive" at either of these two sites.
To the best that you can afford, the car you buy for the kid should be directly proportional to how well he excerecises his (1) duties, (2) obligations, & (3) responsibilities. Primary duty is to be on the Honor Role. Working a part time job and maintaining very high grades is a Plus. Sharing the home with a helpful attitude rather than one of entitlement is another Plus.
The dumbest thing a parent can do is give their undeserving slob of a kid a nice car just because other parents are trying to make an impression in the high school parking lot.
All that proves is that young women are not coordinated enough to drive a stick. Perhaps if someone took the time to explain the theory behind the clutch and gas. At least they were trashing rice.
I have this disturbing feeling that these people, who are trying to drive might be more dangerous than a person who has had too much to drink (say BAC btw .08-.15) who are capable of driving a stick, (or are driving an auotmatic in general.
obyone: There's also videos of guys trying to drive stick as well at Youtube, Myspace.
these people, who are trying to drive might be more dangerous than a person who has had too much to drink (say BAC btw .08-.15)
Might? MIGHT???? Of course they are. The thing about drinking is that it's so easy to measure.
Not paying attention, being terminally stupid, radio blasting, cell phone... are much harder to prove but all impair driving.
As you might guess, I'm partial to a beer or three of an evening, and while I can't measure it, I probably have gotten close to the legal limit. I take it easy, I leave the radio off, and I *pay attention*, and no problem. Mostly I keep it to a couple of Labatt's and it's not an issue anyway.
In an accident where someone screws up, and someone else who's above the legal limit hits them, the former will receive a ticket, and the latter will be absolutely crucified. Not fair, but at least we know it up front.
The reason I have a chip on my shoulder on the subject of teen drivers and general stupid behavior is that I ride my bike year-round. And once or twice a year I have a "close call." Now standard stupid behavior, I can see coming. Like the chickie in an Explorer who goes 35+ in a 25 and blows through a stop sign at full speed. Had I not seen her coming, she would have hit me square in the side. I slowed down just enough to make it close, and when she passed right in front of me, only 6 ft away, I yelled. Loud. Her face was priceless. It was clear she had not seen me at all. This is 07:30 a.m. on a bright sunny morning in June. No cell phone. How do you do that?
Every few years, something happens that I don't see coming, like a hard rear-ender 20 ft behind me. That was scary, and sheer luck that I didn't get hit. If it happened more often, I think I'd quit riding.
So while y'all fret and anguish about what tank to buy so little Johnny is "safe", what about the rest of us who have to share the road with these clowns? Accidents are not unavoidable.
Any parent who thinks, or even tells their kid, I know you're gonna crash ought to have their head examined. If you really think that, don't let the little snot drive until they've matured.
Reminds me of last night as I left WalMart coming to the next light I see this girl sitting ON the door with half her body out of the car taking pics with her cell phone of the 3 Hondas and 1 Acura in front of her and her boyfriend. Makes for a 5 car convoy. I would've hate to see what would've happened if she fell off the door as I was coming up along side. :surprise:
Some good vehicles on this list, but I would never buy a new car for a teen driver. I also recommend more pedestrian vehicles, like Buicks and the Toyota Camry.
We just bought a Fit for our 16 year old. It was a red 2008 and we all just loved the Fit. Just scoots her around town and to school. Very practical with great gas mileage and a reputation of having very fine reliability. Her sister, who has an older Camry, much prefers it to her car. I'll admit that I get a kick out of driving the thing as well.
It's not about what they would prefer. When my 16-year old totaled his heap, I was very glad it wasn't a new car! Ditto when I see the damage inflicted by other teen drivers in high school parking lots. Driving is a learning experience and teen drivers will make mistakes.
I'm with you on that. My teen's opinion is the bottom criterion for my choice in what she drives. Cheap, safe, and reliable are the top ones. I don't want her driving something that I'm going to be upset about her dinging and perhaps wrecking.
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I don't want her driving something that I'm going to be upset about her dinging and perhaps wrecking.
Which is why we bought our daughter a Saturn ION before she went off to college. Composite side panels resist door dings - and Saturns are cheap to insure as well!
I'm 22 and I drove a 1999 corolla for almost 6 years. The car was slow and ugly, but it was also reliable and fuel efficient. I wanted a brand new car but now looking back I realize how great my old Corolla was. I had an accident at 18 and learned my first important lesson driving. From that point on I was much more careful driving and became a much smarter driver. I learned so much while paying a relatively small amount. That's why these days when I see high schoolers drive benzs and beemers I just cant help but shake my head. I know obviously their family can afford a car like that but handing the keys to a $30k+ car that is also probably 200hp+ to a road virgin is just not a smart idea. It is dangerous to their 16 year old kid who WILL try to show off and do extremely stupid stunts while driving AND it is dangerous to other drivers on the road who may be a casualty of a teenage driver. A first car should be something easy to drive and CHEAP because 99% of the time it will be involved in some sort of incident. Once your kid has shown you that he/she can drive responsibly then you should get them whatever your able to. Recently I just bought a new 08 G35 and I love it. But whenever I drive my new car I'm thankful for all the lessons I learned in my old Corolla.
They need to drive an old beat up car, that is safe an reliable, but if in the event it is totaled or recked, than no harm done. They always get in some kind of wreck. Its really not worth it. As a parent, I am not sure why I would let them take the nice family car to school. They have no experience, only a few months of training. Even now, I am tested every now and then from some moron on the road! I just let them pass me, go ahead, its not worth it. I forgot, that their destination and life is so much more important than me. Sadly enough, its usually the pieces of crap cars passing me, I sometimes laugh. lol. Its true, you usually don't see some Mercedes or a nice new car passing. They mostly drive efficiently. Another thing I have noticed its mostly people passing with crappy pontiacs. Why is that? Pass me, atleast I can treat my car with respect. Anyway. Yep, You have to be careful, and that is why we should all start out in a beat up car, its no reflection of our success as a parent, but rather showing we care about our kids, and think practically.
i want them the drive a well maintained vehicle. our suv is great for that. 6+ years old, still looks good, all maintenance up to date. as a matter of fact, one of my kids, home from college for the summer, went to pick the other at the high school and was run into by an adult in another suv. our suv was still driveable, plus the other driver had to pay for repairs and rental. if my kid was driving a beater, they could have been hurt, plus i would have been out a set of wheels for a while and probably would have gotten screwed on the vehicle settlement.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
I said something old but also safe and reliable and certainly well-maintained. My kids all had to pay for part of their vehicles. When my son totaled his at the age of 16, he was out a set of wheels, not me. A good lesson too, because he has never been in an accident since. Sometimes it's not their fault. Someone else took a good sized swipe at my daughter's car in a parking lot. I was glad it wasn't new.
We don't believe in buying a 16-year-old a brand new car - it' s just not our style. We took our cue from our neighbors (who are both doctors, and could buy their kids any car on earth). They wanted to take advantage of the latest in safety/technology but have something reliable and economical. So, about a year and a half before their son turned 16, they bought a Honda Accord Coupe with a 4 cyl engine, put 30,000 miles on it and when he got his license, gave him this "hand-me down". It has the safety gear - ABS, curtain airbags, etc, a 4 cyl engine for great gas mileage (averege is 28 mpg) but no zoom-zoom to tempt aggressive driving.
We did virtually the same thing - it has turned out to be a great chioce - he's content in a sporty-ish looking coupe, we're both happy with an newer, but not brand-new, economical car (without too much power) that's very safe and reliable. The fact that it has a door-ding or two already means no one will freak out when the first scratch happens. Already has!
my kids don't actually have their own vehicle. they use one of mine(ours). i keep telling them this is a good deal for you, i pay for just about everything. you will have to put some gas in it once in a while. it's already paid off, and i am not letting them drive the mustang, except once in a while. i'm making them save their money for grad school.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
My wife and daughter picked out our 2000 VW beetle as being my daughter's car when she got old enough. She was 11 at the time. She took her dirver's test in the bug and passed the first time with a 5 speed.No real problem teaching anyone how to drive a stick, just have to be patient. She decided that she did not want to drive the stick to school so she could concentrate on the rest of her driving tasks. We found a 97 Corolla with low miles. A couple of parking lot mishaps but nothing on the road. It is now at college and I don't have to worry about someone wanting to drive her "cool" car. If something major happens to it, I am only out the $4000 we spent three years ago.
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Also, the gas costs on the ION will be lower.
disclosure - my daughter has a 2006 ION 2 and she absolutely loves it.
I think you underestimate the engine in the Intrigue.. It's a screamer...
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They other posters have a point, though. With gas so high a 4-cyl. might be better. If the Intrigue has some big muscled up engine I wouldn't put a new driver in it.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
It has the same 3.8 engine that I have in my Buick Regal doesn't it? While fairly strong I would hardly call it a "screamer". Handling sure doesn't inspire one to go fast. I thought the Intrigue and Regal were pretty much the same car, with a different skin. :confuse:
But, the Olds has plenty of torque and is quick off the line, and quick GM steering, with pronounced lack of road feel... It just isn't what I would recommend for a new driver..
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The chances of your kid dying in a new car is greater than any other risk factor, even more dangerous than sending them to Iraq!
Used Volvo's, 70's era Detroit iron ... doesn't matter.
When my stepson turned 16 (this was 5 years ago), we had bought him a used Chevy Tracker ... 60K miles, GM employee owned, great condition. Stepson had done all of his practice driving in a Ford Explorer, so we figured he was well aware of the driving characteristics of an SUV. We figured that 96 HP and an automatic transmission couldn't get him into too much trouble.
We were so wrong.
5 weeks after getting his license, he rolled said Tracker on a dirt road coming home from school. His sister went to the hospital in a helicopter; stepson and a friend went by ambulance.
Fortunately, nobody was seriously hurt - step-daughter had a moderate concussion, but there were no broken bones or permanent injuries suffered. Which, frankly, is amazing considering what the car looked like when I arrived on scene. The Tracker was totalled.
All my kids pay for their own insurance, and must keep an amount of money set aside equal to the deductible in case the indescribable awful does happen.
True. Just ask Hulk Hogan.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
A few months later (for reasons that I'll never understand) was able to convince my parents why I should buy a 325 hp muscle car. Fortunately, they never had cause to regret allowing me to do so - I had already learned my lesson.
The showoff tendency affects the males badly. Although a 4-cylinder can still "gofast" on the open road and get them in trouble, much of the driving to impress others is really dangerous. A more moderate car choice helps moderate the showoff factor. The girls tend to make timing errors deciding if they have enough time to pull out in front of an oncoming car.
The other factor is the number of kids around to impress. Our state limits drivers with new licenses to 1 other passenger in the car that's not related or something like that unless an adult is present. I'm not really aware of the intricacies of the law but support it greatly. Most parents of new drivers like I am jus tell their kids NO one else in the car or only a particular 1 extra person is to ride with them home from school.
I was waiting in one of the main lots to pick up kid and realized I had parked next to a BMW with rubber band tires and huge chrome wheels and a spiffy look. Hope it stays that way.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The affluent school district I work for has constant problems with inexperienced teen drivers driving too much car for their abilities. Many of these kids are given high performance cars as birthday gifts and proceed to show them off.
One day as all the buses were leaving school little Johnny hot rod decides to impress the girls by peeling out in dad's SUV. As you might suspect, Johnny didn't factor in the tipping point of a high profile vehicle and rolled the 50K car over in a drainage swale. No one got hurt thank God.
Another time, one of our buses was going through a development with multiple speed bumps. Each time the bus slowed to go over a bump this kid would fly up behind the bus and slam on his brakes to impress some friends riding on the bus. Sure enough, on one of the bumps the kid misjudged his speed and skidded underneath the bumper of the bus. Took the front of his car right off.
Moral: Chain your kids in the basement until they are 27.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/rollover/
The CRV will probably be safer if an accident ever occurred, but the Civic will probably be better at avoiding the accident in the first place.
Also, fatal accidents are much more likely in a roll-over situation.. which would seem much more likely in a CR-V..
Personally, I think an SUV or crossover is a poor choice for a first car.. and, I drive a CR-V..
regards,
kyfdx
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My 16 year old will be driving our 2007 Camry, as opposed to the SUV, for this exact reason. I think visibility is actually better in the SUV because of sitting up higher, but we've had a number of deadly accidents where new drivers get off the right shoulder and over correct. The SUV's just flip right over, or send them spinning into oncoming traffic I bought the Camry couple of years ago, knowing it would be the vehicle she would drive when she got her license. She's been driving it for a year now with her permit, and is doing great with it. Wife will drive the SUV.
Any midsize sedan would do (stay away from coupe's and higher insurance). 4 cylinder auto, 4 drs, antilock brakes, air bags and curtains, stability control.
Warning: crash scene picture for SUV
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Step son did all his permit driving in a 2002 Explorer, so we figured he understood the physics of driving an SUV. We bought him a '98 Tracker with 60K on the clock for his first car.
Five weeks later he rolled and totalled it.
Sigh.
Who was the dumb parent who bought his kid that truck?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
my oldest drives it as their main ride.
a dream fulfilled, my youngest drove the 5.0 tonight. it is older than she is. :surprise:
That was my first car, bad on gas, handled horribly, but built like a tank. Overall I think kids should get fairly crappy cars for their first cars so they can learn to appreciate a much nicer car. If they always have a nice car there is no baseline!
-mike
And parents get a loss less pissed off with a dent in a 15 yo beater than they do on a brand new 2009.
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.
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....
The kid will be a big hit with his friends in the few months he has left to live.
I never understood why any parent would buy a performance car for a new male driver. That's just asking for trouble.
I supose there are a few 16 year old boys who could drive that car in a responsible manner but you'd have a long look finding one. Heck, you couldn't trust ME with a car like that. :sick:
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Put son in a '99 S10 Blazer 4dr. He did most of his driver training in a Yukon, so was familiar with the handling. The 2dr Blazer is not a stable beast. The longer wheelbase on the 4dr makes a LOT of difference.
He has been driving it for 18 months with no tickets, dents, not even a scratch. And when unknowingly observed, he has shown to be a much more conservative driver than his dad was at that age.
Regarding the 16yo in the Camaro SS: his parents are idiots, and I hope the kid survives their stupidity.
After watching a small sample size of videos from "Youtube" and "Myspace Videos."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FItiAxpUlI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtB8F3ieHMM....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=segBM1Sh_qs&feature=related....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf3TCCVnxic&feature=related....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVWj8B-ueSk....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYOo2u9UPAU....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUFBl-CVaDM&feature=related....
.. ..
.. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm
fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1724081....
These links leading the videos are jsut a small sampling of what's really out there on you tube or myspace. Just type in "Learing to drive" or "Trying to drive" at either of these two sites.
The dumbest thing a parent can do is give their undeserving slob of a kid a nice car just because other parents are trying to make an impression in the high school parking lot.
obyone: There's also videos of guys trying to drive stick as well at Youtube, Myspace.
That was a VERY clever test! Any student on the Honor Roll would have caught it. :P
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Might? MIGHT????
Of course they are.
The thing about drinking is that it's so easy to measure.
Not paying attention, being terminally stupid, radio blasting, cell phone... are much harder to prove but all impair driving.
As you might guess, I'm partial to a beer or three of an evening, and while I can't measure it, I probably have gotten close to the legal limit. I take it easy, I leave the radio off, and I *pay attention*, and no problem. Mostly I keep it to a couple of Labatt's and it's not an issue anyway.
In an accident where someone screws up, and someone else who's above the legal limit hits them, the former will receive a ticket, and the latter will be absolutely crucified. Not fair, but at least we know it up front.
The reason I have a chip on my shoulder on the subject of teen drivers and general stupid behavior is that I ride my bike year-round. And once or twice a year I have a "close call."
Now standard stupid behavior, I can see coming. Like the chickie in an Explorer who goes 35+ in a 25 and blows through a stop sign at full speed. Had I not seen her coming, she would have hit me square in the side. I slowed down just enough to make it close, and when she passed right in front of me, only 6 ft away, I yelled. Loud. Her face was priceless. It was clear she had not seen me at all.
This is 07:30 a.m. on a bright sunny morning in June. No cell phone. How do you do that?
Every few years, something happens that I don't see coming, like a hard rear-ender 20 ft behind me. That was scary, and sheer luck that I didn't get hit. If it happened more often, I think I'd quit riding.
So while y'all fret and anguish about what tank to buy so little Johnny is "safe", what about the rest of us who have to share the road with these clowns? Accidents are not unavoidable.
Any parent who thinks, or even tells their kid, I know you're gonna crash ought to have their head examined. If you really think that, don't let the little snot drive until they've matured.
Okay, I feel much better now.
Cheers -Mathias
Ever heard of ADHD? Not necessarily a male thing.
Reminds me of last night as I left WalMart coming to the next light I see this girl sitting ON the door with half her body out of the car taking pics with her cell phone of the 3 Hondas and 1 Acura in front of her and her boyfriend. Makes for a 5 car convoy. I would've hate to see what would've happened if she fell off the door as I was coming up along side. :surprise:
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'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
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Which is why we bought our daughter a Saturn ION before she went off to college. Composite side panels resist door dings - and Saturns are cheap to insure as well!
Just my .02
Nick
They need to drive an old beat up car, that is safe an reliable, but if in the event it is totaled or recked, than no harm done. They always get in some kind of wreck. Its really not worth it. As a parent, I am not sure why I would let them take the nice family car to school. They have no experience, only a few months of training. Even now, I am tested every now and then from some moron on the road! I just let them pass me, go ahead, its not worth it. I forgot, that their destination and life is so much more important than me. Sadly enough, its usually the pieces of crap cars passing me, I sometimes laugh. lol. Its true, you usually don't see some Mercedes or a nice new car passing. They mostly drive efficiently. Another thing I have noticed its mostly people passing with crappy pontiacs. Why is that? Pass me, atleast I can treat my car with respect. Anyway. Yep, You have to be careful, and that is why we should all start out in a beat up car, its no reflection of our success as a parent, but rather showing we care about our kids, and think practically.
6+ years old, still looks good, all maintenance up to date.
as a matter of fact, one of my kids, home from college for the summer, went to pick the other at the high school and was run into by an adult in another suv.
our suv was still driveable, plus the other driver had to pay for repairs and rental.
if my kid was driving a beater, they could have been hurt, plus i would have been out a set of wheels for a while and probably would have gotten screwed on the vehicle settlement.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
We did virtually the same thing - it has turned out to be a great chioce - he's content in a sporty-ish looking coupe, we're both happy with an newer, but not brand-new, economical car (without too much power) that's very safe and reliable. The fact that it has a door-ding or two already means no one will freak out when the first scratch happens. Already has!