think of the possibilities of kids in a jeep with 4 wheel drive, rock crawling in the mall parking lot rock gardens and hopping curbs. Go with a Suzuki Forenza a little slow but dependable and there are not to many parts out for it so the chance of it being turned into a race car like a civic is slim to none.
LOL, you obviously haven't done a member search on the CarSpace pages. Check the "tuners" "mods" or "racing" boxes under interest, and you might be surprised at the number of female drivers who are into it.
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I'd be surprised if my daughter goes that way. One of them is wayyy more likely to go nuts on the interior, tricking it out in velvet or something. But you never know. Danicka Patrick is having an impact, I'd guess. As is Pimp My Ride.
myu only problem with buying them something slow is that we live at the top of a three-mile grade, and it's very dangerous to be coming up that road in the slow lane.
but I wouldn't buy them anything that is too speedy, and there's no risk that I'll buy them the nicest car in the lot.
This forum would probably be more entertaining if I set the dollar limit lower, at 5 or 10K, as that would pose more of a challenge than the $20K limit.
ps It's your dad or mom's fault that you didn't put oil in the car, not yours.
Hey there, My son is going into his senior year of high school and he has had his license since the end of his sophmore year. he currently drives a 1991 Buick Regal Coupe. Unless you really need AWD then a large front wheel drive car should be enough. AWD does have its advantages and it really does work in bad weather, however many cars that have it are undesirable for teen drivers. If you don't mind putting your daughter in an SUV then that is fine. I see many teen girls driving in Grand Cherokees or smaller SUVs like Honda CR-Vs or Ford Escapes. If AWD is a necessity, than i would suggest you look at a Subaru Impreza 2.5 (Non WRX) or a small SUV such as a CR-V but no larger than a Chevy Equinox. If you find that you don't need AWD, then i would suggest looking at post 2000 GM W-Bodies (Regals,Impalas, Grand Prixs, Monte Carlos), Honda Accords, Nissan Maximas, and Toyota Camries. If New England snow storms are any indication, large, V6, front drive cars should be enough to tackle mostly any weather.
I'm not sure about the rest of the GM lineup, but Buicks have very good reliability. One of my sons' first car (actually second, as he totalled the first one!) was a 1988 Buick LeSabre which was still in good condition when he sold it years later. He then bought a 1998 LeSabre which has also held up very well.
I'd bet you could pick up a new base model Subie Forester for under your 20k limit. Has AWD, a few power goodies , good safety ratings and enough go under the hood to keep her out of trouble, but not in trouble if that makes sense.
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My sons car is a 91 and we have owned the car since day one when we bought it brand new. It has 210K miles on it (original engine and trans). I have changed the alternator, water pump, and ignition coils. Thats pretty much it. I think they are deffinately reliable as all cars this day and age are. If you are thinking about a GM product, may I suggest one with the 3.8 engine. Those engines are bulletproof with normal maintenance and since so many have been made, parts are easy to find for them and very cheap as well.
GM as of now has very good reliability. It is true that back in the day, say 80s-mid 90s, their quality was behind the Japanese brands. However, from what I have seen, the cars appear to be solid. If anything, most of the things that go wrong in a GM car are usually small annoyances such as an interior light not working or some type of small electrical glitch. Otherwise, the expensive parts on the car (engine/trans) seem to last forever. Oh another thing, i have never had a problem with rusting on any GM car i have owned but it did happen to my Subaru back in the day.
As another member has previously mentioned, you don't have to worry about those GM engines... the interior will fall to pieces LONG before the engine is a concern
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The best car for a teen in my opinion, given a $20k budget, would be an '03 or '04 Volvo S60 (non-turbo of course). I think these are the ultimate in safety, yet still stylish enough.
Good clean used ones. Sure they are high mileage, but their engines are bullet proof. I'm really thinking about getting me one for a work car or to redo and keep as a hobby car if I can find me a very clean one. :confuse: I've always loved them and my best friends mom use to own one and we called it "The Jet"
Both are pretty inexpensive to buy and would make good teen cars.
I know I'm VERY late to this discussion but we have a top 10 list on Edmunds of suggested "cool" cars for teens if you wanna buy new, that is. The aim of the list was to pick affordable cars with qualities teens/young drivers hold dear: stylish looks, sporty handling, great fuel economy, abundant safety features and a first-rate sound system.
with 4wd and optioned up with sab/sac should not break the $20k mark. Plus lots of room for stuff. If it's not crashed, it should last thru her college years and into her 1st job.
however, a new car for a teenage driver is ALWAYS a bad idea, especially it's completely paid for.
You guys are freaking me out. Maybe you can give me some advice.
I have 12 year old twin boys. Currently I drive 04 Acura TL. When they turn 16, the car will be 7 years old. It will be perfect age for a teenage driver; however, at 250+ HP it is too fast. Do you think I should trade my car in now for an Accord LX coupe and pass that on to them, or buy them a new Civic or Scion Tc when it’s time.
Used car is not an option. They have to have a reliable car, and used Toyotas and Hondas are just too expensive and don’t make sense.
I agree about picking up a larger, older used car. There are many that are more reliable than the image of the two you mentioned. They're going to be abused and dented, more likely than not. A neighbor makes a business of buying and selling cars he's bought and cleaned up and sold cheaper than the value I'd place on them. After a couple of years replace with something else; sell it to another family. Seat belts and airbags are my requirements.
I recall someone who had gone to Wyoming HS the area for a conference and she was talking to students at lunch and one kids as going out to polish his BMW. Seems to me the wrong focus point is in play there. This was a few years ago when BMWs weren't nearly as common in many parts--KFYDX knows where I mean
:confuse: But... if you trade your car in on an Accord now and give it to them in ~4 years, won't that be a used car?
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I should have phrased it differently. I don’t want to buy a used car because I don’t have time or energy to deal with maintenance issues. I don’t care if they drive a used and reliable car that I have owned since it was new. I just don’t have such a car. That’s why I am thinking of buying one now, so that it would be nice and used by the time they get it.
The only non Japanese made cars that are as reliable as Hondas and Toyotas are Buicks. I am sorry, but putting a teenager in a Buick is just cruel and unusual punishment. Besides, I don’t think Buicks are that safe. They have fairly powerful engines, but they don’t handle that well.
I know what you mean.. My offspring is turning 13 on Sunday..
However, it turns out that the $400 mountain bike is just not enough... My wife insists that I purchase a $250 Ipod prior to this weekend (he won't have anything to open).
He is indeed neglected...
But, I do understand about planning ahead for the driving situation.. In my case, my wife's BMW lease is due to expire the year before my son attains driving age.. You can be certain that she won't be driving anything nearly that nice, the next time around..
regards, kyfdx (who still bears the scars of six years of school bus rides)
What I'd suggest is buy new now, get all the latest safety options (side airbags, stability control), get a mid-size 4cyl 4dr AUTO sedan (lowest insurance rates, and not too much speed), and get the standard wheels and tires (recognizing probably one or two will get ruined against curbs). Choose a high volume model so body parts are plentiful and reasonably priced. Stay away from SUV's (sedan's much more stable if they drive off the edge of the road), not too big (harder to park and see), not too small (need enough protection in the even of a crash). Drive the car now, they'll get comfortable riding in it learning the visibility and controls, they'll then drive a 3-4 year old safe car that you know is reliable.
I had talked to my insurance guy to see if there were particular manufacturers or models, and to bounce the idea of a Camry LE off of him. He indicated that was a great plan, but just avoid VW's because apparently replacement parts are fairly high priced around here for some reason (and hence insurance rates were higher). YMMV in your particular geography. Accord and Camry were on my shortlist when I bought.
Personally, i think its nuts to buy and drive now what i think i'll want to give to my kid later. my car is way too important to me. He'll have a relatively slow generic car when he starts driving ... and I am NOT going to put up with driving a slow generic car myself until that time.
But I guess that's just me.
With what you are saying, it sounds like you are giving yourself no choice in the matter. You won't buy a used car and you won't give your kid what you are currently driving ... so I don't see how there is any option left for you.
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ahh, that's something you should teach them. how to regularly check the oil and other fluids. how to maintain the car. any vehicle should be "new" to them.
since when have all the parents started purchasing new vehicles? i guess they must feel guilty of failing to give them something when they were growing up.
giving a new car to a teenager is doing them a disfavor actually.
not only will insurance be higher, they will not know what it is to acquire something the hard way, by earning it. a new car sets the bar pretty darn high.
if they can't keep a used car in good working condition, they don't deserve a new car.
heck they don't deserve a car... there's no such thing as a right to one. anyway, until they can buy it, fuel it, maintain it, and insure it with their own money you really are doing them a disfavor by enabling them.
Not to start a huge bakclash here, but why would you have to deal with maintenance. Your child is driving the car? Why wouldn't they be responsible for the maintenance?
There is indeed maintenance costs on new cars, too except for new BMWs (not a good teen car).
Buick's are unsafe? Since when? Cruel and unusual punishment for a teen to drive one? I guess that begs the question, what are they driving now? If their main mode of transportation is labled converse, keds....or Schwinn, then I would think any motorized vehicle would be a comparative luxury.
As you can tell, I've got some real issues with teens and their so called driving/car "entitlement" that I keep hearing about.
amen. but they aren't wearing converse sneakers. much much much more expensive footwear than we had. and schwinn? no, their bikes are worth many hundreds of dollars. if their chain fell off, they'd have to use their cell or blackberry to get a ride.
probably most kids today would break out in a sweat if they had to negotiate getting on the bus. "does your bus fare machine take AMEX"? :shades:
In somewhat of defense of "exbo", I can understand the thing of not wanting to risk buying somebody else's problem when buying a used car. And yeah, the kids will be driving the car, and they should be rewponsible for maintenance, however, I can imagine his kids would probably call him every time they were to break down on the side of the road to come rescue them (which would get old).
However, there is a lot to be said for giving a teen a used car, and a AAA membership. Owning a car is a lot of responsibility, as is adulthood in general. Obviously, said used car should be evaluated thoroughly before purchase, but I still believe it is the best route to go for a teen driver. It is good for the kid to tell them to call AAA when they have a mechanical failure, instead of automatically calling mommy and daddy to come rescue them. After all, when they are 40 and their car breaks down, mommy and daddy may not be a viable option for them when they have car troubles - and they need to learn some self-sufficiency at some point.
Lastly, why do you have to "suffer" through driving the slow, safe car until they get old enough to drive? It has been my experience, that when one is in need of a used car, there are typically a fair # available just by word of mouth when talking to friends and family. You could probably get a dependable used car through a trusted friend or family member with relatively little effort.
>The only non Japanese made cars that are as reliable as Hondas and Toyotas are Buicks
Now that's a stretch. Have you checked recalls lately and not so lately... And you haven't driven any of the more recent Buicks if you think they still have the exressway ride... stereotypes are hard to break. But you need to broaden your horizons.
right, buying someone else's problem would be a drag. however, the lessons in researching, driving and getting a used vehicle checked out by a trusted mechanic are important ones.
kids can get a decent used vehicle if their parents take the time to go through the process with them. and we should. because they'll ultimately be better knowlegeable about their ride and what things cost to fix - so so so - they'll have a tendency to take better care of it.
i liked the other poster's comment about having 1/2 the kids money (at least) into the purchase. yes sir. if it's gonna be a "right" of passage, then responsibilities come with it.
not responsible? no vehicle. this isn't like being duped into bringing home a new puppy or kitten that they will loose interest in in about a week.
Why? You are all perfectly ON-topic (thanks to Extra Strength HostMagic™)
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I've watched others' teenagers start driving through our area. I'll see the parents with the new driver and their temporaries driving carefully along the roads. After months I'll see the new driver alone on short runs to the grocery for example driving just as carefully and at and below the speed limit. Then a couple of months later the car is moving quicker and quicker. The stop signs are mere blips in the rapid movement of life.
Then the car shows up with a fender dented in, if we're lucky. That happens in a high, but undetermined percentage of my observations.
I've got a youngin' coming along that will want a license. He had been observing the neat cars well-to-do parents had provided for their youthful drivers in and around the school at practices for band.
He asked a few months ago what kind of car I was going to buy him when he got his license. I told him he was riding in it. An almost 10-year old full-sized car is what it will be with air bags, seat belts, and lots of metal and a good crash record. Then maybe he'll get to drive the used pickup I think I'll buy myself about the time he starts driving. A pickup is a neat school car for many youngins' round here. I've always wanted one for those visits to Lowes and Home Depot and so on to carry stuff home.
A bike? You got a bike? I was lucky to get a pair of tennis shoes.
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As you can tell, I've got some real issues with teens and their so called driving/car "entitlement" that I keep hearing about.
We seem to be in agreement, again.
Heaven forbid if the child has their own car and it is used and even worse, the wrong brand. I come from the generation that if someone could see the label on your shirt, you were told that you had your shirt on inside out.
Too much . too soon . too bad for the parent/child now and later.
jmonroe
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for my family, the 'entitlement' is a convenience. it saves miles travelled overall, and a lot of time for my wife and myself. my kids have after school activities that we don't need to drive them to and/or pick them up anymore. my parents didn't make me buy my own car or pay for gas, but i learned about it when i needed to. we have told our kids, 'your job is to get good grades'. so far, so good.
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Yikes, i've been reading some buick-hating coments. Let me just say that i received a hand-me-down 98 Regal with 105k on the clock in '02 and it has treated me fine ever since. I received the car when I turned 16 and used it for senior year of high school, served its purpose well and now its a great car for oncampus college duties and going to and from home. those 3.8L V6 really are bulletproof, the thing will not die and has never faltered.
I think buicks are the perfect teenager car, big, comfy and fast enough. It gets you from Point A to Point B with absolutely no desire for you to exhibit spirited driving. Now any kid that demands something "better" is simply spoiled due to parenting or surroundings [associates w/ other kids that are spoiled with nice cars].
I agree with all those here deciding on the used sedan option, easy to drive cars that are fairly versatile.
Now for the thread creator's question, I like the idea of a CRV w/ awd, should get the job done just fine. Im unsure of the insurance though.
This begs the question, are we really doing our children a disservice by handing over a car to them. Personally, I think we are. Before I get preachy (and I'm about to), I've made the same mistake. I believe my only child (20 year old son) has had it pretty "cushy". I pay for his college tuition (he pays for books and fees). He won't have student loans to worry about when he graduates. He lives at home (I'm not asking for rent). He's got plenty of food. Really, all he has to do is to do well in school, and work part time (weekends only...full time in the summer)) to cover his car expenses, gas, insurance, maintenance and incidentals. I'm not a complete ogre. When he's real tight on cash, I do flip him a $50 bill on occasion.
I'm a single parent and have overcompensated at times with my son because of his Mother and I divorcing. So, I'm guilty of some of that "over compensation" at times.
I believe it's easier for a parent to buy a car for their kid(s) than it is to teach them some life lessons. Does giving them a car make them a better person? I don't see how.
Taking the time to teach them about a budget, about cash flow, about building some cash for life's "gotchas" (like unexpected car repairs), is much harder than just handing over the car keys to them. But, without some skin in that game, the teen learns nothing.
Hopefully, the little lessons he's learning about car ownership will serve him well, not only about cars, but about life. He knows he's got to come up with an extra $75 this winter to get a new battery. Better to save for it now and replace it before he gets stranded down the road. Better to keep a clean driving record that to face astronomical insurace premiums he'd have to pay to keep the wheels on the road. It's better to keep that car tuned up to get better MPG than to pay for more gas than he has to.
Giving a car, without the responsibility that goes with it, really is a disservice to our kids. Yes, it's easier (for the parent) to just hand over the keys. It's better to have them learn something from having a vested interest (financially) in the car. There's so many learning opportunities by doing so.....some of them are very hard lessons. It just takes more of our (any parent's) time to do so, though. I think our kids are worth it, though.
I've got 3 kids (20 yo stepson, 18 yo step-daughter, 17 yo son), so I've had a chance to refine the technique.
The 20yo is on his own now - well, he lives with his dad in Utah, but he pays his own way. Has a small car payment ($150/mo) and covers all his own expenses. He's got a 2001 Saturn L200 and has taken pretty good care of it. In the past year, he's put new tires, shocks and struts onto it. He does regular oil changes. He knows that this is the last car we'll help him with - car is in his name, we cosigned the note.
The 18yo is a freshman in college about 100 miles from us. She is driving a new Saturn ION, which we bought last summer. We pay the note and maintenance, she covers gas and insurance. She is not working now, but will over the summer. She has enough put away to cover gas and insurance to the end of the school year in May. She, too, knows that this is the last car we'll buy her. The ION only has 4K on it in 7 months, so I suspect it will last her a good, long time.
The 17yo lives in CA with his mom. As has been previously mentioned here and on other topics, he will be getting my FIL's '92 Subaru Legacy AWD wagon in June as a graduation gift. Currently, he is neither working nor has a drivers permit. He'll be 18 in June, so he should have his license when graduation rolls around. He also knows that when I sign the car over to him, he is responsible for everything - gas, insurance, maintenance, etc., so he knows that he'll need to have a job to cover those costs.
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I'd be surprised if my daughter goes that way. One of them is wayyy more likely to go nuts on the interior, tricking it out in velvet or something. But you never know. Danicka Patrick is having an impact, I'd guess. As is Pimp My Ride.
myu only problem with buying them something slow is that we live at the top of a three-mile grade, and it's very dangerous to be coming up that road in the slow lane.
but I wouldn't buy them anything that is too speedy, and there's no risk that I'll buy them the nicest car in the lot.
This forum would probably be more entertaining if I set the dollar limit lower, at 5 or 10K, as that would pose more of a challenge than the $20K limit.
ps It's your dad or mom's fault that you didn't put oil in the car, not yours.
and with that saved money, I can help pay for my Z4?
;-)
actually, a buddy tonight may have talked me out of the Z4 and into a Saturn Sky
it's funny how buddies can do that
My son is going into his senior year of high school and he has had his license since the end of his sophmore year. he currently drives a 1991 Buick Regal Coupe. Unless you really need AWD then a large front wheel drive car should be enough. AWD does have its advantages and it really does work in bad weather, however many cars that have it are undesirable for teen drivers. If you don't mind putting your daughter in an SUV then that is fine. I see many teen girls driving in Grand Cherokees or smaller SUVs like Honda CR-Vs or Ford Escapes. If AWD is a necessity, than i would suggest you look at a Subaru Impreza 2.5 (Non WRX) or a small SUV such as a CR-V but no larger than a Chevy Equinox. If you find that you don't need AWD, then i would suggest looking at post 2000 GM W-Bodies (Regals,Impalas, Grand Prixs, Monte Carlos), Honda Accords, Nissan Maximas, and Toyota Camries. If New England snow storms are any indication, large, V6, front drive cars should be enough to tackle mostly any weather.
how reliable are those cars?
Given how much money I'd save by buying a used GM, I could afford a few repairs.
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Both are pretty inexpensive to buy and would make good teen cars.
Rocky
Top 10 Cheap Cool Cars for Teens for 2006
however, a new car for a teenage driver is ALWAYS a bad idea, especially it's completely paid for.
I have 12 year old twin boys. Currently I drive 04 Acura TL. When they turn 16, the car will be 7 years old. It will be perfect age for a teenage driver; however, at 250+ HP it is too fast. Do you think I should trade my car in now for an Accord LX coupe and pass that on to them, or buy them a new Civic or Scion Tc when it’s time.
Used car is not an option. They have to have a reliable car, and used Toyotas and Hondas are just too expensive and don’t make sense.
I'd make it an option...
When I drive by the high school each morning, I see hundreds of cars parked there... and very, very few are new...
When I was in high school (Paleozoic Era), I didn't even have a car.. I had to (gasp) ride the bus..
I know your children are very special (as is mine), but really.... they can live with a used car..
regards,
kyfdx
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I recall someone who had gone to Wyoming HS the area for a conference and she was talking to students at lunch and one kids as going out to polish his BMW. Seems to me the wrong focus point is in play there. This was a few years ago when BMWs weren't nearly as common in many parts--KFYDX knows where I mean
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.... and you are resentful. :mad: Which is what probably led you to your next comment below.
I know your children are very special (as is mine), but really.... they can live with a used car..
I can see already that livin in your house ain't gonna be no fun. Having to settle for a used car, geeez. :sick:
I'm surprised you'd even think of propagating a life style that won't keep the youngins happy.
jmonroe
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The only non Japanese made cars that are as reliable as Hondas and Toyotas are Buicks. I am sorry, but putting a teenager in a Buick is just cruel and unusual punishment.
However, it turns out that the $400 mountain bike is just not enough... My wife insists that I purchase a $250 Ipod prior to this weekend (he won't have anything to open).
He is indeed neglected...
But, I do understand about planning ahead for the driving situation.. In my case, my wife's BMW lease is due to expire the year before my son attains driving age.. You can be certain that she won't be driving anything nearly that nice, the next time around..
regards,
kyfdx
(who still bears the scars of six years of school bus rides)
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I had talked to my insurance guy to see if there were particular manufacturers or models, and to bounce the idea of a Camry LE off of him. He indicated that was a great plan, but just avoid VW's because apparently replacement parts are fairly high priced around here for some reason (and hence insurance rates were higher). YMMV in your particular geography. Accord and Camry were on my shortlist when I bought.
But I guess that's just me.
With what you are saying, it sounds like you are giving yourself no choice in the matter. You won't buy a used car and you won't give your kid what you are currently driving ... so I don't see how there is any option left for you.
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since when have all the parents started purchasing new vehicles? i guess they must feel guilty of failing to give them something when they were growing up.
giving a new car to a teenager is doing them a disfavor actually.
not only will insurance be higher, they will not know what it is to acquire something the hard way, by earning it. a new car sets the bar pretty darn high.
if they can't keep a used car in good working condition, they don't deserve a new car.
heck they don't deserve a car... there's no such thing as a right to one. anyway, until they can buy it, fuel it, maintain it, and insure it with their own money you really are doing them a disfavor by enabling them.
There is indeed maintenance costs on new cars, too except for new BMWs (not a good teen car).
Buick's are unsafe? Since when? Cruel and unusual punishment for a teen to drive one? I guess that begs the question, what are they driving now? If their main mode of transportation is labled converse, keds....or Schwinn, then I would think any motorized vehicle would be a comparative luxury.
As you can tell, I've got some real issues with teens and their so called driving/car "entitlement" that I keep hearing about.
probably most kids today would break out in a sweat if they had to negotiate getting on the bus. "does your bus fare machine take AMEX"? :shades:
However, there is a lot to be said for giving a teen a used car, and a AAA membership. Owning a car is a lot of responsibility, as is adulthood in general. Obviously, said used car should be evaluated thoroughly before purchase, but I still believe it is the best route to go for a teen driver. It is good for the kid to tell them to call AAA when they have a mechanical failure, instead of automatically calling mommy and daddy to come rescue them. After all, when they are 40 and their car breaks down, mommy and daddy may not be a viable option for them when they have car troubles - and they need to learn some self-sufficiency at some point.
Lastly, why do you have to "suffer" through driving the slow, safe car until they get old enough to drive? It has been my experience, that when one is in need of a used car, there are typically a fair # available just by word of mouth when talking to friends and family. You could probably get a dependable used car through a trusted friend or family member with relatively little effort.
Now that's a stretch. Have you checked recalls lately and not so lately...
And you haven't driven any of the more recent Buicks if you think they still have the exressway ride... stereotypes are hard to break. But you need to broaden your horizons.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
kids can get a decent used vehicle if their parents take the time to go through the process with them. and we should. because they'll ultimately be better knowlegeable about their ride and what things cost to fix - so so so - they'll have a tendency to take better care of it.
i liked the other poster's comment about having 1/2 the kids money (at least) into the purchase. yes sir. if it's gonna be a "right" of passage, then responsibilities come with it.
not responsible? no vehicle. this isn't like being duped into bringing home a new puppy or kitten that they will loose interest in in about a week.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
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Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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WOW Kirstie....with all of your trademarked products, you should be rich by now.....
They do it every time.
I've watched others' teenagers start driving through our area. I'll see the parents with the new driver and their temporaries driving carefully along the roads. After months I'll see the new driver alone on short runs to the grocery for example driving just as carefully and at and below the speed limit. Then a couple of months later the car is moving quicker and quicker. The stop signs are mere blips in the rapid movement of life.
Then the car shows up with a fender dented in, if we're lucky. That happens in a high, but undetermined percentage of my observations.
I've got a youngin' coming along that will want a license. He had been observing the neat cars well-to-do parents had provided for their youthful drivers in and around the school at practices for band.
He asked a few months ago what kind of car I was going to buy him when he got his license. I told him he was riding in it. An almost 10-year old full-sized car is what it will be with air bags, seat belts, and lots of metal and a good crash record. Then maybe he'll get to drive the used pickup I think I'll buy myself about the time he starts driving. A pickup is a neat school car for many youngins' round here. I've always wanted one for those visits to Lowes and Home Depot and so on to carry stuff home.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Like a 24 speed BICYCLE.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
i shared used bowling shoes with my 6 brothers. I got them on Saturdays and had no place to go in them.
;b
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I knew it was just a matter of time until we heard that one.
.... but I actually did that once when I got lost in a new neighborhood. :shades:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I lived on the back side of a large hill, borderline mountain IMO, and the campus sat on the other side of the valley by that hill.
So I walked up the hill then down the hill then up the other side of the valley to class. Rinse and repeat for the afternoon.
We seem to be in agreement, again.
Heaven forbid if the child has their own car and it is used and even worse, the wrong brand. I come from the generation that if someone could see the label on your shirt, you were told that you had your shirt on inside out.
Too much . too soon . too bad for the parent/child now and later.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
my parents didn't make me buy my own car or pay for gas, but i learned about it when i needed to.
we have told our kids, 'your job is to get good grades'.
so far, so good.
I think buicks are the perfect teenager car, big, comfy and fast enough. It gets you from Point A to Point B with absolutely no desire for you to exhibit spirited driving. Now any kid that demands something "better" is simply spoiled due to parenting or surroundings [associates w/ other kids that are spoiled with nice cars].
I agree with all those here deciding on the used sedan option, easy to drive cars that are fairly versatile.
Now for the thread creator's question, I like the idea of a CRV w/ awd, should get the job done just fine. Im unsure of the insurance though.
I'm a single parent and have overcompensated at times with my son because of his Mother and I divorcing. So, I'm guilty of some of that "over compensation" at times.
I believe it's easier for a parent to buy a car for their kid(s) than it is to teach them some life lessons. Does giving them a car make them a better person? I don't see how.
Taking the time to teach them about a budget, about cash flow, about building some cash for life's "gotchas" (like unexpected car repairs), is much harder than just handing over the car keys to them. But, without some skin in that game, the teen learns nothing.
Hopefully, the little lessons he's learning about car ownership will serve him well, not only about cars, but about life. He knows he's got to come up with an extra $75 this winter to get a new battery. Better to save for it now and replace it before he gets stranded down the road. Better to keep a clean driving record that to face astronomical insurace premiums he'd have to pay to keep the wheels on the road. It's better to keep that car tuned up to get better MPG than to pay for more gas than he has to.
Giving a car, without the responsibility that goes with it, really is a disservice to our kids. Yes, it's easier (for the parent) to just hand over the keys. It's better to have them learn something from having a vested interest (financially) in the car. There's so many learning opportunities by doing so.....some of them are very hard lessons. It just takes more of our (any parent's) time to do so, though. I think our kids are worth it, though.
Preaching over!!!!!!!!!!
I've got 3 kids (20 yo stepson, 18 yo step-daughter, 17 yo son), so I've had a chance to refine the technique.
The 20yo is on his own now - well, he lives with his dad in Utah, but he pays his own way. Has a small car payment ($150/mo) and covers all his own expenses. He's got a 2001 Saturn L200 and has taken pretty good care of it. In the past year, he's put new tires, shocks and struts onto it. He does regular oil changes. He knows that this is the last car we'll help him with - car is in his name, we cosigned the note.
The 18yo is a freshman in college about 100 miles from us. She is driving a new Saturn ION, which we bought last summer. We pay the note and maintenance, she covers gas and insurance. She is not working now, but will over the summer. She has enough put away to cover gas and insurance to the end of the school year in May. She, too, knows that this is the last car we'll buy her. The ION only has 4K on it in 7 months, so I suspect it will last her a good, long time.
The 17yo lives in CA with his mom. As has been previously mentioned here and on other topics, he will be getting my FIL's '92 Subaru Legacy AWD wagon in June as a graduation gift. Currently, he is neither working nor has a drivers permit. He'll be 18 in June, so he should have his license when graduation rolls around. He also knows that when I sign the car over to him, he is responsible for everything - gas, insurance, maintenance, etc., so he knows that he'll need to have a job to cover those costs.