What kind of car did you buy for your new teen driver?

September 4, 2008 11:16 AM

Daughter is 16 and got her license a few months ago--she had her permit for a year before that and drove often with us (parents). So now we are looking at used cars for her--preferably under 10K, safe and decent city driving gas mileage. Of course she has her ideas--BMW, Jeep, Infinity, etc. Yeah right.
posted by sandra194 to Travel & Transportation (61 answers total)

Can't really go wrong with a Honda or Toyota. You should be able to get an early 2000s Civic or Corolla for around 10K.
posted by desjardins at 11:24 AM on September 4, 2008

Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Depending on where you are, you can probably get something with under 80k miles for $10,000.
posted by mr_roboto at 11:24 AM on September 4, 2008

Where do you live? Are climate and weather a consideration? "Will she need snow tires or 4 wheel drive?", is really what I'm saying. I got my 97 VW golf for about 4,000 a few years ago. Don't rule out cars that are over a decade old. Reliable is good. Don't forget to check CarFacts!
posted by purpletangerine at 11:28 AM on September 4, 2008

Volvo 240. There is no way in hell ANYONE can get into trouble with a volvo. Unless it's a wagon, and you all know what happens in the back of a wagon.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 11:29 AM on September 4, 2008 [5 favorites]

I had a used Altima as my first car which was pretty good in retrospect. Not sure how the newer models fare, but mine had a relatively small engine (so it was hard to do anything incredibly reckless), ABS, airbags, and was pretty comfortable.

Of course, my father traveled a lot so I ended up driving his Miata most days. If you want to get something you can "borrow" and have some fun with, go for it. Or, you know, buy one for yourself and give her your old car.
posted by backseatpilot at 11:31 AM on September 4, 2008

purpletangerine means CARFAX, the vehicle information database that says the history of a particular car. Very useful.
posted by ALongDecember at 11:31 AM on September 4, 2008

My parents got me a 1995 2 door Ford Explorer (which I still have). Probably doesn't meet the gas mileage requirement, but we got it used for around $5k and it's kind of like a Jeep.

If you can get her to go older, then you'll save a good amount on the car. Most high school and college kids that I know want a car that runs, a CD player, and the ability to have the windows go up and down. Yeah, there's always the dream car. But if the kid isn't paying for it, I hope that they won't act like a spoiled brat and cry about it à la My Super Sweet 16.
posted by theichibun at 11:32 AM on September 4, 2008

Chevy Aveo - inexpensive, great millage, and I was told by my dad it got great safety ratings.
I'd recommend checking out carmax for some good used deals (I bought my aveo from them and got a great deal on a very low milage model).
posted by doorsfan at 11:32 AM on September 4, 2008

Honda honda, honda honda honda honda. Honda. Honda, honda honda, honda honda honda.
posted by notsnot at 11:32 AM on September 4, 2008

I got a Honda as my first (and current) car. SO WONDERFUL. Good mileage, DEPENDABLE, and you know what? Very easy to handle and yet not too powerful. Yeah, the Civic gives me some trouble going up hills -- it doesn't have a lot of get-up-and-go -- but that's what I would want if I had a kid :]
posted by fiercecupcake at 11:36 AM on September 4, 2008

Mid-1990s Toyota Corolla. I got mine in 1993 and it still runs perfectly. You can get one for under $5k.
posted by charlesv at 11:36 AM on September 4, 2008

An acquaintance, the father of a teenage son, bought his son a Miata. It seemed odd - a tiny sports car? "Because he can only carry one other person in it." The kid thinks it's cool because it's a sports car, Dad likes it because the rolling-teen-party-on-wheels isn't happening.

(I'm using the old-school definition of 'sports car' - small, two-seater or two-plus-two, modest engine power, excellent handling... think Triumph TR6 or MG A.)
posted by workerant at 11:37 AM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Seconding Volvo 240. They are built like tanks, last forever and don't have enough power for the kids to get in to trouble.
posted by iamabot at 11:41 AM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Nthing the Corolla. Friends of mine had a 1992, it was friggin' awesome. Always good times riding around in that. And yeah, odds are she'll be happy to just get a car of her own.
posted by Lemurrhea at 11:45 AM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

nthing Honda and Toyota. They simply make the most best and most reliable consumer cars in that class. Statistically I would venture to guess it's not even close.

For a 16-year-old I would be buying something much smaller than an Accord or Camry though (I mean, what 16-year-old wouldn't be mortified by driving a Camry). Think Corolla, Matrix, Civic. My personal choice would be a Civic 3Dr Hatchback.
posted by mcstayinskool at 11:47 AM on September 4, 2008

Get your teen a used, BIG car. Those small cars are death traps for a new driver. My Lumina was very smooth and was a completely reliable car. Also Luminas will not break your bank. I'm telling you, you cannot go wrong with them. Good luck!
posted by InterestedInKnowing at 11:47 AM on September 4, 2008

My friends drove: an old camry, an old colt (which I don't think they make anymore), an old tercel, and an old mazda 323. They were all tiny and had no horse power (except for the camry). They were all old cars the parents let them use. You might just want to get yourself a car you like, and give your daughter your old one. Unless your old car is super awesome.
posted by chunking express at 11:48 AM on September 4, 2008

Corolla, Corolla, Corolla. A used one.
posted by chez shoes at 11:48 AM on September 4, 2008

Another vote for a mid- or late '90s Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. I'd also add a mid- or late '90s Nissan Sentra to the list -- I drove one for nearly 10 years with no major problems. Those class of cars are consistently well-built and reliable -- they just run and run and run and run, and the rare repairs they require tend not to be expensive. (That's one of the drawbacks to Volvos -- everyone I know whose driven them loves them, but they all lament the high repair costs. But yes, they are like driving well-powered tanks, if safety's the absolute top issue.)
posted by scody at 11:52 AM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I had a Geo Prism (basically the same car as the Corolla). Loved it. A few years later my brother ended up with a Jeep, because surprisingly the two cars cost the the same amount (jealousy ensued). You could also go with a smaller SUV like a RAV4 or a CRV.
posted by ml98tu at 11:55 AM on September 4, 2008

Mid-90s Corolla, if you want boring but reliable, you can't beat it. And to quote a friend who worked in insurance and safety; new drivers should not be allowed to own Jeeps (meaning YJ's and TJ's, etc), they simply do not have the experience to handle them.
posted by Cosine at 11:59 AM on September 4, 2008

My first car was a used Honda Civic. Perfect for a teen driver.
posted by gaspode at 12:00 PM on September 4, 2008

My dad very generously bought me a new car as a surprise when I was learning to drive - he wanted me to have, as a young woman, something safe and reliable. He meant well and I was very appreciative - except I was terrified to drive it. Every time it got a minuscule scratch I was guilt-ridden. So I drove it very little and it would sit in the drive unused for weeks at a time. Also, the insurance was ridiculously expensive and I couldn't really afford to run it. (My dad paid the first year, and then suddenly I was supposed to pay after that, except we hadn't discussed it and there was no way I could afford it.)

(Eventually my younger brother started driving it and turned it into a seething pit of male grossness, full of food wrappers and filthy sweatshirts. One time I found it full of mud and hay. To this day I have no clue why. But that's another story.)

It's now about four years later, and a few months ago, I bought an old Nissan Micra. It's nearly as old as me, but has pretty low mileage, excellent service history - and was only £350. I drive it everywhere. I adore it. It doesn't have a CD player (I don't think it even has a tape player!), it doesn't have airbags, or central locking, or an alarm, but it's the perfect car for me. Also, I think I appreciate it more because I paid for it!

The point I'm trying to make is that your daughter may be better off with an older car that's cheap to run and insure and she's not worried about scratching (these things happen!). If she wants to, she can spend her own money on a nice shiny new car in a few years time!
posted by badmoonrising at 12:00 PM on September 4, 2008

Nthing a Toyota. My first car (only car, it's still in great shape) was a '97 Toyota Rav4. It gets good mileage, is easy to drive, is small enough to be practical for a kid and it's big enough to feel safe in. The back seats in mine folded down and there was a huge back/trunk space, which is really useful for someone that age who'll be toting a lot of crap and moving a lot in the coming years.
posted by phunniemee at 12:01 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I learned how to drive on a 1993 Honda Accord. Nearly everyone I went to high school with had either an old Volvo, an old Camry or an old Accord and no one in my graduating class had a horrible driving accident of any kind. The '93 Honda is still up and running (my sister owns it now), and I can name a couple classmates off the top of my head who are still driving the same car they had in high school (I graduated back in '02) with no major problems with the vehicle.

If she wants to be sitting high up, like in an SUV or a Jeep, consider the earlier models of the Honda CRV - they have good gas mileage because they have a regular old car engine inside. Don't really know much about the longevity of the vehicle, but one of my friends drove one for quite some time until it got passed down to a younger sister. Also, they start shaking at about 80mph, so you have a built-in safety, and they're easy to parallel park.

Please please please do not buy a used Chevy Aveo. I don't know about the newer models, but when I scanned work orders for a dealership back in 2004(?), I was under the impression that the car was essentially a cardboard box on wheels with no rear defrost.
posted by giraffe at 12:08 PM on September 4, 2008

I have had more than one used Cavalier and like them a lot. They seem to be the only American car not plagued with constant problems.
posted by Kellydamnit at 12:11 PM on September 4, 2008

I hate to say it as a "Chevy guy" with respect to old cars, but stay away from GM. My 89 Pontiac had its ups and downs, but the Luminas, grand ams, etc (mid size) that I saw in my brother's shop were all pieces of crap.

I said honda upthread. My 1990 CRX was my little sister's car in high school more than a decade ago, and I've taken it places no car without 4WD should go, and it still gets 38 MPG.
posted by notsnot at 12:14 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Were it not for that "used, preferably under $10k" detail, I'd pitch Nissan Versas like crazy. I own an '09 hatchback version and it gets awesome gas mileage (24-33) and it got very good safety ratings! (And because I bought it outright, it was only $16k after fees and such. Woohoo!)

Now, failing that... if $12k isn't TOO much of a stretch, I'd consider a Sentra. And that's just for the more recent models (2003 and newer), surely you could find one for under $10k if you go even older. My sister has an '04 Sentra and is quite happy with it. They tend to get more or less the same good gas mileage and safety ratings as Versas, too.

(Actually, when I was buying my car, a Sentra was my first choice, I ended up picking the new Versa because it had more head room. Sentras are cute, they just remind me of how much it sucks to be tall. Boooo.)
posted by Yoshi Ayarane at 12:19 PM on September 4, 2008

Don't worry too much about what kind of car you get. Your first car should teach you what you do and don't like about cars in general, so that you make a good choice when you buy your next car.
posted by Citrus at 12:37 PM on September 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

Another huge fan of the Corolla. Got my '99 Corolla when I was 18. Five years later it still runs great and gets tremendous mileage.
posted by DrDreidel at 1:01 PM on September 4, 2008

Seconding Kellydamnit- half my family drives around in post-2000 Cavaliers, myself included. Got mine last year for 4k, hell of a car for the money.
posted by clango at 1:02 PM on September 4, 2008

Do not get a BMW. They're great cars but they're also quite temperamental and require tons of maintenance; it's a car for an established person with plenty of income. In fact, the same applies to all European cars, especially Audi/Volkswagen.

I recommend a Buick Park Avenue or Lesabre. They're loaded with safety features -- like OnStar, ABS, Traction Control, Stabilty Control (an absolute must!) and air bags galore -- get great gas milage, and you can find pretty new ones cheap and with low miles -- because, frankly, they depreciate quickly and only old people buy them. They're a big car too, and cheap to insure and repair. Also, American cars are nearly as reliable as Japanese cars, statistically speaking.
posted by luckypozzo at 1:03 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

nthing recommendations for a low-end Honda or Toyota. Excellent reliability, predictable and safe handling, and good gas mileage. My last car was a 15+ year old Accord, and it reached 200k miles with no surprises - just the usual consumables and regular maintenance.
posted by zippy at 1:10 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Umpteenthing anything from the Japanese big-3 (Honda, Toyota, Nissan)

Avoid VWs of the late 90's/early 2000's vintage. Reliability is a toss of the dice, and the parts can be very expensive. I'm also not a fan of plopping kids into big American yachts. I think it makes them feel invulnerable. A smaller car will force them to be more aware of what's going on around them. They'll tend to drive more defensively (IMHO, of course)
posted by Thorzdad at 1:12 PM on September 4, 2008

Honda/Toyota. Why? They're vanilla enough that she won't try to drive them like a girl racer. They're not going to encourage bad habits. They're cheapish to insure. They're reliable, and not a pain to maintain.

The Mazda 323 hatchback is another option. Gets a bit wheezy at times, but you don't mind that in a car for a young driver. New-model Minis appear to hold their value, which makes it over your budget, and they can be a bit idiosyncratic at times. Old Subaru? Possibly.

Point is this: she's 16. She will reverse into fence posts and pillars. She will scuff the bumpers. She may have a prang. She absolutely doesn't need to be one of those teenagers in a bloody Jeep.

An acquaintance, the father of a teenage son, bought his son a Miata. It seemed odd - a tiny sports car?

Now, I can actually go with that. The Car Talk people like Miatas because they're simple and responsive and they can actually teach you a fair bit about driving well. Now, I think the dad may have been doing some wish-fulfillment, and it's the sort of car that I wouldn't put in the hands of an absolute beginner, just on a gut feeling, because rear-wheel drive can magnify basic handling errors, especially in dodgy conditions.

It's now about four years later, and a few months ago, I bought an old Nissan Micra. It's nearly as old as me, but has pretty low mileage, excellent service history - and was only £350. I drive it everywhere. I adore it.

Micras are great, even if the older ones can be underpowered for the motorway. Corsas are great first cars. Ford Kas are good, if a bit tricksy. The mid-90s hatchback Civics are great. You could even go into little Pugs or Citroëns or Fiats or Renaults. But that kind of range doesn't exist in the US.
posted by holgate at 1:13 PM on September 4, 2008

I learned how to drive in 2001 or so on my MIL's 1989 Corolla. (she bought it new, only put abt 75K on it IIRC.) I loved that car. If I hadn't done something dumb (I don't remember what!) & gotten mold in the back seat (and then sold it hell-cheap) I'd probably still be driving it. Simple, solid & comfortable.
posted by epersonae at 1:16 PM on September 4, 2008

My first car was a VW Rabbit with a diesel engine and a manual transmission. Totally uncool, shifted like a truck and sounded like one too. But it was simple enough that I learned how to drive well before moving on to something better (forcibly, after my lack of anti-lock brakes left me wrapping the Rabbit around a tree).

My second car was a Honda Accord, which had a touchy clutch that taught me subtlety. Hard to kill, that car (although my brother managed once he inherited it.)
posted by me3dia at 1:17 PM on September 4, 2008

A Volvo was one of the cars I learned to drive in, and as much as I love them, I couldn't recommend getting a 240 or any of the other RWD ones (IIRC, the 700, 900, V70 and V90 series) for your daughter if you live in a snowy area.

There's nothing terribly wrong with Cavaliers/Sunfires except that their NHTSA ratings are not so great, especially for side impact, compared to other subcompacts. That was a major dealbreaker when I was shopping for my first car. If you have to go with GM and want something recent, get her an Aveo.

I would, however, recommend a late-model Hyundai Elantra. I got a brand-new one as my second car when I graduated from high school in '04 and I loved every moment of driving it. The engine had good pickup, which was nice for highway driving, but not so much power that I could get in trouble as a somewhat-new driver. They have most of the advantages of a Civic or Corolla but are usually cheaper to insure and far cheaper to buy on the used market because South Korean makes depreciate so rapidly.
posted by thisjax at 1:23 PM on September 4, 2008

I got my first car, a 2000 Honda Civic in 2004, for about 10,000 dollars from the Honda dealership. It has yet to break down, and I drive it pretty good distances to and from college.
posted by alligatorman at 1:49 PM on September 4, 2008

my first car (3 years ago!) was a 1990 Toyota Previa, which was later upgraded to a 1994 Honda Accord. Because the first car was a lumpy van, my second car seemed a lot nicer than it really was (but it still runs, and pimping out an older car makes it more yours than customizing at the dealership..)
posted by alcopop at 1:52 PM on September 4, 2008

I drive a '98 Accord and it current has 111k miles on it and it is still capable of getting 30+ MPH.
posted by mmascolino at 1:55 PM on September 4, 2008

Second-generation SAAB 900/9-3. Safe, reliable and safe. And it satisfies her need of something not boring.
posted by Zambrano at 2:00 PM on September 4, 2008

Definitely not a 90s era Ford Taurus!
posted by PixelatorOfTime at 3:49 PM on September 4, 2008

When I turned 16 my dad was driving an older Audi. He used it as an excuse to buy a new car. I got the hand-me-down.

I'm not saying you should buy her a used Audi; maybe it's time for mom or dad to get a new car.
posted by ASM at 4:05 PM on September 4, 2008

I would, however, recommend a late-model Hyundai Elantra. I got a brand-new one as my second car when I graduated from high school in '04 and I loved every moment of driving it.

Yep, that's what I drive now, too -- got a brand-new '05 for about $12k (after the rebate) off the lot. So yeah, I bet you could certainly get an Elantra that's only a few years old in the 10k range. I obviously can't yet say if it has the "run and run and run and run" factor after 10+ years, but it's been a fine, reliable, efficient car so far. (Though I have to say my Sentra got slightly better mileage.)
posted by scody at 4:24 PM on September 4, 2008

There is no way in hell ANYONE can get into trouble with a volvo.

Except at a mechanic.
posted by tremspeed at 4:30 PM on September 4, 2008

My 1990 CRX

those things are such warhorses. I know someone who had one into the 2000s and someone who still has one.
posted by tremspeed at 4:35 PM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I'm in my mid twenties and I am still driving my Honda Civic hatchback that my parents helped me when I was a teen. It's pretty much the perfect car. Great gas mileage, extremely reliable, handles well, seats 4 passengers if needed. The back seat folds nearly flat which is great for moving bikes or furniture (or for going to drive-in movies...) Plus they're cheap.
posted by beandip at 5:06 PM on September 4, 2008

Also recommending Volvo 240 for all the reasons mentioned above -- built like a tank, not too much power, not hugely expensive. At some point in the 90's Volvo decided to become kind of a luxury brand, but before then I think their main appeal was safety über alles. The 240 wagon I learned to drive on got great gas mileage and had a ridiculously awesome turn radius for a largeish vehice.

See if you can find something with a manual transmission! It'll probably be cheaper since no one wants them in the U.S., get better mileage and make your daughter a better driver. Plus every girl I knew in high school who drove stick automatically became like twenty times hotter in my eyes cause she was like OWNING that car.
posted by DLWM at 5:42 PM on September 4, 2008

Volvo 240. Sure, you could go spen up to ten grand on a car, but... first time drivers aren't very nice to their cars. My sister went off in the woods because she didn't know cars slid on gravel, and my brother has managed to break every spring, burn out the clutch, and blow the head gasket on my dad's Subaru by beating on it like a rented mule.

I've got a 240 right now, love it, but at the same time if something bad happened to it, I wouldn't be out ten grand.
posted by dunkadunc at 6:15 PM on September 4, 2008

I drive a '98 Accord and it current has 111k miles on it and it is still capable of getting 30+ MPH.

That's quite the zippy little car there.
posted by dunkadunc at 6:21 PM on September 4, 2008

Once more nthing a toyota - that's what my parents stuck me in, a 2005 camry (sharing with my mom).

Their logic: newer car, more safety features.

I actually just crashed it (>_<) BUT - $9k of damage to the car, and literally just a scratch on one of the 3 people of the car (and that's it). So glad I didn't go for an older (cheaper) car just so it could be all mine, I'm convinced it would have been a lot worse.
posted by sary at 6:55 PM on September 4, 2008

I drive a '98 Accord and it current has 111k miles on it and it is still capable of getting 30+ MPH.

That's quite the zippy little car there.

<sheepish-grin>
In my defense, the G and the H are next to each other on the keyboard.
</sheepish-grin>
posted by mmascolino at 8:22 PM on September 4, 2008

Subaru Impreza.
posted by Netzapper at 9:05 PM on September 4, 2008

Best answer: I'm seventeen and driving a 1992 Ford Tempo.

Has a CD player, it runs, and the windows go up and down. I'm happy.
posted by Precision at 10:09 PM on September 4, 2008

Nthing that Volvo 240. An ex of mine got rear ended by a drunk driver while parked to drop her friend off. Her 240 was thrown over the curb and about 15 feet into her friend's yard. Two days later, we tied the muffler up with coat hangers and drove it away from the tow lot. The rear bumper was battered to hell, some of the plastic light covers were gone, and the trunk lid was never quite right again, but the car drove arrow straight like it did before the accident. The drunk girl's car looked like the aftermath of a car bombing. $500 17 year old Volvo, 1; $30,000 brand new Honda, 0. I think the ex finally killed it after driving for a year without changing the oil...

Original Volvo parts can be expensive, but quality aftermarket parts are available. I put a $200 radiator in my old 940 that should have cost $300 installed by a fair mechanic; 30 minutes of work for me to pull the old and pop in the new. So, that seems like a very reasonable price for a common repair on an older car. Did I mention Volvos are incredibly easy to work on? My little sister has spent less than $1000 on repairs driving that car for the past two years (my high school graduation gift to her). It's all about keeping on top of regular maintenance and finding an honest mechanic.

The rear wheel drive definitely sucks in the snow. The 940s, which are just as tank-like as the 240s, often have traction control and anti-lock breaks, which really help. 940s also often come with power everything and heated seats.

She might not appreciate a Volvo much during high school, but the venerable Swedish Brick will win her major cool points in most college towns.

End Volvo spiel.
posted by Derive the Hamiltonian of... at 10:40 PM on September 4, 2008

My parents didn't buy me (or my brother or sister) a car. I saved up some of the money I was earning before I got my license and with it bought my first car, an '89 Toyota Carolla, for $1000. You can't go wrong with either a Toyota or a Honda and you can find a use one for well under $10,000. If your daughter has dreams of a BMW, you could tell her she's always free to get a job and save up for it.
posted by Brian Puccio at 6:33 AM on September 5, 2008

Aww no love for big cars? The reason why I would put my teen (when I have them) in a big sedan (not SUV or Jeep) is because they can be the safest drivers in the world but there are other people out there who are not. If they were in a small car, they stand the chance of being critically injured or worse. I have seen it too many times on the road teenagers driving in small cars and killing themselves. And because it's a small car, it's faster and zippy. I can't tell you the amount of stories I hear between a small car and an SUV. So for me, no small cars and no SUVs, just a boring, regular size sedan.
posted by InterestedInKnowing at 9:23 AM on September 5, 2008

Our "second" car is a mid-90s Jeep Wrangler. It was under $10k, is decent on gas mileage, reasonably fun to drive, and can take one hell of a beating. You could do a lot worse for a first car if that's what she's hinting for.
posted by Cricket at 9:36 PM on September 5, 2008

My first car was an '86 VW GTI, but there was an alignment of the stars for that to happen.

I'd suggest the '76-'85 Mercedes 300 Diesel family. Slow as hell, literally as solid as a bank vault, and if a nuclear war breaks out, it'll be the only car left running.
posted by hwyengr at 9:47 PM on September 5, 2008

Nthing Honda to the nth degree. Amazing gas mileage, low price, highly functional, they look good, they maintain well..when's the last time you heard a horror story about a Honda?
posted by ostranenie at 12:53 PM on September 6, 2008 [1 favorite]