Pls help me decide on a safe care for my son

cantdrv55 · 05-31-2007, 07:27 AM

He doesn't have a choice. I recently saw the injury/accident statistics involving teen drivers and was quite alarmed. I was involved in a rear end as a teen (my fault) but, luckily, I was able to walk away unscathed.

Anyway, the choices are:

1990 Volvo 240 DL wagon - I can't find any crash test rating
2004 Honda Civic 4 dr - NHTSA 5 star driver and 4 star passenger rating
2004 Toyota Corolla 4 dr - same rating as Honda

Based on the NHTSA ratings, I should choose between the Honda and Toyota but, they are small cars. Wouldn't a big tank like the Volvo fare better than the compacts? The Volvo does have a drivers side airbag but nothing else whereas the compacts have front and side airbags.

Thanks for your help

Jim Richards · 05-31-2007, 07:33 AM

Go with the '04 Civic or Corolla. IMO, the Volvo may be more costly to maintain due its age, though I don't know its current mechanical condition. As far as safety goes, we had a DL wagon, and got rear ended in it. It was pretty safe for the passengers.

daepp · 05-31-2007, 07:35 AM

+1 240 DL - built very strong - extra thick sheet metal, extra good metallurgy in the engine.

livi · 05-31-2007, 07:36 AM

I would probably choose the Volvo for three reasons:

1. It is big and robust.
2. It is such a boring tractor, it will not tempt a youngster to go racing in the streets.
3. I base the above on extensive personal experience..

The Gaijin · 05-31-2007, 07:37 AM

The Volvo is getting to be an old car. And being broken down on the side of the road is an unsafe place to be..

legion · 05-31-2007, 07:40 AM

Keep in mind, that in most teen accidents, the teen driver is at fault. I'd go for something underpowered.

When I have kids, I think a base 924 would be a great car. It exudes "sporty" but at a whopping 90 hp, it's not fast.

daepp · 05-31-2007, 07:42 AM

That Volvo is VERY underpowered.

And I must say I believe them to be very reliable - even in old age. They are a very simple design, and you can tear down an engine and find wear that is almost immeasurable.

livi · 05-31-2007, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by daepp
That Volvo is VERY underpowered.

And I must say I believe them to be very reliable - even in old age. They are a very simple design, and you can tear down an engine and find wear that is almost immeasurable.

I have had two of them. Both went over 200k without any engine trouble. I would say that is very common with these older Volvos. Simple but very robust design.

The Gaijin · 05-31-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by livi
Simple but very robust design.

I need a good Swedish woman like that. About a 1986 model.

Tim Hancock · 05-31-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by legion
Keep in mind, that in most teen accidents, the teen driver is at fault. I'd go for something underpowered.

When I have kids, I think a base 924 would be a great car. It exudes "sporty" but at a whopping 90 hp, it's not fast.

Has worked for me (both teen daughters drive 924's), but for those concerned about getting run over by a semi, well the non airbag 924 probably is probably not what he is looking for.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

get him a Cayman. He'll love you more.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

lol. 912e...the cayman will just piss him off at you.. ;

legion · 05-31-2007, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim Hancock
Has worked for me (both teen daughters drive 924's), but for those concerned about getting run over by a semi, well the non airbag 924 probably is probably not what he is looking for.

Weren't airbags only an option in the 1987 924S? The 924S had an early 944 engine, putting out a more respectable 150 hp, which in the lighter and more aerodynamic 924 body, made it faster than an early 944.

tabs · 05-31-2007, 08:21 AM

With a Volvo he will become a Chick Magnet. Volvos exude sexiness...

Tim Hancock · 05-31-2007, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by legion
Weren't airbags only an option in the 1987 924S? The 924S had an early 944 engine, putting out a more respectable 150 hp, which in the lighter and more aerodynamic 924 body, made it faster than an early 944.

I don't know, but my oldest daughter's '87 924S does not have an airbag and my youngest daughter's '77 924 obviously does not. My '87 951 does however have a drivers side airbag.

They would "love" me more if they each had brand new Crapmaro's or Junkstangs instead of old 2-3 thousand dollar cars that I fixed up for them, but that is not how I roll.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

lol..crapmaro, junkstang. never heard those.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

how about driving lessons and teaching him responsibility instead?

It'll help protect the rest of us on the road too?

Harold_89_911 · 05-31-2007, 08:37 AM

Volvo 240
+1

Own experience. That car is built like a tank. Very simple and reliable engine. Very underpowered compared to todays standards (0-60 must be in the 15 sec range from what I remember)

daepp · 05-31-2007, 08:45 AM

My 90 240DL had airbags for the driver only. It did 196,000 miles before I sold it - and it was still running strong. Only problem ever was the early death of a few 02 sensors.

911boost · 911boost's Garage

+1 on the Volvo. My aunt drove hers through the garage wall into the living room. House needed a sheatload of work, volvo needed a bumper and the hood repainted.

My daughter wil be getting a volvo as her first car, of course, that is in a number of years so it will probably be an S60 or something. My wife and daughter walked away from a nasty accident in the S60 we used to have, hence the XC90 I know own.

Bill