First Car for 16 year old

What does the kid want to drive?

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

What does the kid want to drive?

His only desire is something smaller than the LR4 and Range Rover Sport he is learning on.

Otherwise, he is overjoyed that dear old Dad is looking.

I just get the bonus of buying a car even if its not for me...

[bleucamaro]

I vote for old volvo wagon with manual shift. Or e30 325e. or honda accord.

Or sit down with him and pull up cars.com or autotrader and start going through the filters till he finds something that he is excited about. Then have him split the cost with you, meaning get a job.

He'll treat something he's had to earn, and likes, with a lot more respect than a hooptie dad picked out that he has no passion for.

[Alfasrule]

Sammy,
Hey what's wrong with ITALIAN CARS? I'm offended.
My daughter loves to drive my Spider and the Sedan. Teaching her to drive a standard.
She has a hard time to manipulate the V6's, but we're working on it.
When she masters the clutch, she wants to drive the Montreal her favorite. I promised her.
ALFAS Rule!!

Matthew I don't get it either??? At 17 I had a cooler of beer in my trunk and other things in my car, she's got her art work, plays, sports etc.. Maybe we did the right thing cause your children want to be the opposite of your parents and maybe I'm a BAD Influence or a good one?

[JackDidley]

This should be great on gas.

[Wetwork]

All depends on the kid.

I had terrible self confidence, was pretty darn skinny..the girls didn't even know I was alive. I always worked so I started saving and in 1986 just after I turned 16 I bought my first car. A 1967 Camaro with a decent 327 under the hood. Nice paint job. Four speed Muncie. I got it for just over $3k. Having saved for it, doing my own wrenching, buying my own insurance, even buying tires changes how you drive something. You don't roast off the tires when you had to buy a set. Anyway, the game had changed.

That dumb car changed my pathetic life. I wish I could say otherwise, but from that day til now I've been down a pretty good road. I retired from the best job ever, at the top of my game, at age 38. Full pension, full medical, honorable discharge.


As I said it depends on the kid. For me it was the car. For kids with confidence, they can get by with a Yugo.-WW

[Alfasrule]

Me 1st car was a 71 Duster with a 318. $200.00 What a car! 1978
Camry or Accord is the best option. I live in a harsh climate and it's very safe. I'm an ALFA guy and Hate jap cars, but this is my suggestion and that's what forums are all about. She loves her Camry!
PEACE!

[Icemaster]

Originally Posted by SweetWaterSurprise

This ^ Just got my nephew a Nissan Cube

Not a bad idea. Reliable, cheap to operate, and guaranteed to keep him from ever getting laid.

[URY914]

Think Honda

[onewhippedpuppy]

What is the kid into? Because you listed a lot of unreliable car guy options that he will eventually have to pay to maintain or DIY.

[WPOZZZ]

Built like a tank and safe like one, too.

[drcoastline]

It may not be what you're thinking about, but I have a sixteen year old daughter. We also live in NJ where we have this stupid law where new drivers must put a red sticker on the license plate identifying them as new drivers. This makes them a target in my opinion, so I am leaning towards one of these.

Yes, including the gunner.

[Mrdi]

The largest rap around safety possible.
There will be some accidental collision, hopefully small
but guaranteed.
I've been there.
We chose a nice Buick "tank" that was do to be traded by the grandparents
with low miles.
Maintenance cost is low on the list when a child's life is at stake.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

It may not be what you're thinking about, but I have a sixteen year old daughter. We also live in NJ where we have this stupid law where new drivers must put a red sticker on the license plate identifying them as new drivers. This makes them a target in my opinion, so I am leaning towards one of these.

Yes, including the gunner.

Red sticker like this?

[RKDinOKC]

This was my first car...



Got it for $1.00.
Took it anywhere the 4x4 trucks would go.
They nicknamed it the tank.
Figured if I got stuck I would just leave it, it was only $1.00. It never got stuck.
Despite thinking the kids want to be in a cool car, we took this car all the time.
Had the fold up seats that face each other in the back so it fit 12.
Huge bench front seat made it great for dates.
8mpg limited the road trip range.

Got broad sided by a girl in an import. Totaled her car. Barely dented the Tank.
Her Dad called and wanted to meet the guy that didn't care about wrecking his car.
Then he saw the car. Thought it was pretty smart getting something that was nearly indestructible.

If the kid doesn't really care get an old Crown Vic.

[look 171]

Op, no offense, but that's a bunch of old man cars.

I say Japanese or is budget allows, get him a Kia that's 6-8 years old. They are good cars and pretty safe too. I dont' know about a 16 or 17 years old who wants a Volvo? I wanted a station wagon so I can haul all my bike gears to races.

[wayne robson]

Buy a simple , most reliable car made, that is why it is the worlds most popular car.
Toyota Corrolla 1.8 engine,overhead cam,that engine will do 2000kmiles and you wont touch it.You can pick these up from $2500 to $3500, and still good reliable cars,
the great thing about these, if you do have to say repair an item,toyota makes it so
easy to do the repair,because they are built that way,.
Our family has four Corrollas from 2003 to 2009, The 2003 has 148000 miles
only had new battery, tires, starter,every thing else is still factory stock,even the
high low ratio automatic----yes 8 gears.

[Nickshu]

I am surprised on a car forum how many here advocate getting the kid something that will guarantee he never becomes a car guy. Kia? Camry? Those cars are guaranteed not to pass on our love of cars to the kid. Yes get him something relatively reliable and relatively safe, but at least try to check the cool and fun box a little bit.

Personally so far I like the Subaru WRX idea.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

I am surprised on a car forum how many here advocate getting the kid something that will guarantee he never becomes a car guy. Kia? Camry? Those cars are guaranteed not to pass on our love of cars to the kid. Yes get him something relatively reliable and relatively safe, but at least try to check the cool and fun box a little bit.

My son loves cars but he's a realist. He understands he's not going to drive a Porsche at 16. He's asking for a Ford Focus or a Toyota Rav4. He can rattle off the specs of a Porsche 918 Spyder and without missing a beat break off into a Bugati Veyron and how they perform. Love of vehicles can be passed down regardless what the kid drives.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by cabmando

My son loves cars but he's a realist. He understands he's not going to drive a Porsche at 16. He's asking for a Ford Focus or a Toyota Rav4. He can rattle off the specs of a Porsche 918 Spyder and without missing a beat break off into a Bugati Veyron and how they perform. Love of vehicles can be passed down regardless what the kid drives.

Used Focus RS or ST would work.

MazdaSpeed 6 would be cool too, if you can find one. AWD, Manual trans.

Volvo C30 in manual transmission, again if you can find one. My Volvos have been very reliable.