UPDATE: First Car for 16 year old
 

I'm in the process of getting my son a 1st car to drive to school and relieve the Missus of her carpool duties.

Here is my short list:

Mercedes:
190e
C Class
E320

BMW:
323
325
328

I'm looking to spend around $2 to $3k. That way if he cracks it up, no great loss, but that still hurts the checkbook. I do my own wrenching and have a full tool cabinet. I've also owned 5 Range Rovers, 2 Porsches, 1 Audi, 1 Mercedes 190, and 6 BMWs. So I know how to DIY and all of their short-comings.

For that money I'm seeing 190e's from the latter years of its run (1990ish) and all the others with varying miles. I'm trying to stay around 100k.

He does not want an SUV, even a LR Discovery II. Frankly, I'm ok with that due to high center of gravity and poor MPG.

What are your thoughts? Am I missing another option? Feedback on my short list.

Thanks,

Not a Civic, Corolla, Mazda 3 or the like on the list. Some sort of Japanese econobox that's known for low cost and reliability?

I'm thinking that a Japanese econobox will be much better on your wallet than an old Euro anything.

+1 on the Japanese econobox. Take a look at what some of the other kids at his school are driving. He'll probably be happy with something that will fit in.

Have you considered a 1968 Pontiac LeMans?
I've read recently that they are a popular "first car" choice.

When we went through this with our two, I weighted longer term (as in, this is it, Sportsfans, take care of it because this is the first and last car you get from the 'Rent's) reliability much more than upfront costs.

They are both still driving the used vehicles we got them when they were 16. They are now 24 and 22. Their skin in the game was grades and insurance.

In terms of models, tough to beat the asian stuff.

Yeah, we are a bunch of car guys and tend to think getting your kid something you would like would be ideal.

Just IMHO a first car shouldn't be a fun or stylish car... if for no other reason most young people have a lot going on and dinking with a car may be low on the list.

My 17 year old is driving a 2005 Subaru WRX. It's been a great first car for a bunch of reasons: reliable and good on gas, all-wheel drive (we live in a winter city so handling and safety are an issue, especially for a new driver), parts are relatively cheap, insurance is relatively cheap, and there's a huge after-market / tuner culture associated with it - which offers an outlet for a blossoming, new-age car guy.

I should add, that he's an incredibly responsible and level headed kid - which factored into what car he was allowed to get.

Watching this thread with interest. My son recently got his license and will be borrowing our cars for 6 months while he saves money. He's paying his own insurance and we'll match the money he saves. I keep showing him how much he could save on insurance if he earned a B average :)

He's been looking at everything from the Mazda3 to 4wd Cherokee's. He will learn to wrench on his own cars with my guidance...

We are definitely getting a set of snow tires/wheels. Not too much snow here but piece of mind.

Got hooked on snow tires living in Germany. There if you are in an accident w/o snow tires in winter, you are per se liable. They take that stuff seriously.

We don't get a lot of snow either, but enough of it + very very cold temps. The Subaru has Bridgestone Blizzaks installed (from November to April) which blow my mind at what a difference they make.

Older Benz or Bimmer?

Not a chance.

A reliable American or Japanese FWD econobox that's cheap (comparatively) to fix if it needs it.

My daughter just got her permit, pain in the ass process in TX, she is getting the Hoe.

The 01' Tahoe I bought new off the lot and have had since then.

Dead nuts reliable and they carry crate motors in aisle 10 at Walmart.

Well, from that list, I would pick the MB E320.

Off the list I would pick a Volvo wagon of some sort.

We bought my kid a 1998 Honda Accord, 4 banger. he's now a senior and has been accepted to the University Of Nebraska So I will be getting him a Toyota Tacoma here in the next couple months as a graduation present. The honda has been great for him.

We got burned by a Volvo XC90 with the crappy GM transmission. Another reason I won't buy an American car. :rolleyes:

Check the insurance rates.

My son got the hand me down Ford Focus ST and our rates on that car doubled.

Because no teenager in the history of the world has ever said "we're going on a beer run, let's take the Volvo wagon".

Lucked out BIG time. Went to visit my sister in R.I. last summer and there were 2 Camrys in her driveway. She bought a new one and didn't like the trade in so she was selling it privately. She bought the car new and drives like an old lady. I just showed her how to use cruse last summer and she was amazed!
2003 121K every recite. Bill of Sale, Window Sticker. etc!!
Mean while my daughter gets her licence 2 weeks before and of course the hunt is on, but in VT JUNK and want my daughter safe. Had it totality checked out and paid my mechanic an hour labor to make sure. Well what a cream puff. Brake master was week so we replaced it and VT type tires.
Got a family discount and my daughter LOVE's her Camry!! Replaced the Yellow headlights this weekend. Birthday present!
I scored!
Well my daughter is the total opposite of my behaviors when I was her age, so I have NO concerns at all. Straight A's for the last 7 years. I lucked out with her, but worried about the 2nd one?
She was born on Friday the 13th. I'm too OLD for this, but looking forward to the experience?

My situation as well. I'm not sure what I did with this kid but total opposite from me. He follows the rules and keeps between the lines.

Most of all, he knows that I'm not joking when the chips are down. Be the one that screws up and there are consequences in our house.

It would have to fit into two categories:

1) Something that is NOT made in Germany, Bavaria, or Italy.
2) something that is made by Japanese or South Koreans.

This ^ Just got my nephew a Nissan Cube. Literally a box that is reliable enough and decent on gas. He's a big guy and that thing is plenty roomy.