I don't have any kids so of course I am an expert on what you should do for your kids. ;)

When I was 15 and a 1/2 I started asking my dad about a car. His reply was mean and cruel, he said I could buy any car that I can afford and that he approves as a decent car. He told me he would give me an interest free loan for that car, but I was going to pay for 100% of all operating costs and maintenance. He payed for the first year of insurance, and of course continued to provide me with free room and board and mom's cooking and laundry services.

I got a 1960 VW bug for $600. 36 HP of tire smoking power. 36 MPG and 20 cents per gallon gas. A fill up would last two weeks and cost me 2 bucks. :eek:

I got a job when I was a junior in high school. Right after school I went to work and did not get home until 6:00 PM and 1/2 a day on Saturday. I paid him back for the car in one year. I learned to work on my own car and take care of it. I never once drove my dad's car until I was in my mid 20s and that was for the trunk space I needed.

In all the miles and years I have never totaled a car, or broken a car from abuse. Mean old dad was a wise man after all. He taught me well.

Buick LeSabre. Plenty of one owner, low mileage examples out there in your price range.
It might be too boring but they are reliable and plenty of room for a cello or two.

My niece just went through this scenario, looking to buy something used for $250-300/mo with $1,500 down and it had to be AWD because of where she lives. Got her a Subaru Forester automatic with the alloy wheel pkg on a 3 year lease, 12,000 miles/year for $171/mo + tax with $1K out of pocket. She'll probably just have to do the scheduled maintenance and will be under warranty the whole time. I don't see how the cost of operating a car could be much cheaper without taking unnecessary risks.

You can get a nice enough Honda Fit for that budget - it may be "boring" to her (because it's a Honda), but it'll be fun to drive, dead reliable, cheap to run, fuel efficient, and will fit several cellos. They're marvels of packaging.

Mazda 3 hatchback? Reliable, not boring, probably safe(r) than the Fiat. IMHO, Mazda is the only brand of appliance cars which is has some soul and spirit.

They also said that the Plymouth Laser was a pile of crap but the Eagle Talon was a great car, even thought they cam off the same assembly line. Just sayin'.

The Fiat may be a pile of crap as well, but I wouldn't trust Consumers Union any more than I would trust a condom open on both ends.

a Mini?

dood it's a fiat for Christ sake.

aka 'fix it again tony'

Here's one resource for research: CarComplaints.com | Car Problems, Car Complaints, & Repair/Recall Information
It might be biased by seems pretty comprehensive.

A used subaru wagon will hold all her stuff inside and/or on top and last forever.
Cello, toolboxes, compressor, drywall, etc until the frame drags on the ground.
(Trust me on this one. I've done it.)
Parts will be more expensive than Toyota.

I know. I am just saying that taking car advice from CU/CR is like getting marriage advice from Liz Taylor.

Depends on whether you are looking for an appliance car or a fun car. Their track record is pretty damned good when it comes to appliance cars.

This. I have four little sisters in law that ended up with either a Mazda3 or Mazda6 as their first car. Fun, dead reliable, more stylish than a Honda or Toyota, and not as common. Run like hell from the 500, no way I would put my daughter into one of those.

My 10 year old daughter, God bless her, wants either a Jeep Wrangler or a RHD 70 series Land Cruiser from Japan.:)

My wife drives a 2012 Fiat 500. It's definitely got that tin can feel to it but she looks so cute driving it. With that said, I would not recommend one to anybody.

It was fine for a city car and she probably doesn't have 10k miles on it. Now that she lives with me in the burbs, she usually drives the Cayenne for anything farther than the grocery store. I was checking value the other day and it appears to be worth almost nothing.

Sure. As long as it fits their agenda the car is great.

I thought the Nissan Rogue was bad. We were given one from my mother in law because at 33k miles and 2.5 years old they were going to give her $3k for it on trade. I don't think it was worth the $3k honestly. What a crappy car. I think even we paid too much for it.

Yeah but it is made in Mexico!

My Nissan Versa is also Hechco in Mexico, gets great gas milage... to say it feels like a tin can would be a compliment... feels more like an aluminum beer can... moans, groans, and squeaks as it goes down the road... it is a 2015 and the transmission is starting to rattle.
Did I mention it gets great gas mileage?

Funny, I thought Mustang also... kinda a dude car but if she thinks it is "cute" it might work.

Wooo! She's interested in hte Kia Soul.

At least it isn't a tin can super sub compact...

My Versa (2013) handled hitting a 125lb-ish deer at 25mph pretty well.

Cost less to fix than when another deer ran into the wife's CX-9 right at the driver's door...

I just got my daughter a 2010 Ford Fusion with 78K on the odo for $6300 and a nice 2009 Subaru Impreza sedan with 79K on the odo for my son for $6000. Both have the ability to fold down the rear seats so you can pass things trough the trunk into the rear passenger area.
How about a Rav4? You can buy older ones for your price range.