Help first time driver find her car!

[skylinphoto]

I'm almost 22 years old and I've never driven. I dont have my license. And I'm TERRIFIED of driving. (any confidence building comments would be nice!)

Me and my husband have a '99 VW Passat sedan. I've very half-heartedly test driven it for practice 2 times.

My son is in speech therapy and is being transferred to the school system in the next 6 months and this will require me to drive (the therapist does home visits at the moment).

My dh said that I can pick out my car and it will be just mine (we need a second car as he takes the passat to work everyday).

I know nothing about cars. lol.

I like our passat because of it's small size. It makes me feel more comfortable.
So, I'd like a small car but I'd like a 4 door because of my two kids (we have a babytrend flex loc infant seat and a recaro signo. we'll be getting the baby a signo as well soon. both are rfing).

I'd like to stay away from 5 speed manual.

And I'd like to keep it affordable.

Help me!

-Jessica

[PinkSander]

I'm in the same boat, well the 25 year old first time driver terrified and wanting a small and affordable car anyways! lol I have a thread with an attachment that has my list of cars, all 4 doors, under 20k, and all compacts. I even went as far as to build them on the respected sites and figured out how much they would cost a month if I saved 5k or 10k! lol I really want a car can you tell? I really like the looks of the Scions. They come with power windows, power locks, A/C and CD player as standard they are sporty looking to keep you "cool mom" image! lol, pretty roomy inside. You should go to different sites and build a few cars, it's actually pretty fun! lol

[skylinphoto]

lol. I'm so glad I'm not the only one out there that's terrified of driving! i feel like an idiot for being scared of something that everyone does everyday!
So, far I'm liking the Mazda3, Honda Civic, and for real cheap I'm digging the Kia Rio.
I hate hatchbacks so I'm liking the sedan models of all those. haha.

Favorite so far is the Mazda3 I think.
If anyone has any opinions on any of those I'd love to hear 'em!

-Jessica

[cpsaddict]

I have had three Toyota Corollas. A 1996, 2000 and a 2001(I had an unfortunate 10mths and ended up with two new ones in less than 10mths. Oops). I loved them. Excellent mileage, easy to drive and I never had to do anything to them, aside from regular maintenance. I also like the looks of the Mazda3. Run from the Rio. They are SOOO tiny and two Signos would be a lot for that little car.

[Tyler'sMom1117]

The only way to get over the nervousness is lots of practice. Everyone is a bit nervous the first few times behind the wheel. It is practice that brings about confidence. My oldest dd will be taking drivers training next summer, so I am already thinking about all the time I will need to spend with her out on country roads practicing driving. You can do it! I think the older you are when you learn to drive the harder it is. A friend of mine grew up around public transportation and didn't learn to drive until she was in her 30's. She moved and was a professor at a college and was terrified about driving to school. It has been some years since she moved here, but she still gets nervous if it snows. My advice is to learn now.

A cute car would be a really nice reward for learning to drive.:p

[jen_nah]

I think the Mazda3 is a cute affordable safe vehicle. It's still sporty but has everything you will need/want for a good price.

[MissAllyLou]

I just wanted to say stay away from the KIA cars... they are pretty cheap, and pretty crappy. Their SUV's and Minivan are nice, but the cars are just crappy if you ask me. :twocents:

[QuassEE]

I've been looking into cars for my oldest, for when he starts to drive (less than 3 years!) .. One of the vehicles that kept standing out was the Toyota Matrix, because of it's roomy interior, smaller exterior footprint, and the fact that it's higher up than the Corolla (etc) therefore giving you an advantage when t-boned by an SUV ;) Ideally I'd get a little SUV for him but his brother really wants a car and not an SUV.

The Matrix is great for carseats...at least, the older model is--I haven't had an install with a newer one. You can do three across in them with a number of different seats...Plus, they're really inexpensive and great on gas.

-Nicole.

[PinkSander]

I just wanted to say stay away from the KIA cars... they are pretty cheap, and pretty crappy. Their SUV's and Minivan are nice, but the cars are just crappy if you ask me. :twocents:

The only thing keeping me from seriously thinking of getting a Kia, is the fact that you do not see many on the roads. I live in a good size city, and you see more Chevys, Toyotas, Buicks and Pontiacs, then any other car, I live 3 miles west of Flint, Michigan, Home of GM so people know their cars here. That has to say something. I like the Buick Rendezvous, but all the other buicks are.. sorry for anyone here who has one, but they are gramma cars! lol My gramma had one, my aunt has one, they are just not sporty looking vehicles. You don't see many Scion either, but I really love the looks of that car.... I just hope I like the way it drives as much as I like the looks of it! lol All I know is when I get my license, which wont be until the snow melts, because SUV drivers around here think they are impervious to bad weather and road conditions. I don't want to learn on the snow. Plus my counties idea of salting the roads is a joke. But when I do get license I am going hog wild on test driving! Because look at it this way, I don't have to pay for the gas!!!! :D:D