thinking ahead-low priced car for teenager

Melanie · Oct 27, 2010

My big kid is turning 16 over the summer.

We're starting to think about types of cars for her. In a perfect world, she'd drive something almost new with awesome crash scores and a million airbags. In the real world, we're looking at spending about $3-5k. $3k is actually more doable, but I'm afraid to think about what she'd get for that.

What would you look for in this type of car?

urchin_grey · Oct 27, 2010

You can actually get a decent used car in that price range! Just for reference, our second vehicle is a '96 Saturn that we paid only $1000 for back in 2005 and its run and run and run. We expected it to last us a year or two when we bought it, but it just won't die. LOL I'd bet you could get a MUCH newer, much nicer one for $3000 though! That would be my recommendation though just because of how long ours has lasted. I haven't driven it in a while since DP usually drives it, but I'm pretty sure it has well over 200k miles on it by now.

Also, I was looking at an '04 Dodge Stratus for like $3500 earlier this year that looked pretty nice (I wound up going with a van instead). Not sure about their reliability though since obviously I didn't buy it.

Oh, and you can look at crash test ratings @ www.safercar.gov to help you choose. GL!

Defrost · Oct 28, 2010

I'm replying to keep an eye the advice you get - my 16yo is in driver's ed right now. We still have our old Chevy Astro that we could fairly easily fix up for him to use, but I'm hesitant about giving him a van. Particularly this one - crash ratings on it are horrible. I'd much rather sell it and get him something else.

Don't they have any cars that keep your newly-licensed teen-driver safely wrapped in cotton in the closet?

Melanie · Oct 28, 2010

Defrost said:
Don't they have any cars that keep your newly-licensed teen-driver safely wrapped in cotton in the closet?

When you find that let me know...that's what I want mine to have too.

Rebelnicky04 · Nov 5, 2010

Well my first car was an 02 Ford Escort and by gosh that thing was a great car. Had I not been a teenager I would probably still have that car. I of course wrecked it and did it ever take a wreck. We bought that car for $3500 in 2004 (their resale was VERY cheap and car prices were way better back then) and I never had one problem w/ it. I got 30-35 mpg and it was extremely safe as far as I'm concerned. I was in 2 wrecks with it and made out without a scratch. In my opinion they are the best budget buy used car on the planet. Not only that but you can also get a 2 door Escort ZX2 with a little spoiler, and a moonroof which is a little bit sportier but does not compromise safety. My dad also drove Escort station wagons as a commuter to work (an hour one way) and never once had a problem with any of the 4 that he owned. They are literally bullet proof!

Mugsmom · Nov 5, 2010

I found the cars.com website to be invaluable when researching what vehicle we would buy. You can plug in what kind of car you're looking for and get safety ratings, recall alerts, expert and owner reviews and reliability ratings all in one place, even for older model years.

My first car was also a '95 Ford Escort (wagon) and the only way my dad would buy me a car was if I picked one that had airbags.

safeinthecar · Nov 5, 2010

I was thinking I'd buy mine a Gem Car http://www.gemcar.com/models/

Top speed of 45mph and no doors for horny kids to hide behind

cookie123 · Nov 6, 2010

Two of my 3 girls totaled their car in the first week.

MANDY1234 · Nov 6, 2010

safeinthecar said:
I was thinking I'd buy mine a Gem Car http://www.gemcar.com/models/

Top speed of 45mph and no doors for horny kids to hide behind

Mental note

3 girls...geatting each a gem when they are old enough to drive lol

urchin_grey · Nov 6, 2010

OMG, Robert's first and my second car was a Ford Escort! Mine was a '96 and his was a '94 and we got them before we even met.

My very first car was a '91 Camero. I had it for 6 months (the first 3 of which I only had my permit) until someone pulled out in front of me. The speed limit was 55 on that road so I PLOWED the other car. Mine was totaled. I definitely trust those cars now though because I walked away with a seatbelt burn to the neck. Well, it felt like someone beat the crap out of me the next day, but that was nothing compared to what could have happened.

Melanie · Nov 6, 2010

safeinthecar said:
I was thinking I'd buy mine a Gem Car http://www.gemcar.com/models/

Top speed of 45mph and no doors for horny kids to hide behind

:ROTFLMAO:

mytwobugs · Nov 16, 2010

I have no advice to add, but this thread is making me feel old because my first car was a '73 Jeep Wagoneer. I guess to be fair it was almost as old as I was when I started driving it. It was like driving a tank, had 3 on the floor, a V-8 and manual hubs. Learned a lot about cars driving it though.

Melanie · Nov 21, 2010

We've come across a really good deal on a vehicle. It's not at all what I envisioned. What do you think about this?: 88 Toyota Truck 4x4 with manual transmission. It has a professionally built roll cage inside. At some point the owner planned to off road and had it set up, but then moved to the city.

It belongs to my parent's neighbor. He's the original owner and is meticulous with his cars. It has 130k miles, but had a new motor 2 years ago. It got new A/C a year ago. AZ car so no rust issues. He'd let us have it for $2500, which looks to be 1/2 of what it's worth.

Comparing it to a newer $2500 car--do these theories sound valid?
-Truck would do better in side impact because it sits higher and has the roll cage. (car wouldn't be new enough for side airbags).
-Roll cage would offer some protection in roll over accident.
-Front impact would be better in car because it would have front airbags.
-Truck has higher roll over risk.
-Truck is more simple to fix so dad could fix most problems instead of going to a mechanic.

How can I find safety info? It's too old for informed for life.

SavsMom · Nov 21, 2010

I'd look at a 2000-2002 Ford Focus - good car, pretty safe overall, good reliability and can be found in your price range.

I don't know that I would look at a 1988 Toyota Truck with a new engine and a roll cage - to me that just screams that it has been modified and potentially may have compromised the frame on said truck - plus I do think safety would be an issue - no front air bags, no abs brakes....I could go on and on.

Defrost · Nov 21, 2010

Melanie said:
We've come across a really good deal on a vehicle. It's not at all what I envisioned. What do you think about this?: 88 Toyota Truck 4x4 with manual transmission. It has a professionally built roll cage inside. At some point the owner planned to off road and had it set up, but then moved to the city.

Holy cow... my first car was an '85 Toyota 4x4 X-tra cab.

I was in 3 wrecks in it, and two spin-outs at fairly high speeds that could have been bad had I actually hit anything.

All minor, though - no injuries to anyone in any of the vehicles, so I can't really speak for the safety. I will say I don't think the rollover risk is higher, although that's just my personal opinion. I drove that thing like it was a tank (ask my sister about the time I saved us from a head-on collision by driving over a median and down a hill into a parking lot...) and even drove it down the Al-Can, and it always felt very solid. I know that doesn't necessarily mean it's not easier to roll, though.

Oh, but I did love that truck!

Perhaps my post is an argument against the truck... driving like you feel bullet-proof isn't exactly the feel we parents are going for...

Melanie · Nov 22, 2010

Defrost-I also drove a truck in high school and remember all to well doing things in it just because it was a truck. I'm already thinking of ways to permanently seal off the bed so there wouldn't be the temptation to haul passengers. She swears up and down she'd never do it, but I don't like the possibility.

Melanie · Nov 22, 2010

SavsMom said:
I don't know that I would look at a 1988 Toyota Truck with a new engine and a roll cage - to me that just screams that it has been modified and potentially may have compromised the frame on said truck .

Normally I'd see that as a red flag too, but my dad knows the owner very well. He bought the truck new. I absolutely believe what he says has been done and how. That's really why I'm considering this truck at all...because we absolutely know the history and know how it has been taken care of.

mimieliza · Nov 22, 2010

Ha, my first car was a Ford Escort, too! (1995)

Melanie said:
We've come across a really good deal on a vehicle. It's not at all what I envisioned. What do you think about this?: 88 Toyota Truck 4x4 with manual transmission. It has a professionally built roll cage inside. At some point the owner planned to off road and had it set up, but then moved to the city.

It belongs to my parent's neighbor. He's the original owner and is meticulous with his cars. It has 130k miles, but had a new motor 2 years ago. It got new A/C a year ago. AZ car so no rust issues. He'd let us have it for $2500, which looks to be 1/2 of what it's worth.

Comparing it to a newer $2500 car--do these theories sound valid?
-Truck would do better in side impact because it sits higher and has the roll cage. (car wouldn't be new enough for side airbags).
-Roll cage would offer some protection in roll over accident.
-Front impact would be better in car because it would have front airbags.
-Truck has higher roll over risk.
-Truck is more simple to fix so dad could fix most problems instead of going to a mechanic.

How can I find safety info? It's too old for informed for life.

No, no, no. Trucks have TERRIBLE safety records. They are exempt from all sorts of safety standards. The last thing I would choose is a truck, no matter what the circumstances.

I would look at safety ratings of big sedans - Ford Taurus comes to mind. Looks like a 1999 model got good IIHS ratings, according to cars.com.

Defrost · Nov 22, 2010

Melanie said:
Defrost-I also drove a truck in high school and remember all to well doing things in it just because it was a truck. I'm already thinking of ways to permanently seal off the bed so there wouldn't be the temptation to haul passengers. She swears up and down she'd never do it, but I don't like the possibility.

Yes, the peer pressure is very difficult to deal with. My parents thought the truck aspect would be a good thing, because I could "only" drive with one other person. I hate to admit, we sometimes crammed up to SIX people in the cab of that truck (in that teeny little "x-tra cab!") This was in spite of my boyfriend/my friends' best friend having been paralyzed due to not wearing a seat belt in a crash. We all KNEW BETTER - but we did it anyway.

Fortunately, it being Alaska, people rarely asked to ride in the bed of the truck, but still... when you're feeling very popular because you're the only one with a ride, it's very hard to say to say to your new 'friends' - "No, sorry, not enough seatbelts."

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