First Car for a teenager

[maxtan]

What first car would you recommend for a teenager from your experience?

[jay3]

3 series
10char

[valek.jw]

Trucks and SUVs may not be good choices because of the high center of gravity. Inexperienced drivers may roll over easier in an emergency maneuver. Honda Accord coupe, etc. could be good choice. The chances of your teen having more than one passenger in a 2-door car is slim. Most teens are too big to fit comfortably in the backseat. Isn’t distracted driving the number one cause of accidents with teens?

[mani_is_kool]

Slightly used or CPO Japanese vehicle. Civic, corolla, or hrv or chr.

[DailyDriven]

#1 in class/great grades: brand new Civic Si, with a manual.

C student: used Accord with 40k miles

Poor grades: 2015 Elantra with 100k miles

[jay3]

@DailyDriven

Poor grades: 2015 Elantra with 100k miles

Was going to say poor grades = monthly bus ticket on the yellow bus but then thought the 2015 Elantra might be worse punishment

If Eric was still here, would’ve said a Macan. Would be a nice troll

[running-strawberry]

I had great grades and got an Accord with 110k miles lol. Still an amazing first car and all I needed. No way in hell I would ever get my kid a 3 series as their first car.

Also, these days I think the safety features on a 2023 vs. 2013 are pretty significant, but when I was in high school, the difference in safety between an older used and a new car did not seem that significant.

[jeisensc]

Pretty frequently asked question, search is your friend. My answer hasn’t changed:

@jeisensc

There are over 1000 posts here on why you shouldn’t.

If you don’t like that thread, I suggest

Am I nuts for mulling getting my teenager a sports car as her first car?

My oldest daughter is getting close to driving age. She asked me if she could have a 911 for her first car. I first laughed. Then I thought, WTF, why not? Of course I’m not talking a new one, I may be crazy but not buying my kid a $100K car crazy I’m thinking a 996 or 997, $20-30K range. Would I get the coolest dad of the year award or the irresponsible dad of the year award?

Any finance deals out there? Looking for car for teen driver

Hi everyone, we’re looking to finance/purchase a car for a teen driver. Leases seem really bad these days, and certified pre-own cars cost almost as much as a brand new car. We’re looking for something dependable & reliable, and doesn’t cost a ton. Some of the cars we’re looking at are Honda Civic, Hyundai Elentra, and Subaru Imprezza. Any other cars we should also look at? For those cars, what % off of MSRP should we realistically be looking at (if any). We understand the days of expecting 10…

Cheapest lease deals for my 16 year old niece?

She does not have very much money to spend, she just needs a bare minimum car to get her from point A to point B. Only requirement is to be economical. Her dad is showing me $6000 13 year old cars with 150k miles like the honda insight, but this just seems like a huge gamble to me. you guys have any insight?

Slightly older, but still hold up

16 yr old looking for first car, low miles lease

My nephew is shopping for his first car. Going to drive it for a couple years before going off to college. He is trying to stay under $250 per month and not having much luck finding a lot of options. We’ve given up on the 24 mo lease, so were shopping 36 month leases. So far we looked at the 2018 Mazda 3 HB touring, which adds the safety features, and the 2019 Jetta, he likes the R line. Any suggestions on what smaller cars, with safety features should be on the radar? Were in South Florid…

Makes sense to lease 1st car for a new driver?

Add “handing them a car” (leased or bought) and “paying for their insurance and gas” to the list. When I got my license, I had to start paying the increase to my parents insurance, and for the gas I used. I bought my first car and all my cars. My family and friends who were given cars either never learned the lesson, or learned in many years later (I have a family member older than me who works, parents retired, and I swear still gets help with cars, car payments, and insurance - the gas card w…

And definitely don’t forget the impact to your insurance

How much has your car insurance changed since you last checked? (lease/finance)

Just curious how much car insurance has changed for most people since the car supply shortage/covid/electronic shortage/inflation/something else

Bolt Insurance Quote - Ouch!

I had negotiated a $197/month zero DAS deal on a '20 Bolt Premier for my teenage daughter to drive, and thought to check with my insurance agent first. Couldn’t believe how expensive it was going to be. All situations are different, so I’ll put it in relative terms. Coverage was going to be about 6x what I pay for my FJ Cruiser, 4x what a Niro EV or Ioniq Electric would cost, and 50% more than a Kona Electric. I have 4 vehicles currently (this would be #5) and I do have 3 teenage drivers on …

Can an Insurance Company Change the Rate After the Renewal is Issued?

My cousin has three cars. He added his youngest teenage son to his policy in September, assigned him to the same car his two other kids are incidental drivers on, no change in rate when son was added. Son has a clean record, full license, is over 18, has been driving since September. Parents policy renews December 20. On November 16 he got his renewal, same as always. Last week he got another notice dated December 1, raising his rates by over $800 for six months. No explanation, and it was on th…

Evaluating options to buy a used car for a teen ager's first car

Yeah the insurance part is crazy, I’m divorced and for whatever reason it was significantly cheaper for my son to go on the ex’s insurance. I bet the insurance on a new car or late model car would be as much as the payment. I went the 20 year old car route, he’s driving a 2003 Lexus ES300. Nothing wrong with old if you find the right car, lots of older Lexus out there that have been taken car of. I don’t see the point in getting a teenager a newer/nice car, they’ll probably just crash it any…

[derekoh1991]

Beat up old Tacoma, really

[DailyDriven]

OP - don’t be scared by the insurance comments.

When we shopped for cars a few years back for a teenager a brand new car was really not much more overall to insure than something that was beat down and less than ideal.

[cahrens]

This month, the basic ID4 which has a shorter range, but all the safety features. You can get $4k off msrp, $7500 EV lease incentive, and $1000 from VW. Monthly in the low 300s with inceptions at drive off

[RobC2]

I always recommend the small-mid sized Mazda SUVs when this topic comes up. CPO or maybe a nice private party car. Solid, reliable Japanese maker without the typical premium associated with Toyota and Honda.

[max_g]

What’s your budget?

[thevolvoguy]

toyota 86 manual

[maxtan]

Thank you all for your replies.

This is just the beginning of my journey. I’ve recently started researching and trying to figure out the budget.

I used to buy my cars, but now I’m leasing. My older child inherited my old car when I got a new one.

These days, things seem a bit different, or perhaps it’s just me growing older. It feels like used cars have become much more expensive, not to mention the costs of repairs and maintenance, along with the hassle of selling the car.

A few other thoughts: We don’t have a preference for a specific car. We won’t need a car after our child goes to college, so we probably only need it for up to 24 months.

I was considering Jeep Wranglers (any model, as long as the price is reasonable) for a 24-month lease. They are relatively rugged and short-term options. But it’s on a higher side.

I’ve noticed that most of the good lease deals are for 36 months. Japanese cars are always a good option, but if I were to buy a new one, it might be challenging to sell it after 2 years.

[paranoidgarliclover]

@maxtan

Jeep Wranglers

Please don’t do that, for the sake of your teen and other drivers on the road.

@maxtan

it might be challenging to sell it after 2 years

How so?

[Carbuster1]

Buy any iihs tsp+ sedan. New or used.

[Carbuster1]

Do not buy them suvs. The driver cage is never as secure in a rollover

[cahrens]

I think driver’s assist safety functions would be very helpful for new drivers. Those aren’t standard on Wranglers. For me, it would be safety first, but within confines of a reasonable budget. My kids are getting a leased car, not because I’m doing them a favor, but because I don’t want to be their Uber driver. They’re going to be responsible for driving themselves to and from school and practice. I live in San Diego county where they don’t have school buses. I told them that they’re not getting anything cool; but it will be safe. If they want something cool, they can get a job and buy it themselves.

Here is a $7500 one pay for NJ for a Niro ⭐ GCAuto Kia Niro EV Wind $235 MO + $2k DAS | Niro EV Wave one pay $280 effective NJ only - #15 by GCauto

[Ursus]

A 24 Volvo XC40 on 24 months is a much better car.