Janie Grace Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 We are in the market for a good "teen car" (used) -- safe, reliable, not too expensive. What do you like for teens and why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 I'm just starting to look for my oldest ds. As of now, I like smaller SUVs. My friend asked her insurance agent and learned that in our area, it's cheaper to insure a slightly used SUV than a sedan. I like that they can see better. I don't want anything too old because I like the safety features of newer cars. I think the insurance costs will probably be regional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 My dh searched around and ended up buying a 2002 Impala for our dd. I'm not sure why he landed on that, but he felt it would be a safe car for her. It has been a decent car. He's a former mechanic though, and was able to check out the engine stuff pretty thoroughly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 I don't have a specific make or model for you. But I do have criteria for our family vehicles. 1. Something with a fair amount of steel in front. 2. One where the battery is easily accessible to jump start 3. the less electronic/computer run accessories the better, less to go wrong, less costly to diagnose and to fix. Old family tip: we never let a mechanic use a power tool to tighten lug nuts, if you need to change your tire, that makes it difficult to impossible to get them loose. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 All three of our older kids drove a 1992 Ford Explorer thru high school. 1 - Price was right ($1000) 2 - Heavy chunk of metal 3 - four wheel drive on demand 4 - old enough so that DH and the kids could do most of the repairs needed 5 - big enough to carry a bunch of musical instruments, but not so big that parking is a problem It's been a super reliable car. Still is, in fact. We were going to sell it since it will be a few years before DD13 is driving, but now DS19 may need it this fall, so it's still here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 I'd say it depends on your priorities. If you want a car that's easy to work on, look for older models. If safety is the priority, I'd go as new as possible. Newer cars have more safety features (airbags, antilock brakes, stability/traction control, etc.) and I believe most studies say that the increased features on newer cars make them safer overall, even though most older cars tend to be heavier. That said, we've handed down cars -- when each of the boys got their license we gave them our oldest vehicle and DH or I bought a new one for ourselves. We're a Honda family, so that meant the boys were getting extremely reliable vehicles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Dd drives a 3007 Camry. It was DH'S car and he bought a new one when she started driving. It's been great. All the other kids will drive it, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Our kids started with a very used pickup truck. The entire reasoning was because it limited them to just one passenger, thus limiting the distractions, group rides, etc. It's not for everyone but it worked for us. Plus it was good for when we needed to haul something. Throw some tubes of sand in the bed and it's even good in the snow. That thing lasted forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 We drive a Hyundai Sante Fe that we are planning to pass down. I like the small SUV category. Big enough but not too big and not a gas hog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janie Grace Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 OP here. I'd say safety is the top priority. We aren't mechanically savvy so being able to work on it ourselves isn't really a consideration. I've heard small-midsize SUVs are safe but I wonder about maneuverability (parking, pulling out, etc). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Our teen car was a Toyota Tercel 4spd manual. No guts and they had to drive a stick. Good mileage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 We are in the market for a good "teen car" (used) -- safe, reliable, not too expensive. What do you like for teens and why? Smaller SUV, or maybe an Accord or Civic. Whatever was a great deal, that I could buy cash, and was reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Our guy drove an '82 Volvo, with 100K miles on it. That thing was a tank. He loved it. We won't have that option for our next teens, we passed it on to a neighbor in need, when DS got a real car, but it was a great car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Dd drives a 3007 Camry. Ooooo - does it fly? I can't wait! *I just couldn't resist. :lol: :auto: 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Ooooo - does it fly? I can't wait! *I just couldn't resist. :lol: :auto: As a matter of fact, it does have the capability. We've always been up on the latest technology. You will love it! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel-in-CA Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Our early twenty-somethings have, respectively, a 94 corolla and a 97 civic (which will soon go to next kid in line). Corolla girl is on her 3rd car as dh passed his old Saturn on to her and, when it died, she bought a nissan optima, which she totalled (not her fault). There's a place we know in SoCal that buys & refurbishes and resells "teen cars" - we have been far too busy there as customers, LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RioSamba Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 We are just starting to think about this, so I don't have any BTDT advice. I can share a wonderful website for comparing safety. http://www.informedforlife.org 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Ex has a 2000 GMC Jimmy that is supposed to be ds's someday when he gets it running correctly. (I'm not holding my breath) I liked the car because it sits higher up, is easy to drive (and park!) and gets decent gas mileage. I have a 2002 Impala, which is also a decent car, lots of window space, easy to drive. It would be a good teen car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 An old 245 DL Volvo - if you can still find one. It's like a tank with steel plates in the doors in case you get t-boned. Engine is supposed to drop out on a head on collision giving passengers more room to survive. It's hard to exceed the speed limit - at least on a freeway. :lol: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 If the teen is likely to go away to college in a few years, something that can haul a dorm's worth of gear can be very useful. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 An old 245 DL Volvo - if you can still find one. It's like a tank with steel plates in the doors in case you get t-boned. Engine is supposed to drop out on a head on collision giving passengers more room to survive. It's hard to exceed the speed limit - at least on a freeway. :lol: Just do not get a Volvo 850. You'll know them by the fact that they tend to always have their windows down in the summer time. The a/c is notoriously expensive to fix. Mine had major electrical problems. Dh used to quip that Volvos were so safe because they never left the driveway. I bought the 850 because my friend had an old 240 which was a tank and never had issues. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplejackmama Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 We have to let them drive?! Kidding. Maybe. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 The car they buy with their own hard-earned cash will be the safest. So, whatever they can afford. I'll buy myself a Volvo before I buy one for a teenager! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 Well we are about 10 yrs ahead but dd1 will most likely have my Fusion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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