Need sugestions for a 16 yo girls first car
 

First its got to be cheap. I live in a state where they do OBDII inspection so pre '96 is best. She wanted a Jeep Cherokee but most have been used and abused by other teenagers.


Main thing is cheap to buy and reliable. The only automatic I've owned in 25 years of driving was a police interceptor beater, so don't know which early 90's models besides those were reliable. Really whish she could learn to drive a stick.


What would be the cheapest/most common/ most reliable pre 96 car ?

A tank

Automatic civic

/thread

Thanks old civics are good cars, didn't know they auto's were rugged. Should be able to be able to find a 4 door that hasn't been abused.

volvo. one of them saved my cousin's life when she started driving. built like tanks, if you get the older ones

Another vote on a 4dr civic. Can't really get any cheaper or more reliable.

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+1 for an old volvo.

guys at my work keep picking them up for winter, even in shitty ontario winters those things barely rust after 20 years. lots of weight over the wheels to get her going in the winter, and she could bounce it off snowbanks and you wouldnt even notice anything.

Camry/Corolla/Echo/Tercel.

All bulletproof.

Civics are good too, but the Auto trannies can be suspect.

Top gear haha. You want all of that hood protecting your kid! haha

Hey Regal, Been there...done that. I'd be more concerned with safe over cheap.

Cheap cars are prone to problems from the get-go...problems that will just eat cash. Sensors, brakes, tires, fuel pump, alternator, exhaust, starter, suspension parts...it always seems as though you're in a constant replacement cycle with a "cheap" car. Do you really want your daughter stranded somewhere?

I also see that you live in PA so driving in snow is in her future. I'd be looking for a car/suv with AWD. A ten year old Subaru, RAV4, Element or CR-V would serve both of you well.

I agree... If you're going pre '96 Honda/Acura or Toyota/Lexus is a good bet... Oh yeah or Subaru as the post above me stated; however, the gas mileage may suck.

An Impreza or Legacy from a few years ago would be safe and (typically) reliable. The AWD coupled with Subaru's bulletproof reliability would be ideal for a teenager. My folks passed down their old Legacy (a 2000) to me for college and it made a fantastic first car.

And as mentioned before, I'd put reliability and safety over cost.

I learned on a 96 civic, it was a good car.

However, not the best in the snow so if that's a concern go for an older impreza or something.

Toyota 4Runner if she likes bigger, 4WD cars.

My mom (grandma) is selling her 75k mile 98 Imprezza (2.2L) for $3500. It needs an air bag sensor fixed for $700. But it really doesn't snow here often, we are thinking no driving in bad weather policy, so I'm not sure an old Subaru or other AWD vehicle is worth the cost (they seem to have a higher resale value.)









@sportguy I like the idea of a Camry/Corolla/Echo/Tercel I know those are good cars and had heard they tend to have more reliable autos than the old Civics.


Thanks again for the suggestions.

MR2, Miata, S2k...all Fun car.

Family cars 1+ to those Corolla, Altima, Camry, Maxima, Civic, Accord

4 door Civic, Accord, Corolla, Camry

7th generation honda accord (2003 - 2007), 4cyl auto.

It took all my "young guy, first car" abuse, including being lowered a couple inches for 60k miles, and still on all original components (minus wear items of course).

4 cyl, can get 35 mpg highway, plenty of room for her friends, not fast, plethora of replacement parts, safe, easy to maintain. k24 engine is bulletproof.

No, I'm the only one allowed to have a fun car in this family :)


I'm going to keep my eyes open for a pre 96 4 door Toyota unless someone thinks I should try to talk Mom out of here imprezza.

[QUOTE=Sportsguy83;1370386]Camry/Corolla/Echo/Tercel.QUOTE]

Agreed. There's a reason there are so many old Toyotas still on the road.

I'd go for this option... You never know when bad weather may catch her out and about so it adds a level of safety should she have to drive in bad weather (rain, snow, ice). :thumbsup:

Get her a vdub beetle. They havnt changed much so atleast it won't look super aged pre 96 like literally everything else on the road.

Go for the Imprezza...you know the history. Ask Mom to cut you a deal for Christmas.

Knowing about the Impreza for sale, I would say go for that. Remember, she is going to have this car for a few years and you want her to have AWD in the winter when she's driving in snow and already 18-20 years.

The only thing I would consider before buying Grandma's car is that fixing a Toyota can be done dirt cheap and you get good gas mileage and I have no idea how a 98 Impreza stacks up on those two departments.

Sure, having an awd impreza or small suv for winter maybe a good idea, but having an older civic/camry/accord/etc. with appropriate winter tires should be just as good.

Also, why not get her a standard/manual? My dad has always made the point to teach my brother and I to drive stick (we both learned when we were around 14-15) and insisted that our first cars be stick, and we have been forever grateful to him. I plan on doing the same with my daughter when that day comes.

Yes, the accord with winter tires is sick. I drove it last year in all the snows instead of my BRZ. Hoping this winter is a pounding so I can drive it more :)

My Dad did the same with me. My dad wife's too. But the wife has had no luck teaching her driving manual Yaris. Maybe over xmas while I'm off work I'll try to teach her myself. She want a chance to drive my FRS so that may motivate her.

any volvo wagon, v70 series would be nice, and safe!

Why can't she?

I'd go with the Impreza since you know the history. Otherwise I'll go with my general recommendation of a Prius. It won't be as old as you're looking to get, but they're reliable, cheap, and get good gas mileage.

Not everyone wants to or even cares if they can drive a car with a manual transmission. I'll offer to teach my kids, but unless they want to I'm not going to push them to learn.

I guess... There is A LOT of stuff my parents taught me that I didn't care or want to know, but now I am glad they did. When I was 15, I would have much preferred to not learn manual since it was "scary" at the time for me. My Dad pushed me to learn anyways and I am really really glad he did. Since I was "forced" to learn, I now, as an adult, get to choose which one I prefer.

Ah well, we'll be lucky if my little ones even have the option of a manual transmission they're old enough to be purchasing new cars, unfortunately.

Miata.


Not quick enough to get into trouble.
Not enough capacity to bring friends/make poor choices with passengers.
Will teach her about vehicle handling dynamics in a way no other car will.
Available in autotragic if required.
Will handle fine in the snow with proper tires and some weight in the trunk if needed.

Yes! Such a good idea. Back seats are terrible for young drivers. I think you should take out the passenger seat until she turns 17 as well.

My first car was a Bugeye WRX wagon. Overpowered for a teenager and with enough capacity to bring my friends to do stupid bullshit. Not to mention the fold-down rear seat and wagon greenhouse made it a motel on wheels. ;)

Anything she buys with her own money.

An 80's yota truck. Those 22re motors run forever

Mom didn't go for that one.



So true those trucks are bullet proof but hard to find around here (people keep them).






Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to spend xmas week working with her on driving a manual, I think I can get it to sink in.

okay now shift into second, annndd CLUTCH KICK AND COUNTER STEER POWWAAA

subaru 22b