# Car recomendations for a first time teenage driver **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018 "2016-02-03T03:04:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/41 "2016-02-04T18:32:10Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Buy a lease buy back with low miles and I think the Civic or Corolla would be good choices, as would the Impreza. You might want to look at the Scion Tc or Im as well. Roomy and the Im has a hatch. Although with Hondas and Toyotas, because they do hold their value so well you don’t really save much buying a slightly-used one over a new one. If you’re buying used, there’s definitely other cars that are just as nice but much better deals. The Scions are a good idea, and with the brand going away there might be deals to be had. The tC is kind of sporty (it’s basically a Corolla-sized car with a Camry engine) but nothing too crazy, and the iM is basically a Corolla station wagon. ETA: what he said! ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/42 "2016-02-04T21:38:50Z")
The IIHS top safety picks is an eye opening site. Some major differences between makes for the front end collision. According to IIHS, the Honda Civic 2016 model has superior front crash prevention vs 2015 with basic. Subaru had that same jump to superior rating in 2015. Scion doesn’t rate nearly as well on the other parameters. My agent is coming back today with a bench mark of a Honda Civic new vs coming off of a 3 year lease. BTW, appreciate the ideas and feedback everyone ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/43 "2016-02-04T21:53:08Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > The IIHS top safety picks is an eye opening site. Some major differences between makes for the front end collision. > > According to IIHS, the Honda Civic 2016 model has superior front crash prevention vs 2015 with basic. Subaru had that same jump to superior rating in 2015. Scion doesn’t rate nearly as well on the other parameters. Although note that those crash prevention systems are optional, and can often only be had on the more expensive trim levels. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/44 "2016-02-04T23:09:22Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I remember an old Click and Clack where they revcommended a manual transmission for a 16 year old girl. > > The rationale was there would not be a hand free for a latte or cell phone. They’ve never been a 16-year-old girl driving a manual transmission. Amazing how much you can do when you’re determined. (Learned to drive in an ancient manual Corolla in the Seattle suburbs. It’s really not that bad and she’ll learn how to handle hills in the rain.) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/45 "2016-02-04T23:29:53Z")
Don’t go for too old a car, because you want your kid in a very safe car. No air bags or anti-lock brakes? No. I said that because teenagers drive like idiots; yes, even your very sensible daughter. That’s why it costs so much to insure them; actuaries know how often they crash. They drive too fast, too. That’s why you want her first car to be under-powered and very safe. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/46 "2016-02-04T23:58:37Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Good old volvo 240 series. Cheap. Safe. Runs forever. I came in to recommend a Volvo with a manual transmission (as mentioned by **jasg** and for the same reasons – also, the ability to drive a manual transmission is one that everyone should have). I drove an elderly manual transmission Volvo that my stepmum had driven in Europe and the northeast US for years. We only got rid of it because a) it became difficult to find diesel near where we lived, and b) it got really temperamental WRT upkeep after 250K miles. If not a Volvo, then a Hyundai. A friend drove an Excel for five years and I think only put gas in it (she wasn’t great about oil). It survived and was handed down to her sister., who drove it for two years, with similar care in upkeep. Her sister eventually drove it into a concrete divider. Car was totaled. Sister was fine. My friend has driven various Hyundai cars; I’ve had two Santa Fes (total of about 15 years). Both keep on going no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/47 "2016-02-05T01:20:23Z")
Regarding the advice about inexperienced drivers and new cars: The Boy just had a little wreck. No injuries, extremely minor damage, totally his fault - rookie mistake. In a new car, that extra set of dents would be a couple of thousand for body work. On his little truck? “Is it still functional? All lights still working? Nothing damaged under the hood? K. Be more careful. And you get to pay your ticket, plus any increase in the cost of your insurance.” ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/48 "2016-02-05T14:37:48Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Yeah - Honda or Toyota. DEFINITELY not a manual for a new driver in Seattle! :eek:… I’d have to agree. We have a Civic (that is, in fact, older than China Bambina!) with manual transmission. It’s a real workhorse, but handling manual on a hilly street is tough even for an experienced driver. There’s one intersection near us that I dread getting stopped at, as you’re on a steep hill and have to coordinate the clutch, brake, gas, and emergency brake to get it going again w/o rolling back into the car behind you. Safety is surprisingly good for such a small car. Our previous Civic was in a head-on collision when it was 3 years old - we walked away from that. It was fixed, and 5 years later was totalled in another accident - my husband walked away from that one (I was not in the car). ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/49 "2016-02-05T14:59:02Z")
Honda CR-V. I’ll admit my bias, I bought one new in 2001 and drove it for 15 years and 225,000 miles. It was the most bullet-proof (no pun intended), trouble free Timex ever. It took a lickin’ and kept on tickin’. Mine was a 5-MT and the original clutch lasted 213,000 miles. In San Francisco, mind you. Reliable and dependable, and they haul a lot. I put a Yakima rack on top, and installed a Class-II hitch from [etrailer.com](http://etrailer.com) (mf’d by Curt), and I could haul a lot with it. Best. Car. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/50 "2016-02-05T16:25:47Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Ours lost a piece that snaps back on. It isn’t pristine, it got scratched up a bit, but the Volvo was bought used and I really don’t like it. > > My son doesn’t get good grades and doesn’t want to participate in the high school experience (except baseball in the Spring), so he has to pay for his insurance and gas via a job. > > My daughter does and uses her time productively (well, there is the Tumblr habit, but since her current reading material is The Federalist Papers, we are letting her slack a little), so we frank her as long as she employs her time more productively than working a minimum wage job. This makes no sense. When you’re in high school, a minimum wage job IS productive. What else do you expect from him? Why does she essentially get a free ride? My parents had me pay for shit and wouldn’t have essentially paid my way if my extracurricular time was spent reading and Tumblr-ing, no matter what the content. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/51 "2016-02-05T16:31:50Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > This makes no sense. When you’re in high school, a minimum wage job IS productive. What else do you expect from him? Why does she essentially get a free ride? My parents had me pay for shit and wouldn’t have essentially paid my way if my extracurricular time was spent reading and Tumblr-ing, no matter what the content. Take it easy. If I understand **Dangerosa** , she is basically saying that for her family, if one does better, then one is rewarded. Not to speak for **Dangerosa** but that’s my takeaway from that post quote. ETA: **Dangerosa** is not imposing her parental and family values onto your childhood. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018/52 "2016-02-05T16:35:29Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Take it easy. If I understand **Dangerosa** , she is basically saying that for her family, if one does better, then one is rewarded. Not to speak for **Dangerosa** but that’s my takeaway from that post quote. > > ETA: **Dangerosa** is not imposing her parental and family values onto your childhood. Fair enough. Sorry if my confusion sounded more like defensiveness or hostility. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-recomendations-for-a-first-time-teenage-driver/745018.md?page=2)