car for kids suggestions

[Piper]

So, my 2 kids are nearing the age of driving or I guess I should say learning to drive (eek!). I'm thinking that I want them to learn and drive in something safe, fuel efficient, and easily serviceable, as the maintenance will be done by me. I'm certain there are many other dads going thru (been thru) this so I'm looking for suggestions. This car will likely be purchased in the next year or 2 FWIW.

Piper

 

[bmwpower]

Just about anything Toyota or Honda. Depending on your experience and $, an old BMW is always a nice choice, but would probably require more time and maintenace to keep it running perfect.

 

[jay50]

Just about anything Toyota or Honda. Depending on your experience and $, an old BMW is always a nice choice, but would probably require more time and maintenace to keep it running perfect.

Agree with Toyota and Honda as used cars; make sure maint have been performed on them by previous owners first.

If looking for GM car, I have had very good service out of Chevy Luminas. Only problem is crappy OEM upper intake manifold gasket that leaks oil externally and coolant internally and can ruin engine if not caught in time.

I have fixed many of these and they have been very reliable. Personal car has 175,000 original miles and still going strong. I don't think they have been built after 2001, maybe sold to rental fleets only. Good fuel mileage also.

 

[dawg]

I disagree with the toyota /honda car
my son and daughter both wanted them like their friends and their freinds were watching too much fast a furious and either smashed the car or blew the motors.
I opted to get them a reliable used car
no they were not sporty etc but reliable and for the first car you never buy them new.
After all its transportation for them and who cares about looking good?
christ my first vehicle was a VW bug.

 

[nonhog]

Just about anything Toyota or Honda. Depending on your experience and $, an old BMW is always a nice choice, but would probably require more time and maintenace to keep it running perfect.

I agree however what is the amount of driving going to be ? the reason I ask is my wife and I are about to pick up a used Volvo for our daughter . Not as cheap to keep as a Honda or Toyota but maybe safer . Better yet an old Chevy truck with a EFI 305 or v6, 700R4 trans would get reasonable MPG and have a full frame to keep newbie drivers safe . Just some thoughts to make it harder for you to decide beware of some small cars as in Zippy the last thing you want is High Performance . SLOW / SAFE/ RELIABLE
Good luck !

 

[rickairmedic]

I am in the same boat and am looking at smaller sedans with front wheel drive and mini vans . We dont get near as much snow here as you do up there but we still get it and front wheel drives I feel are much better for a new driver on snow.


Rick

 

[volvo]

.
I also have been putting the kids in Volvo's, One of the safest car in the world. We have honda's also. This is a pix of the kids cars at home for X-mas...H

 

[Moose]

A car I would avoid is the Chevy caviler or pontiac sunfire. Are company bought the cavilers for some of are employees to use as company cars, and they fold up like tooth picks. They are not safe, and I would not put my kids in one.

 

[jay50]

I agree however what is the amount of driving going to be ? the reason I ask is my wife and I are about to pick up a used Volvo for our daughter . Not as cheap to keep as a Honda or Toyota but maybe safer . Better yet an old Chevy truck with a EFI 305 or v6, 700R4 trans would get reasonable MPG and have a full frame to keep newbie drivers safe . Just some thoughts to make it harder for you to decide beware of some small cars as in Zippy the last thing you want is High Performance . SLOW / SAFE/ RELIABLE
Good luck !

Also, 1975 Caddy Fleetwoods are big and safe and your kids would like riding around in a pimp mobile.....

 

[mhoffm911]

I do quite a few municipal auctions. If I were looking for such a car, I would be looking at one of the used police cruisers. At least for the city's I do the auctions for, the cars are generally well maintained with regular oil changes, repairs, etc. They sell for between $1500 and $2500 usually. Most of the ones that come across my block are under 75,000 miles as the cities have a policy to replace every 3 years.

Note: I am a former cop, so before you say it, YES they do get driven "hard" at times. However, the fleet garage guys I know take pride in keeping them running well.

 

[tpwalsh]

.
I also have been putting the kids in Volvo's, One of the safest car in the world. We have honda's also. This is a pix of the kids cars at home for X-mas...H

Hmm I see they've graduated past the bubble wrap?


Another option to think about is a Hyundai. An old roommate of mine has/had 2 and he can attest for it's safety(wrecked the first one) and reliability. They're cheap since they have the korean stigma, but have come a long way in the mechanicals dept.

 

[bmwpower]

I do quite a few municipal auctions. If I were looking for such a car, I would be looking at one of the used police cruisers. At least for the city's I do the auctions for, the cars are generally well maintained with regular oil changes, repairs, etc. They sell for between $1500 and $2500 usually. Most of the ones that come across my block are under 75,000 miles as the cities have a policy to replace every 3 years.

Note: I am a former cop, so before you say it, YES they do get driven "hard" at times. However, the fleet garage guys I know take pride in keeping them running well.

Downside - old police cruisers will **** gas like no tomorrow. Not to mention they're probably pretty quick, which could lead to temptation for speeding.

 

[Red Green]

The Majority of teenage drivers will trash their first car. I would recomend a larger gm FWD car like Bonniville, Olds 88, Olds 98, Lesaber. The cars with the 3800 motors seem to hold up to abuse well.

 

[mhoffm911]

Downside - old police cruisers will **** gas like no tomorrow. Not to mention they're probably pretty quick, which could lead to temptation for speeding.

Actually, we are seeing more Dodge Intrepids coming through than the old Chevy Caprice or Ford Impalas. I am waiting for one of the new Dodge Chargers to come up in a couple of years. I love the way they look as a cruiser.

 

[SteveU]

Something like a Geo Metro, small & get good mileage, easy to work on, easy to park, don't lend themselves to drag racing or 'high performance' driving, & can carry a suprising amount of stuff, FWD so it gets around good in the snow, I drove home in the blizzard of 99 in about 8-10" of snow with one.

 

[Franz©]

Well, my suggestion always comes down to It has 2 wheels and pedals, and you can pedal it as far as you want to. When YOU have insurance money and car money let me know and we'll go shopping.

Hyundai is made in ALABAMA by the Hyundai robot drill team. LN has one in the garage, and it's unbeatable for the bucks.

 

[the fab shack]

I have never been a fan of companies like Hyaundai until about a yr ago. My girlfriend had an 01 elantra. This is what happens when you hit someone doing 55. That was after we hit the brakes and the person in front of us was dead stopped. Both of us were fine, it did crinkle the drivers side subframe and bent the dash over some. It wasnt a big deal, of course totalled but didnt crinkle have as bad as I have seen other cars go.

 

[oldgoat]

I'll vote for a mini PU. They usually aren't too bad on gas and have the room to be able to work on them some. The most important thing though is that only about three people can get in at the same time and hopefully 2. The less people in the car, the less chance of someone egging them into doing something stupid. At least this is what worked best for the oldest boy. The two youngest though we got a Neon and Saturn SC1. They've had both of them for over 3 years now with good service.

 

[jay50]

Ford Taurus and Mercury Sables are good buys. Daughter is driving 01 Sable and likes it. It is an old folks car....LOL

 

[jimvannoy]

I got my Daughter a 77 Trans Am when she was in High School. She drove it all through school. She learned how to work on it as we rebuilt everything, welded in new floors and patch panels, and got it in primer. Now it's just about ready for paint, new interior, and the rebuilt 400. She can now weld, do brake jobs, rebuild engines, and paint. She's in College now and wants to be a Research Biologist but still loves her car and loves to work on them. She says she will never sell it and makes fun of her guy friends and their "ricers".

 

[jay50]

I got my Daughter a 77 Trans Am when she was in High School. She drove it all through school. She learned how to work on it as we rebuilt everything, welded in new floors and patch panels, and got it in primer. Now it's just about ready for paint, new interior, and the rebuilt 400. She can now weld, do brake jobs, rebuild engines, and paint. She's in College now and wants to be a Research Biologist but still loves her car and loves to work on them. She says she will never sell it and makes fun of her guy friends and their "ricers".

77 Transam for daughter, WTF? I bet she also leaned had to drag race with it and out run the cops when they tried to catch her for speeding....

 

[jimvannoy]

77 Transam for daughter, WTF? I bet she also leaned had to drag race with it and out run the cops when they tried to catch her for speeding....

Actually she drag races it at the local NHRA track. A friend of ours owns it and she also had her first job working there.

 

[rsanter]

how about a 6 cyl mustang. toyota PU, honda accord, honda prelude, honda civc, toyoto camry.
kids usually dont drive too much so you can also get them a full size truck

bob

 

[1320stang]

My step daughter is getting a '90 dodge Shadow. They're cheap, good mileage (20-21 in town) easy to work on (2.2 or 2.5) and the parts yards have plenty of parts for them. This one has over 200k on it.

I used to have a '94 Chrysler LHS, it got about 20-21 in town, big car, leather, all the bells and whistles, 3.5 V6 that makes about 230 hp. They're bad about the R&P bushings and the ****** mount. They also break timing belts taking out the tensioner and the water pump is usually bad. Cool thing is, they don't bend valves. A new water pump, tensioner and timing belt and your back on the road. I picked up mine with 140k and a broken timing belt for $50, put genuine Mopar parts in it and put 45k more on it before trading it in on my wife's '00 Windstar getting $300 for it. Shoulda kept it, probably could have sold it for $1000 locally.

 

[grillmasterp]

I disagree with the toyota /honda car
my son and daughter both wanted them like their friends and their freinds were watching too much fast a furious and either smashed the car or blew the motors.
I opted to get them a reliable used car

I wouldn't blame the make of vehicle - They would have done the same thing with any vehicle- Neon, ****** etc.........
For the most part, I almost expect a 1st time driver to get into an accident sooner or later-

I will agree with getting them a reliable used car
aAnd for me, reliable used car usually means Toyota/Honda-

In general- you can't go wrong with a used Camry/Accord/Corolla/Civic
-Good resale value if it survives - easy& cheap to maintain

Lol - I am hoping to pass my current Toyota Tacoma to my son.... or maybe my project 86 4runner.......If I can ever manage to clean up my garage to start wrenching on it.

 

[Abe]

Get a mid 90's Toyota tercel. They are safe, reliable, get about 40MPG, easy to work on and you can get a good one for less than 3k. mileage is almost irrelevant in these cars too. A toyota if maintained even hallfway right will go 350k before needing a rebuild.

 

[OctaneMotorsports]

Im not even sixteen yet, but I worked my *** off for a few months and bought myself a 2004 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab with the 5.4L V8. Now it's not common nowadays for kids to take initiative and work for what they have, so I would reccomend a Honda CRX.

 

[TerryG]

My son gets his lic. in a couple of months. He will take over the driving duties of our '89 Jeep YJ. Dated his Mom in it, went on our honeymoon in it, brought him home from the hospital in it, took him to school on his 1st day in it. He thinks it's kinda neat the thing has history behind it .... and maybe that will cause his to treat it with a tad more respect.

 

[logical]

I guess we really should know what the original poster had in mind. Are we talking about a $2000 car or a new car(please don't)?

5 years back when my son was that age, we found an 9 year old Camry with only 60,000 actual little old lady miles. White, 4 cyl, 4 door.....ain't nobody mistaking it for a Fast and Furious star. It was owned by the mother of a co-worker. I think we paid $4500.

It now has 130,000 and other than brakes, etc. has been perfect.

 

[jay50]

My son gets his lic. in a couple of months. He will take over the driving duties of our '89 Jeep YJ. Dated his Mom in it, went on our honeymoon in it, brought him home from the hospital in it, took him to school on his 1st day in it. He thinks it's kinda neat the thing has history behind it .... and maybe that will cause his to treat it with a tad more respect.

......will get his first traffic citation in it......

 

[hotrod66paul]

Call me old fashioned but what ever happened to kids saving up and buying their own cars ?? Pushing home an old clunker to fix up or working odd jobs to buy grandma's old car ?? I remember when people saved up to purchase a car, house etc but it seems now the magic question is how much a month is the payment.Dosen't anyone still get any satisfaction out of knowing they earned and paid for something on their own anymore ??

 

[michael Mccoy]

I feel for you guys with teenage drivers, the insurance has to kill you and the worrying where they are, I do not envy you. I remember my first car, 49 ford club coupe, fastest one in the neighborhood and I remember what I did and I was a good kid

 

[oldgoat]

Call me old fashioned but what ever happened to kids saving up and buying their own cars ?? Pushing home an old clunker to fix up or working odd jobs to buy grandma's old car ?? I remember when people saved up to purchase a car, house etc but it seems now the magic question is how much a month is the payment.Dosen't anyone still get any satisfaction out of knowing they earned and paid for something on their own anymore ??

I agree to an extent, but also in my youth we could buy a car for $25. that would run. Todays cars many times it costs more than the car is worth if you start a hunt and peck route. With parents usually working then a lot of times they can't take the kid and if you add them to your policy then the price can really hurt. Sometimes it is almost cheaper to buy the old car and just have them on it. The two youngest worked when they got their cars and paid for half on any repairs and the taxes and insurance. If there were any repairs that were because of their neglect or actions they would pay for. If they lost their discounts they paid for all of that increase. The youngest has over $7000 saved up now for school and/or another car and works almost full time while going to college. So far this plan has worked with them.

 

[russlaferrera]

Call me old fashioned but what ever happened to kids saving up and buying their own cars ?? Pushing home an old clunker to fix up or working odd jobs to buy grandma's old car ?? I remember when people saved up to purchase a car, house etc but it seems now the magic question is how much a month is the payment.Doesn't anyone still get any satisfaction out of knowing they earned and paid for something on their own anymore ??

You are on target. IMO we give too much to our children. We want them to have more than we did. Without them contributing any money towards the the cost of the car and insurance they will not understand the life principals of work and enjoy the rewards. END OF RANT!

To answer the question. A car that is safe and that THEY and you can afford. If they run it hard they will see the $$$ being spent.

 

[jimvannoy]

Call me old fashioned but what ever happened to kids saving up and buying their own cars ?? Pushing home an old clunker to fix up or working odd jobs to buy grandma's old car ?? I remember when people saved up to purchase a car, house etc but it seems now the magic question is how much a month is the payment.Dosen't anyone still get any satisfaction out of knowing they earned and paid for something on their own anymore ??

I was more than happy to buy a car for my daughter. She makes straight A's, and got full scholarships for College. She also worked after school all through High School. I got her 77 TA for $1400.00 running and driving. She worked on it along with me and learned a great deal in doing so. My Dad bought me my first car when I was in High School. It was a 60 Chevy for $500.00. I also worked everyday after school and paid for everything else after he bought it.

 

[jay50]

I agree to an extent, but also in my youth we could buy a car for $25. that would run. Todays cars many times it costs more than the car is worth if you start a hunt and peck route. With parents usually working then a lot of times they can't take the kid and if you add them to your policy then the price can really hurt. Sometimes it is almost cheaper to buy the old car and just have them on it. The two youngest worked when they got their cars and paid for half on any repairs and the taxes and insurance. If there were any repairs that were because of their neglect or actions they would pay for. If they lost their discounts they paid for all of that increase. The youngest has over $7000 saved up now for school and/or another car and works almost full time while going to college. So far this plan has worked with them.

To add some more to this. Jobs for kids in my neck of woods are not plentiful; too many older folks have lost their jobs and are now working as cashiers and baggers in grocery stores, jobs once reserved for kids. I told my kids when they were growing up that when it became time for them to drive and get a car, I would consider it if they were top in their class and responsible at school and home. With these ground rules established, they got cars and also were responsible for the maint and repairs that we did in my shop. Yes, even the daughter had to learn to install waterpump and CV axles on her Camry. All my kids graduated at top of their class and went on to college. Daughter got 4 year scholarship. They did manage to work some part time during weekends and during summertime at local grocery store.

Overall, I was happy how this was done. They still remember the life lessons they learned in my shop; it is more to operating and maintaining a car than just turning on the ignition switch. And they still have some scars on their arms to prove it...

 

[cletus66]

I vote for a 4 cylinder Mustang. My daughter's car is the green one in front of mine. Then when they want to go fast and have experience, it will hold a 460 based stroker big block. And the insurance company will go by the VIN and think it is a 4 banger forever.

 

[Piper]

WOW! what an active posting!! I just logged on and see the action here!

Thanks to all for their insight and wisdom. It is a ton of food for thought. My main reason for posting was really that I didn't want my kids learning on our family van, our jeep liberty or our Honda ridgeline. I was really thinking about a "dad do we have to drive the ****" sleeper, non-hip car. I think my initial hunch of either a civic, camry or Hyundai have been confirmed.

I would never buy a new car for the kids as I know it's going to get it's fair share of knocks, bumps and scratches not to mention the cost. My kids are really in touch with the cost of things and my wife and I really don't pamper them with the breaks some kids get. The "kids car" will be no different. In the next year or 2 I'm planning on purchasing a 67 Mustang vert so I definitely want to have something I can lend keys to other than that!

Thanks again!

Piper

 

[kartracer55]

MAKE THEM BUY IT THEMSELVES!!!

I bought my own, and I was pissed that my parents made me but trust me, it was a great decision. I respect my car WAY more than the kids who's parents bought it for them. Sure, its not as nice as those nice new IS250's and G35's that everybody else was getting but hey, at the end of the day Id say I got the better deal.

I would GUIDE them in the purchase. Also, Explain that you will pick up brakes and oil changes and other maintenance Items to keep the car safe, but you will not cover repairs necessary because of abusive driving like bent rims and emergency brake cables hahahaha

From Day 1 I have been on my own insurance policy paying my own insurance. Its expensive, but its one hell of an incentive not to speed or drive while on the phone.

Jim

 

[hotrod66paul]

Over six months ago the young fellow accross the street got his D/L and was trying to talk his parents into a s10 with a v8 that had a knock in the motor.I told the wife that if he got it that he would never get it running by just watching his general attitude.Well as of now the truck has had another motor in it but not running for about 5 months but the parents went out and signed for another car with the truck tying up the parents garage and a large assmt of my tools laying on their garage floor. I don't think this would be happening if this was his own money or tools. As kartracer55 has said above the respect comes from knowing you earned it either financially or by good grades or other actions thru an agreement with the parents. I wasn't an angel by any means with my early cars but when I tore something up then the parts or labor came out of my pocket. As far as what type of car fits a first time driver,almost any car will get you hurt.Its the driver and their attitude behind the wheel that makes the difference.