Need to get daughter a vehicle

[rjirvine]

This is off topic, but I need to find a vehicle for my soon to be 17 yr old daughter. I cant afford an SUV cause it'll be about $100/mo insurance increase...what would you guys recommend? A taurus/camry/accord? i'm looking to spend about 5k.

[RyanbabZ71]

civic?

[billcar9999]

I went with a high mileage Maxima and Mazda 626 (different kids). You can find older cars with air bags and ABS that are in good shape. These cars were not junk but did need a little work. You'll probably have to put some cash into it to make it right but you'll probably save money in the long run. Assume your daughter will wreck the car at least once within the first year. Used body parts are available pretty cheap. Statistics and personal experience say this is true. Not bad drivers just inexperienced. Then you can buy her a newer car for college. She'll appreciate the upgrade and hopefully have enough experience to take care of it.

 

Bill

[Black02Silverado]

Heck, for 9k you can get a brand new Chevy Aveo. Not a bad deal for a new vehicle that has good fuel economy and a full warranty.

 

Then there is always the VW TDI's.

[drumset5994]

I always wondered about the Hondas, Nissans, Toyotas, etc for my sister.

 

Those little imports last forever..she's 18 now...doesnt want a pickup truck (only in the family...traitor) lol

[Dans Denali]

I bought my daughter a 1994 Sonoma with 58000 miles for $3000. ABS, 4.3 {too much motor}, AT. Liability insurance only.

 

Dan

[peppersac]

What you need is a VW jetta TDI. it has a diesel engine that sports 45 mpg, and a really good safety rateing! really nice car!!

[sjspor]

Used Saturns are very affordable, and a decent small car. I paid 750 bucks for one with a 5 speed for my daughter with 97K on it. Put 2 o2 sensors in it, brakes and 1 coil pack.

 

The clock has 147k on it now. It;s also dirt cheap to insure.

[Wingnut]

My parents bought my older sister an older Corolla ('82 or so) that had around 90k miles on it.

 

Two sets of brake pads and an additional 160k miles, and my younger sister sold it for the same amount they had paid for it 8 years previous ($900).

 

That car was a piece of work. Even with the automatic transmission, it lasted until past 400k miles before it was hit by a Mac tool truck. (It was sold to a friend of the family). No rebuilds, no starters, no alternators, nothing but a couple sets of brake pads.

 

If I ever have kids, I'll probably buy them something similar.

 

If I had to buy something safe and economical for myself right now...I'd buy what others have suggested in this thread, a VW TDI.

[jhm]

Assume your daughter will wreck the car at least once within the first year. 

 

 

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Don't take this personal, but if I had to assume that, she would not be driving unless she was with her parents. Too bad, but most wrecks don't just require some cheap replacement parts, many require hospitals, surgery, therapy, law suits, and worse. My brothers and I all had to buy and insure our cars with our own money. Makes that car a bit more valuable when it is your own money in it. Don't want to rant, but this weekend I had some kid about 16 driving an Expedition turn right in front of us, if I had been going more than the 45 mph speed limit, no way would I be able to stop. These kids have way too much freedom as soon as they get their license. Like my father told us "when you get your license you are just beginning to learn".

[OUMike]

I dunno...personally I like the Cavaliers myself. After my mother's divorse she and the kids (me and my older brother) were living off of her income and things were a bit tight. She got herself a little Cavalier. Great car. I'm sure you can fnid those cheap. And they are chevy..

[asepgrad98]

How about a chevy Caprice or Crown Vic. Those things are pretty safe in a wreck and she wont be joy riding around in it due to high gas prices.

[OUMike]

How about a chevy Caprice or Crown Vic. Those things are pretty safe in a wreck and she wont be joy riding around in it due to high gas prices.

 

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Yea, but if she's anything like my girlfriend she'll hate driving something that large. Those are pretty nice though.

[billcar9999]

Assume your daughter will wreck the car at least once within the first year. 

 

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Don't take this personal, but if I had to assume that, she would not be driving unless she was with her parents. Too bad, but most wrecks don't just require some cheap replacement parts, many require hospitals, surgery, therapy, law suits, and worse. My brothers and I all had to buy and insure our cars with our own money. Makes that car a bit more valuable when it is your own money in it. Don't want to rant, but this weekend I had some kid about 16 driving an Expedition turn right in front of us, if I had been going more than the 45 mph speed limit, no way would I be able to stop. These kids have way too much freedom as soon as they get their license. Like my father told us "when you get your license you are just beginning to learn".

 

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I'm not taking this personally. Most kids pass the test with the parents. Along the way by themselves, they get distracted because of the radio, people in the car, a situation they haven't encountered before, etc. All the things you mentioned do happen, sometimes with the parent in the car. My point was more about the common mistakes like backing over the garbage cans or taking out the mailbox because they cut the corner too much and minor fendor benders. The insurance statistics do show that these kind of things happen. My kids do pay their insurance along with routine car maintenance and gas. I think that teaches them to be more responsible and to know the value of a dollar. They don't even ask to drive my truck or Tahoe.

 

When's the last time some over 30 driver cut you off because they were talking on their cell phone? Some driving problems aren't age specific and everybody makes a mistake now and then.

 

Bill

[MS3DALE]

I'll vote for a Cavalier or a Saturn.

We have four Cavaliers in the family,Grandma's '97,Aunt's 2000,Cousin's '02 and my brother's '03,All have lotsa' miles on them (Except Grandma's....Only driven to church on Sunday's! ) and have been very reliable cars.

Two friends of mine have Saturn's (A '98 SC1 & 2000 SL1) and have never had any trouble with those either.