What is a reasonable car for a 16 year old?
- Thread starter ~Jessie~
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My first car was a 1989 Ford Bronco II. Terrible choice for me - I'm incredibly lucky I didn't roll the stupid top heavy thing while I was out 4 wheeling. It also ended up dying right after I pumped almost $1000 into it. ******* thing. I had to buy it, pay for insurance, and pay for gas but after it died my parent's let me borrow their old truck until I could get a new car. The truck was a 1980 Ford F150 that liked to randomly die when you hit the brakes in the winter. SO SAFE. Lol. It also got like 8 mpg.
So really, no matter what I put my future kids in, it has to be better than what I had. I think that at most I will pay for half a vehicle, or sell them a hand me down vehicle for cheap. I'd probably go for a Honda if it wasn't a hand me down. I suppose it depends on how much money we have at the time.
So really, no matter what I put my future kids in, it has to be better than what I had. I think that at most I will pay for half a vehicle, or sell them a hand me down vehicle for cheap. I'd probably go for a Honda if it wasn't a hand me down. I suppose it depends on how much money we have at the time.
I don't have my 'own' car. We have three family cars, and its kinda pick and chose and it depends on the situation as to which one I drive. I definitely have to at least have a car to drive though, otherwise one of my parents would have to drive me everywhere, and I am going 20 minutes each way to practice, and then 10 minutes away from my other practice. And to my job.
And that isn't counting my little brother who has to be driven to his multiple practices, and my mom has a job so she can't drive much. So it was pretty important that I have a car to drive.
And that isn't counting my little brother who has to be driven to his multiple practices, and my mom has a job so she can't drive much. So it was pretty important that I have a car to drive.
I never had a car until I was done with college and got a full time job. My parents just let me (and my sisters when they got old enough to drive) borrow my parents' ancient Ford Taurus when we needed it (they had 2 cars...the other was a Crown Vic which was later replaced by a Dodge Caravan). If I was to have kids for some crazy reason, that's probably what I'd do...let them drive an old family car.
My first car was a terrible PT Cruiser. It was a lemon and totally unsafe. I have so much hate for that car.
My first car was a terrible PT Cruiser. It was a lemon and totally unsafe. I have so much hate for that car.
I am always SO scared when I see a teenager in a huge SUV. I think a smaller sedan would be plenty. I had an ooooold beetle. I loved that car. My parents gave it to me as a combined Christmas/birthday present together with my grandparents. I also worked that year at my dad's business.
I still think 16 is too young, and I still think that the american driving schools are too short and not enough in depth.
I still think 16 is too young, and I still think that the american driving schools are too short and not enough in depth.
My first car was a 1989 Camaro RS (305 V8). I must say that I was Daddy's little girl. I was 14 when he bought it, and it became "mine" on my 15th birthday (yes, back in those days you could get your permit at 14 and your license at 15 in Louisiana.).
I think each situation is different when it comes to kids and who pays for what. I was busting my butt playing soccer year-round and I had really good grades in school. I went to college on full athletic scholorship as well as a full academic scholorship. I bought a 2000 Camaro Z28 in late 2000, but I was not only playing soccer and going to school full time, but I also taught Driver's Ed. and that paid my car note. My parents paid my insurance for me.
I consider myself responsible and not spoiled in the least. I was 20 years old before I got my first "real" job (someone other than my Dad hiring me to do work for his engineering firm ). Despite that, I had no issues regarding work ethic.
But I will say that in my case, playing soccer and doing well in school also taught me about work ethic even though it wasn't in the job force.
I was 14 when he bought it, and it became "mine" on my 15th birthday (yes, back in those days you could get your permit at 14 and your license at 15 in Louisiana.).I think each situation is different when it comes to kids and who pays for what. I was busting my butt playing soccer year-round and I had really good grades in school. I went to college on full athletic scholorship as well as a full academic scholorship. I bought a 2000 Camaro Z28 in late 2000, but I was not only playing soccer and going to school full time, but I also taught Driver's Ed. and that paid my car note. My parents paid my insurance for me.
I consider myself responsible and not spoiled in the least. I was 20 years old before I got my first "real" job (someone other than my Dad hiring me to do work for his engineering firm
). Despite that, I had no issues regarding work ethic. But I will say that in my case, playing soccer and doing well in school also taught me about work ethic even though it wasn't in the job force.
My mom has an Expedition, which is what I learned to drive in (along with an F-250) and I absolutely LOVE driving it.
However, my car is a 1997 Ford Escort and I think it is a great first car... especially since I have to commute to college every day. Though it does get a bit small when I have to lug around Harleigh's stuff all the time
However, my car is a 1997 Ford Escort and I think it is a great first car... especially since I have to commute to college every day. Though it does get a bit small when I have to lug around Harleigh's stuff all the time
European virsion though, was a piece of crap.And the best car for a 16-year-old IMO is none-existant.
For me, having my own car at 16 WAS necessary. I took college classes (dual enrollment) and worked part time.
Same with my sister who is now 16. She takes college classes one or two nights a week and she also works on the weekends.
I think car insurance costs are regional as well. Down in South Florida (where my family lives), car insurance rates are even a good bit higher than they are here.
Same with my sister who is now 16. She takes college classes one or two nights a week and she also works on the weekends.
I think car insurance costs are regional as well. Down in South Florida (where my family lives), car insurance rates are even a good bit higher than they are here.
My first two cards were a pair of VW rabbit convertables, both German made and older than I was. They were hand-me downs from other family members . . . driven until they fell apart (which is why there were two of them).
I didn't get a NEW car until both of the rabbits died and I was 19. That was an Eagle Talon. I loved that car. It was cute and sporty, reliable, fuel efficient, had enough space in its hatch back to move any reasonably sized object. Drove that car for 11 years, until I got out of law school, and kept it as a second car for 2 more years until it fell apart. (actually, that was the SECOND Talon . ..the first one lasted only a few months and saved my life in a very serious accident). Although I love my Mustang, I am very sad they don't make Talons anymore. The Mitsubishi Eclipse used to be similar, but the modern Eclipses are bigger and probably not as well made (the Talons were always better made that the Eclipses).
And for some kids, 16 is not too soon . . . it may even be late. We lived in the country. NO public transportation. NONE. My parents had to drive me to school every day and drive me home, because there was no school bus. They couldn't wait for me to get my license. 16 year olds a perfectly capable of learning to drive and doing so safely . . . in fact, statistics show that if you make them wait until they are older, they pretty much have the same number of accidents . . . by and large, they have accidents because they are inexperienced, not because they are young.
If I had a sixteen year old I'd probably get them a solid used or hand-me down car as a first car . . . a new car should wait until they get some experience.
And a Ford Expedition? What are they going to do in it? Sleep in it? And if THEY hit someone else, if that person is in a smaller car, they will kill them. After two teenagers in a huge SUV nearly plowed right through my Mustang (stopped a foot from the driver's side door), I've become even more opposed to giving kids HUGE cars. They are hard to handle, hard to see in, unmanuverable, and fatal to innocent bystanders.
Edit: I should also note that most after school activities, let alone doing anything with friends, etc, was out of the question until I got a car. Period. My parents were not going to drive me around, and there was no other way to get anywhere. Kids may not need to run wild (and I wasn't a social kid, really) but when there is no alternative transportation, they need a car.
I didn't get a NEW car until both of the rabbits died and I was 19. That was an Eagle Talon. I loved that car. It was cute and sporty, reliable, fuel efficient, had enough space in its hatch back to move any reasonably sized object. Drove that car for 11 years, until I got out of law school, and kept it as a second car for 2 more years until it fell apart. (actually, that was the SECOND Talon . ..the first one lasted only a few months and saved my life in a very serious accident). Although I love my Mustang, I am very sad they don't make Talons anymore. The Mitsubishi Eclipse used to be similar, but the modern Eclipses are bigger and probably not as well made (the Talons were always better made that the Eclipses).
And for some kids, 16 is not too soon . . . it may even be late. We lived in the country. NO public transportation. NONE. My parents had to drive me to school every day and drive me home, because there was no school bus. They couldn't wait for me to get my license. 16 year olds a perfectly capable of learning to drive and doing so safely . . . in fact, statistics show that if you make them wait until they are older, they pretty much have the same number of accidents . . . by and large, they have accidents because they are inexperienced, not because they are young.
If I had a sixteen year old I'd probably get them a solid used or hand-me down car as a first car . . . a new car should wait until they get some experience.
And a Ford Expedition? What are they going to do in it? Sleep in it? And if THEY hit someone else, if that person is in a smaller car, they will kill them. After two teenagers in a huge SUV nearly plowed right through my Mustang (stopped a foot from the driver's side door), I've become even more opposed to giving kids HUGE cars. They are hard to handle, hard to see in, unmanuverable, and fatal to innocent bystanders.
Edit: I should also note that most after school activities, let alone doing anything with friends, etc, was out of the question until I got a car. Period. My parents were not going to drive me around, and there was no other way to get anywhere. Kids may not need to run wild (and I wasn't a social kid, really) but when there is no alternative transportation, they need a car.
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My first car was a 69(I think) ugly orange ford mustang. After I had to give that u p because I put my moms corsica in the ditch(opps). I ended up with a ford escort.
I think kids need something semi small, and dependable. I won't buy either one of my kids a car, UNLESS they can prove to me they are willing to put forth an effort.
I think kids need something semi small, and dependable. I won't buy either one of my kids a car, UNLESS they can prove to me they are willing to put forth an effort.
My first car was a 2000 Volkswagon Jetta. I loved it. It had been my mom and step-dads car first (I turned 16 in 2006) and it WAS a bit beat up -- they had quite a few miles on it. I think it was at 150,000 when I got it. But it was a PERFECT first car. I couldn't have imagined driving anything different at the time. I was comfortable in it, it was safe (at least I think it was, lol) and I wasn't too scared to mess it up since it was already dented everywhere, LOL.
I would have been SO uncomfortable driving a big vehicle. I still don't like it. I had to drive my uncle's Hummer last year and it was sooo awkward. WAY too huge. I now have a Jeep Patriot and it's perfect - still SUV but drives like a car, not big at all.
I would have been SO uncomfortable driving a big vehicle. I still don't like it. I had to drive my uncle's Hummer last year and it was sooo awkward. WAY too huge. I now have a Jeep Patriot and it's perfect - still SUV but drives like a car, not big at all.
Even now I wouldn't want to drive a huge car..... I sure as heck didn't want to when I first started driving. Sure, my tiny Civic wasn't very good at getting over and through snow lol but we managed. I have a CRV now and that's as big as I want to go.... And it's still small!
Plus my lame part time job at Godfathers Pizza could only afford me so much gas.
Plus my lame part time job at Godfathers Pizza could only afford me so much gas.
^This.
When I first started driving, I was in an '89 Geo. Mom decided after a bit that she didn't feel safe with me driving in a car with no airbags, so when she bought her new car I got her old one - a '98 Oldesmobile Intrigue. Loved that car. It lasted me 240,000 miles and saw me all through highschool and the first two years of college. When it died, dad helped out to get me my 2011 Honda Civic. He made up the difference in the down payment that my Oldesmobile didn't cover and I am responsible for the car payments. Its a good car, but boy do I miss having a paid in full car.
When I first started driving, I was in an '89 Geo. Mom decided after a bit that she didn't feel safe with me driving in a car with no airbags, so when she bought her new car I got her old one - a '98 Oldesmobile Intrigue. Loved that car. It lasted me 240,000 miles and saw me all through highschool and the first two years of college. When it died, dad helped out to get me my 2011 Honda Civic. He made up the difference in the down payment that my Oldesmobile didn't cover and I am responsible for the car payments. Its a good car, but boy do I miss having a paid in full car.
When I got my license, my mom and I shared her 1998 Buick Century - she worked during the day, I worked evenings/weekends, so it all worked out. It was (still is) a boat, and I felt extremely safe - especially driving in the winter.
The summer after I graduated high school (at 18), I bought my own car, a 2001 Saturn L200 for $3500. I had saved up for part of it, I took out a loan for the remainder. The insurance is reasonably cheap (cheaper than the Buick), and it only costs me $40 to fill up - which lasts me two weeks. I'm planning on driving it until it dies or becomes too expensive in repairs to keep up.
The summer after I graduated high school (at 18), I bought my own car, a 2001 Saturn L200 for $3500. I had saved up for part of it, I took out a loan for the remainder. The insurance is reasonably cheap (cheaper than the Buick), and it only costs me $40 to fill up - which lasts me two weeks. I'm planning on driving it until it dies or becomes too expensive in repairs to keep up.