best car for a kid?
By perrygunight
@perrygunight (555)
United States
April 15, 2007 1:38am CST
What is the best kind of car for a young driver? Logic says a bus pass, but we live in a suburb, and the bus service here isn't very good. I'm looking for something safe and cheap, a few years old, and not so sharp that all his friends want to ride in it. In fact, I wouldn't mind if he was ashamed to be seen driving it.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@sojournseeker (1244)
• United States
15 Apr 07
How about looking into getting an older model Jeep? These are tough, easy to maneuver, gets in and out of most places, and loads of fun to drive. They are safe and sporty, compact but fits enough stuff for a weekend getaway ! I loved mine, leased it for two years then got into something bigger.
Good luck !
1 person likes this
@perrygunight (555)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Thanks. I hadn't thought of that. Safety is the most important thing, and perhaps other drivers would be less likely to dart in front of a Jeep than a small car, knowing how it could damage their cars if they did. Of course, some drivers don't seem to think at all.
@perrygunight (555)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Thanks. I didn't realize they were so top-heavy. Yeah, insurance companies have young men at the top of their risk list already. I don't understand why someone who's driven for five years without so much as a parking ticket is considered the same risk as someone who got two speeding tickets within a month of getting a license.
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
15 Apr 07
How about a pickup truck. One that has no extra cab. Of course, there is the bed, but most teens don't want to ride outside the vehicle, they can't hear the music!!
And it is great when you go grocery shopping, your teen can bring the truck and load up easily.
I myself, bought 2 pickups in a row as I was always the one who my friends would pick as the driver whenever we went somewhere. That put a stop to that, as I could only fit 1 in my pickups, they had bucket seats.
1 person likes this
@perrygunight (555)
• United States
15 Apr 07
As a matter of fact, whenever we have to move a large object, I think, "If only we had a pickup". I do like the idea of his only having enough room for one passenger. Thanks!
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
15 Apr 07
I got my license back int 1998 :) so a while ago now but i still had a car that was made in 1981 (my birth year) - it was older but it did the trick & got me where i had to.
There were NO buses where i lived so it was either have a car, keep knicking off with my parent's car or be stuck at home all the time!
I'd go with something older but if you want newer then maybe you should go with one of those disposable ones coz they're very cheap 2nd hand & still have the safety features - makes like Daiwoo, daihatsu, Hyundai, Kia - brands like that coz they're cheap beand new & even cheaper when they're 2nd hand. They'd make a pretty good first car to any new driver - especially since they have new car safety features.
Good luck with deciding!
1 person likes this
@perrygunight (555)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Older cars are the best kind for younger drivers. If I got one the same age as he is, it would be a 1990. I have seen a few of them, but they tend to have about 180,000 miles on them. Thanks for the suggestions. I've noticed Kias are looking pretty good. I'll check out the others.
@miejanne (222)
• Finland
15 Apr 07
I think best car for young driver would be something which is fairly easy to handle and not too big, prefebly with automatic transmission.
Just out of curiousity, what kind of distances you guys have there? Or should you own a car anyways when you get licence? I think it would be good for young people to bicycle, but sure if distances to friends and so on are more than 6 miles, it's not that suitable 'cuz it's so time consuming.
1 person likes this
@perrygunight (555)
• United States
15 Apr 07
It would be nice if there were bike lanes in the roads here. The high school is only about 4 miles away, and some friends' houses are even closer. Unfortunately, riding bikes is dangerous because of the drivers who don't know how to yield. Of course, that makes driving dangerous too. I don't believe buying cars for all kids when they get their licenses is a good idea. They don't take care of them unless they have to work for them.
@digital29 (62)
• Romania
29 Apr 07
the best car for a young driver is a small car....for example...i think mini cooper is the best choice...because is small and it's easy to drive...but i don't know about the price....you could buy it for around 7.000-8.000$ i think....another choice would be matiz , from daewoo ... it's a very nice car that i have driven....and i am only 14 years old....it is very easy to drive...you could buy it at around 3000-4000$(not new)...but to answer you in a single statement....the best car is a small car....
@perrygunight (555)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I agree. We still haven't bought one, but he test drove a Mitsubishi Galant and said it felt too big. We're looking at a Chevy Prizm, which is very much like a Toyota Corolla. It's bigger than a Mini Cooper, but still small. Thanks for the advice, and drive carefully!
