Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2016 0:23:17 GMT
My oldest is about to start driver's ed.
Crap!
While we have a beater that would be the perfect car for him to learn on this summer, it's a shitty winter car. We're looking to replace it with something with half the miles (current car is sitting at 203K) and handles better in the winter than this little sporty Madza. I like Madza. I like Toyota. I'm wondering what did you let your teens drive?
BTW, any car we buy will be likely 10 years old so not a new car at all. And it'll probably be my primary car until next spring when we plan on getting a brand new one for me. I just don't think the Madza is going to make it through another winter.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2016 0:25:52 GMT
A honda?
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Post by monklady123 on Jun 7, 2016 0:26:40 GMT
We're a dedicated Honda family, so that's all I've got. lol Dh drives an ancient Accord, I drive an ancient Odyssey. Ds drives a less-ancient CRV (I think?) We'll have to get a car for dd for the upcoming school year because she needs it to get to an internship, so we'll be heading to our local Honda dealer to find something. At the same time we hope to replace the Accord with a newer Accord or something else (ds wants us to get a hybrid). We love our Hondas.
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Post by mom on Jun 7, 2016 0:27:47 GMT
Any paid for in full car?
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scrappinghappy
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Post by scrappinghappy on Jun 7, 2016 0:32:51 GMT
We got a 2010 Honda CRV with 170000 (yes, 170 000) miles on it. It was in tip top shape, used by a salesman for highway driving and it's been a great car. Handles fabulously in the snow, too. And you couldn't beat the price. It was sold by a local TOYOTA dealer and we gave him a lowball offer expecting to have to negotiate it up a bit. Imagine our surprise when he agreed to the first amount and even sweetened the deal with 6 months service and a 1 year dealer used car warranty!
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Post by cindyupnorth on Jun 7, 2016 0:34:52 GMT
We got both my girls Toyota Camry's. They like that they are a bit bigger car, vs a small tin can. So fully protected, and they are easy fixes' for my dh. If your dh works on cars at all, these are very easy to fix. My dh replaced the alternator on my oldest dd's car in an hr about a month ago.
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Post by bc2ca on Jun 7, 2016 0:38:00 GMT
DD has a 2008 Prius and DS drives a 2004 Ford Ranger known around here as the mini-truck.
ETA winter driving conditions aren't an issue here, but we bought the Ranger new and hung onto it for DS to use. It did great in the rain & snow in the PNW. DH loves that it restricts DS to having only one passenger.
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Post by cmpeter on Jun 7, 2016 1:06:25 GMT
One that has the absolute most security options you can afford. Anti-lock breaks, side airbags, etc. Honda, Mazda, Toyota, Subaru, or the like but prioritize the safety features.
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Post by jenjie on Jun 7, 2016 1:17:04 GMT
I need to look for a car for dd who just got her learner's permit. My Honda Pilot is too big for her. I have been told Honda for reliability and Toyota for safety.
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luvnlifelady
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Post by luvnlifelady on Jun 7, 2016 1:17:09 GMT
We don't have to worry about winter here in Southern CA. DD just leased a new Hyundai Elantra (we co-signed) and DS who just got his license will probably use my PT Cruiser (piece of junk) and I will get something else. Even when he was 13, he adivsed us against buying that. Should've listened to the kid.
ETA: If you get something you can pay for in full, you can just go with liability insurance at least here in CA.
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Post by Linda on Jun 7, 2016 1:22:15 GMT
we're in Florida so winter driving isn't a factor for us. My son's first vehicle was a 1978 Ford F-150 that HE paid cash for. (he's currently driving a Scion Xb since he didn't take the truck to Japan). My older daughter is almost ready for her full licence and we're looking at Ford Rangers (2002-2006 range) for her - again paying in cash.
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 7, 2016 1:26:01 GMT
I would get the largest vehicle I could. My son was hit head on and his little car was smashed. The doctor in the emergency room chastised my husband and I for putting him in a small vehicle. While that wasn't cool, it did make sense.
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Post by littlemama on Jun 7, 2016 1:30:26 GMT
Ds drives a 2007 Dodge Nitro, which, now that is has new tires and brakes, handles great in the snow. I like the size of it for him. My mom wanted to give him her dinky Ford Focus, but I didn't feel like it was a good choice for him with all the freeway driving g he will be doing.
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Post by Merge on Jun 7, 2016 1:30:43 GMT
We're going with an older single-cab pickup - large enough to offer some protection, small enough cab to limit the number of friends she can drive around, plus the bonus feature of being a pickup we can use to haul things as needed, so DH and I can both drive the smaller cars we prefer.
And yes, something we can pay cash for, so we only have to carry liability insurance on it.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Jun 7, 2016 1:37:14 GMT
Yes, if you can find something to pay cash for, and it's a bit on the older size, but reliable, like a Honda or Toyota, you can just put liability on it. That's what we did. Way cheaper. Plus there is no way in hell I would be letting my kid drive around a new car.
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Post by utmr on Jun 7, 2016 1:50:00 GMT
I can suggest what you DONT want. We bought a 2008 Jeep Patriot and it is a piece of junk. Since we bought it in November we have replaced the engine and it is back in the shop again. Never another Chrysler again.
We're getting ready to find something for the other DD and are thinking Camry/Accord or similar sedan.
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Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 19:25:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2016 1:58:21 GMT
Camry and accords were my top two choices.
We'll be spending the summer looking for the right one. Not too new, something we can pay in full for, and in good shape. In Michigan, that means something with as little rust as possible.
A Malibu, 2000-04, might be an option too. I had a '99 and loved it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2016 2:18:27 GMT
All I can advise is start looking now and be ready to buy when you find the ONE. DS learned in our mini-van, which he hated, but he did learn to drive.
He got a job and saved up $4k for his own car, which we agreed to match 1/2, so we were prepared to spend $6k on a car. We spent months looking and were ready to give up and move to Plan B (up our match amount or agree to co-sign a loan).
Then DH found a dealer ad for a Toyota Corolla. A '98 with 74K miles on it for $4595. Too good to be true, but DH and DS went that day to check it out and this car was IMMACULATE. One owner, garage-kept and the CarFax had pages and pages of all the maintenance that had been done since it was brought brand new.
DH is a haggler and the walk-out-the-door price was $3900.
Get in touch with dealers around your area and let them know what you are looking for and ask that they contact you if they get anything in that meets your criteria. DS' car was a hardship sale to the dealer and they get those every now and then. Not often, but it does happen.
Oh, and nothing but Toyota or Honda when it comes to used cars for the kids' first car. This was our 5th time car-buying for the offspring and we won't even look at any other make.
L
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momto4kiddos
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Post by momto4kiddos on Jun 7, 2016 2:23:20 GMT
I can suggest what you DONT want. We bought a 2008 Jeep Patriot and it is a piece of junk. Since we bought it in November we have replaced the engine and it is back in the shop again. Never another Chrysler again. We're getting ready to find something for the other DD and are thinking Camry/Accord or similar sedan. Odd our mechanic said he liked the Jeep engines. And they hold up well in accidents, well protect well anyway... My oldest is in her mid-20's and had a less than 6 month old Patriot, which a boyfriend crashed into a tree avoiding a deer. The Jeep was totaled, they had minor seat belt bruising. She replaced it and slid on ice this winter and did a fair amount of damage, again, thankfully she wasn't hurt. So i'm a big fan of the Patriot. My youngest just got her license and will need something soon... The things I look for in first cars are the safety ratings and the size. I like them in something decent sized and I want as close to a perfect safety rating as I can get. We ended up buying a Ford 500 a couple years ago for one of the kids. Great safety ratings (repair ratings were good too.) They were only made for a few years, around 06-08. Good size, like the safety rating and it's AWD too. In looking around for dd, i'm really tempted to pick up another because it's been such a good car. When looking at the safety ratings make sure to check each year you look at. The safety ratings can be very different from year to year, especially when there is a body style change involved.
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Post by Patter on Jun 7, 2016 10:35:16 GMT
I didn't see that anyone mentioned a VW Jetta. Our daughter had a VW Jetta. It was totaled in a terrible accident a couple of months ago. A man in a large Chevy truck pulling a trailer hit her coming full speed. The accident was his fault, and we are so thankful she was in the Jetta. She did go to the hospital and had bruising but she was fine, praise God. Because of the amazing safety of that car, we bought her a 2016 VW Jetta. You might be able to look at a used one. Just thought I would give you a bit of perspective from a mama that had a child live through a terrible, terrible accident in her car.
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Post by cmhs on Jun 7, 2016 10:59:55 GMT
If you're concerned about winter driving, get something with all wheel drive. Subarus are great in bad weather.
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Post by threecs on Jun 7, 2016 11:20:19 GMT
We have a Subaru Crosstrek.
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Post by katiejane on Jun 7, 2016 11:25:59 GMT
We have a prius and I share the hybrid yaris with DS. No idea how good they are in really bad weather as our winters are pretty mild compared to others.
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on Jun 7, 2016 11:28:59 GMT
Not what you suggested you like, but DS drives a Chevy Equinox. It has AWD, so I feel good having him in that. (We get snow and ice) He'll move into something else this summer, and DD will be going into that when she gets her school permit next week.
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ellen
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Post by ellen on Jun 7, 2016 11:47:21 GMT
My daughter has a Chevy Cruze. It's a great car. She said the parking lot at her college is full of similar cars.
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Post by jassy on Jun 7, 2016 12:06:55 GMT
My 17 year old son drives a 2012 Huyndai Accent. My husband originally bought the car for himself as a commuter car (he drives 14 miles round trip to work, and just needs/wants basic transportation) with the plan to give our son his 2006 Honda Civic (with 200,000 miles). BUT, the Civic SUCKS in winter weather - the Accent has ABS and is loaded with air bags. So DS drives the newer car, and DH still drives the Civic. LOL. He loves that car, and is taking great care of it.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2016 13:44:03 GMT
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scorpeao
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Post by scorpeao on Jun 7, 2016 13:51:17 GMT
I got my dd a '96 Geo Metro. Manual transmission and no A/C. Probably not the car you're looking for. My dd loved it though. Oh, and I live in an area where it gets to be over 90 degrees most of the summer. I'm a horrible mother
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Post by chrispeas on Jun 7, 2016 14:06:59 GMT
We bought a used (2014) Nissan Sentra with Bluetooth and Navi. She loves it! She just got her DL in Jan.
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iowgirl
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Post by iowgirl on Jun 7, 2016 14:09:23 GMT
Put new tires on it. Whatever you have - have good tires. If you live where there is snow - get snow tires and rotate them off in the spring. Snow tires make all the difference in the world!
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