Best Car For A 16 Year Old?

[C_Raccoon23]

But that is your personal situation. I too have never crashed my car (I'm 24), but I damn well know of many that have. And I always hold firm that one day I will crash because at some point we all will, I just do everything I can to make sure that it will never be because I drive like an idiot.

Unfortunately, this is very true. Four of my friends are teenage drivers just like me, and three of them have been in accidents. One of them, twice. But in all cases, it was still their fault. I think it's a miracle that I haven't wrecked yet after having my car since December '09, and I had a few lucky escapes.

All I can do is be the safest driver I can, by always obeying the speed limit and other traffic laws, and whatnot. So hopefully one day if I do get in an accident, it won't be my fault. It's best to start practicing safe driving habits ASAP, so you never will have to learn the hard way by crashing.

 

[BoneSawTX]

Something slow, like a 1/2 ton truck. Was my first vehicle and a good thing it was, i would have killed myself if i had my Z/28 when i was 16.

 

[Danoff]

I know the perfect car, I just sold one.

Cheap, reliable, slow, good fuel economy, safe.

This is the perfect car for a 16 year old. If you have $50 million to spend on your teenager's first car, this is the one you should buy. The 4 cylinder version.

Unless you're some sort of special case where you started driving at 10, if you are a teenager, you are bad at driving. That's not an opinion, it's not true only for some kids, it's a fact. You cannot be good at driving if you've had all of 6 months (or even 2 years) to learn. If you are not good at driving, you need something slow, safe, and cheap to fix/replace. You need a dependable car that won't throw curveballs at you, that won't respond in a counter-intuitive way, and that will not encourage you to get yourself into trouble. This car also has a major advantage over some sort of 1/2 ton pickup truck - which is that it won't destroy the things that it hits either. You have significantly less chance of killing a pedestrian in this than you do in a 1/2 ton steel rustbucket.

I owned one of these for 10 years. I can safely say that it was great fun to drive, looked fantastic, and was extremely practical. There isn't a better car for a new driver. Period. Full Stop. [/thread]

 

[motortrend]

I agree that that would probably be the best first car, but what is the fun in everyone owning the same car or a "perfect" car?

 

[Danoff]

I agree that that would probably be the best first car, but what is the fun in everyone owning the same car or a "perfect" car?

That's kinda my point. Fun isn't a priority when you're learning to drive. Surviving learning to drive while not killing anyone else is the priority when you're learning to drive.

 

[itsbenjibrand]

If your going for a used car, grab a Pontiac Sunfire. Trust me on this one, there are many Sunfire's out there, so for $10,000 you can have a good, reliable car along with another one with parts. If your going for a new car, get a VW Jetta with a diesel engine. People in North America who hate high gas prices should drive this. Very fuel efficient, and diesel is cheaper, increasing your savings further. Plus a Jetta isn't a supercar, so your kid won't street race in it. Those are my views and those who'd like to criticize can, I'm just posting my family's advice to me.

 

[Carlos]

You shouldn't drive a car untill your 18. Still would go with a Honda or Suzuki though.

 

[motortrend]

That's kinda my point. Fun isn't a priority when you're learning to drive. Surviving learning to drive while not killing anyone else is the priority when you're learning to drive.

I understand but if this is taken to an extreme it becomes unnecessarily dull, not saying an accord would be, but at least for me it would become dull after some time

 

[YSSMAN]

MKIII Volkswagen Jetta/Vento

I figured these things were standard-issue in most parts of the country, but I guess not. In my mind, you're not going to find a better car that offers up a relatively good balance of pain and pleasure of the automotive owning experience.

Pro:
* Cheap, relatively easy to find
* Wide variety of models and trim levels, will fit any budget
* Easy to maintain... If you know what you're doing...
* Fun to drive, easy to ride in, fuel economy isn't half bad for what is nearly a 20 year old car

Con:
* Insurance is likely to be ridiculous
* Not easy to maintain... If you don't know what you're doing...
* Parts are easy to find, depending on where you are. If not, they're expensive, man
* Has the stigma of a "girls car" or a "yuppie car," but that depends more on whether you care or not (you shouldn't)


I had the pleasure of owning a 1996 Jetta GL Wolfsburg with the 2.0L I4 for a few years, and to this day, despite all of the problems I had with it, I will maintain it was probably the best car I've owned. It taught me how to take car of small issues myself, and how dreadful big ones can be. It had enough power to keep me busy, but never enough to keep me trouble. She'd return over 32 MPG on the highway, and happily do 27 MPG in the city... That's still thrifty these days...

Haters are going to hate on the Jetta. But that'd be my pick.

 

[Prosthetic]

If your going for a used car, grab a Pontiac Sunfire. Trust me on this one, there are many Sunfire's out there, so for $10,000 you can have a good, reliable car along with another one with parts. If your going for a new car, get a VW Jetta with a diesel engine. People in North America who hate high gas prices should drive this. Very fuel efficient, and diesel is cheaper, increasing your savings further. Plus a Jetta isn't a supercar, so your kid won't street race in it. Those are my views and those who'd like to criticize can, I'm just posting my family's advice to me.

Diesel is more expensive here in America.

The one person I know that's owned a Sunfire has had problems with just about everything about it.

 

[CyborgGT]

^ I could have had my license at 14 when I lived in South Dakota. My parents thought I was too young, I thought I was too young despite my love for cars.

I was going to suggest a 5th to 7th gen Accord as well...

 

[Danoff]

I understand but if this is taken to an extreme it becomes unnecessarily dull, not saying an accord would be, but at least for me it would become dull after some time

I don't think driving can possibly be dull when you've only been at it for a short time. When I was 16, I didn't care what I drove - I had fun driving anything and everything. But if it does become dull early on... good.... in fact... great. Dull is one of your main enemies in driving and understanding that and how to cope with it is one of the early lessons in driving.

Better to get a car that is too easy, too predictable, too composed, too gentle, too safe, too boring than a car that is distracting. Better to crash a cheap car early on because you're learning how to maintain focus than an expensive one. Having a car that is fun to drive is a luxury that you pay for later when you're good at driving.

 

[Jondot]

I don't think driving can possibly be dull when you've only been at it for a short time. When I was 16, I didn't care what I drove - I had fun driving anything and everything.

Fortunately your country never received the Vauxhall Corsa.

Though admittedly when I was learning in one I didn't mind it... Point proven, I suppose.

 

[Crispy]

You can always start learning at an early age. I have, started at 13 with an MX-5 in a parking lot.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

You can always start learning at an early age. I have, started at 13 with an MX-5 in a parking lot.

3 and 4 wheelers for several years followed by learning to drive in a manual transmission F150 w/ no nothing out in the country.

Didn't stop me from underestimating the ability of other people to be stupid once I actually got my license.

 

[Kylehnat]

Remember this car should have everything that a teen would want, yet lots of things parents would want to keep their child safe. Things like cool looks, safety features, big trunk/boot space, moderate insurance rates, and of course, the ever impressive 0-60 time!

This is a joke, right? When it comes time to set up my yet-to-be-born children with a car, I'm going to ask what they want, and then get the exact opposite. An inexperienced driver should not have a quick or sporty car. Even if the driver doesn't wreck it, it is likely to at least be scratched by others in the high-school parking lot. I've never crashed a car, but I was rear-ended 3 times in and around my high school. No bodywork damage from any of those, but I did become good at wet-sanding . Realistically, most 16-year olds are just happy to have a car...any car. There is plenty of time later in life to drive something fun. It's also a hell of a lot cheaper once you break out of that damning insurance age-bracket.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

I suggest Ford Festiva.

 

[Crispy]

This is a joke, right? When it comes time to set up my yet-to-be-born children with a car, I'm going to ask what they want, and then get the exact opposite. An inexperienced driver should not have a quick or sporty car. Even if the driver doesn't wreck it, it is likely to at least be scratched by others in the high-school parking lot. I've never crashed a car, but I was rear-ended 3 times in and around my high school. No bodywork damage from any of those, but I did become good at wet-sanding . Realistically, most 16-year olds are just happy to have a car...any car. There is plenty of time later in life to drive something fun. It's also a hell of a lot cheaper once you break out of that damning insurance age-bracket.

Of course its a joke. My parents would never set me in a super quick car, and I wont when I have kids.

Its just teens almost always think about how fast a car goes.

 

[SohnVonStig]

It is NOT a fact that all beginner drivers are bad drivers. Driving skill, like any other skill, is determined by THREE factors - talent, practice AND time. The day I got my permit, I made my parents let me drive EVERYWHERE. And if we had nowhere to go, I'd make my mom take me to the parking lot and let me practice.

In virginia you have to hold your permit for 9 months. In those 9 months, I made PLENTY of errors in my driving, but I was in the slowest Subaru Outback on God's green earth so I was safe. By the time I got my license (actually took a year because I had to wait for my school to let me take the driving test) I had more hours of driving under my belt than most 20 year olds probably do.

I realize that this was my personal situation, but what I'm getting at here is that by the time a teenager get's their first car they've had PLENTY of time to practice. It's up to them to decide how much time and effort they put in. Unfortunately for some people, they aren't as talented as others and it takes more work.

PS Don't really know how the licensing program works anywhere else, so I'm really just talking about the US.

 

[itsbenjibrand]

Diesel is more expensive here in America.

The one person I know that's owned a Sunfire has had problems with just about everything about it.

Diesel is 20 cents a litre cheaper here.

 

[Kent]

Ive never met anyone under 20 who wasnt a nearly perfect driver with tons of time on the wheel. Heck, I also grew up in VA (williamsburg) and did all the normal stuff, then graduated HS at 17 and spent the next two years doing 5 days a week, 35 miles each way commuting and guess what... Im still a better driver today.

Point is, no teens are as good as they could or should be at driving (though all think they are).

PS Im just gonna say get the 16 y/o what you or they can afford. Its the best thing to do in times like these.

 

[Danoff]

It is NOT a fact that all beginner drivers are bad drivers. Driving skill, like any other skill, is determined by THREE factors - talent, practice AND time. The day I got my permit, I made my parents let me drive EVERYWHERE. And if we had nowhere to go, I'd make my mom take me to the parking lot and let me practice.

In virginia you have to hold your permit for 9 months. In those 9 months, I made PLENTY of errors in my driving, but I was in the slowest Subaru Outback on God's green earth so I was safe. By the time I got my license (actually took a year because I had to wait for my school to let me take the driving test) I had more hours of driving under my belt than most 20 year olds probably do..

Not a chance. In 9 months you did not accrue as much experience as the average driver who has held their license for 4 years.

 

[SohnVonStig]

No doubt you're a better driver today, I never said that someone under 20 was a PERFECT driver. There's no such thing. There is always room for improvement. Please recognize that I'm not saying that teenagers are better drivers than anyone. They are not (besides maybe very elderly drivers who have reduced motor skills, vision etc). I'm merely saying that teenage drivers are not inherently bad drivers and it doesn't take exceptional circumstances for them to be good drivers (starting when they're 10 etc).

Some people will never be as good a driver as you were when you first got your license, simply because they lack the talent.

Not a chance. In 9 months you did not accrue as much experience as the average driver who has held their license for 4 years.

Actually there is a chance. A very GOOD chance. How many college's allow students to have cars freshman year? How many students even bother taking a car for sophomore year? I had a 40 minute drive to school every day, whereas other kids my age lived 5 minutes from the school. It is far and away statistically plausible that I had more experience behind the wheel than a 20 year old.

 

[Danoff]

No doubt you're a better driver today, I never said that someone under 20 was a PERFECT driver. There's no such thing. There is always room for improvement. Please recognize that I'm not saying that teenagers are better drivers than anyone. They are not (besides maybe very elderly drivers who have reduced motor skills, vision etc). I'm merely saying that teenage drivers are not inherently bad drivers and it doesn't take exceptional circumstances for them to be good drivers (starting when they're 10 etc).

Some people will never be as good a driver as you were when you first got your license, simply because they lack the talent.

If you think talent has much to do with being safe on the roads, then I'm not sure you've been driving long enough. Focus and experience are two of the most important things for remaining safe on public roads. Teenagers are inherently bad drivers due to lack of experience.

Now, if you're a formula 1 driver and you started karting when you were 8, that's different. But it stretches my imagination to think that someone who has been driving for less than 4 years is a good driver. I'm sure you could find one, but you're not that person. Neither was I, and neither is anyone on this forum.

Actually there is a chance. A very GOOD chance. How many college's allow students to have cars freshman year? How many students even bother taking a car for sophomore year? I had a 40 minute drive to school every day, whereas other kids my age lived 5 minutes from the school. It is far and away statistically plausible that I had more experience behind the wheel than a 20 year old.

Do you think, for some reason, that the majority of 20 year olds attend college on-campus without a car? I had a similar commute to school, so did many people I knew. The majority of 20 year olds are not in university.

 

[SohnVonStig]

If you think talent has much to do with being safe on the roads, then I'm not sure you've been driving long enough. Focus and experience are two of the most important things for remaining safe on public roads. Teenagers are inherently bad drivers due to lack of experience.

Now, if you're a formula 1 driver and you started karting when you were 8, that's different. But it stretches my imagination to think that someone who has been driving for less than 4 years is a good driver. I'm sure you could find one, but you're not that person. Neither was I, and neither is anyone on this forum.

You seem to be of the opinion that I am still young. I already stated that experience is incredibly important. I merely stated that talent was a factor. There are many factors you are not considering in your appraisal that all young drivers are bad drivers. For instance, where you live. Growing up in an urban area, if you want to avoid an accident you are FORCED to be more cautious and focus more than someone growing up in a small town or a rural area simply because there are more cars on the road. Focus is incredibly important, but I've got news for you, there are just as many adults out there (if not more) who are multitasking while they're driving as there are teenagers.

It seems to be a rather arrogant statement to assume that EVERYONE on this forum was a bad driver when they had been driving for less than 4 years. I'm not saying I was a fantastic driver at that time, but I sure was better than some drivers who've been practicing bad driving habits for decades.

Do you think, for some reason, that the majority of 20 year olds attend college on-campus without a car? I had a similar commute to school, so did many people I knew. The majority of 20 year olds are not in university.

No and you'll see that I did not say that I was a better driver than ALL 20 year olds. Thus I was never saying that all 20 year olds attend university.

 

[Tornado]

Diesel is 20 cents a litre cheaper here.

Artificially.

 

[TheCracker]

You seem to be of the opinion that I am still young. I already stated that experience is incredibly important. I merely stated that talent was a factor. There are many factors you are not considering in your appraisal that all young drivers are bad drivers. For instance, where you live. Growing up in an urban area, if you want to avoid an accident you are FORCED to be more cautious and focus more than someone growing up in a small town or a rural area simply because there are more cars on the road. Focus is incredibly important, but I've got news for you, there are just as many adults out there (if not more) who are multitasking while they're driving as there are teenagers.

It seems to be a rather arrogant statement to assume that EVERYONE on this forum was a bad driver when they had been driving for less than 4 years. I'm not saying I was a fantastic driver at that time, but I sure was better than some drivers who've been practicing bad driving habits for decades.

Statistics still point to young male drivers been the most likely to be involved in a car crash.

I know a young guy who is an incredible good driver, someone who started racing karts at a young age and has been racing ever since. By all accounts, that hasn't stopped him from heavily crashing every road car he's ever owned.

 

[SohnVonStig]

Statistics still point to young male drivers been the most likely to be involved in a car crash.

I know a young guy who is an incredible good driver, someone who started racing karts at a young age and has been racing ever since. By all accounts, that hasn't stopped him from heavily crashing every road car he's ever owned.

I totally agree, I'm not saying that they aren't the most likely to be involved in a crash. I'm just saying that it's wrong to make a blanket statement that ALL young drivers are bad drivers. It's just not true.

I'm sure your friend is a fantastic racer, but being a good race driver and a good "road driver" are two totally different things. Just because you know how to control a car at high speeds doesn't mean you are responsible or focused on the road. And teenagers TEND to not be.

 

[TheCracker]

I'm sure your friend is a fantastic racer, but being a good race driver and a good "road driver" are two totally different things. Just because you know how to control a car at high speeds doesn't mean you are responsible or focused on the road. And teenagers TEND to not be.

It was more a follow-up to Danoff's post:

Now, if you're a formula 1 driver and you started karting when you were 8, that's different. But it stretches my imagination to think that someone who has been driving for less than 4 years is a good driver. I'm sure you could find one, but you're not that person. Neither was I, and neither is anyone on this forum.

To say that even that isn't going to guarantee the young driver is going to be 'safe' on the road. It has nothing to do with talent behind the wheel, it's purely down to inexperience and 'young male drivers' wish to push boundaries.

 

[SohnVonStig]

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