Best car for a new teen driver...

[klynam]

Dovetailing on my other (Fiero) thread, we have about $2-$3K to invest in a vehicle for our daughter's first car.

I'd like some specific recommendations that meet most or all of the following criteria in general order of importance...

1. Safe
2. Reliable
3. Respectable (not a 73 4-dr Skylark)
4. Decent mileage (20-25mpg range)
5. Easy to work on (for my son and I)

I'm mechanically inclined and have tools, but certainly not a master mechanic by any means.

By the way, our daughter is an excellent driver - she's been behind the wheel since she was 12.

Thanks for your ideas...

[klynam]

From my other post...

try civics or corrollas and accords nissan sentras can be found relatively cheap in good shape

These are a given, but frankly most of them in our price range are shot, having been "tweaked" by teens with no money - meaning completely butchered and worth little more than scrap metal.

[Truckman]

City bus...Ben

[mchong75]

Civic or corolla

[klynam]

City bus...Ben

No service in our part of town

[wondershots]

I tried getting my daughter a 1988 Suburban, read 'tank,' but she wouldn't bite.

Seriously though, you might be able to find a Geo/Chevy Prizm. They are basically a Corolla. Had one my self. The engine had Toyota stamped right on it. Also a Mazda Protege might work.

[ara.bentley]

I do not have a specific kind of car to suggest BUT as a daughter I would just like to say how much I appreciated my father teaching me how to work on a car. When I was sixteen I was given an 83 mustang convertable (which I know does not meet the criteria above) and it was in sorry shape. My father took the time to explain simple functions of a car to me and we worked on getting it back into functioning shape where we felt safe for me to drive it.

Now a days I am in a much more up to date vehicle but feel much more comfortable when a problem arises because of the time my father spent teaching me parts of a basic motor. Just saw that you were having your son work on it with you and thought I would suggest the daughter being able to take part too - I know I learned a lot!

Didn't answer you question and this was long - sorry! Good luck finding the car!

[klynam]

Thanks Ara - one of the ideas was actually a 80's shortbed chevy pickup that we would "restore" together so she could learn about vehicle basics (as well as my son)

[Scoots]

VW, most are economical and well liked especially by females.

Originally Posted by klynam

1. Safe
2. Reliable
3. Respectable (not a 73 4-dr Skylark)
4. Decent mileage (20-25mpg range)
5. Easy to work on (for my son and I)

My opinion on a VW. I have a 2002 TDI Beetle Automatic

1. very safe
2. for the most part
3. I think so
4. GREAT MILEAGE
5. NOT easy to work on. At 122k miles the transmission just went out. The repair from the dealer and other shops is $4500-$5200. My father an experience tranny guy did the rebuild for under $1000 but now we have an issue with reprogramming the computer. Probably gonna have to pay $750 to dealer to do that or buy a machine to get it taken care of.

[MRCPix]

golf cart :)

[kenw]

Camry

we put over 100k on a 91, almost 200k on a 93 and still driving a 97 with 230k.

[groovyone]

2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R. Safe with the right training a gear. Excellent gas milage.

Originally Posted by groovyone

2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R. Safe with the right training a gear. Excellent gas milage.

I would NEVER put my teenager on a motorcycle. Even with proper training it is just too dangerous for a teen especially on busy roads and freeways. You never know what another dumb driver is going to do and there is a lot more safety in a car with seat belts, air bags and steel surrounding them. A little leather and a helmet are definitely no match.

[klynam]

Been there, done that...

Motorcycle at Speed + Just about any object larger than a rock = You Loose