Teenmobile Challenge
by Cookie the Dog's Owner
on July 28, 2008
On Wednesday, July 23, my oldest son took the test for his learner's permit. It's a multiple-choice test, and this kid eats multiple-choice tests for lunch. Not much suspense--he passed.
If all goes well, in late January he will take his license exam.
My son's impending licensure has raised the issue of what car to get a newly-minted teenage driver. Actually, we have a car already picked out for him. Still, I think it an interesting topic for discussion: what car would you give a new driver, and why?
Leave your answers in the comments. I'll collect them into a follow-up post in a few days, and give you my comments and my own answer at that time.
--Cookie the Dog's Owner
sillypickle on July 28, 2008 at 03:27 PM
This depends on whether you're buying new or used. Of course, as a fan of this blog I believe strongly in used cars, and I couldn't recommend anything more than a mid-80s Toyota Corolla, like my blue 85 with a 5-speed. The car is absolutely indestructible, drives quickly enough without allowing cop-head-turning shenanigans, gets 30+ mpg even with my heavy right foot, and has few electrical components beyond stereo, headlights, and windshield wipers. Change the oil every 8000 miles or so (it really won't mind) and keep driving the best deal ever. Once your son gets sick of the car (it won't break down, mine never has) he should have learned a lot about car ownership without the hard lessons that can be learned by trashing a newer, prettier car. It worked for me.
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame on July 28, 2008 at 03:39 PM
I'm really tempted to suggest a used Lincoln Navigator, because it would be much safer for him...
But I won't.
On the other hand, I will suggest that you stay away from Maxima's.
In fact, I suggest a 1980 Volvo 240:
1) He can work on it.
2) It's safe; built like a tank, but with bumpers in places that won't enrage Rob the SVX guy.
3) He will more quickly save his own money for a car, which he will appreciate more, both for being purchased with his own money, and because it will be 10x better than the Volvo.
Chris Hafner on July 28, 2008 at 04:03 PM
This isn't exactly original, but I agree with sillypickle and Nathan.
My sister has a late-model Toyota Corolla; it wasn't the first car she drove as a teenager after getting her license, but it was the first car that she owned as a young adult, and it was absolutely ideal. It is incredibly slow, but to an aggressive driver it might seem "peppy," and it is completely unlikely to leave her stranded, no matter how little oil is creaking around in that long-running engine.
My wife had a Volvo 240 as a car. Again, it was ideal - it would run forever, and could be hit by anything short of nuclear ordinance and survive with only a little paint oxidation. And again, it was slow enough to keep the kid from getting into trouble.
I'd recommend something that fits these criteria:
1. Boring. Unless you buy them a new Porsche, the kid is either going to love the car anyway or disrespect it anyway. Either way, they are unlikely to treat it with the respect it deserves. Save yourself the mental anguish of seeing an interesting car mistreated and pick up something dull.
2. Slow. Kids drive their cars at full throttle anyway and race around - better they do that at double-digit speeds. My friends got in some pretty big trouble in really slow cars. I'd hate to see what would have happened had they messed around in anything faster. This just goes for straight-line thrust, though - it's not a bad idea to get your kid used to driving a good-handling car.
3. Reliable. I could actually go either way on this one. Certainly you don't want your little girl getting stranded. Yet it's also not a bad idea to get your kid used to working on their own car.
4. Cheap parts. This is a must in a car that will likely see worse abuse than a New York taxi.
My choices would be a Corolla, a Volvo 240, a Dodge Neon, a Chevy Cavalier, or ... wait for it ... a police surplus Crown Vic. Laugh at me if you wish, but I was looking around at those last week, and they're actually pretty attractive. They are cheap, ugly - which is good, you don't want to make your kid *too* happy - parts are very cheap, and they don't encourage racing around.
The alternative choice is for your kid to drive whatever they earn and buy themselves. That's the plan I was one, and it's the only only close to a shot you'll have for your kid to not take the car completely for granted.
rob the SVX guy on July 28, 2008 at 04:06 PM
Whatever he wants, that he can afford, and pay insurance on. And fuel.
That's what I did, and I think I turned out okay. At one point I borrowed 2 thousand dollars from my parents, but I paid them back over the next year.
In retrospect, instead of a 68 Charger (only usable half a year, sucks gas, handles poorly, etc), I think I should have purchased a Subaru Wagon. Either a legacy wagon or outback sport. Why?
Well. Lots of room for camping, hauling things... and... girls. :P And it's reliable, fun to drive, and accepts WRX drivetrains, so if you maintain it well you could turn it into a real screamer. Plus you can put a canoe or kayak on the roof of a wagon. Wicked.
Chris Hafner on July 28, 2008 at 04:06 PM
Something like this:
http://tinyurl.com/6xqk9d
The only problem is, they're not so slow, and not so boring. I'd be tempted to use it myself.
scott on July 28, 2008 at 04:13 PM
I have to agree with the Toyota Corolla. Reliable, cheap to fix, good on gas, and not a big deal when they total it in a wreck!
rob the SVX guy on July 28, 2008 at 04:27 PM
If you want your son to lose his virginity in 2020, a Corolla is an excellent choice. :P
sillypickle on July 28, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Not that it's exactly what I worry about when buying a car, but I've been on more dates in my beat up Corolla than any other car I've driven. I'd rather lose my virginity later in life than end up with a kid with someone who pretended to like me because I had a hot car :-)
Big Chris on July 28, 2008 at 05:10 PM
1979 AMC Pacer - a non-V-8 versin. Has a geeky cool factor. It's slow, but has space for friends. And then when he's older, you can gut it and drop a V-8 in the engine bay, add a cage, tub it, and let him do wheelies down the 1/4 mile! The engine bays easily accommodate V-8's. And your kid can tell people that the Pacer was the inspiration for the rear end of the Porsche 928! I'm only kinda joking on drag racing the Pacer - there was indeed a V-8 option starting in 1978.
David Drucker on July 28, 2008 at 05:31 PM
My first thought was mid-eighties Volvo 240, but that was taken. I moved on to a Crown Vic or Grand Marquis, but am late to that party as well. All right, then: a mid-eighties Volvo 740. Much comfier than the 240, and better a/c as well. And make it a wagon, so you can borrow it when the need arises.
Brian on July 28, 2008 at 05:33 PM
I'm voting for pre-'98 Ford Taurus wagon. With flames.
Mochi Mochi on July 28, 2008 at 06:13 PM
I'm in for the Volvo. As much as I would not want one, they are great for newbie drivers. Lots of understeer, vague, annoyingly difficult to drive beyond its limits. When it does go too far it's easy to pull back in line. Great as a snow car for learning to drive an drift. Also easy to work on. He can throw some stiff anti-sway bars on and make it a sport/rally car, if he needs some excitement and street cred.
What ever it is, it needs to have a low center of gravity. I think a CRV or anything like it will be too high for a rookie. I was thinking of a 2WD pickup truck too - that could be ok. I like Brian's suggestion "pre-'98 Ford Taurus wagon. With flames." Flame decals on anything are always good. The Crown Vic is nice but potentially too hot - did they make anemic Crown Vics?
What about a craprice classic taxi version - yellow with black and white checks ?
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame on July 28, 2008 at 06:46 PM
Yeah, whatever craptacular car you end up getting for him, you've got to add flames.
For the ironic effect.
It's the only way we have to get back at our parents for torturing us, yanno: pain it forward.
Brian on July 28, 2008 at 08:31 PM
I remember getting to drive my first car, 86 Cavalier, practically new. It was a POS when it was manufactured, and it's a POS today. Numerous bad-driving incidents as well as pathetic build quality spelled a very early demise for that car. It was not a good choice for my folks to make. I was much better off with the 1979 Olds Cutlass Salon they had initially planned as a hand-me-down.
Teenagers and young adults are simply happy to get ANY car, so it doesn't have to be anything cool at all unless their parents are trying to prove something living vicariously through their kids etc, which is weird. Teenagers need to move their stuff around, and they need to move their friends around, and they need to be able to kind of live in their cars because they do it anyway. Thus the wagon. A Taurus is, as I've said before probably, totally dirt cheap and easy to fix, very inexpensive and easy to find parts for.
DONT go for the SHO. Though, I've been thinking lately that an SHO motor in a wagon would make a bitching "shooting brake" taurus. And flames. Lets try to find a picture of that shall we?
Brian on July 28, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Big Chris: The 928 was designed in 1971-72, well before the Pacer, though there's a rumor that it was the Pacer ass that was designed to look like the ass end of the 928, which makes it that much cooler. Kinda.
But really, this person is a teenager in 2008, not 1988, when it would've been much more possible to drive a Pacer on a teenagers salary which is essentially, zero.
rob the SVX guy on July 28, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Tauruses are so lame though. A subaru wagon is everything a taurus wagon is, except it's reliable for 300k miles and can actually be a cool car. Boooooo Taurus. Yaaayyyyy outback!
1997 Legacy Outback
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/eternot/IMG_0671.jpg
1997 Impreza Outback
http://kutzmanbros.com/uploads/1641.JPG
Both are sweet rides, can drive anywhere in almost any weather, have tons of ground clearance, handle well, are slow, reliable, etc.
More pix!!!!!!
Legacy (non outback) wagon with rims and suspension
http://www.eastcoastswappers.com/images/gallery/Legacy%20Invasion/DSC01465.JPG
http://www.eastcoastswappers.com/images/gallery/ECS%20GTB/mini-DSC01488.JPG
A few impreza wagons:
http://www.eastcoastswappers.com/images/gallery/Drew%20Seyller/100_5766.jpg
http://www.eastcoastswappers.com/images/gallery/Matt%20Kaufman/Matt%20Kaufman%20(1).JPG
So hot. So capable. So upgradable. :D
Bob on July 28, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Hi "Owner",
I have no way of knowing your financial position, and am not asking, but I would not buy a 16 year old kid a car. I know that is easier said than done and it more than likely screws up your plans to get away from having to constantly provide transportation everywhere he wants, or needs to go. Your son sounds like a good kid, but my personal opinion is that he would need to earn that car. That aside, I would suggest a beater that is in safe operating condition and that would provide good protection in case. Good luck.
Alex on July 29, 2008 at 03:00 AM
Another vote for old Volvos here. My car at 16 was a '76 242, I didn't know how lucky I was. No rust yet, original dark green paint in beautiful condition, big back seat (aw yeah). I've not seen a nicer one since. Slow, safe, styley and big inside (and a trunk that held 2 friends for the drive-in once). Parts were bloody expensive, though.
Small pickups have quite high fatality rates, and teenagers always have more friends than a pickup SHOULD hold.
Here's an article about a Carrera GT and a teenager on prom night. Stupid stupid dad:
http://jalopnik.com/399313/porsche-carrera-gt-suffers-death-by-teenager
(sorry for no html skillz)
Dorrin on July 29, 2008 at 06:42 AM
Interesting post. Brought back a lot of memories, good and bad.
My first car was (in 1995) a 1982 Honda Accord sedan, 5-spd, 4-cyl that my friends christened 'the Blue Rattler' because it was well down the path to the Crusher when I inherited it (from my stepfather, which I really appreciate in retrospect.) I was very, very happy to have a car of my own - and as 1st cars go, it wasn't too bad. I drove it for 1 & 1/2 years with no mechanical issues, ~30 mpg, low insurance cost until something catastrophic happened to the engine. It was dog-slow (seriously, topped out at ~65 mph in 4th gear) but handled pretty well and discouraged hoonage, which is a big plus in a 1st car.
My second car was a disaster - a POS 1990 Pontiac Grand Am (handed down from my mother) that began self-destructing the 1st time I drove it. In ~18 months the car required approximately twice it's book value in maintenance cost - and it was a miserable bastard of a car even when it was working properly. It was finally stolen and totalled out by the insurer, at which point my grandfather (a car guy) stepped in and helped me find decent transportation in the form of a 1990 Honda Civic EX (4-dr, 5 spd.)
Night and day! The Civic, despite being as old as the Pontiac (and having more miles on the clock) felt brand new. Tight handling, slick clutch/shifter, peppy engine, great gas mileage, roomy enough to haul around friends but small enough to fit into tiny parallel parking spots downtown. It gave me 3 years of trouble-free service before perishing untimely in a collision with (no kidding) a cow in rural Texas. State Farm gave me more than I had paid for it (making it the only car I've ever turned a profit on) and I made the leap into new-car ownership.
So the point? I agree with most of the points made by other posters (boring, cheap, slow) but i would also emphasize RELIABLE. When you're a poor teenager / college student, car repairs are prohibitively expensive.
Of course, I plan on getting my kids involved in autocross, so their first cars will likely be Miatas. :)
Zarba on July 29, 2008 at 06:43 AM
Since I'm assuning you'll be buying used, here goes:
1) Honda Civic
2) Mazda3
3) Scion xB (1st-gen)
You want reliable, safe, cheap transportation. Easy maintenance, low insurance costs, and small enough for a kid to handle. All these are excellent vehicles, and they won't break the bank.
rob the SVX guy on July 29, 2008 at 06:59 AM
Chris, I posted a response with pictures, and it was blocked by a spam filter, awaiting your approval.
Zarba: You must have been spoiled. A mazda 3? An Xb? All of these are new cars, worth over 10 grand. You're talking about giving a shiny, new $10,000+ vehicle to a teenager? What is wrong with you?
Steaming Pile on July 29, 2008 at 08:03 AM
I had a 1980 Volvo 240 once. Craptastic mileage - 17 highway - worst I have ever seen in a four-banger. Outrageously expensive parts, and since even the newest 240s are at least 15 years old, you'll be going to the parts bin a lot. Be sure to wear a suit and tie and bring your Amex gold card (dust the coke off of it first). Just kidding, but seriously, the parts for those cars are as if they were hand-delivered from Sweden.
I'd much prefer the 1998-2002 Honda Accord, four-cylinder LX model. For that you get 150 HP, automatic transmission (I think Honda sold exactly six five-speeds during the entire four-year run), and (hopefully) a working air conditioner. If it has a stock radio, all of the controls will be well laid out enough to be used without taking one's eyes off the road, and that's a big plus. You also get Honda's trademark reliability, which goes beyond bulletproof. We have 155,000 miles on our '99, and it not only runs, but runs nearly as well as when we bought it new.
You also get driver and front passenger airbags, which I have never seen on a 240, and if you're letting your 16 year old drive a motor vehicle, he'll need all the help he can get.
Rob the SVX guy on July 29, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Avoid automatics. Raise your kid right. Show him the increased power, better mpg, and superior control of a manual transmission.
Mike on July 29, 2008 at 09:46 AM
I would go for practical, safe, reliable, and cheap. Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, or something along those lines. I recommend four doors and an automatic transmission. My reasoning is that teenage boys tend to have a short attention span and should have as few distractions around them as possible. My own teenage experience was if my mind could wonder it would. That is when I tended to run into things; especially other vehicles. Tape decks, girls, you name it, caused my own version of attention deficit which is bad when one is supposed to be driving.
Rob the SVX guy on July 29, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Part of the reason people drive like crap today is because of automatic transmissions. Manuals teach you to pay attention to actually... you know... DRIVING.
Once Chris approves my post you can all bask in the awesomeness of my suggestion.