[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

HA! You typed your Saab advice faster than I did. Volvo always got the press but Saabs were as safe if not safer.

i wouldn't go pre-2002 though, too many gremlins and "quirks". 2003-2005 they had issues withthe new design but by 2007 they are solid. new face in 2008 looks better and recommended a 2010 as there are AERO models that look realty nice without the V6. V6 is nice but not sure Op wants that much power for is sprog.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck

Completely disagree. Driving a manual teaches someone so much more about car control than any automatic ever will. More importanly, driving a manual requires attention and concentration meaning a more focused and attentive driver. Far less likely to be distracted by phones, infotainment systems, etc. Every one I drive with who learned on a stick is invariably a better driver and feel a whole lot safer as a passenger with.

Two different opinions. Exactly that. To quote a Tammany Hall politician at the turn of the 20th century: "You pays your money and you takes your chances".

I agree with everything Mr. Canuck says except for the timing. I just think it is too soon.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

i wouldn't go pre-2002 though, too many gremlins and "quirks". 2003-2005 they had issues withthe new design but by 2007 they are solid. new face in 2008 looks better and recommended a 2010 as there are AERO models that look realty nice without the V6. V6 is nice but not sure Op wants that much power for is sprog.

Fair points, I haven't had one in a LONG time. Long enough that my 2002 was still under warranty when we got rid of it. We had Saabs back into the 80s, then nothing in the family after I want to say 2006. That said if I had to pick one now it would either be an 88 9000 Turbo like dad had, or a Saaburu. So wonderfully weird.

Staying Swede I've also always liked that goofy little Volvo C30 - R design single owner really nice ones with low miles can be had under $15K.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by UglyBuzzard

I guess I am bias. My first car was a 66 Mustang GT HiPo. Wish I still had it.

We need a full size as he is 6'3 and still growing. All his friends are lineman as well.

Not buying new. Probably a 2015. I was impressed with how well the charger drove and it seemed tight.

Regrading RAV4 or any SUV, prefer lower center of gravity for first time driver.

I'm 6'2" and daily a GTI with a kid in the back. Big cars suck.

Civic is huge on the inside though compared to my car, or get an Accord with a manual.

I'm amazed at how badly packaged the whole Charger/Challenger/300C series is. Tiny inside and comically large on the outside. Amusingly, my GTI has 93.5 cubic feet of passenger volume compared to a Charger's 104.7, yet its 32.8" shorter.

[jkoral]

Regardless of what car you buy, I recommend http://www.streetsurvival.org/

[P1]

If it was me, I'd get my son/daughter something slow but sturdy. Something along the lines of a Land Cruiser.

[vtown]

That seems like too "nice" and too new of a car for a new driver. Thinking back to the shit I did in and to my first car, I wouldn't spend more than 5 grand. Your kid is going to beat the shit out of it and most likely wreck it.

GTI is a terrible idea as well. Base Golf is a better choice.

[JDC PDX]

Prius. He won't make you a premature grandpa driving a Prius.

[KRAMCLASSIC]

Originally Posted by UglyBuzzard

I am financing a small portion so he can see what payment obligations are like. If he does not work in some way, for us or external, to make the payment, he does not get the keys that month.

That Charger sounds like the perfect car for your boy, I would have loved the chance to drive something that nice as my first car and keeping up that payment to keep the keys is a great lesson. My first car was a 5 speed 86 300zx NA I bought for 1k with over 200k miles. Still one of the most reliable cars I've ever had to date.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

Mk7 gti
Super fun
Cheap
And quality is top notch for a sub $27k car
Can be had for less than $25k if you look around

You must have quite a high salary that you would consider buying a 16-year old a nearly $30k car.

[Humdizzle]

depends on the kid. but probably a civic or civic-si manual at most. would never allow a big SUV with terrible brakes or the possibility of tipping over.

then send him to track days so he can learn the basic of car control.

[The Wind Breezes]

Get the V8 it will an object of greater envy.

[natahoa]

Originally Posted by UglyBuzzard

I am financing a small portion so he can see what payment obligations are like. If he does not work in some way, for us or external, to make the payment, he does not get the keys that month.

I’d try to tighten up that strategy. Put something in writing and stick to your guns. If the arrangement is too loose, he will find a way to squeeze out of it, every month!

At least have him pay for the insurance. He will appreciate the car and be more careful if he has some skin in the game.

Also, what is your plan if you DO take the keys away? Who drives him around to activities, work etc? That arrangement should be specified as well (we will give the car to grandma to take you on your errands. She drives).

Honestly, I think you are in for heartbreak if you don’t force him to pay real $$$ in some fashion. He won’t beat up the car, and won’t let his friends do that either. Otherwise, eh - dad will just get me another car.

Personally, I would present the options - this car will cost you $$$each month, and you have to find a way to pay that or we sell the car. Car B may not be as nice or impressive, but you won’t have to work as much to pay the insurance, gas, etc.

Let him decide. He will feel so grown up if you work with him to let him decide how much risk he wants to take.

[rlmesq]

It's a Charger. Other people's idiot kids probably won't know how to tell whether it's a V6 or a V8, they will just challenge him to race. Even if he doesn't take the bait, he's still in danger from the idiots when they try to engage.

I used to have a Mustang GT convertible and hated the attention it drew. Some schmuck would always want to show off. I was once on Highway 101 north of Santa Rosa when a kid driving a Honda wanted to race and would speed past me, then slam on the brakes at the slightest curve because he didn't know how to drive. I just waited until the road got more winding and easily lost him.

[vreihen16]

I second the jkoral's suggestion for Street Survival no matter what car you buy!

I drove a V6 Charger for a few days as a rental car a while back, and was amazed at how well Daimler's influence on Mopar at the time made the thing feel European in terms of steering feel and ride. Is it a good first car for a young driver? I don't have a definitive answer about how it is going to survive a major crash, which would be my big shopping point if I had kids and was shopping for a car. Check Google for crash damage pictures, and see how many look like they could have been fatal.

My suggestion for the ultimate first car is the Swedish roll cage on wheels...a Volvo station wagon. Our local sports car club owned three of them over the years, using them for loaner cars (spec racers) in the Rallycross program. If 10+ drivers a day could take a half dozen flat-out timed runs each through a rutted farm field and not break one for over a year, there's nothing that a teen could do to damage one. Didn't James May of BBC Top Gear fame drive one across Africa to locate the source of the Nile River?

My only other suggestion is no matter what car you chose, please make the new driver rotate the tires before handing them the keys. I made my little sister rotate my tires while she had her learner's permit before taking her driving, and three weeks later she was in a car with friends and was the only one of the bunch who knew how to change their flat tire. She thought that I was being mean for making her do it, but thanked me later for teaching her how to deal with that common emergency.....

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by UglyBuzzard

Thoughts on reliability, safety, etc... ?

Getting a V6 version for son's first car. Seems like a solid car and not too fast or slow with V6.

Can these be tuned or modded for more than show? I know it's not a V8 but for 16 year old, could be fun.

Thanks!

Go for safety.

VW or something that excels in safety crashes.

[UglyBuzzard]

My research, newer Chargers have a solid safety record and tech.

Seriously surprised and impressed with how it drives,rides, and stops.

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by rlmesq

It's a Charger. Other people's idiot kids probably won't know how to tell whether it's a V6 or a V8...

Let's be real here. 16 year old boy, first car, V6 vs V8 does not matter. This is all that's going to matter to him:

[joooiiiiii]

at 16 i think it would be wise to help him with a newer Civic or used GTI. The best thing is showing him how to care for it and things of that nature, which will help him appreciate the better cars when he gets older. It's your choice but I know some folks who got their kids nicer cars and they ended up driving it into the ground. Every situation is different though.

[natahoa]

Probably the biggest problem I would have with a muscle car of any age is the increased temptation to act recklessly. It could cost a lot more than a banged-up car. Someone could die.

That is a problem with ANY young driver in any car. I still remember watching my 16-year old drive off (in my Honda Odyssey) for the first time. I’m not a paranoid person, and we were in relatively safe Iowa. But still. So many things can go wrong.

If you get your kid a sporty car, and he or someone else gets hurt in an accident, you will never forgive yourself. Stick with something slow and built like a tank.

[rlmesq]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

I made my little sister rotate my tires while she had her learner's permit before taking her driving, and three weeks later she was in a car with friends and was the only one of the bunch who knew how to change their flat tire. She thought that I was being mean for making her do it, but thanked me later for teaching her how to deal with that common emergency.....

When I was in high school, a friend's mom let him drive her new Toyota downtown to a concert. We had a flat and he started pacing around the car, wondering aloud what we were going to do, and whining that "this is f***ed up."

I told him to sit in the car and shut up while I changed the tire. I'd hate to see how he would deal with a real problem. He never learned to drive a manual transmission, either.

(BTW, I'm a baby boomer, not a millennial.)

[NewM3driver]

2014-2019 BMW 320. Perfect car for a kid to learn on. Not too fast, handles great, safe. Teach him to drive it responsibly, appreciate what he has and take care of it.

The thing I drilled over and over to our young teen drivers: The coolest thing is being a good, safe, responsible driver. Be the dependable one that can always get you and your buddies to and from where you want to go, safely. That is SO much cooler than being the kid that drives fast and hurts or kills himself and his friends showing off.