[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!

[TrAcK TRaP]

Honda civic? V-tec FTW

[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

[BEM-S4]

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

General rule of thumb is "30/30" as in if you are under 30 years old and/or looking to spend under $30K get a GTI. It is the right answer 99% of the time.

[yco]

i dont think its a right for a 16 year old.. something more nimble and holistic will be better i believe.. GTI can be a nice choice..

[SteveinArizona]

something with maximum safety and tolerable but NOT high performance. I would not give a new driver a charger. I would look for something around 200 HP.

During my son's first year driving his car was hit when another teenage blew through a stop sign and went into my son's Elantra. The Elantra in turn hit a jeep flipping it over. It turns out the major injury was to the teenager who blew by the stop sign (broken arm). It wasn't my son's fault but a more experienced driver might have been better monitoring the side streets even though they had stop signs.

My point is that there is more to safety than just trying to be a safe driver. Experience matters and until that experience is developed, I would look for something like a Honda Civic or Accord, a Toyota Camry or Corolla or Rav4, etc.

Too much HP at an early stage of driving experience can be problematic.

[Suds]

My kids first cars were used, no need to spend too much money on a car that's deemed to get scraped or dented.

[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.

[RTPenland]

F30 328

[Relegate]

Some insurance companies will wallop a young driver in a GTI on rates. It depends on the kid. My first car was a 1980 MGB because that was the spare car. Unsafe money pit but the girls liked the convertible aspect... my next car was a Jeep Cherokee.

E36 325is.

[Mason Hatcher]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

something with maximum safety and tolerable but NOT high performance. I would not give a new driver a charger. I would look for something around 200 HP.

During my son's first year driving his car was hit when another teenage blew through a stop sign and went into my son's Elantra. The Elantra in turn hit a jeep flipping it over. It turns out the major injury was to the teenager who blew by the stop sign (broken arm). It wasn't my son's fault but a more experienced driver might have been better monitoring the side streets even though they had stop signs.

My point is that there is more to safety than just trying to be a safe driver. Experience matters and until that experience is developed, I would look for something like a Honda Civic or Accord, a Toyota Camry or Corolla or Rav4, etc.

Too much HP at an early stage of driving experience can be problematic.

Can't say this loud enough

[RTPenland]

ps- for insurance buy a thrasher car a 1995 mazda as an example (something less than $1000) - put liability only on it and make your teen the main driver on that vehicle. Buy the new car (your kids car) under your name and the insurance company will allow your teen to drive "your car" whenever they want with your same coverage - you will save thousands

[natahoa]

You give new driver your oldest beater and then buy yourself a nice new dream car. Tell him/her that is he/she wants a new car, or a Dodge Charger, get a job.

That is how you build a responsible adult.

[Crimson92]

E46 330 could be had for a few grand.

Easy to maintain.

Grab one with a manual and teach the kid how to really drive and one day he can turn it in to a race car.

[JohnnyCanuck]

Doesn't have to be a GTi, but buy something with a stick while you still can. Simply put, being a new driver with a stick will make him a better driver forever. There are other Golf/Jettas with sticks. Mazda 3. Ford Focus.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck

Doesn't have to be a GTi, but buy something with a stick while you still can. Simply put, being a new driver with a stick will make him a better driver forever. There are other Golf/Jettas with sticks. Mazda 3. Ford Focus.

I disagree. Driving is not easy and requires lots of attention not only to the car and its behavior but to what others are doing as well. I think adding shifting a manual transmission is not a good idea for a new driver.

I would stick with an automatic. After a couple of years, then I would teach him to drive the manual. If you want him to start learning earlier, buy one with paddle shifters.

[UglyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by natahoa

You give new driver your oldest beater and then buy yourself a nice new dream car. Tell him/her that is he/she wants a new car, or a Dodge Charger, get a job.

That is how you build a responsible adult.

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.

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by natahoa

You give new driver your oldest beater and then buy yourself a nice new dream car. Tell him/her that is he/she wants a new car, or a Dodge Charger, get a job.

That is how you build a responsible adult.

This. My first car was a 1976 El Camino, two tone brown. It was kinda cool though. Most everyone made fun of it until they tried to race me. Their new Honda's, Toyota's, Infiniti's etc. were no match for the 350.

[Alfisti]

IMHO a 2010 Saab 9-3 Aero is damn near perfect so long as you have a Saab mechanic nearby. Looks great for it's age, cheap as chips, was built like a tank passive safety wise, cheap to maintain compared to other euro marques (because it shares a lot with malibu), 210 HP, not bad on gas.

If safety is an issue you could do a lot worse.

[BEM-S4]

If looking used and you have a decent mechanic in your area you'd be hard pressed to find a safer value car than a 3 or 5 door 9-3 Saab anything up to 2002. Saab still had their hands in design up until then and the cars are INCREDIBLY safe but still fun to drive and very fun / quirky. Also with the hatch design it's perfect for just about anything a kid could need to use a car for. $4-5K, survive high school, if needed get something newer for college or skip a car those 4 years and get newer with warranty upon graduation when work commute becomes a necessity.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

IMHO a 2010 Saab 9-3 Aero is damn near perfect so long as you have a Saab mechanic nearby. Looks great for it's age, cheap as chips, was built like a tank passive safety wise, cheap to maintain compared to other euro marques (because it shares a lot with malibu), 210 HP, not bad on gas.

If safety is an issue you could do a lot worse.

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

[JohnnyCanuck]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

I disagree. Driving is not easy and requires lots of attention not only to the car and its behavior but to what others are doing as well. I think adding shifting a manual transmission is not a good idea for a new driver.

I would stick with an automatic. After a couple of years, then I would teach him to drive the manual. If you want him to start learning earlier, buy one with paddle shifters.

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.