Best Car for a 16 and a half year old?

[iJesus]

Vw...

... Well, how about a Certified Pre-Loved car from VW?
They're much cheaper and they still have a warranty.

They're pretty much a new car with a few miles on them.

 

[SkyBell]

BAHAHAHAHA..

Tell that to the high school kids at my school. I swear, every single one of them gets a brand new car, probably $20k on average. And I doubt they'll give a thought about insurance.

(If you haven't figured it out, kids at my school are dumb. Rich parents that don't seem to figure out that their kids are gonna be screwed when they're on their own.)

There's two high schools in my town, one where most of the rich kids go, and one where the less wealthy go.(not quite poor, but not rich. Homer Simpson said it best: "We're upper-lower middle class") I fall into category two, but every so often I'll pass by the rich high school, and you wouldn't believe how many kids have brand new Mustangs, Cobalts, and just brand new cars in general. At my school, the majority of us drive late 80's- early 90's Chevy Silverados, Ford Taurus's and the like.

Anyway, back on topic, if your parents really insist on a new car, those Toyota Yaris' look real nice.

 

[nickster9224]

I'd go with the rabbit. I might get one next year if i have the money.

 

[yg17]

You felt stupidly afterwards because it felt fast. It felt unsafe. It didn't feel as if it was nothing and you could go 50mph faster and still feel confident with your children in the backseat. Confident that if a deer runs out in front of the car or you have to hit your brakes or you run over a bump that your car will be immune. American's are so ignorant when it comes to highway safety, this is why our highways are so out of date which is why the car makers don't see a need to better engineer our cars. Its a simple fact that german cars are safer at speeds of up to 155mph than even the most expensive and sportiest of american cars at 50mph. Its impeccable engineering. The car behaves in the same way as a domestic/jap vehicle but at 3x the speed. Braking distance, emergency avoidance, everything is physically the same.

Don't get me wrong, I love German cars, hence the GTI sitting in my driveway right now, but no car, whether it's German, American, Japanese or whatever, is safe at 155 mph, and anyone who gets a car that fast on public roads is a moron.

 

[fridgeymonster3]

imho material possessions speak a lot about a person (see the quoted post below for example ). after all, they are personal items. i don't know where you live in CA, but cars are status symbols in socal (does automatic 325i ring a bell? ). and fwiw, i'd refuse to give my kid a ML.

I live in So Cal right outside LA. I understand that cars are status symbols, but they are only status symbols to people who want them to be. I buy a car because I like the way it drives, the features, safety, and its reliability - I'm not interested in what others think about my car. There are a lot of people out there like that, and others who just drive a car to present an appearance. I definitely agree with you in some sense, but if you raise your children right they will know how to be financially responsible and to appreciate the value of a dollar. I might have grown up in an upper class family, but I am more financially responsible and appreciate the value of money more than my wife who comes from a middle class family. It's parents responsibility to teach values and that material possessions shouldn't be purchased to enhance an appearance, only because the item is wanted or needed.

 

[fridgeymonster3]

American's are so ignorant when it comes to highway safety, this is why our highways are so out of date which is why the car makers don't see a need to better engineer our cars. Its a simple fact that german cars are safer at speeds of up to 155mph than even the most expensive and sportiest of american cars at 50mph.

Dude, I own a German car and I have gone over 120 mph in it - it obviously feels safe, hence my stupidity in driving my car that fast. However, you are ignorant for ranting about German cars being better, by far, than any other country's cars. Now who is being ignorant. Also, find me an outside, reputable source that says "it is a simple fact that german cars are safer at speeds of up to 155mph than even the most expensive and sportiest of american cars at 50mph".

 

[windowsblowsass]

i wouldn't recommend these tiny cars, listen your more likely to get in an accident you amy not but still. the only safety feature that matters is size

 

[windowsblowsass]

also i dont care if its "safer" if you lose it at any speed about 30mph or higher you are going to be in for some hurt. trees dont move. going 150 on a highway is the dumbest thing ive ever heard

 

[3nm]

It's parents responsibility to teach values and that material possessions shouldn't be purchased to enhance an appearance, only because the item is wanted or needed.

appearance, wants, needs - imho most teens/tweens (including myself) have trouble defining/distinguishing these words (or values) at times. the same can be said about some adults i've met.

G5 Unit - the xB is nice, and i think it'll be useful when you are moving around in college. but i'd try to convince my parents to consider a slightly used car that's under 25k mi if i were you. a slightly used vehicle just gives you more for the money. otherwise, my personal pick for a brand new car would probably be a mazda3, which is reliable, fun to drive, less common than a civic/corolla, and it has a decent interior!

 

[fridgeymonster3]

appearance, wants, needs - imho most teens/tweens (including myself) have trouble defining/distinguishing these words (or values) at times. the same can be said about some adults i've met.

I agree, but there is a fundamental difference between occasional lapses versus not having any concept of responsibility.

also i dont care if its "safer" if you lose it at any speed about 30mph or higher you are going to be in for some hurt. trees dont move. going 150 on a highway is the dumbest thing ive ever heard

I agree with you completely. Once you get into an accident above 30-40 mph, you will be lucky to walk away from the accident without any minor injuries.

i wouldn't recommend these tiny cars, listen your more likely to get in an accident you amy not but still. the only safety feature that matters is size

Here I have to disagree. Larger size vehicles, especially large SUV's and trucks, are far less maneuverable in emergency situations and have a much higher tendency to roll when swerving at higher speeds. Also, just because a vehicle is large, doesn't mean it's impact tests will be great. There are larger SUV's that do not perform as well in front and side impact tests as smaller Audis, Volvos, VWs, etc. Perhaps if you are the one ramming someone, you might be safer if you have the bigger vehicle; however, there are many factors that need to be consider also.

 

[windowsblowsass]

the tests are rated differently depending upon vehicle. i have been in a few major accidents i was in a compact car and had a serious injury. i was in a truck in a more violent collision and walked away unscathed

 

[Rodimus Prime]

You felt stupidly afterwards because it felt fast. It felt unsafe. It didn't feel as if it was nothing and you could go 50mph faster and still feel confident with your children in the backseat. Confident that if a deer runs out in front of the car or you have to hit your brakes or you run over a bump that your car will be immune. American's are so ignorant when it comes to highway safety, this is why our highways are so out of date which is why the car makers don't see a need to better engineer our cars. Its a simple fact that german cars are safer at speeds of up to 155mph than even the most expensive and sportiest of american cars at 50mph. Its impeccable engineering. The car behaves in the same way as a domestic/jap vehicle but at 3x the speed. Braking distance, emergency avoidance, everything is physically the same.

You really do not know what you are talking about.

I have taken my car over a 100 mph more than once. It handles just fine up there. Now driving that faces on American roads is stupid because
A) traffic does not go that fast
B) SPEED KILLS

C) that and the ticket is really expensive

You forget a lot of Japenise and American cars are sold in Germany and taken up to those speeds.

As for german cars being better you car to explain why in some crash test they do not get top ratings.....

 

[abijnk]

I vote Lancer.

I humped an evo this morning, it was so sexy...

 

[fridgeymonster3]

the tests are rated differently depending upon vehicle.

You are only partially correct. You cannot compare frontal crash tests across vehicle type because the kinetic energy involved in the frontal crash tests is determined by the weight and speed of the test vehicle. Therefore, even though the speed is constant (40 mph) across groups, kinetic energy varies by vehicle group because of weight. However, you can compare side impact tests because the kinetic energy involved in those tests is determined by the moving impact barrier's speed and weight and both are consistent across testing conditions. So a tiny Mazda3 can be compared to a hummer in side crash; whereas, a similar rated Mazda3 will most likely perform worse than a similar rated Hummer in real world front crashes.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

axboi has no idea what he's talking about. Disregard him.

You do realize that even though I might be perfectly fine going 120 in my car on a nice, smooth freeway doesn't make it safe? I have a great suspension, gobs of power, but everyone else ISN'T going 120, and your reactions don't shield you nearly as well at that speed. Try swerving at 120, then try swerving at 40. There's a difference.

Go do it.


Told you.

 

[fridgeymonster3]

Try swerving at 120, then try swerving at 40. There's a difference.

Go do it.

Told you.

Umm, the one person stupid enough to try it probably won't be back here anytime soon

 

[fridgeymonster3]

axboi has no idea what he's talking about. Disregard him.

Yea, just checked his profile. The dude is from Texas, the most "patriotic" state in the US and he is admonishing us Americans. He lists German automotive as an interest, but he's an administrative assistant - I at least thought he'd be an engineer or mechanic. I should have known by his uninformed rants he was just some German car groupie desperately needing to get laid by some owners BMW.

 

[ryannel2003]

You really do not know what you are talking about.

I have taken my car over a 100 mph more than once. It handles just fine up there. Now driving that faces on American roads is stupid because
A) traffic does not go that fast
B) SPEED KILLS

C) that and the ticket is really expensive

You forget a lot of Japenise and American cars are sold in Germany and taken up to those speeds.

As for german cars being better you car to explain why in some crash test they do not get top ratings.....

Yeah Toyota has consistently had great crash test ratings in all their cars. It would also be a good idea to get side airbags as added equipment if the car u are looking at doesn't have it. It can ne a real life saver.

 

[abijnk]

Yeah Toyota has consistently had great crash test ratings in all their cars. It would also be a good idea to get side airbags as added equipment if the car u are looking at doesn't have it. It can ne a real life saver.

except the Yaris, but with something that tiny you've got to expect a little give in that area.

 

[ryannel2003]

except the Yaris, but with something that tiny you've got to expect a little give in that area.

yeah I love Toyota, but the Yaris isn't their greatest work. Plus that car is a little too small. But if you want something good on gas, but don't want the Prius, Yaris is great.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

Umm, the one person stupid enough to try it probably won't be back here anytime soon

Sshhh. You're ruining my plan.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Yeah Toyota has consistently had great crash test ratings in all their cars. It would also be a good idea to get side airbags as added equipment if the car u are looking at doesn't have it. It can ne a real life saver.

I agree. I wish my car had them. They saved my brothers life a few years ago when he rolled his car.

He was doing 70 mph when he lost control and slide across 4 lanes of traffic 2 of them on coming rolled the car twice and walk way with one scratch on his foot from the pedals and on on his right hand from his TV in the passager sit.
The cop was shock that he was fine and said that the air bags are probable what saved his life and on top of that prevent all serous injuries. Come on he walk away from flipping his car at 70mph and the only reason one would know if he was in that wreck would be if he or some one else told you. Let me tell you it was not a fun phone call get from my dad when he told me that I needed to go get him because he flipped his car. I was in shock that he was fine. From now on any new car I buy will have side air bags.

It was an 05 accord that he flipped. He now is driving an 07.

 

[gadgetgirl85]

I have a Toyota Yaris, I love it and highly recommend

 

[s.hoz]

I'm sixteen as well and I drive a Subaru Outback, AWD 1999?
Of course, a new one might be a little more spendy, but the AWD is kick butt in the snow. If you live in a place where snow is a regular thing, then get it. It's a good, solid car.

 

[Abstract]

Now I don't know how this works out statistically, I'll just give my general opinions. I think that I am a much safer driver even though I am younger compared adults on cell phones. I don't think the disparity is as huge as people say, but that's just my gut talking.

You're right, it's not that dangerous.

1. The chances of wrecking your car is not "extremely high" because you're a teenager. If you know you're drive like an idiot, then your chances of your car being wrecked becomes "extremely high". If you know you drive sensibly, your chances of ****ing up your car is just as low as a sensible adult's. In 1 year, your driving skills will be quite good, so I wouldn't worry about your skills. Also, adults get sloppy driving skills. Personally, I think adults should be forced to take a re-test every 10 years, but that's a different topic altogether.

Driving practice and experience are important, but paying attention and being smart are bigger factors than age. Age and experience mean nothing if you act like an idiot on the road. You're just an experienced idiot.

2. Insurance costs for young people is not expensive only because you're young. It's just a great excuse for insurance companies to charge you high rates. In fact, it's a perfect money-making excuse. Oil companies also make more money than ever based on a very sensible excuse. Oil companies tell you they need to increase the price because cost of oil is increasing, but if that were true, why do oil companies earn record high $10 billion per quarter (net profit)!!! Their costs have increased, but their prices have increased at a higher rate than their costs.

I have to admit...that is the dumbest thing I have ever read in my life.

At first, his post seemed like something that's meant just to be funny, but now I actually think he was serious. Scary thought.