What's The Safest Type of Car for a Teen Driver?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drove an old pick up truck in high school I guess my parents weren't too concerned about my safety because they NEVER let me drive their accord.

I think a Honda civic or something similar would be good. They are reliable, pretty inexpensive, have good safety features and are small enough that it would be easy to park. I drive one and love it. Mine is a 2007 and has front and side airbags but I don't think earlier models have side airbags if that's important to you.

We were thinking of a small truck for DS. One that only seats 2 or 3 people and has a cover over the bed so we can haul stuff but too small to party under! Is there a safe older model on the market?

[Anonymous]

We've been most pleased with the used jetta we purchased for our daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been most pleased with the used jetta we purchased for our daughter.

How old and what kind of safety features does it have?

[Anonymous]

We got our daughter a 2004 Civic last year and have been very happy with it. You can get a used one at a reasonable price with all the important safety options and they're pretty durable and problem-free. Don't bother getting anything fancy because even if she's a safe driver the other kids at her high school aren't, and it will get dinged up and backed into in the school parking lot. It can fit 4 people (as long as they're teenagers) and if you get the hatchback she should have decent trunk space for hauling things around (part of the reason we bought it is because she can fit her cello in the back). It has enough pickup for driving on the beltway and we've found it to be a good, solid car for a high school kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drove an old pick up truck in high school I guess my parents weren't too concerned about my safety because they NEVER let me drive their accord.

I think a Honda civic or something similar would be good. They are reliable, pretty inexpensive, have good safety features and are small enough that it would be easy to park. I drive one and love it. Mine is a 2007 and has front and side airbags but I don't think earlier models have side airbags if that's important to you.

We were thinking of a small truck for DS. One that only seats 2 or 3 people and has a cover over the bed so we can haul stuff but too small to party under! Is there a safe older model on the market?

This is what a colleague did with his kids and strongly recommended it. He bought a Ford Ranger -- no backseat, so not as many distractions from passengers. Low to the ground, good safety record, and airbags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drove an old pick up truck in high school I guess my parents weren't too concerned about my safety because they NEVER let me drive their accord.

I think a Honda civic or something similar would be good. They are reliable, pretty inexpensive, have good safety features and are small enough that it would be easy to park. I drive one and love it. Mine is a 2007 and has front and side airbags but I don't think earlier models have side airbags if that's important to you.

We were thinking of a small truck for DS. One that only seats 2 or 3 people and has a cover over the bed so we can haul stuff but too small to party under! Is there a safe older model on the market?

17:19 here, I drove a small pick-up, not a full sized truck. It was a toyota but don't remember exactly which model. It also had a manual transmission so not only could I not drive a bunch of people around, no one else could drive my truck but me I think my parents were pretty smart in that regard. I did love my truck. It didn't have a cover for the bed so we used to drive it to the drive-in and sit in the bed of the truck with lawn chairs. It was awesome.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I did want to comment on the pick up truck though, since I drove one as a teen. They have absolutely no traction in the snow -- just something to think about.

[Anonymous]

I'd look at Subarus. They're reliable and safe and ALL are AWD. We have an 2006 Outback wagon, the most basic of base models (including manual transmission which I hate), and it still is pretty nicely finished (including heated seats!) with front and side airbags. I'd offer it to you but my brother is planning to take it off our hands for our niece to take to college next year!

I have a 2007 CRV which I LOVE and would have no reservations about having a teen drive. The feeling of being higher is more to do with the way the seat is positioned (more upright) than actual height of the ground. The Subaru has a slightly higher ground clearance but b/c the seats are more cockpit style (i.e. reclined) you feel lower.

[Anonymous]

From Car Talk:

http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/teendriving/cartalk-resources.html

[Anonymous]

Chevy Tahoe. Everyone in the South had one.