Best car for 16yo

[Anonymous]

Cars are actually getting larger and heavier on average. Better unibody safety cages and crumple zones. Multiple airbags. Multichannel ABS. Crash avoidance automatic braking. Lane departure warnings. Blind spot avoidance indicators. Hazards illuminate at impact. Battery cable disconnect for serious crashes. Telecommunications that call 911.

That 1965 Mustang didn’t protect occupants better because it had a steel frame. The current model Civic is longer and heavier with far superior handling and braking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one I can afford. And right now that is a 2008 Civic with 100k miles (that is around 10k right now!)

Good idea! I may be in the market for one too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is talking about heavy cars, but please don't give a 16-year-old a Suburban to drive over every obstacle and person they can't see.

Haha. That's what I had at 16. Great first car.

[Anonymous]

G- Wagon or Wrangler

[Anonymous]

Handing down our 14yo manual transmission civic. No one is stealing that sucker because no one can drive it 🤣

[Anonymous]

Kids will get our 5 year old Mazda CX5. It was purchased to be handed down. We wanted them to have something AWD and with relatively current safety features.

[Anonymous]

A few kids at my dd’s school have VW Tiguans. We are getting a Subaru Crosstrek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We purchased a new Subaru Crosstrek.
We wanted something that had latest safety features as not only will it be the car to support 16 YO, it will be the car for a child who is currently 11.

The financing on a new car was better than what we could get on a used car.

It is a family car that we are letting the 16 YO use. The 16 YO (being oldest) got the opportunity to go car shopping after we had narrowed down the options to see if there were models they felt most comfortable in. They also got a voice in color given there were 2 on the lot.

That’s assuming the Crosstrek’s crappy CVT automatic transmission even lasts that long. Ours felt like it was about to go when we traded it. After years of spending lots of money fixing other stuff on it as well. That car was a damn money pit like you couldn’t imagine.

It’s a good car for a new driver though. So underpowered and slow it will barely get out of its own way, and it’s very solidly built. If I had to pick a car to crash in, that would be near the top of the list. But that and “the need for repairs other cars don’t seem to need” are the ONLY lists that car would be on the top of.

[Anonymous]

Both of our DD's are petite (about 5 foot)... we ended up buying a new Kia Soul + in 2017 that has been both girls' car in succession over the past 5 years. Even new, very reasonable price. Mid-level model then had backup camera, Apply Car play, etc. The newer models have added all the collision avoidance tech. Part of the reason the girls are comfortable in the Soul is the relative high seating position and visibility all around. It's a great little around town car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both of our DD's are petite (about 5 foot)... we ended up buying a new Kia Soul + in 2017 that has been both girls' car in succession over the past 5 years. Even new, very reasonable price. Mid-level model then had backup camera, Apply Car play, etc. The newer models have added all the collision avoidance tech. Part of the reason the girls are comfortable in the Soul is the relative high seating position and visibility all around. It's a great little around town car.

Thanks for this recommendation - I have a DD who is 5' 3" and wanted something similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We purchased a new Subaru Crosstrek.
We wanted something that had latest safety features as not only will it be the car to support 16 YO, it will be the car for a child who is currently 11.

The financing on a new car was better than what we could get on a used car.

It is a family car that we are letting the 16 YO use. The 16 YO (being oldest) got the opportunity to go car shopping after we had narrowed down the options to see if there were models they felt most comfortable in. They also got a voice in color given there were 2 on the lot.

That’s assuming the Crosstrek’s crappy CVT automatic transmission even lasts that long. Ours felt like it was about to go when we traded it. After years of spending lots of money fixing other stuff on it as well. That car was a damn money pit like you couldn’t imagine.

It’s a good car for a new driver though. So underpowered and slow it will barely get out of its own way, and it’s very solidly built. If I had to pick a car to crash in, that would be near the top of the list. But that and “the need for repairs other cars don’t seem to need” are the ONLY lists that car would be on the top of.

Some of the newer Crosstreks have a 2.5L engine, so Subaru responded to complaints about the sluggishness of the car. I haven't heard other owners complain about transmission repair issues but this is good to know, thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few kids at my dd’s school have VW Tiguans. We are getting a Subaru Crosstrek.

We’ll likely get DS a Tiguan. This, or, he’ll get my 5 year old Q7 and I’ll get a new car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is talking about heavy cars, but please don't give a 16-year-old a Suburban to drive over every obstacle and person they can't see.

Don't you know, the important thing is that THEIR kid is safe. If they gave their kid a smaller car, when their kid hits a pedestrian the pedestrian would roll on top of the car--that would SCARE their kid! Much better to have a giant SUV. When their kid hits the pedestrian, the pedestrian will roll UNDER the car--their kid won't have to even see the pedestrian they hit and not be frightened!

[Anonymous]

I too drove an old Mustang (‘66) when I was 16, passed down from my mother and sister.

That was a long time ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is talking about heavy cars, but please don't give a 16-year-old a Suburban to drive over every obstacle and person they can't see.

Don't you know, the important thing is that THEIR kid is safe. If they gave their kid a smaller car, when their kid hits a pedestrian the pedestrian would roll on top of the car--that would SCARE their kid! Much better to have a giant SUV. When their kid hits the pedestrian, the pedestrian will roll UNDER the car--their kid won't have to even see the pedestrian they hit and not be frightened!

Calm your little self down. You have issues.