Car for 16-year-old new driver

[Anonymous]

Three kids, 20, 19, 18.
No cars for them. They borrow mine very occasionally. One doesn’t drive. Doesn’t want to pay the insurance.
I think cars are a burden for teens, better to put the money into education.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't really matter, OP, honestly. Old cars might not have the best safety features, and new cars might make drivers too reliant on safety features. All you can do is what's best for your specific situation. Your existing car sounds great.

My kids didn't get cars when they got their licenses, because we're urban and don't need them that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hire an independent consultant.

Just check Consumer Reports April Auto Issue, Edmunds and Car&Driver.

[Anonymous]

I am teaching my son on a 2009. It is a nightmare because his driving instructor has a newer car that shows which was the tires are pointing. He cannot accept that the steering wheel may need to be turned 2 times to straighten out the wheel.

It has a back up camera so I actually feel safer backing up because it shows him where the car will go.

Scary how dependent they are in 2 weeks.

He cannot believe I have safely driven that car for 17 years without all the the other features.

I probably will get him a modern car; odds are he only need to know how to drive for a few years before everything is autonomous.

[Anonymous]

Used minivan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three kids, 20, 19, 18.
No cars for them. They borrow mine very occasionally. One doesn’t drive. Doesn’t want to pay the insurance.
I think cars are a burden for teens, better to put the money into education.

You're the first parent I know who doesn't help with a teen's car insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three kids, 20, 19, 18.
No cars for them. They borrow mine very occasionally. One doesn’t drive. Doesn’t want to pay the insurance.
I think cars are a burden for teens, better to put the money into education.

Cars are life for teens where I live. There is no public transport unfortunately. A car is ticket to freedom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Responsible 16-year-old boy who has had permit for a year. Has a job and involved in extracurricular and I am over drop offs/pick ups.

We were thinking about giving him my Subaru Forester (2020) and getting something new for myself.

It had all the bells & whistles (back up camera, blind spot detection, emergency stop etc).

His driving instructor said to get them “an old school car” at first so they learn how to drive without all the handicaps. I actually like knowing he’d have these safety features. They can also be turned off.

What did you do?

I think the Forester is perfect in this situation.
The instructor has an opinion and that's fine. You don't have to prove them right or wrong.
Don't overthink it. The gets the Forester.

[Anonymous]

you already have the Forester, so makes sense to me to pass that car down. The old school car will cost you in buying a car and maybe in insurance costs too.

[Anonymous]

The safety features will be with cars permanently going forward, so learning to drive with them is the right way to go.

[Anonymous]

We passed along my spouse’s old car and they upgraded to a new one.

That’s the most common solution I see among my kids’ friends.

[Anonymous]

Cars are going to get safer and safer with more of these features, its unlikely your kids are going to really drive 'old school' much if at all.

For a new driver, I would definitely get something with those safety features. It takes years to develop strong driving skills and until then, protect them (and others) in as many ways as you can.

The 2020 sounds perfect. our teen is practicing on a 2019 camry that will likely be his car--has blind spot monitor, some auto braking and back up camera--and not too expensive if something happens.

[Anonymous]

A Subaru is a great car that keep your sim a Virgin. I had a crappy car in HS and college, my older brother had a 1967 Firebird Convertible with a big V8 engine.

When I borrowed it was night and day. A Subaru, Hyundai, Toyota is a 65 year old women’s car.

Gwagons, Porsche, Tesla is good male teen cars today. Although classic Ford Bronco restromods, Chevy Camaro and Mustang convertibles also work.

Wranglers great girl car.

[Anonymous]

We got ours a Volvo Xc 90. I believe one has never been involved in a fatal crash in the USA. Solid car.

[Anonymous]

Definitely give him your subaru. We gave our daughter my 2017 volvo xc90 this year and I got the new xc60 hybrid I have been wanting. I feel better knowing she is in a safe and reliable car.