Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 20:54     Subject: Car for teenager
Anonymous wrote:We are buying our teenagers a Honda Fit. Good gas mileage and cheap.

They don't need an SUV. Seems extraordinarily wasteful.


The Honda Fit performed poorly in crash tests. I'd never drive one, much less put my kids in one.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 20:42     Subject: Car for teenager
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Have any of you ever driven a stick? My main vehicle is a manual and I have NO problem chatting on my cell while driving either in the city or on the freeway.

OP, teach your kids to drive a manual. You never know when they'll use it. Wait til they get to college, ride to a party with a friend, friend is too drunk to drive, so they get in the drivers seat and then realize they can't operate the vehicle. The college years was probably the most useful for me to have that skill.


First of all, that is horrible, stop yakking while driving. Second, the concern with teenagers isn't so much talking as texting. I suppose it wouldn't stop you if you're enough of an idiot to text while driving down the interstate at 85mph but for city driving, it would be difficult.


They see that as a challenge. Believe me, teens will do whatever it takes to text. I teach dance to high school age girls and have observed them falling off curbs, walking into door jams, and trying to back out of parking spaces.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 17:25     Subject: Car for teenager
Anonymous wrote:Subaru WRX STi
AWD traction
just a little pep


Terrible idea

More than a little pep, too much car for a teenager

Get them a Honda Civic
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 16:08     Subject: Re:Car for teenager
Anonymous wrote:I would feel strange driving or having my child driving a car that old. So much new technology in cars today. Your car is a 1998?




You would feel strange when all of your neighbors looked down their noses at you.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 15:58     Subject: Car for teenager
Talking while driving a stick is not an issue. Texting would be nearly impossible unless you're on the highway (which is unfortunately where I see most texting being done).

The rule in our house is that the phone stays in your pocket or purse (on the front seat) while driving...so it can be accessed in an emergency.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 15:51     Subject: Car for teenager
Anonymous wrote:Have any of you ever driven a stick? My main vehicle is a manual and I have NO problem chatting on my cell while driving either in the city or on the freeway.

OP, teach your kids to drive a manual. You never know when they'll use it. Wait til they get to college, ride to a party with a friend, friend is too drunk to drive, so they get in the drivers seat and then realize they can't operate the vehicle. The college years was probably the most useful for me to have that skill.


First of all, that is horrible, stop yakking while driving. Second, the concern with teenagers isn't so much talking as texting. I suppose it wouldn't stop you if you're enough of an idiot to text while driving down the interstate at 85mph but for city driving, it would be difficult.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 15:47     Subject: Car for teenager
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We live FAR from public transportation, and I never bought my kids a car. They were allowed to use the oldest car our household owned to learn to drive. They can buy their own cars.


As a reminder, your school bus is public transportation.


No it's not. The general public can't use it, only children attending a specific school.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 15:46     Subject: Car for teenager
Anonymous wrote:Have any of you ever driven a stick? My main vehicle is a manual and I have NO problem chatting on my cell while driving either in the city or on the freeway.

OP, teach your kids to drive a manual. You never know when they'll use it. Wait til they get to college, ride to a party with a friend, friend is too drunk to drive, so they get in the drivers seat and then realize they can't operate the vehicle. The college years was probably the most useful for me to have that skill.


+10 on both points
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 15:43     Subject: Car for teenager
We are buying our teenagers a Honda Fit. Good gas mileage and cheap.

They don't need an SUV. Seems extraordinarily wasteful.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 15:07     Subject: Car for teenager
Anonymous wrote:We live FAR from public transportation, and I never bought my kids a car. They were allowed to use the oldest car our household owned to learn to drive. They can buy their own cars.


As a reminder, your school bus is public transportation.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 14:48     Subject: Car for teenager
They should learn to drive the manual, I had to and I'm so glad my dad insisted on it.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 14:32     Subject: Car for teenager
We live FAR from public transportation, and I never bought my kids a car. They were allowed to use the oldest car our household owned to learn to drive. They can buy their own cars.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 14:24     Subject: Car for teenager
Anonymous wrote:Have any of you ever driven a stick? My main vehicle is a manual and I have NO problem chatting on my cell while driving either in the city or on the freeway.

OP, teach your kids to drive a manual. You never know when they'll use it. Wait til they get to college, ride to a party with a friend, friend is too drunk to drive, so they get in the drivers seat and then realize they can't operate the vehicle. The college years was probably the most useful for me to have that skill.


!!!!!

Please don't talk on your phone while you are driving.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 11:30     Subject: Car for teenager
ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:Driving a stick is unfortunately becoming a lost art. But one everyone should know.

However that cell phone thing isn't exactly guaranteed. One you make it through the gears and are cruising at speed that hand becomes free again.


This.
Anonymous
Post 05/09/2014 11:00     Subject: Car for teenager
Stay away from anything that is perceived as a 'rocket' car - anything that goes fast...