We bought a used ford Taurus which both of my sons drove into the ground.

We handed down an old Toyota Corolla to the kids to share. The parents got the new car.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess if you are stupid wealthy you could buy a new car for a teen. Otherwise it's a truly stupid use of money all the way around.

Oh c'mon now. If you are stupid wealthy, you buy your kid a 50k + car. Truly rich DC kids wouldn't be caught dead riding around in a Honda.

I was giving OP benefit of the doubt. It's obvious they are stupid. I bet they even get a car note.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Subaru Forester. Safe, reliable and can carry all their stuff when they go to college. We bought one for our 16 year old six years ago and it has been a great car.

+1 I'd go this rout too OP. Foresters are great and super reliable.

+2 I have a forester, but it's already 10 yrs old, and my DS is only 8, so not sure it will last another 8 yrs. I'm thinking of getting another Forester, and if I do, I will give it to my DS when he's ready to drive.

Anonymous wrote:I guess if you are stupid wealthy you could buy a new car for a teen. Otherwise it's a truly stupid use of money all the way around.

Oh c'mon now. If you are stupid wealthy, you buy your kid a 50k + car. Truly rich DC kids wouldn't be caught dead riding around in a Honda.

Anonymous wrote:Subaru Forester. Safe, reliable and can carry all their stuff when they go to college. We bought one for our 16 year old six years ago and it has been a great car.

+1 I'd go this rout too OP. Foresters are great and super reliable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking to stay under 30k ish.

Everything wrong with this country summarized in one dcum post.

Really? I am not OP (actually I am the last poster who bought the Civic) but decent, safe, reliable cars are not cheap you know. The top of our budget was 25k though. If it was 30k, I'd probably go for one of those sporty little Volvos. Safe but still cute.

A new Honda Civic. A little under 25k with tax.

Four years ago when my twins were 16, we bought two used CR-Vs that we allow them to drive. The model years are 1998 and 2001 and both had very low mileage. The cars have held up beautifully.

We'll be doing something similar for our youngest, who is 16.

We might give the cars to our kids when they graduate college by signing the titles over.

Anonymous wrote:Looking to stay under 30k ish.

Everything wrong with this country summarized in one dcum post.

When my DD turns 16, we may have an extra car, and she would have use of it. However, we live just over 1/2 mile from her HS...she can and will walk. We are 1/2 mile from town...where she can catch a bus.

Anonymous wrote:no way our kids are getting a car at 16. (Or probably ever, til they can buy their own.) This is why we bought a house in walking distance to the metro. Just make sure your kids learns to drive safely, please.

+1 My kids can walk, bike, metro, or bus to just about everything they'll need to get to as teens. When they need a car they will borrow one of our two family cars. Usually one is available since I metro to work.

no way our kids are getting a car at 16. (Or probably ever, til they can buy their own.) This is why we bought a house in walking distance to the metro. Just make sure your kids learns to drive safely, please.

Anonymous wrote:My 16yr old can get a car as soon as she pays for it. There is NO way, I just hand her a car. None. Zero

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just bought my 4 year old a car, 2012 Volvo station wagon . Should last to be a nice old clunker for him

+1 Nice thinking! We just bought a volvo wagon, too, and I told our 3yo that he could help pick the color, since he'd eventually be driving it.

Ha! Yes, it will be just the right amount of uncool to be cool again at that point, I hope. Aren't the hippie kids into those? I will allow bumper stickers