'Best Cars to Buy for Your 16-Year-Old'

Best Cars to Buy for Your 16-Year-Old

By Brian White at 05/31/07 09:22

The first question should be whether or not you should buy your kid a car, but an article where I just say "No" isn't very interesting, and I'm sure I can't convince you otherwise. In case you're wondering which car you should buy your teenager, I have only a few suggestions.

- Keep it cheap, and I do mean cheap. During the steep learning curve, kids invariably play bumper cars with the darn things, and it's bad enough you have to pay for other people's fenders, you should keep your own as cheap as you can.

- Nothing too comfortable. No need to give them unrealistic expectations as to what a car should be. They'll never appreciate the higher rungs if they don't start at the bottom of the ladder.

- Nothing with a distractingly great stereo, and hopefully, nothing with a radio at all. Music does distract, as does flipping stations.

- No sport or muscle cars, unless you want to pay for the tickets or the casket.

- Big is safe, but so are [404 Check: was link to http:/ / i13. photobucket. com/ albums/ a300/ tescosuicide/ ALa2/ hummer5. jpg , anchor: bright colors] , technically.

If anybody has specific suggestions, for price, safety and efficiency, I'd love to hear them.

i no y its cheap coz there

I think there should be more individualism in things these days. Its very unfortunate that at any age, people are categorized in demographics. Don't get me wrong, young people from the ages of 16 to 25 are more likely to be reckless behind the wheel, but thats a demographic. I've had my car for almost a year, not a single accident, dent, scratch, fender-bender, NOTHING. And as far as buying a "cheap" car goes, how "cheap" are you talking about Mr. White? "Cheap" as in: "My kid who is so apparently irresponsible behind the wheel of a car, and will most likely get into accidents or die, is going to get a car that's cheap."? I have some unfortunate news for you Mr. White, when it comes to automobiles, money buys safety. You say a big/bright car is safe. I understand the "big" part of it, but, the color of a car doesn't seem to catch with me. I understand that a vehicle may be more noticeable, but the color isn't going to prevent you from getting ejected through the windshield when someone crashes into you head-on. There are almost 3000 teen deaths a year due to drunk drivers. NOT TEEN DRIVERS, DRUNK DRIVERS. I have had 3 friends in the past year die in car accidents. After I mourned their death and my loss, I screamed at the sky asking them why they had to be more statistics. I choose my words carefully in saying that there should be an evaluation of a child's responsibility behind the wheel of a car. We, nor any other "age group" should be considered demographics. Its not fair to me that I get pulled over because I look young, when there are 30 year-old business men, dragging in their BMW's down route 9.

My daughters car rolled this weekend three times. She lost control of her 07 Nissan Sentra while driving back to her school. You want a car for your child to drive? This is the one. She walked away with a seatbelt burn, a few bumps and aches. The car unfortunately is totaled but I am going out and getting her the 08 as soon as I get the insurance check. Cheap doesn't mean safe,and this little car isn't expensive but not cheap. It is built for safety and my daughter is alive because of it. That plus she had her seat belt on, which many teens think is a bad thing to wear. Nissan Sentra

is a great car for your kids.

I Think the nicer the better my son want a BMW 325i convertible for his first car and I said yes it's good so they get it out of there system. Besides he goes to a school with other very rich familys so if he had a car like a nissian or ford he would be made fun of so I said yes. Its only 50K with every thing he wants.

only 50K? do you even realize how much money 50K is? for a car for your son? tell him to get a job and pay for his own stuff and dont let him ride through life on your coat tails.

He will get made fun of at school for not having a beamer? you realize that if he has a convertable and the top is down and he gets in a car accident and not wearing his seatbelt (because you know just as well as i do that teenagers dont wear their seatbelts that often) he is pretty much in a casket right? a convertable for a teenager is a huge mistake. he should get a job and pay for a car himself and if you wanna help him out with it thats fine and great, but dont just fork over the cash up front, your not teaching your kids anything by doing that. At least if he works towards something he is going to appriciate it a heck of alot more because its his own hard earned money that is at stake and once he gets out of school he will be way better off than his classmates that just get everything they want whenever they want.

He only thing that makes me more angry than kids that get whatever they want whenever they cry about it for a long enough time period is the parents that sit back and allow their own kids to use them. You realize he isn't even going to be looking at you as a parent, but as a check book.

Buying him that car is just going to turn him into a massive ego monster that is going to be way up on his high horse and god forbide, if by some freak accident in his 50k beamer he gets knocked down and have to walk around with the rest of us real people, he may actually catch a glimpse of himself in a mirror, puddle, or something and he isnt going to like what he see's one bit.

is a dodge charger a good car for a 16 year old??

This is a response to Eddie G. I understand why you may be offended by being "lumped" into a demographic age bracket. You are obviously wise and intelligent beyond your years. But not so wise as to not realize that you are going to be lumped whether you like it or not. At least until human beings evolve a little further. you also have to understand that it isn't you personally that Brian W. is talking about. you are probably responsible beyond your age as well; it's your peer group. The REST of the 16 - 25 year olds in the bracket that are to blame. Of course I am still generalizing, but the point remains; it is statistics that are against you. It isn't that some adult is siting around saying "all 16 year olds are stupid and irresponsible." It's that when the police and various government agencies gather data from accidents, they find that the 16 - 25 year old age bracket is more often involved. It might not be a fact that YOU will get into an accident, but it is a fact that MORE PEOPLE YOUR AGE DO.

And if you think it's all unfair, imagine being 41 and having every 16 year old you meet assume you don't know who Slipknot it.

Those are pretty harsh.

I mean, if your kid works hard and gets good grades then he/she doesn't deserve a beater.

But not by any means does he/she deserve a car over 15,000.

You need to base your car buying descisions on how well your kid drives and how much they deserve it.

tell him you'll match what he raises by himself. he will probably end up getting about 4k-6k on his own. he will have a window of about 8k-12k. this forces him back a couple of years to an older car and if he does some research he will find that and 8 yr BMW 3-series is about 7k ,or a 7yr. old Infinity i35 is about 8k-9k. Both are luxury cars and both are in his price range. he will respect dropping that much of his own money into a car but he won't be stuck with an old 1990 Saturn that is falling apart...

I am 15yrs old right now and i hate a socialist,ageist government or group of people that stop me from doing anything short of buying a candy bar at a gas station. i'm with you Eddie...

I just turned 16 and can't get my lisence until Janurary. I feel scared to get my lisence because of the way people saying 16-25 year olds aren't responsible. And that they aren't any good at driving so they get into car accidents.

I have a 1973 chev z28 with pazy trac 10 inch drag radials and a b and m supper charger and the car is easaly pushin 550 hp,and i have a 1000 nija so.

I just got a 2005 Subaru Wrx Sti...modified and turbo...326 whp :)

I am with any 1 here who hates people who spoil thier children. I am about to be 16 and I am pretty much the poorest in my group of friends. And even though my friends are rich they still have spending limits. I love the idea of a parent matching the money you EARN. And as for the dodge charger I was also wondering but I'm gonna assume that bc they are sporty insurance will cost you but I also know that they are extremely heavy. So if in A wreck will be safe.

A BMW honestly.

Best Cars to Buy for Your 16-Year-Old..

Hello... This is not a blog titled

"Gripe about the state of the world" or "Dumbest car to buy a 16 yr old"

...the kx250 and Nick...your wear seat belts!

well my dad bought a 2008 ford mustang and he plans on giving it to me on my birthday next year and i will give him the money i am making now and though the summer i think this is a good idea because its only a v6 and my dad is a little old for the car and it is always been my dream car so hopefully it works out

I dont know about any of you but as long as i get a nice car for a decent price im fine with it. I plan on working alot in the next year or so to get some money for a car. Whats up with talking about frickin government and politics on here seriously its about cars calm it down. I myself and 16 and an excellent driver so its not the age range its the people who are pressured into stuff by their friends or kids who do drugs and drink and things. Dont say its us cause adults do it to. and i dont care if anyone comments on this throwing percentages and stuff at me cause it doesnt really matter if ya think about it. just let yours kids grow up and trust them.

I am 16 years old and a male. My mother bought me a 1998 Chevy Cavalier coupe. Loved it. Insurance was through the roof. Almost $300 a month for full coverage. We paid like $1,400 for it. With my being dumb and just getting my licence I thought I was god and was all over the road. Totaled the car. Flipped three times and caught fire. I have to say that Cavaliers aren't safe at all. I was in the hospital for almost a month. Concussion :/. Now my mother and I have come to an agreement that I am going to pay for my next vehicle myself. So for almost a year I should have enough for a hefty down payment. We have narrowed it down that a Honda Civic sedan is the safest for me. Had my mother not be making me pay for a new car myself I would be in a casket. If you don't teach your kids responsibility then they will never respect you or a car. I took my mothers trust for granted and look where it got me. Its a wonder how I am still here. Cavaliers are not meant to be treated like a drag car. Nor is any other car for that matter. I saw a comment where this guy is going to get his kid a 50K car. How dumb are you dude? Do you really think your child is going to drive it like a responsible driver? No. He wants it because it is fast and flashy. Parents like you are an embarassment to society. Peace.

my parents just bought me a brand new 2009 pontiac g8 and the only thing that they actually paid for was the down payment and the payment every other month but other than that i have to pay the 360 dollar bill plus the insurance so i think that i 16 year old should het whatever car they choose b/c i think they should have to pay for some of it like i said i pay for the car payment insurance plus gas and maintance and my job dosent pay all that well and i dont have extra spending money b/c it was my choice to own a higher end car and yes the g8 is high end in the pontiac world. tea it has 400 horses and goes from 0-60 in 5.8 seconds its pretty sweet k ill by back

They gave me a reasonable spending limit. My parents would NEVER buy me a used car. They don't want me to be spoiled so it's not like they are getting me a Range Rover.But they are getting me a reliable and safe car because that's what matters most.Besides, it's not like I don't work hard at school and they won't let me get a job so I couldn't pay for it myself anyways.

Josh is out of his freakin mind

I just recently turned 15 years old and I have been planning on buying a car next year. I have been looking at a 2003 Mazda Protege 5. As far as asking my parents to buy it, it never crossed my mind. I always thought of paying for it myself. If parents agree to pay the car for their teenager, they will never respect the car, yet alone take care of it. If teens pay with their own money, they learn to be careful, because they know how hard it was to earn the money to pay for it. Even though I somewhat agree with parents matching what the teen has saved up, teens still don't completely give their car as much as respect as if they had paid for it alone. The only part that my parents will be doing is going with me to buy the car as I am not allegebal to buy it myself. Teens will start going to their parents when ever they need or want something which is completely wrong.

Basicly, if teens what a car, they should get a job and pay for it.

Also, that thing about 16-25 year olds having the most accidents is because they are new drivers, they never been in the position where either a car/truck is about to hit them head-on, or their car loses control. Older and more experienced drivers built their confidence over the years and have learned new techniques on how to avoid any crashes. It's like getting mad at a 5 year old because he cant really read as well as a 15. Dont blame teens, drunk drivers should be the most of our worries.

if your parents are willing to buy your car, and they worked for the money that they are gonna use to buy your car, then why shouldnt they be able to? they know the concicuences..they know they are gonna have to pay for all the damages, but they are willing to do that. my limit is 22,000 and yes i am sooooooo fortunate to be able to get that. i know most people cant do that, but i will not drive a small sedan type car because i do not feel safe. so i am getting an suv, i feel safe and it is safe. we are paying for safety and yes ill admit also paying for luxury. but if parents can and are willing to pay, then it is their choice. it is not like spending alot of money is going to make the car dangerous, its the opposite. my friend drives a beat up old stick shift jeep, and every time we turn the car, it basically goes up on 2 wheels. the seat belts are unsturdy, its soo dangerous. after she hydroplaned in the rain, she decided she would rather not drive any car than drive that car.

thank you josh. i just bought my kid one of them mercedes box like cars, i gave him my check book and said choose. he wanted it, i got it for him. thats all there is to it. its safe, pretty, and i can drive it too. some 75 K or so.

omg you rich s.

This is what my parents did and it worked pretty well imo. They put $3,000 on my bank and told me I could only use it for a car. At first, like any other 15 year old I was disappointed because you really can't get a great car for $3,000, but as time went on I stopped looking at new cars and decided to actually see which older model cars I liked. Found quite a few and seemed like I needed to make some money. I had been working on my neighbors vw bus and making a little cash off of that and banked it to not spend it as well. So I had about $3,800. After all this I decided I would get a job but you know how it is with the current economy. Couldn't get one. Then I realized that i could just buy my own vw bus and rebuild it=]. I ended up finding a piece of junk for $500 and did a little work on it until one day when a guy pulled up and asked me to buy it. I said that it wasn't for sale but he ended up giving me an offer of $1800. so I had made $1300 dollars for about 30 hours of work. Anyways, after all this and a little side jobs, babysitting and mowing a couple lawns, and selling some of my things at a garage sale. I had $5,500. I could get myself an older model honda civic or a really nice ford focus for that kind of money. However, another neighbor of mine has a salvage Mini Cooper S and i've been joking around, telling him i would buy it off of him for a couple years now lol. I really like the car and i know the guy pretty well, told me he would give it to me for $9,000. I made $2,000 in a couple months, should be able to make $3,500 in a year I hope lol. We'll see what I do. I'm really happy everything has worked out the way it has. What's the fun of parents just buying you what you need lol. I can actually say, It's gonna be MY car. Can't wait. Turning 16 in 2 days. Hope to make the money by 17th birthday. I believe all parents should make kids work for the money but give them a little to start with.

Anyways to answer what this thread was really about, cars I would recommend for teens are small cars. The less friends that they can bring along the less accidents, so i've heard lol. Not only that but the gas mileage is alot better and insurance is usually pretty cheap. Manual transmissions also help because it's hard to text, eat, or do any other distracting thing as you're hands are always occupied.

Some cars I have considered are:

Car(conflict)

-Mini Cooper(pricey)

-Vw jetta(reliability)

-Vw gti(reliability)

-Honda Civic(None)

-Toyota Corolla(None)

-Lexus Is300(Pricey)

-Ford Focus(None)

-Volvo S40(None)

-Audi A4(seem to always have high mileage lol)

-Mitsubishi eclipse(insurance cost a bit too high)

-Acura Tl(None)

I probably forgot a couple, but you kinda get a point now. Some of those are pretty luxurious. Also note most are 2000-2005's not the newst models.

Wow quite a lengthy post lol.

Josh it insane!!

I am a 15 year old girl and looking to buy a car in the next few months. i have been looking at the Mitsubishi Eclipse convertible 4 Cylinder. Around a 2002. is this a good car? i am mature and dont want to get myself killed in an unsafe car. So i wanted to know if the car is dependable maintance wise and if it is safe. if u have any other ideas for a car let me know. my price range is around $8,000.

Im a 16 year old teen and i drive a 1993 mini van. DON'T get your kid a van. They will get made fun of.

i am also a 15 year old girl, hoping to get a car next year. I have been looking at practically EVERYTHING!!! at first i started with the vw beetle convertable, but its like 28,000 (way out of my price range)so i started looking at older models of the vw and was still not able to find anything worth buying under 20,000. Then i moved onto nissans and were amazed at the affordability plus they were cute! now i am decided on the 2007 nissian sentra. the prices are about 7-8 thousand which is much better than what i've been looking at! and they get like 31 mpg.

i agree, JOSH YOU ARE CRAZY!!!! no teen should get/ even deserves a BMW!!!!

and crysta, a convertable is nice, but if it has a soft top/ or ur in it with the top down and get in a wreck your dead for sure. Sorry! although if its a hard top, you might be ok!

hope this helps!

hey,

I'm an 18 year old girl. I just got my license recently because I got into a really bad car accident when I was young and was too afraid to drive after. I've never bought a car before and was looking for some tips on the best place to get started. I saved the insurance money from the accident so I can afford somewhere in the price range of $18- 22k. I've been researching Toyota's online because they seem really reliable. What are some other places i should look or research?

Thanks guys

P.S I agree with Jeff NEVER get your kid a van... high school is hard enough without having a giant "soccermom" vehicle waiting for you in the parking lot!

This whole entire article is rubbish!.. And so are most of the comments!

Of course teenagers should have a cheaper first vehicle. (that is just common sense!) But I am 19.. My first vehicle (which I still own, after 3 years) is a 99 Saturn sc2. Relatively cheap, but more IMPORTANTLY reliable!!! It's great on gas!

As for the whole "kids invariably play bumper cars with the darn things" argument... Your an idiot! Why must teenagers be grouped into statistics??? The only wreck Ive ever been in in my almost 4 years of owning my car (I'm about to be 20 in Aug.) is when I was rear-ended... BY A 40 YEAR OLD!!!!! So kindly take your statistics and .......... REFIGURE!!!!

I am 15. I don't want to get in a big debate but seriously if your looking for a car, get on autotrader. It's a great website. And no you should never spend 50k on someone's first car. I think you shouldn't spend anything over 10k. You can easily find a reliable and efficient car for 8k or cheaper. And talking about convertibles... yeah if you flip you have a much higher chance of being injured but always where a seatbelt and you will be much safer. I'm looking at an 04 mustang (not a convertible) for only 8k... there's great deals out there people...

Ok I just turned 15 and my parents told me to get what ever car i want. I got a Jeep Comander but i still take my dads Jeep Unlimited and my moms Infinity QX, Buy your kids big cars, that are nice, they will love you.

Im 14 turining 15 in a month and ive been looking at cars... NO TEEN OR ANYONE THAT DOESNT HAVE A STABLE JOB DESERVES A BMW OR MERCADES. THATS BULL 50k is tooo much for any car i think. Josh must have money coming out of his fu*king ass.

well if your parents were rich then would you want a car that looks like junk.Im getting a Luxury car because they are reliable and worth the money. Josh you are not crazy Im looking at BMW's as well.

If you want a luxury car i would say to try to stay away from BMW's yea they are nice but they have a lot of little problems go wrong with them. but they are VARY safe!! also look at Volvos those things are like tanks! and they are dependable maintance wise!!!

I have 14 and in 2 months I'm turning 16. I think a first car should be SAFE. Go to IIHS.org, look for the safety pic ones. They should have front impact airbags for driver and passenger, and side curtain airbags. ESP is also recommended.I'm qetting a Mitsubishi Lancer 2010. My parents surprised me with the news last week. They said I had been really good at school, and with them. It is bc of my har work and effort.

First off anyone who will buy their Kid a mercedes, bmw, or any car they want should be shot. You rich freaks. Your kids wont learn anything about responsibility, and will probably kill you because they need your money. So if your going to buy them anything they want, you might as well get prepared for the inevitable. All I can say is if parents are going to get their Kid a car, why get them one thats really nice? Get them one that gets them around, and is still safe enough, but nothing that will keep them from buying their own car because they want a nicer one then what you got them. I suggest cars like late 90's Camrys and Accords.

Well i think if you have a good child and listens to you and gets good grades. i dont see why you should give them a junk. I am 17 and drive a 07 Mercedes Benz, not gonna lie its amazing. And i havent smashed it or even scratched it and i have had it for almost 2 years. I always wear my seat-belt and am a safe driver. So Brian White you should listen to teenagers as well as yourself because not every kid is about driving fast and killing other ppl.

I agree with anyone who says that you should buy your teen a cheapER car. Not expensive, but not a $100 peice of crap you found from a person who needed money for boose and babes. It should be a respectable car, but not a mercedes. That brings me to the most embarrasing part of my story, and this is no joke. I'm 17 and got all A+ on every assignment and test i had this year. I worked my butt off since i was 15 to save money for a car, and i eventually saved up $12,000. (i worked for my dad) and i was so embarrassed at my belated sweet 16 (haha sweet 17) when they told me to go outside to see my gift get loaded off a huge truck. It was a Mercedes Benz SL600, a $150,000 car.

:'( i was amazed, but after reality hit me i ran back into the ballroom bathroom and cried my ass off. so embarassing. After i was done crying i ran to my parents and asked why they bought it for me. They said that they found the bookmarked page of a mercedes i was customizing. IT WASNT ME it was my 16 year old sister!!! she used my laptop to design a car she wanted!!! i was so mad. but to put this story to an end, i still hav the car and dont drive it that often. I used the resy of my money to buy a old civic which i drive now. I will save this car for later in life and i have it in storage. I feel like i need to earn it. BUT do not buy your teen an expensive car. Buy them a car for no less than around $800 (depending on your budget) and no more than about $10,000. that is just my honest opinion. i wish my parents had bought me a cheaper car, or better yet made me pay for it myself.

I am 16 and I have a 86 mustang gt conv and a 87 toyota truck with a 3 inch lift. i know neither of the cars are safe but they are cool. I bought them both with my own money so its not my parents buying them. Now my dad is offering me a 03 toyota tacoma v6 with the off road package. i just cant decide what to pick since im joing the airforce ROTC next summer and i need a car to drive around the state. and in the winter my mustang wouldnt work and i really wouldnt want to drive my truck all the way there since it barely has enough power to go over 55

ya know saturns are not that bad. i bought mine just about a year ago. engine runs beautifully with no problems. its the stupid body. they make the body too cheap. it rattles constantly from bumps. but otherwise its a great car cheap insurance and easy on gas. and 50k on a first car?!?! idiot!! there are so many nice reliable cheap cars out there for 8 or 9k. why would you spoil your kid like that. he/she will never be able to rely on his/herself... just my 2 cents...

i disagree with CD... im 16 and got a 2001 mustang convertible V6

not all kids are irresponsibile. and it pisses me off that people always say that! i NEVER speed. and i am so greatful for my parents to buy me such a nice car! and i am working hard to pay them back

i say if u have the money get a nicer car. but not a new one get one that is maybe 8 years old and make them pay you back

i guess it really depends on you kids maturity level!

not mature! no car!

Wow....losers! I'm a senior in highschool, I'm 18, and i drive a 2008 mercedes C300. I've never wrecked it, its always clean, its safe, its reliable, and it will last me THROUGH med school. I'm also not a brat. Just because you are ing POOR doesnt mean that anyone with a little bit of money is all of the sudden a rich bitch. Get a life people - you can finance anything

Hey - I'm almost 17, had my learners almost a year, haven't crashed. I have been using my parents 4WD the last few months, and a manual for about 2 x 20 min sessions. lol

Anyway, I have finally got myself a decent, VERY well paid job (for my age), and am going to buy my first car hopefully in the next 2 months.

I plan on buying something like a MAZDA Astina, 1997/1998 model. Fairly cheap, effective, not sure about fuel friendlyness though. Only about $9000 if used.

I go for a used car, and my parents have offered to pay for a 'portion' of the total cost. Not sure how much, but they probably won't pay more than 2000. Which is fine, because I can pay for the rest myself after a bit more work.

Just wanted to say my bit. now it's back to studying for exams this week.

My first car was a 2000 Ford Mustang yeah its fast but if you be careful and you pay attention to the road and drive correctly its the same as any other car. Just nicer :) By the way i have 2 12's in my car and its amazing lol =]

I am 17 i have been saving since i was 9 when my dad said if you want a car buy it your dam self he taught me how to save and invest in stocks i just made enough money now im goin to buy me an bently coupe fully loaded with rims and all also some colleges dont let freshman drive so youre goin to be stuck out of driving a year anyway and if you want a car pick one you like ask your parents to match thats what my dad did i had 60k i shld have bought a lamborgihni lol :)

All you idiot parents who buy your kids really nice cars when they're in high school are just plain dumb. I am a junior in high school, and my first car was a 1993 Buick Regal, in which i paid $137 a month on insurance. It quit out with about 195,000 miles, so I, me, myself, bought a 2003 Pontiac Bonneville SE with 57,ooo miles. The car was a hair over 8 grand. I pay $151 a month on insurance, and $182 a month on the payment. I work 25 hours a week, and go to high school and maintain a 3.5 GPA. It's truly not that hard people, try it sometime.. it might get you somehwere =]

Will sorry but you are wrong. my parents got me a nice car and i dont see them as idiots at all!! if a kid shows that they can handle having a nice car then why not get them a nice car? and you could have gotten a nicer car with 8 grand. im 16 and in 10th grade. i got a 2002 black mustang convertible in great shape for around that. and it only had 72,000 miles. you should do more studing on your cars. my insurance is around $200 a month. and when did this blog become about school?

Name:     (required)
Email:    (required, not published)
Comment: