What was your kid's 1st car and why?

[Speak2Mountain]

Daughter 2004 RX 330-Safe Reliable, saved her life in a wreck

Son 2010 Avalanche. Safe, Decently reliable, and he needed it for a college DD and use as a truck.

 

[Andrew1972]

If my 2007 MDX is still working well she'll get that in two years as first car - reliable, safe, little monetary value left in at 150k+ vehicle with rust on door

 

[Quattro Pete]

 

[PandaBear]

2 options I can think of years down the road:

1) Take over a family old cars, so she can afford to damage it
2) A used EV with deteriorated batteries, so it is cheap and she can scrap it if it is damaged

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted by Quattro Pete

Awesome. hahahahaha.

 

[ls1mike]

My kid will driving in less than 2 years. He is getting the Caprice. I am getting my Camaro SS.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

New 2015 Impreza base model.
We live in a hilly part of New England and I wanted something that made sense for our winter conditions...the OEM tires were immediately replaced with RT43s. She doesn't have to drive in the middle of storms as a student, so I didn't insist on dedicated snow tires. I drove this car recently in some snow and was very impressed, I think the narrower tires help it a lot compared to the wider ones on my FXT (and will look to go narrower with my next set of snows).
I also liked the idea that the Impreza didn't have an abundance of power, which I think could be dangerous for an inexperienced driver.

We looked for used Imprezas and were seeing crazy prices for cars with miles and issues...for example, a dealer had something like a 2012 with 70kmiles and body damage. Listed at $12k and they dropped it $1k when we pointed out that it needed body work...salesman was like, "Oh my, look at that!" Sure, they would have come down more, but the thing would have had to go into a body shop immediately. That was actually the best match we were able to test drive, drove about 30 miles to see a 2011 with only 30kmiles and it was sold by the time we got there. All this time, I'm thinking a brand new one is something like $19k....

I was very surprised when the DD let us know she preferred sedans, I thought a kid would be all over having a hatchback!

I wish the wife was in a Subaru, she has trouble with the hills around us at times in her FWD sedan and I usually get a call about every other winter season to come help her because she is stuck. At least she has RT43s now, which I picked...

 

[gman2304]

1976 Big wheel....! Seriously, a 1972 Plymouth Duster in about 1988. Because it was cheap and his parents insisted he pay for his first car.

 

[Linctex]

My first car was a 1963 Chevy Impala 4 door, 230cube-6, three-on-the-tree with OD.

i paid $300

My parents have never purchased a vehicle for me or any of my siblings.

 

[NO2]

2013 Ford Fiesta with a MT. Dad insisted on the manual so he would learn how to drive properly, and not be gouged on rentals in Europe. He loved the 40 mpg, and none of his friends could borrow it because they only drove automatics! Sadly, he sold it when he took a job overseas.

 

[MCompact]

A 1975 2002; I sent him to the two day teen school at the BMW performance Center as well as the one day Street Survival course. I wanted him to learn how to drive. Despite the wailing from a few hand-wringing bed wetters he survived just fine.
A friend's 1968 1600 cabriolet featured in the Katy Perry Teenage Dream video also enhanced the cool factor of the car.

 

[Bud]

When my son turned 16 I got him a new 1989 Mazda B2200. When the daughter turned 16 she got a new 1992 Honda Civic hatchback. Both had manual transmission as that is what they wanted.

 

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted by Linctex
My first car was a 1963 Chevy Impala 4 door, 230cube-6, three-on-the-tree with OD.

i paid $300

My parents have never purchased a vehicle for me or any of my siblings.


I never had a vehicle bought for me either. I was told if I wanted a vehicle, to get a job and save and buy it myself. Simple as that.

 

[bubbatime]

I had to buy my own cars for a couple hundred dollars when I was in high school. I always thought my kids would have to buy their own car, but, but, as I get older, and have more money, I think I would prefer my kids drive a very modern car with the latest safety standards.

I'm still 10 years away from them driving, but I will probably make sure that they are driving a late model car, as they are much safer. I will probably require them to lease it from me for $100 a month or so, so that nothing is handed to them for free and that they have some skin in the game.

 

[Nick1994]

I don't have kids yet, but if I do they're not getting new cars handed to them. Or even close to new cars.

15 year old cars sound good to me.

 

[eljefino]

My $700 2005 prius has side impact air bags, ABS, stability control, traction control...

The only newer safety tech seems like it covers for not paying attention. My kids will be learning to drive in something where they need to LEARN to DRIVE, and, hopefully, shift.

They'll monitor their own blind spots and turn their heads rearwards to back stuff up.

The gear in my prius is also available in bigger beaters from the same era if someone thinks it's too small.

 

[blupupher]

My daughter is getting the wife's old 2012 Scion xB.

We debated getting a used vehicle for cheap, but with some flooded cars still coming out of the woodwork, decided it was easier to give her mom's old car that we knew about was better off.

Not sure what my son will be getting in 2 years, since we will not be buying any replacement vehicle for me.

My mom may be getting something around that time, so maybe her old Saturn SUV.

My first car was a '77 Monte Carlo that I had to share with 2 brothers (till I bought my own motorcycle).

 

[ammolab]

Dodge Turbo Colt, 1984 I think. Fun Pocket Rocket! 4 speed manual with 2 speed aux box behind it.

4 power Gears OR 4 economy gears. 8 gears if you go 1st low to first high then 2nd low to 2nd high etc...

 

[RichR]

My son got a 2001 Escort we helped purchase.
Daughter inherited wifes '99 Camry.
Good cars when I started driving 40 years ago were affordable. Now a piece of rubbish car is 4 of 5 thousand.I bought a 69 Cutlass for $850 and drove it for seven years.

 

[clinebarger]

Bought my oldest daughter a 2009 Honda Civic 2 years ago for $300, Rebuilt the 5-speed auto & slapped on Pads & Rotors.
Why?......It was cheap & from I read it's fairly safe. I sure am proud of her!, Goes to collage & holds down a job.