Off Topic-Car for 17 year old Daughter

[Tom]

Group:

Too many smart car people in our Group not to pose this question.  I am going to buy a car for my 17 year old daughter.  She currently drives my 1992 Toyota Land Cruiser.  She can *almost* make it to the next gas station before she needs to refill .

Thinking about a Honda Civic, Accord, Xterra, maybe a Mini Cooper.

Just wondering what others in the group have done for their children and relative satisfaction.  Planning on new but would consider used.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)

[Douglas]

Tom,

I would think you'd want something a bit more solid than a Honda. What about that entry-level hatchback Mercedes or the entry-level Volvo?



Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Tom]

My daughter would be self conscious in a "luxury" brand car.  I have trouble with it as well.  If it were up to me, I would keep her in the Land Cruiser, pay the extra gas to ensure she has a lot of metal wrapped around her.  But, alas, I live in a house with 4 other women and a neutered male dog-no chance that I will prevail in any important decisions.

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)

[hauser]

Tom, if you're looking at low gas costs coupled with low service costs I'd suggest a Honda product.  My wife has 2003 Honda van and when I leave the dealership I'm not left with this huge hole in my pocket as I am with my ML.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[Douglas]

Okay, so you want:

1. Solid
2. Good fuel economy
3. Not a "prestige" brand

I just bought a modern car and after all was said and done, it came down to either a Subaru or a Volvo. You balked at a Volvo, so I'm going to suggest the former. I believe Subaru has the highest owner satisfaction rating in the industry.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Mike]

Tom, having just gone through this exercise for our 17 year old son, we selected a car that had side air bags and good safety ratings.  All the cars that you mention have those things going for them.  We bought a Saab.  It may well be the flimsiest piece of machinery that I have ever owned, save for our 2004 Honda Odessey van - a vehicle that has effected a permanent cure for me, in terms of ever again contemplating the purchase of a Honda vehicle.  The Honda is pure junk.

Michael L. Hund

[tuultyme]

My 19 year old daughter bought herself a bright yellow Mustang last December, except for not being real good in the snow she loves it.  Washes it every week but I did help her wax it last week.  AND everyone can see her coming.  If it were a convertible then there may be an accident or two!

Bruce; 268Blaugrun(green) 1970 280SL; IL

[ChrisInNashville]

Tom,

Honda Element or Scion's have gotten good reviews from these younger folks.

I've heard that Mini's are expected to have service issues...   I've driven them, and I don't know how I'd feel about my little girl driving in that little thing.

Avoid Jetta/Passat...insurance is terrible for teens.

Now here's a radical thought....mid-80's SL.   Modern conveniences/technology...hitting bottom on depreciation curve; good safety equipment....

[peterm]

Many things to consider.  My son 2 years ago was of age and I bought a 93 audi 90 with 100k miles.  A beater but looked nice and had some panache.  Parts are not that rare and its been quite reliable.  Now while he's at colleg i love driving it and not caring where I park!!!!!

Note 17 y/o have 17 y/o friends who may not be as good a driver as yours.  Lesson .... 2004 range rover parking in a driveway driven by one of his friends hits parked 93 audi.  Junkyard replacement rear tail lamp for audi $30 body work and paint for  rover $3800

[Kenneth Gear]

How about a Ford 500?

It's sort of a plain vanilla car but it's got an excellet saftey rating, it's not so small as to be dangerous and its relatively cheap to repair.

Plus Ford is giving some decent cash back  these days.

Ken G
1971 280 SL
Silver/red

[rwmastel]

Tom,

What are her driving habits?  My 16 year old nephew got a ticket for doing 71 in a 55 zone 3 months after getting his license.  He was driving his dad's Ford Expedition.  If your daughter drives like that, or like I did at that age, then a big safe car is your primary concern.

I would look at these sites for crash safety ratings:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

http://www.hwysafety.org/


Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Ricardo]

If it were my choice and not my daughters, I'd pick an '85 300D or better still a 300TD wagon, if you could find a nice one...safe, economical, low maintenance/easy service, durable, and a little bit slow, but still Mercedes (panache),and when the build quality was still the best.

[tdun824259]

Tom,

This group is definitely foreign made top heavy.  No surprise huh!?   I've raised 3 kids,  bought 3 GM products (2) Alero's and (1) Grand Am.  You can buy a 1-2 year old model of either for less than 10k with warranty intact.  The Alero's are GM's attempt to steal Honda fans (just looked what it did with its market share),
Anyway cheap reliable transportation.  Show me a 17 yo without an accident and I'll show you an exception.   For my money I'd buy US.

Best of Luck, its an exciting time for a 17 year old.

Tim Dunagan
tdun824259
71 280 SL

[n/a]

I also have a 16 year old just beginning to drive. She uses the '97 Land Cruiser, and for a reason. All the other kids learned on this car, and it has served them well through accidents. I am super conservative, and have purchased new cars for the others, as they were rated the best in both crash tests and airbag deployment. I do not want to ever have to think that someone could have been saved "if" they had a safer car.
I would stick with the safest car possible, especially with complete front/side airbags. My 16 year old nephew rammed a car in the rear at 50mph, while he was picking up something that rolled off the seat to the floor. Does this sound familiar.

[Raymond]

A lot of good thoughts here.  Keep in mind that Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, and most Mazdas are manufactured in America.  With the exception of the Odessey, Honda products are great.  I don't know what they were thinking with that one.  I have owned 4 Hondas since 1975 and there is no more reliable make around.  A used Accord, if you can find one, is a solid car.  That said, if you want a US label on something, go with Ford.  GM hasn't learned how to keep their man-hours in manufacturing down so in order to compete on price point, they have to cut corners on materials.  Just sit in one and compare.  
Consider a 6 cyl. Mustang.  They're common, easy to fix, sporty without having real high performance and easy to park. You could get a used convertible for around 5 to 7,000 bucks.

Good luck.

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[Tom]

Thank you all for your thoughts.  Here is a recap of models noted:

- Honda Accord/Civic
- Mustang
- Mid-80's SL
- 85 300D or TD
- Honda Element
- Scion
- Saab
- Subaru
- Volvo
- Alero
- Grand Am
- Ford 500

Other thoughts that emerged:

- Side airbags
- Research Crash Test Ratings
- Passion about Honda’s (both ways-either love them or hate them)
- Avoid VW products-insurance costs are higher

More data on the daughter:

- Been driving a year
- Good driver-very conservative
- Takes driving seriously
- Does not exceed speed limit
- Good Student (being rewarded with a car)

I looked at Honda and Subaru today.  Civic will likely have new body style that comes out in September.  Element is neat-very practical if you are “woodsy” and carry a lot of equipment for hobbies (mountain bikes, surfboard, etc.).  All the Subaru products had good fit and finish.

I like the Ford 500.  Looks to be well made and will compete well with import sedans.  Not sure it would work for the 17 year old.   I have to take into consideration what other kids have or consider acceptable.  Having said that, I think I will take her to the Ford dealer and look at Mustangs and see what she says about the 500.

Will keep you posted on the outcome-thanks again for the thoughts!

Best,

Tom


1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)

[J. Huber]

Kind of late on this but I personally wouldn't rule out a little bigger vehicle like a medium-sized SUV -- or maybe even a 1/2 ton pick-up. Then again, I am a little countrified.

While the gas mileage may be less, the amount of vehicle between your daughter and the other car is more. That counts for a lot.

I'll be answering this same question for myself 3 times but not for a while... My girls are 9, 7, and 3.5!



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James
63 230SL

[Arjun]

2 things I have against SUV's are 1. Roll Over Issues and 2. The bigger the car the less you are able to manouver out of a potential accident.
My take is the new Audi A3. Or the proven A4.

Arjun
67 250sl
#2210

[ChrisInNashville]

James, cute kids.   The youngest has the "this will be my car soon" look on her face!

[J. Huber]

Thanks Chris,

That is Shelby -- she is at the perfect age to "bribe" with a ride in the Guzzi... The others have figured out that it "messes up their hair"... Take after their Mother!  

James
63 230SL

[Malc]

Mini!!!
Old type (well for me anyway)
or new type

Remember Dad it has to be cool, especially if your 17

Malc

[64sl_robs]

tom is your daughter a very good driver?
do you live in an urban area w/ nutcase drivers??

if you want her safe and stylish
i suggest a 1996-2000 cadillac sedan deville
20 mpg and bulletproof solid good handling too
nothing looks nicer than a young woman in a cadillac
but you will have to get her the matching gold earrings
and gold watch

[waltklatt]

Tom,
What, you have something against the VW's,  why not try a TDI version.  My 2000 Golf TDI got me 43 mpg last year average and has been a very low maintenance car to me so far.
The other car I would recommend is a good old trusty W123 sedan or wagon.  Or even a W108 sedan-but those are getting a bit too old for a young one to drive, unless she takes after her father and tinkers under the hood too.  After all the motor would be the same as your convertibles and the parts and maintenance are easy.
Walter

- Avoid VW products-insurance costs are higher

[64sl_robs]

tom after looking at your profile i realised that you live in the alexandria area
so you are in the nutcase driver zone
i lived in alex up to 3 years ago
we have had a cadillac deville for less than 5 years now
it has been to the shop 5 times- 2 brake pads
-2 front brake rotors- 1 water pump (at 80 k miles right after serpentine belt replacement)
-1 fuel pump
the 95 sedan deville now has 135,000 miles and still going strong
my wife drives it - she has had 1 gas vw rabbit--2 vw diesel rabbits
2 vw jetta diesels 2 volvos 1 sedan 1 wagon -a mb 230 2.4 and a mb 260
i could have bought 2 new cadillacs for the maintenance costs on the others
in 5 years and 95,000 miles the cad deville has had less than $2000 in maintenance and repairs
and it is bulletproof
for the record i have worked at mb vw bmw and volvo dealerships
i am VERY impressed with how good these late model cadillacs are

 if someone trys to force her off the road (not uncommon in dc area) she can bunt them sideways and push them to the next police station
also most of these late models have onstar so you can find it immediately

[n/a]

local mechanic has a mid 80's 300d wagon with 20,000 original miles, interior is as new, if the engine were detailed, this car would look new.....figure he would take $8000 or so for it...car is in northeastern NJ (bergen county)

I know mike hund isn't fond of his saab....but they are among the safest cars out there, and there are some great bargains.

the 9-3's and 9-5's rate time after time, as the safest car out there, they are affordable, reliable, etc etc.....I'm a big fan of the 9-5's, will be adding another to our fleet in the next few weeks. check out saabnet.com or even ebay, there are some great deals on low mileage 2 and 3 year old 9-5's.

-Lewis

'66 230 sl 113042-10-016238
'67 Saab Sonett II #43 of 258
'69 Porsche 911S
'00 Saab 9-3 viggen conv
'02 Saab 9-5 aero