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Random Quote: The fisherman not plagued by suggestions is fishing alone.
here's the first reply that will sound off-the-wall to you. Get a car that will have buckets in front and remove the passenger seat for the first six months. Embarrassing? sure...but son won't have to bend to peer pressure about giving rides despite Dad's warnings not to. AMHIK.
During talks around the dinner table, see if your son looks at everybody he speaks to. If so, he's going to do the same thing while driving. No seat means less opportunity.
An absolute, NO Cell Phone while Driving rule might save his life...or at least the rear fenders of several townsfolk.
As far as what car, do you work on your cars (oil, brakes, fluids?). If so, an older MB or BMW that both looks good and is fair to work on. If you don't want him learning cars, then....Camry?
__________________ Rick
Alabama's Gulf Coast
Chaparral 240 Signature (Sold)
my first car was a V-8 camaro. I am alive despite what I did with that car
I made sure our son's car had a V-6, airbags and good safety ratings. it was a toyota, not the sexiest car but it got him around. it got keyed, dinged and bumped in the school parking lot or when he drove places (other schools, parties, etc) so I really like your budget.
__________________
World Cat 290DC, Suzuki 250s
Hobie ProAngler
5K is my budget he has the option of adding more if he wants a car in a different price range.
It's very common in my town for parents to buy their kids brand new luxury cars, so naturally my son assumed I would do the same. NO WAY! I feel that if kids work for what they have, instead of being given it, they will respect their possession more and take care of them.
Find him a 90's Camry..or Accord. He absolutely won't be able to blow it up. Plus, if he has the coolest car, he gets pressured to squire all his buddies around...just a thought...
i'd go with the lowest miles on either a nissan sentra, ford focus or mazda 3 that you can find. you will not pay the premium for these that you will for a toyota or honda, so you should be able to find something a little newer and with fewer miles and they are about as reliable as anything. you might even be able to find a nissan altima or madza 6 in that price range although with a few more miles.
i use a nissan sentra as my beater car to commute into d.c. ( i was tired of all the damage and miles on the bmw). anyway, i paid $5K for my '99 sentra back in 03 and it now has 149K miles and still going strong -- it's a tough little car.
5K is my budget he has the option of adding more if he wants a car in a different price range.
It's very common in my town for parents to buy their kids brand new luxury cars, so naturally my son assumed I would do the same. NO WAY! I feel that if kids work for what they have, instead of being given it, they will respect their possession more and take care of them.
If you are set on giving him his own transportation @ 16, give a pick-up.
Safer and the cost of fuel will help reduce the going wild factor of a 16 year old having his own wheels. Remember, 16 is very young and where they go wrong in thier choices. Only 2 years left till you can't demand any control. Best to you & yours.
I second the crown vic. or try and find a station wagon (do they even make them any more?) I want my kids surrounded by mass for their first car, but SUV's scare me a little with first time drivers. Center of gravity demands a little more experience.
I second the crown vic. or try and find a station wagon (do they even make them any more?) I want my kids surrounded by mass for their first car, but SUV's scare me a little with first time drivers. Center of gravity demands a little more experience.
Love the idea of removing the seats though.
To bad no one makes an engine tuner to detune/rev limit/lower shift points for first time drivers.
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"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good
of its victim may be the most oppressive." ~ C.S.Lewis
My son had to have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that a neighbor had for sale. Biggest POS I have owned. It last about a year and I (and he) got tired of it being in the shop.
Bit the bullet and invested in a Toyota 4 Runner. IMO that is the best car for a young male. His is a v-6 with 4WD that had 90,000 miles. It was a "cool" car to have and it worked great with his sports and lake equipment. Very reliable with a full frame.
He has had the car 4 years and it is still running strong and getting him through college. Works out great moving stuff back and forth to school. Even pulls a trailers when he needs to.
Set your budget and find the best 4 Runner that fits in the range.
Good luck.
BTW - I heard on the radio the other day that a lady had developed a program that will use your phone's GPS and will shut down text messages in and out when the phone is moving more than 5 mph.
BTW - I heard on the radio the other day that a lady had developed a program that will use your phone's GPS and will shut down text messages in and out when the phone is moving more than 5 mph.
Son's First Car 
