What car: Teenage driver edition

We are going to be purchasing a car for our teenage daughter in the near future. She has been doing a great job with learning and has participated in the Tire Rack Street Survival course as well as the 1.5 days course our local Sheriff's office offers.

I am thinking of a hatchback/wagon-y type vehicle, if for no reason other than the fact that she plays the tuba and has to transport it regularly.

This is first time I've shopped for a car without really knowing what I wanted. Usually I have a model in mind and then go look for it. However, in this case, I have no clue. Initial thoughts include Ford Focus, Mazda3, Impreza, Forester, Volvo C30, VW Golf.

Budget: Under $10k
My items of importance: safety, reliability, fuel economy
Her items of importance: "funky" and unusual color (though she's really not picky)

What make and models should we be considering?

Just give her your BMW and get yourself a new car. Isn't that what parents do these days. Give the kids the old family car?

Nissan Versa Note has some funky colors and general funkiness.

Our Mazda3 has been a great car, as have those that friends have.

With her want of something funky, how about a Scion xB? They usually did come in fun colors if you look a bit, and meet all of your other qualifications.

You should be able to stay under budget, get low mileage to minimize deferred maintenance, and new enough to have modern TC, ABS, and airbags by going with one of the Korean brands.

Not necessarily available in funky colors, but they aren't all beige or silver either.

How big is a tuba case? Maybe bring it along to test-fit. Lots of options out there with a 10k budget.

I'm thinking a size bigger may make it easier for her to ingress/egress something that big: Mazda 5/6 wagon, Saab 9-5 wagon, Jetta wagon, Kia Soul (people who bought my kids' old 32x48x20" play table managed to get it inside), or the aforementioned Scion.

How big is the hatch opening on RAV4 / CRV size things?

Can she / does she want to drive stick? This Veloster (in Atlanta, natch) seems like it would check all the boxes:

http://goo.gl/wvpJDO

i suggest a 1967 Impala wagon with a 6 cylinder that only runs on 5 cylinders and requires constant input to the gas pedal to keep it running, a 3 speed manual with column shift that has a lot of play in the linkage, non power drum brakes, and no power steering. make sure it still rides on the stock 14" steelies with dog dish hubcaps and that the woodgrain on the sides is at least mostly intact.

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: Just give her your BMW and get yourself a new car. Isn't that what parents do these days. Give the kids the old family car?

We 'loan' them the family car.

My 16 in 31 days year old will share our '05 E46 wagon with me. It's got a rust hole, mismatched color fenders and big dent in the hood w/ 150k on it. Mom wrecked it, bought a new one and I liked it too much to give it away for nothing so I fixed it up a little without spending much at the junkyard. But, it's safe, reliable, economical, big enough to fit his gig piano and amps... but has too much dog hair in the back to get frisky with a young lady. He has enough financial problems looming with college so I really don't want him spending his money on a worse car than this... but I don't want to cart his arse around anymore. Problem solved.

He buys the gas, insurance, cleans & maintains, acts as taxi driver for his brother, grandmother and occasional designated driver for his parents. He gets to use it for work and maybe a little play. All win.

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: Just give her your BMW and get yourself a new car. Isn't that what parents do these days. Give the kids the old family car?

LOL - she's not getting the M3!

Huckleberry wrote:

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: Just give her your BMW and get yourself a new car. Isn't that what parents do these days. Give the kids the old family car?

We 'loan' them the family car. My 16 in 31 days year old will share our '05 E46 wagon with me. It's got a rust hole, mismatched color fenders and big dent in the hood w/ 150k on it. Mom wrecked it, bought a new one and I liked it too much to give it away for nothing so I fixed it up a little without spending much at the junkyard. But, it's safe, reliable, economical, big enough to fit his gig piano and amps... but has too much dog hair in the back to get frisky with a young lady. He has enough financial problems looming with college so I really don't want him spending his money on a worse car than this... but I don't want to cart his arse around anymore. Problem solved. He buys the gas, insurance, cleans & maintains, acts as taxi driver for his brother, grandmother and occasional designated driver for his parents. He gets to use it for work and maybe a little play. All win.

This is not far from what we plan. While this may be designated as "her car", it will go into the family rotation as needed.

From what I hear on this board, if there's a tuba involved the clear answer is "CTS-V wagon." That may not be quite the kind of funky you want, however, so I would seriously look at a Kia Soul.

MCarp22 wrote: Can she / does she want to drive stick? This Veloster (in Atlanta, natch) seems like it would check all the boxes: http://goo.gl/wvpJDO

Those actually crossed my mind too. She is learning to drive stick on my new-to-me NB Miata. Buying her a car that is a stick is a definite possibility.

I found this and love the color!

Stealthtercel wrote: From what I hear on this board, if there's a tuba involved the clear answer is "CTS-V wagon." That may not be quite the kind of funky you want, however, so I would seriously look at a Kia Soul.

Ha. I forgot that! As for the Soul and Xb, she really doesn't like the box look (frankly I don't either).

Used Gen 3 Prius? Mine's pretty boring, safe, and has good fuel economy. They're also $10,000 or less all day long on Craigslist (around 60,000 miles at this price).

The c30 is a good idea with the back seats removed, so is a Smart, iQ, Miata, Del Sol, 2.7 Boxster (with IMS replaced). Just about any 2 seat car or car you are willing to make 2 seats with lower power.

Why?

The #1 reason teens are in wrecks is distracted driving. Passengers as much if not more than cell phones.

Don't even give her the option.

The Answer is still the answer.

Do take the tuba along for test drives. The cases vary but they take up more space than they seem like they will. I could fit a tuba in my Mazda 2 with half of the rear seat down. I can barely fit a tuba in the back of the V Wagon with the seats up just due to the shape of the hatch. I took the tuba with me to test drive the V Wagon and the salesman was cool with it though he said it was a first for him.
Have you looked at the breadvan Civic Si? They're cheapish, hatchback, and you don't she shouldn't know too many people that have one.

Volvo V70. If you go back to the 850, there is a pretty funky teal color. Tons of room, slow if you don't get a turbo, and great seats.

Thoughts on the Focus 5 door?

dyintorace wrote: Thoughts on the Focus 5 door?

Get the 5spd and it should be all good.

If she can drive a manual, then absolutely make whatever you choose a manual. It will virtually guarantee NONE of her friends will be able to drive/borrow/wreck it. Make it something with a bit of real handling cred and get her interested in performance driving. She won't want anyone to even ask her to drive let them drive it, in addition to not being able to.

With teenagers...I usually recommend something slow.

The Kia soul isn't a terrible choice

Flight Service wrote: The c30 is a good idea with the back seats removed, so is a Smart, iQ, Miata, Del Sol, 2.7 Boxster (with IMS replaced). Just about any 2 seat car or car you are willing to make 2 seats with lower power. Why? The #1 reason teens are in wrecks is distracted driving. Passengers as much if not more than cell phones. Don't even give her the option. The Answer is still the answer.

I once had 9 people in my mom's 86 Mustang, then 11 people in the 66 Lincoln I had a couple of years later.. I know of a Fiero that had 4 people in it.. I also know that 9 teenagers fit in a Subaru Brat, and that it will still go thru a fully grown corn field in that configuration..

I guess what i'm saying is that a lack of seats does not mean there will be a lack of passengers..

JohnRW1621 wrote: Nissan Versa Note has some funky colors and general funkiness.

They're not terrible. Ours is rental gray, but its kinda fun.

First cars should be random 90s FWD GM products with 3800 v-6s. Spend $3500 and get a nice one, then use the rest of your $10k for your deductible and the replacement car after she wrecks it.