Websites select top new vehicles for young drivers
Automotive websites Cars.com and
DriversEd.com (a drivers education resource) have teamed up to determine the top new vehicles for teens
this year. Criteria used included price, safety, size, and 'fun factor.'The two sites top picks, broken down in categories, are:
Cars:
- Honda Civic
- Mazda MX-5
- Mazda3
- Mini Cooper
- Scion tC
- Subaru Impreza
- Volvo s40
- Nissan Frontier Crew Cab
- Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
- Hyundai Tucson
- Subaru Forester
- Toyota RAV4
[Source: PR Newswire via Seattle Post Intelligencer]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Michael Karesh 12:38PM (4/14/2006)
I'm not seeing "insurance rates" among the criteria. It should be. I do see "size" as a criterion. Based on the list, I assume they mean "small size." Perhaps because this will limit the amount of damage to other cars and immovable objects when inexperienced drivers collide with them?
Have there always been this many of these lists, and Autoblog is simply making me aware of them?
Either way, I'm not a big fan of lists. They oversimplify the process of picking the best car for a particular person. My full critique: http://www.truedelta.com/pieces/comparison_tests.php
Reply
Peter W. 12:39PM (4/14/2006)
Screw fun factor.
The kid is getting an old, slow, fugly tank-mobile so they aren't tempted to "show off" what their car can do and so there is no need to insure it for more than liability. Their spotty mileage will keep kids from wanting to drive too much... and should there be an accident they will be protected by the sheer massiveness.
There is a reason millions of old Volvo 240s, toyota camrys, and Domestic midsizes exist, and it's to be a "first time" car.
Reply
Michael Karesh 12:44PM (4/14/2006)
I'm with you, Peter W.
I grew up with a fairly well-off group of people. Yet I remember few if any new cars in the bunch.
Visit the boards and you'll find many first-time drivers talking about the expensive new cars they're getting, even Mercedes and BMW. I cannot tell if mores have changed since the 1980s, or if the Internet makes fairly rare events seem much more common than they really are. Probably a bit of both.
Reply
G 12:48PM (4/14/2006)
Looks like the Asians win another (with the exception of Mini)and the Volvo (ford, mazda). Not that this survey has any meaning at all. As a young driver, I dont consult DriversEd.com to see which vehicles have a good 'fun factor', and any kid who can afford one of those new, probably has their parents buying it.
Reply
Peter Reynolds 12:50PM (4/14/2006)
The Toyota Tacoma Double Cab is big heavy truck, and not much fun to drive (believe me, I work on the Tacoma production line).
From that list, I'd test drive the Mazda 3.
Reply
JayP 12:51PM (4/14/2006)
A new car to a teen is a real waste. I believe it's more about the parents trying to one-up the others.
Aren't the beenie-baby kids about driving age now?
Reply
jscro 12:52PM (4/14/2006)
There is no way in hell my kid is getting anything besides a POS pick up truck. That way, he can easily pack his shit up and get out of my house when he turns 18.
Reply
thhh 12:53PM (4/14/2006)
I think they were talking about young working adults as opposed to teens
Reply
Ryan 12:59PM (4/14/2006)
"have teamed up to determine the top new vehicles for teens this year."
-Um yeah, I'm thinking somewhere in the 1985 LTD/Tempo/Escort range :-)
Reply
Aki 1:03PM (4/14/2006)
"I think they were talking about young working adults as opposed to teens"
Nope, the article says they're deciding "the top new vehicles for teens this year."
I own a Civic Si, but I must disagree about Civics being a choice for teens, because 1) increasing base price and 2) high insurance costs. Tc is a better choice.
In all honesty, if I were to buy my teen kid a car it'd be a used Toyota Corolla or Yaris. Something that sips gas and keeps on ticking. They can buy their phat ryde when they make the money to.
Reply
David 1:05PM (4/14/2006)
Speaking of the Mazda3, can we see Autoblog's pics of the MazdaSPEED3/Mazda3 at the NYC Autoshow?
The post re: the MazdaSPEED3 from yesterday didn't have the promised pics :(
Reply
LoneWolf 1:06PM (4/14/2006)
I'm a teen, and I don't want any of these Cars...not for 1$!
Reply
Richard Warren 1:08PM (4/14/2006)
Funny thing? The maker with the youngest age buyer, VW
#8 Did you read the article or just the headline? From the article.
Cars.com and DriversEd.com Announce Top New Cars for Teens
CHICAGO, April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com automotive experts, in
conjunction with DriversEd.com, America's leading drivers education
resource, have selected the top new cars for teen drivers. The list
highlights this year's hottest new cars recommended for teen drivers based
on a variety of criteria including safety, price, size and "fun factor."
"Teens"
#2,3,6,7 Right with you
Reply
G. Snyder 1:11PM (4/14/2006)
Peter - good call. When I have a kid old enough to drive, I hope I will be able to find a nice Volvo 240. My first two cars were Volvo 240s and they got passed down through the family. Never have I felt more safe. My sister got in an accident with one - the other car had all kinds of modern safety systems (the Volvo had abs and airbag - a early 90s version). Did not matter. The Volvo came out relatively unscathed and so did the sister.
Reply
Howard Kerr 1:30PM (4/14/2006)
A really good car for a teen would not be new, and even most of the older/used examples of the vehicles on this list wouldn't be good choices. Studies are now showing that serious risk for accidents among teen drivers goes up with more kids in the car (or truck). Therefore, it would make sense to buy your teen driver a car that no one else would want to ride in with them. Instead of the Yaris, maybe an Echo or even better a Tercel. Instead of a tc, an older 4 cylinder Camry as these can be had with ABS in some models/years. No trucks or SUVs, except maybe Subarus as the older ones "fall over" too easily and they can actually invite careless/unintended off-road driving.
I agree, if you can find one, a 240 series Volvo, in a really ugly color...like that yellow their offered for a few years is THE best choice of a car for a new driver.
Reply
djsyndrome 1:32PM (4/14/2006)
Thirded on the 240s. We've owned two (82 DL and 87 GL for the missus). The DL was rear-ended twice - both by late-model Mustangs - and both accidents sent the ponies to the shop. I, on the other hand, only had to replace a scratched bumper sticker.
Reply
Eddiecoaster 1:43PM (4/14/2006)
RE: Jay P
Why not buy your kid something new that will be reliable? So you are saying they are better off with some used piece of crap that will break down, make them stranded, and get kidnapped on the side of the road?
My dad got me a brand new 2005 RSX the day after i got my license. Why an acura? Because he is an acura loyalist due to reliability. Why an '05? Because a new RSX was only a few $1000 more than a 03-04, and a new car with 50 miles ensures that you are not buying someone elses problems. If he can afford it, why not do it? I got the RSX as a reward for recieving a "b" grade average. If i got an "A" average or high honors, it would have been hello TSX or EVO.
He makes me pay for my own gas, and all of my tuning parts. However he pays for the lease and insurance. Do i show off? Yes i do, but im still able to be responsible as i do it.
Reply
Strom 1:43PM (4/14/2006)
Honestly, people should make their kids buy their own cars. It creates pride of ownership and makes the kids more careful - who wants to crash something they pay for?
I bought my fist car, and it was a 240. Only, not a Volvo - it was a Datsun 240Z (with 280 motor and 5-speed!). The car was damn fast, but I was safe because I paid for it and was responsible for my transportation as a result.
Reply
Ryan 1:54PM (4/14/2006)
#17
How do you like your Civic?
Reply
JH 1:58PM (4/14/2006)
I disagree with all of you who don't want teens to have fun cars. Teens and young adults should have fun cars cause being young is all about having fun. You guys want kids to drive lame boring cars out of neccesity, and then as adults choose lame boring cars out of practicality. Who does that leave to buy the fun cars? Douchebags on their midlife crisis who will never truy enjoy it because they're too concerned with what it represents? What a waste. Fun cars for all I say. Give 'em a fun car while they can still enjoy it, because before long they'll be saying "well, gee that would be more practical if it could seat 8 and hold a bunch of groceries, and had a clip for a car seat" which is precisely the attitude that leaves us with abominations like 4-door wranglers, 3 rows in everything, and the inevitable fattening of every formerly small and light car.
Why are we punishing ourselves by demanding our cars be double-dipped in lameness.
Reply