If you can't figure out what to give your child as he or she graduates high school, college, or even graduate school, consider a used car like a BMW or Saab. Sister site Luxist has posted on a report from the WSJ that says while many young drivers look at Mustangs or Civics for their first vehicle, much of that choice is due to the image that sedans are for "older, serious folks" as well as financial consideration.
If both parents and children are willing to fit the (slightly) larger bill, used luxury sedans make better choices. Such vehicles are considered safer because of their size and tend to have more standard safety features like extra airbags than even some of the top trims of new entry level vehicles. Top choices include the Audi A4, Lexus IS, and the Saab 9-3 (pictured).
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[Source: Wall Street Journal via Luxist]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ryan @ Jun 16th 2006 6:10PM
Everyone know EURO cars are the biggest peices of SHIT when it comes to actually using them for transportation.
If you want a techno style light show a EURO car is perfect, people get wet with lots o' buttons!.
In other words they might be cheap as a civic used, but cost of ownership IS WAY TO HIGH for a TEEN driver.
Mabye I'm just a cheapass, who knows!
Mama's little helper @ Jun 16th 2006 6:18PM
No Ryan I think you are right. My neighbors bought his wife a used Mercedes and she was so proud until the troubles began and the high repair bills. The Mercedes is gone and she now has a large Ford.
Richard Warren @ Jun 16th 2006 6:39PM
Euro cars are for real men who don't complain about repair and service costs but love driving with a little soul and a car that has some personality, not a Japanese toaster appliance.
Whydrive @ Jun 16th 2006 6:51PM
a techno style light show? umm...have you seen the inside of a Mazda?
Ryan @ Jun 16th 2006 6:52PM
"3. Euro cars are for real men who don't complain about repair and service costs but love driving with a little soul and a car that has some personality, not a Japanese toaster appliance."
-oh my god richard the fact of the matter is i will wipe my ass with a BMW.
Ryan @ Jun 16th 2006 6:57PM
" a techno style light show? umm...have you seen the inside of a Mazda?"
Have you seen the inside of a Jetta?! "but it's pretty blue!!!"
"oh my god richard the fact of the matter is i will wipe my ass with a BMW"
LOL, I can't say enough that I was joking BMW's do kick ass your VISA card goes from 0-MAXED in 30k miles flat!!!
Ryan @ Jun 16th 2006 7:00PM
"but love driving with a little soul and a car that has some personality, not a Japanese toaster appliance."
Really Richard, EURO cars are BLAND also look at Audi anything BMW, it's not like they are *fun* looking at all. There are more fun looks in a Mazda 3 then any stuffy euro car anyday.
risingsun @ Jun 16th 2006 7:01PM
It doesn't matter where the car is from, if there's an idiot behind the wheel it's going to break. Every car needs maintenance on things like spark plugs, brakes, etc.--it's when non-regular maintenance parts break when it says something about the car company. Ford Pintos that blow up, Eclipses with crank walk, the Corvair. Euros tend to have more highly tuned engines from the factory, and these engines require more expensive, higher quality components. People buy luxury cars for their technology and performance, so they shouldn't be surprised when this comes at a price. Bottom line, do some damn research.
Ryan @ Jun 16th 2006 7:02PM
"Every car needs maintenance on things like spark plugs, brakes, etc.--it's when non-regular maintenance parts break when it says something about the car company."
Dont forget plastic window regulator clips that snap and make the window fall into the door at random. (thanks BMW and VW).
Trust me I leased a BMW Jetta (3 series)
Don @ Jun 16th 2006 7:25PM
Ryan (#9) same goes for the previous-gen Mercedes SLK, except the windows stay up.
-Now to fix that damn CD changer...
Jeff Banks @ Jun 16th 2006 7:51PM
"Euro cars are for real men who don't complain about repair and service costs but love driving with a little soul and a car that has some personality, not a Japanese toaster appliance."
And they're just so wonderful for cash strapped students, especially when their crappy used Audi brakes down 40 miles away on their way home, and then they find out what luxury sedans REALLY require to fix.
I love my toaster appliance Civic. Total problem cost so far: $0.
Ryan @ Jun 16th 2006 7:55PM
Jeff,
"I love my toaster appliance Civic. Total problem cost so far: $0."
I will second that, I love my taster appliance Mazda 3. Total problem cost so far: $0.00 and loving it, would not trade it for a thing. Call me stupid but I love it more than our leased 3 series, you can trash it and it does not feel as if you just took 30k miles off the life of the car.
Howard Kerr @ Jun 16th 2006 8:23PM
A local used car wholesaler has a low mileage Saab 900 Turbo that I thought would be a great change from a Japanese "appliance-like" small car. So I went and researched it on Edmunds.com. ALL the PREVIOUS owners of Saabs and the few who are still owners said they are junk and VERY expensive to maintain.
IF you want that college student moving BACK in with you because they can't afford to keep your "gift" on the road....then by all means, throw your money away on a used luxury car. Hell, a used domestic near luxury car is a better bet than a used Euro luxury car, at least the parts and labor should be a little cheaper and/or easier to get.
Ferguson McSqueege @ Jun 16th 2006 8:31PM
What's the best gift you can give a graduating student?
A swift kick in the butt to help them get out the door.
Only joking. Instead of giving them a depreciating asset, use the money for something better. The $$ that could be spent on a car could instead go towards a down payment on the graduate's first house down the road, or $ for their wedding ring or wedding, etc.
jscro @ Jun 16th 2006 8:35PM
In my 20's, me and all my friends drove Hondas and Toyotas.
Now in my 30's, most of us have traded those in for Euro cars. Grant it, we do have higher service costs; but never have I seen any of this catastrophic repair and reliablity problems harped on this forum on a daily basis. Mostly 3 series, some A4's, some Mini's and some GTi/GLi's. Most of us bought used.
I guess we just must be EXTREMELY lucky, because according to this forum, our cars should be falling apart.
I bought this car knowing I'd be paying for service I never did in my Accord. Most of my friends knew the costs of buying cars like this. I don't think any of us would trade back either.
"LOL, I can't say enough that I was joking BMW's do kick ass your VISA card goes from 0-MAXED in 30k miles flat!!!"
If you're funding any vehicle related expenses on a credit card, you need to be riding a bike instead.
Ryan @ Jun 16th 2006 8:40PM
""LOL, I can't say enough that I was joking BMW's do kick ass your VISA card goes from 0-MAXED in 30k miles flat!!!"
If you're funding any vehicle related expenses on a credit card, you need to be riding a bike instead."
-It's a joke Mr. Literalist.
Plus go to ANY consumer report, or better yet go to http://www.msnautos.com type in anything EURO and you can read actual OWNER reviews, they suck dick for the most part people can't wait to get out of there lease.
The best thing I love about my Mazda 3? I'm looking right at the title as we speak.
Tone @ Jun 16th 2006 8:42PM
"If you're funding any vehicle related expenses on a credit card, you need to be riding a bike instead."
Dude, if it really worked that way the USA would be a 3rd world. We are a CREDIT NATION. Sad but true.
Tone @ Jun 16th 2006 8:45PM
" In my 20's, me and all my friends drove Hondas and Toyotas.
Now in my 30's"
Ahh dude, I would take being in my early 20's with a Toyota or Honda anyday over being in my 30's with a BMW, and that is the truth.
DJ @ Jun 16th 2006 8:59PM
"I guess we just must be EXTREMELY lucky, because according to this forum, our cars should be falling apart."
Then give us the VIN's to all these wonderful cars you speak of. I have a carfax account and can see that you and your friends actually own these. Because if none of you have had any problems with them, then yes you are extremly lucky.
Scott @ Jun 16th 2006 9:05PM
There's a difference between having a car with no problems that you don't mind driving and having a car with some problems that you LOVE owning. I'll take the latter any day. Yes, some love their Toyota's and Honda's. Most of the people I know that feel that way only feel that way for the reliability. Myself, I want to walk out to my vehicle every day with a smile on my face for how it looks and how it drives. Having to do some repairs to keep that smile on my face is fine with me. (and no, I don't drive anything European or Japanese)