General Qualities to Look for- I feel that there are several qualities that will make a teen's first car more enjoyable and a wiser purchase. These include.....
- high reliability (most teens will need their cars to get them through all of high school and hopefully college. But reliability is also very important for used cars that are past their warranteed years. Excessive repairs will defenitly drain your wallet, and if a car becomes too problem ridden to drive, you may have to purchase another car.)
- Fuel Economy (an important player in long-term costs.)
- Transmission (I recommend automatics in general for new drivers, though those with an opportunity to learn a manual from someone like a parent should do so. I think automatics give a new driver one less thing to worry about, and nowadays there is rarely a worry about seriously hindering accleration or fuel economy. The last couple years have seen the rapid adaptation of 5 and 6-speed automatics and 6-speed manuals, primarily in the more expensive sport sedans, but they are now finding their way into many more models as well. In short, I want to alert people to the fact that they should not expect to find 5-speed autos or 6-speed manuals on most of the cars in this list even ones dating only maybe a couple years. But, you should be sure to get at least a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual. These are certainly plenty prevalent.)
- Comfort (you should be able to adjust the seats and mirrors to fit you comfortable. Don't forget to test whether the steering wheel tilts, how far the seat moves, how cool the AC is, etc...)
- Safety (safety is one area that should not be overlooked. Unfortunetly teen accident rates are higher,and also, teens should feel more secure knowing they have basic safety protections. Be aware that models from the early '90s may even lack air bags and anti-lock brakes. Fortunately, these were rapidly adopted, though, and most models on the list that are '94 and later should have them, but I recommend you double-check to be sure about whether your car does contain them with the seller, especially anti-lock brakes which were sometimes an extra option. They also may justify a slightly higher price. )
- Handling (This is an important quality that will enable newer drivers to feel more in control. I have found that regular cars are the best in terms of handling)
- Smaller better than large (By smaller, I mean generally family size or mid-size and down. I think that smaller cars provide better handling and are easier for a newer driver to manuver safely in tight areas, emergency stops, and parking situations. They are usually more fuel efficient as well. They will also have lower prices than most SUVs. I am not ruling out large cars as good choice, but I think that a teen should definitly take an opportunity to compare it with a smaller car.)
Top 10 Cars for Teens:
(to efficiently use space and help the reader, I will list top qualities of each marked by a dash- and a few noteworthy negatives marked by a exclamation point! Car generations are listed to help you denote when updates to the model took place. I will only list and consider model years 1988 and later, as earlier is simply too old in my opinion for a new driver.)
1. Honda Civic
- Honda's are well-known for high reliability
- smaller, but still a nice enough size
- cool factor: Honda's are very popular among teens and young adults
- will last for many miles
- priced very affordably
- excellent handling
- fuel efficiency, mostly in the 30s, some in the 40s
- there are several trim lines, so you can pick one that suits you well (sedan, coupe, hatchback)
- high demand means that resale is usually not a problem
! road noise
! fair acceleration/power for some versions.
! rear seat room
! a few older models may come with a 4speed manual
1. 1988-1991 4cyl 62-105hp. Most are in DX/LX/CRX trim with the 92hp engine. Si model has 105hp. Hatchback 70hp
2. 1992-1995 4cyl 70-125hp. Si/EX 125hp, DX/LX/S 102hp, CX hatchback 70hp, VX hatchback 92hp (extremel efficient)
3. 1996-2000 4cyl 106-127hp. CX/DX/LX 106hp. EX 127hp, HX 115hp coupe.
4. 2001- 4cyl 115-160hp. DX/LX 115hp, EX 127hp, Si 160hp
2. Ford Focus
- reasonable starting price means you can get an almost new one.($12,000 - 16,000 new)
- small and nimble
- several different trims and styles will help you get what you need.
- a new model: has newer safety features and current styling
- fuel economy
- very good overall handling and visibility.
! fair reliability so far for this new model
! power/acceleration, SVT more expensive
1. 1999- 4cyl 110-130hp SVT 170
3. Nissan Maxima
- upscale nissan model means you get many nice features
- power/acceleration excellent - top 10 engine 8 yrs running
- even older models, esp. past generation have very nice styling that is still contemporary
- a medium sized car that will fit a lot in it
- excellent reliability
- very popular among all ages; projects a good image
- among the most comfortable cars I have sat in - front or back.
- This would be my top choice if you can get a good deal on it, but that can be tough, as this car has a very lofty reputation. All model years are very good.
! may need to look back to 95 and earlier for pricing under $10,000
1. 1989-1994 V6 160-190hp
2. 1995-1999 V6 190hp
3. 2000- V6 222-255hp