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Car/Truck recommendations for youth

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I guess FWD would probably be the best choice for the snow so I'll keep that in mind(this coming from a guy that drives an XK8 all year round) but you're right about the pickups, I've seen so many other those spinning around all over in the snow(no weight in the back and RWD)
He does show interest in buying his own car, I am just worried he'll buy something stupid.
 
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He does show interest in buying his own car, I am just worried he'll buy something stupid.

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I had that worry with my daughter... and of course she thought anything I approved of was even more stupid. I wonder who she inherited that from? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
My first car I had on the road was an 85 Toyota Pickup. i bought it myself for $100 and had to put a junkyard motor (another $100) in it. I also did a lot of bodywork to it my senior year of high school in auto shop class. I drove it to college and to my first job ( a total of 5 years) and put 75k miles on it.
Needless to say I was very protective of something I had so much time and effort into.
It was a good thing that it was only a 2 seater. It saved me a lot of grief not having to tote a lot of people around,
And learning how to drive in the snow in that truck means I'm comfortable driving anything else in bad weather.
But that's just my story.
 
I have 3 daugthers over 21 and with all of them ,they paid for the car and the insurance on their first car.
I worked with them on getting the car and making the car reliable but would not let use mine for a trade in or buy it and sell it to them on payments.
Their first cars were a 85 Caprice, a 89 Cavalier and a 87 Accord.
I think the Accord was the best first car as the FWD and 4 banger made it a good safe car.
The Caprice and Cavailer were wrecked before they had them 2 years.
I also let one of my daughters drive my 93 Jimmy with a V6.
She lost control on a low level overpass and wiped out the passenger side mirror and door.
Too much power, low visability, and a tendency to loose traction keeps me from recommending RWD trucks or SUV's for kids.
My 4th daughter wants a Beetle or an MGB for her first car
but my son (13) wants a Corvette. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
This recommendation may surprise you given the early history of the car-- A Ford Focus.. They are really (now) great cars for the money. After the recall frenzy of 2000 and 2001, they finally got the car straight. They are cheap to buy, get good mileage, are fun to drive and practical-- especially the hatchback in 3 door or 5 door style. They've been at the top of the ratings in several car mags for years. I recently bought a wagon-- never would have considered it if I didn't need the space. While it's not close to some of the newer cars (eg VW, acura), in fit and finish, it mechanically is a good performer, reliable, a bargain and still fun to drive.
 
I thought about the focuz as well ,seems to be a good little car....He hasn't been bugging me so I think I'll wait it out an see what happens....I'd kinda like to see him buy his own but I know it won't be good if I do.

Zack
 
For my kids, I had them "help out" buy making a (relatively small) contribution to the cause-- I wanted them to have something reasonably safe and reliable but I knew they couldn't afford what I wanted... They had a little buti of choice in the car and I had major veto power with the $. It seemed to work out at least for my daughter who seemed to appreciate some ownership and took some care. My son loved to drive but had zero interest in maintenance. Now with his own relatively pricey car, he's much more careful! I guess what we can't teach, they eventually learn anyway.
 
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