First car for my 19yo daughter?

[Flying Squirrel]

$2,500-$3,000 price range, she wants a 4-door sedan, automatic... Doesn't like Volvos, they're "too boxy"

9 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Kia Sephia or Spectra
	0 (0%)
	Ford Taurus
	0 (0%)
	Honda Accord or Civic
	3 (33%)
	Toyota Camry or Corolla
	1 (11%)
	Chevy Cavalier
	0 (0%)
	Subaru
	3 (33%)
	Other
	2 (22%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[LeftyMom]

1. At that price range I think you're buying the seller, not the car.

In that I think you need to look for somebody who seems honest and who did maintenance, more than one particular model.

That said I'd exclude any and all Korean cars from the search, because they're all crap.

[LoveMyCali]

16. Not true

I had a Kia Rio5 that I really liked but it wasn't so great in the snow. Otherwise, fun, dependable and great on gas.

I just traded it for a Kia Soul about 3 weeks ago and I love it! I have no problem recommending Kia's.

[winter is coming]

34. My best friend has a Kia Soul. It's a nice car, and I'd recommend it if it were in the

OP's price range.d

[KamaAina]

22. The first new car Mom ever owned was a Hyundai

and it was solid as a rock.

[sir pball]

2. Subaru Impreza

I've had several Subies over the years and I have nothing bad to say about them - my original 4-door "GL" ran for 80K after I bought it with 170K on the clock...and that was including the time a radiator hose burst about ten miles from home and I decided to limp in with no cooling; after 6 miles the engine was simply shutting off at stoplights because of the massive overheating, but I made it in slow and easy, replaced the hose, topped her off and got another 50K out of her.

But more than that, especially now that a $2500 "old" model is still probably post-2000, is the electronic AWD. My last car, an 08 Forester, could drive itself better in snow, ice, and rain than I could "by hand" even with formal training in skid recovery/car control (Another good investment, actually. Check local "racing" schools.) and 15+ years of winter driving experience. The best way to survive an accident is to not get in one in the first place. I'd suggest an Audi, their AWD is the best anywhere ever, but they're hard to find in that price range.

[Fridays Child]

3. I was going to suggest looking for a Subaru in that price range.

Good call.

[sir pball]

4. I really liked my GL, and the Forester blossomed into true love

Though, being a racer-boy at heart, I'd most of all like a WRX STi...fast on anything from tarmac to dirt to ice, sigh.

[Fridays Child]

5. One of these days, I'm going to need to replace my current vehicle.

I'd love a brand new hybrid with all of the buzzers and bells. But, more realistically, I'll be looking at used cars. I think a Subaru might be the way to go.

I wonder whether there are buyers' agents who help people find, and get good prices, on used vehicles. The idea of vehicle shopping induces anxiety in me because I don't know enough about cars to discern when I'm being lied to.

[sir pball]

12. I'd actually love a hybrid, too..

Just not the typical Prius

In all seriousness though, find a good mechanic and spend a couple of days learning the basics of what to look for and you should be OK. It's a lot easier than you'd think to at least know when you're being sold a piece of utter crap vs. something worth the money, and a lot different as well - I've had some major rustbuckets that looked horrid but ran like kittens, and that one that was utterly mint, low mileage, literally old lady driving it to church...and god what a mess the engine was. If I knew what timing chain noises were when I bought it, I'd have saved $1000s..

[BainsBane]

6. I would be very suprised if you could find a decent Honda or Suburu for that price

Have you priced your options yet?

[Flying Squirrel]

8. Have seen a few decent-looking ones at that price but

they've been snapped up pretty quick (craigslist). Still looking..

[LeftyMom]

9. It's a bad time of year to be shopping in that price range.

You're competing with a lot of people trying to spend their tax refunds.

[Flying Squirrel]

10. Good point... but tell that to my daughter ;)

[Demo_Chris]

7. Honda or Subaru....

If you can find one cheap, consider the Honda Fit. I believe it has an updated version of the classic old civic engine, so you are looking at something that could go hundreds of thousands of miles if maintained.

[DebJ]

11. We have a 2007 Red Toyota Camry Hybrid with a moon roof, 74000 miles

I picked it out for the sensible reasons (roomy, comfortable, safety, Hybrid), but got the cherry red one
with the moon roof because hubby thought that was sporty enough for his ego. Speaking of safety:
we were rear-ended at a stop light, I'd guess at about 15 mph, and the rear bumper just popped right
back out ... no damage at all.

Per Kelly Blue Book, its worth over $11,000, and one in only fair condition is $10,580.

In 2008, I bought a 1999 Dodge Caravan from a dealer in great condition with 69,000 miles and two previous
owners but no record of maintenance or repairs, and it was a deal at $4000. Not exactly what
the average 19 year old would want, but still above your price range, and that was way back
in 2008 for a 9 year old van with no special anything in it anywhere.

How much driving is she going to do? The van worked well for us because I was unemployed,
and only drove a few miles a week, and once a month did a 200 mile round trip to visit family.
(Unfortunately I totalled it in August of last year. )

If she is going to do heavy driving, I would be concerned about the reliability and safety of the vehicles
in that price range. If you are buying from an owner, which may be cheaper, check the tires. Might
be oil leaks or other problems not easily detected.

Just my opinion. Hopefully it's wrong!

[grasswire]

13. Volvos are the safest.

And in some areas an old Volvo wagon with stick shift is very cool.

[Gravitycollapse]

14. Unfortunately, they are notorious for electrical gremlins.

[fizzgig]

26. that's what finally did in my 240

i think the 740s are a bit better on that.

[Gravitycollapse]

15. As a teenager, I did everything possible to destroy my Accord. The thing was a tank.

I've owned three Hondas (two cars and one motorcycle) and they have all been the definition of reliable.

[Raffi Ella]

21. "...definition of reliable."

+1

[Frank Cannon]

17. Teach that young woman how to drive a stick shift.

Not only will you be more likely to find something in your price range, but they are cheaper to maintain/fix, get better gas mileage, and are less likely to be stolen.

[fizzgig]

27. i miss my manual

same size gas tank and i got 75-100 miles more a tank in that than i do in my automatic. much better in the snow, too.

[Frank Cannon]

36. Better acceleration, more control.

Some people think I'm nuts that I PREFER driving stick, but I laugh all the way to the bank.

[Enraged_Ape]

39. Our 2008 Corolla 5-speed manual gets 38 mpg on the highway.

Fucking amazing car.

Last car was a Honda Civic, and it was great, too.

[riderinthestorm]

18. My 15 yr old Honda CRV has 259k miles. Still going strong for my 17 yr old daughter

I drove it the first 6 yrs. My older girl drove it the next 7 yrs. My 17 yr old has been driving it for the past two years.

Hondas are great cars. My vote is for a Honda.

Of course now I drive a Volvo and LOVE this one. Will probably be a Volvo owner til the end now. But if she won't go for that then do the Honda

[UncleYoder]

19. Homda just rolled it's

10 millionth Accord off the line here in Marysville, OH.

“People don’t realize what happened here in 1982 was radical,” said Jim Wehrman, senior vice president of Honda of America Manufacturing. At the time, many observers “didn’t think you could make high-quality cars with a bunch of farm boys from the middle of Ohio.”

Find one and be happy.

or a Corolla.

[MissMillie]

20. Corolla

Smaller than a Camry, but every bit as reliable.

[Pool Hall Ace]

37. Yep. I voted for the Camry because I drive one and I love it, but

the Corolla would be a terrific choice, especially if it's a '98 or newer that has a timing chain instead of a timing belt.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

23. The earlier Saturns were pretty reliable and you won't find an inch of rust on them.

They never held their resale value well, either, so you may find some bargains out there.

[winter is coming]

35. The engines tend to run hot as they age, so it's good to always have some oil in the trunk.

Then again, having extra fluids in the trunk is probably a good idea for any old car.

[Flying Squirrel]

28. It's her money, I'm only contributing about 200 or so as a birthday present. n/t

[fizzgig]

29. gotcha

[LynneSin]

25. Horse and Buggy?

That'll keep her safe and out of trouble

[Callmecrazy]

30. so would a bus pass...

It's amazing how much money you can save using public transportation.

[Flying Squirrel]

32. Buses are too boxy ;)

I agree, she would be better off taking the bus but it's not my call anymore.

[marzipanni]

31. non-boxy Volvo

I love(d) our last and current Volvos, which we bought from a friend of a friend, and from DH's brother.
I think the models became non-boxy long ago enough that the second-hand ones wouldn't be too expensive... google "first non-boxy Volvo sedans"...here's one result-(yahoo answers):

"The 960/S90 (which the S80 replaced to be Volvo's first non boxy Volvo) is an awesome car. Same with the S70 (which is an upgraded/rebadged 850). Stay away from the early 2000's Volvo's except S40. Buy a Volvo though, they're great!
Source:
Volvo for life"

[840high]

33. I have an '04 Camry that drives

good. Paid $5,000 for it.

[cui bono]

38. What about Toyota Corolla? That's not on your list.

Cheaper than a Camry, probably the equivalent would be Honda Civic.

I would go with Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic. Both brands are known for their dependability and those are their lower priced models and they still are nice cars.

I had a Toyota pick up for 15 years that I bought used when it was 2 years old. Barely had any problems with it at all. One time something to do with the starter motor, the transmission cable one time and then had to replace the cooling system when it was around 15 years old. It did me well.

You can feel pretty confident she won't have too much car trouble with either of those brands as long as the car wasn't abused.

[Flying Squirrel]

40. Good point, added it

Thanks!