Choosing a Car for your Teen
5 Factors to Consider:
Reliability
Sedans offer the best reliability and are valued at a moderate price. Such sedans include Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet, Pontiac, etc...
Condition
What condition is the car in? Even if a car is old it can be kept in great condition. If the owner keeps his car in good condition, how do you think it has been driven?
Hand-Me-Downs!
The great aspect of getting a hand-me-down is that you know how the car has been treated. If the car has been a loyal servant, it only makes sense to keep it.
Sports-Car TRAP!
Over-powered cars (sports, muscle cars) are not the best option for a young driver. They cost a lot of money to insure, they get bad gas mileage, and they are screaming to be driven fast. IF driving fun is important, consider smaller, sportier models such as an Acura Integra, a Honda Civic, or a Pontiac Sunfire/Grand AM.
Safety
Ultimately, no car is safe. If safety is your #1 concern, try to get a larger vehicle with as many new features as possible (air bags, antilock brakes) and a low center of gravity. SUV's and Trucks flip more easily and tend to not perform as well in crash tests. Larger, heavier cars tend to do better in collisions than smaller, lighter cars, however, if gas mileage is a concern, smaller cars tend to perform better.
