Best First (New) Cars for Teens

One's first car is a special milestone in a person's life. Make it the right car. Listed by price range: (All prices USD) (SUV's, Trucks and Minivans not included. I don't think the F-350 is on your list.)

(Under $15,000)

1. VW Rabbit & Jetta. + Safe, lots of standard features. - Stupid name(Rabbit). Not for everyone.

2. Nissan Versa. + Safe, kinda fast, roomy. -Styling.

3. Mazda 3. + Styling, Performance, Safe, lots of features. - Gets pricey.

4. Honda Civic. + Reliability, safety, roomy. - Styling, performance, and it's boring.

5. Honda Fit. + Cool, zippy engine - Small interior, qwirky looking.

($15,000-25,000)

1. Subaru Legacy. + Very safe, fast, styling, AWD -Fuel economy, small backseat.

2. VW Passat. + Safe, big, roomy, styling, ESP* - Price can climb high, could be too big.

3. Ford Mustang V6 + Ultra-cool, safe(w/abs), power - small backseat, not as practical.

4. Hyundai Sonata + Great Value, lots of airbags, ESP* - It's a Hyundai, Side impact scores (IIHS)

5. Ford Fusion + Good value, good power -Safety

6. Honda Accord + Resale value, Safety, ESP* - Boring. Pricey$$

7. Toyota Camry + Value, Safety - ULTRA BORING

8. Mazda 6 + Zoom Zoom, sporty - Outdated

9. Nissan Altima + Roomy, power - Wait for the 2007 Model.

10. Dodge Charger + Big, fast, cool - Side impact safety. Styling.


So those are my choices. Feel free to leave coments.

* ESP= Electronic Stability Program

chewy - 8/9/2006 1:45:47 AM

+2 Boost

I guess that is a pretty decent list.

Matthew1 - 8/9/2006 2:49:42 AM

+1 Boost

Someone help me out.

I don't live in America, but this list makes me assume that, normally, the parents buy their teen's first car?

What's up with a 17 year old driving a flash new car that many adults can't afford?

Or is it only Autospies readers that can afford to splash out on their kids?

Jovi - 8/9/2006 2:57:20 AM

+1 Boost

my first car... Audi A4

UPshift - 8/9/2006 3:19:22 AM

+1 Boost

my first car...ancient'72 Ford Pickup ''two tone green''

But it got me where I was going, most of the time.

Rupert - 8/9/2006 4:40:05 AM

0 Boost

a golf is less than 150000 dollars?!?!
in britain, no teen ever (unless they're absolutley loaded) has a new car. the insurance is sky high, the depreciation is massive, and it costs a lot to run. the number of teen drivers has reduced dramatically, it's now like 35%. and we can only drive at 17. i heard something about schools having classes training kids how to drive, is this true?
and jesus, a dodge charger or subaru or even a flipping mustang as your first car?
the only car in this list i agree with is the golf.
but then how can i talk, i'm inheriting a long wheelbase range rover as my first car. (it is 14 years old though)
what were other users' first cars?

Rupert - 8/9/2006 4:40:54 AM

+1 Boost

i mean 15000 dollars. it is about 19000 here. (for a 1.4 or similar)

00JT - 8/9/2006 5:19:19 AM

+1 Boost

For a two door economy coupe nothing beats the Scion tC. Otherwise if it's a sedan the Mazda 3 is pretty nice. My pic though, for 25k I can get a pretty nice SE V6 Camry.

mstangpny07 - 8/9/2006 10:16:34 AM

+1 Boost

Rupert:
The Dodge Charger, Subaru Legacy, and Ford Mustang all go for about $20,000. And, Dodge, Subaru, and Ford are offering incentives and rebates right now, (due to low sales), so you'd get one for below $20,000. And I did say at the top that all prices are United States Dollars.

eFoxS4: I actually like the styling of the Versa and the Charger, but from what i've heard, most people do not. I never called the Civic or Fit ugly. And I meant to put at the top that all models were base trim, so that nixes out the civic Si or Accord coupe. I called them boring because there are about a million of them on the road everywhere you look.

OOJT: I was about to put the tC on the list, but I don't think it's safe enough. (Does it have side airbags?)

mstangpny07 - 8/9/2006 10:55:49 AM

+1 Boost

My Mistake:

The tC does have optional side airbags. So theres #7. (even though it's $16,000)

Lexlover - 8/9/2006 12:49:03 PM

+1 Boost

I agree saftey is the key dont buy your kids SUV's for there first car they were rear ended and it was a New CRV and the backdoor and the tire cover have been going crazy ever since now she has a camry doesn't like the looks but it works maybe someday I'll buy her a jetta

JCF110 - 8/9/2006 1:57:59 PM

-2 Boost

Uh... teens like me want good gas milage, so I don't think the VW Passat is very good... neither is the Jetta! I don't think a 16 year old would like to drive a car like the new Jetta!

Compact superminis or just compacts are good enough. I only think a teen will drive a new Mustang if their rich daddie buys it for them.

You also forgot a great car! The Dodge Neon!

mstangpny07 - 8/9/2006 2:10:57 PM

+2 Boost

One of the main criteria was for the car to be safe. That's why I didn't include the Dodge Neon, A.K.A "The Death Trap on Wheels"
see http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=382

chewy - 8/9/2006 3:23:30 PM

+1 Boost

Most teens don't get new cars. Some do, but most don't.

Rupert - 8/9/2006 6:18:34 PM

+1 Boost

i'd put esp as a high priority if safety was a concern

JCF110 - 8/9/2006 7:12:15 PM

+1 Boost

Still the Neon is alright... the body may have been damaged lots but you are safe on the inside! It only got a Maringal rating because of the structure... and because the drivers foot and knee werent alright... but the passengers were! Side crash test... uh not so safe!

ElSparquito - 8/10/2006 12:05:12 AM

+1 Boost

Mine was an '85 Peugeot 505 GL. What a POS! I hated that car, but it was mine so I kept the bitching to a minimum. Lasted until '87. Sorry @$$ engine!

SteveL - 8/11/2006 12:58:09 PM

+1 Boost

This story is a joke. VW? :-(
Oh yea I see a teen wanting to drive a Ford Fusion. Its bad enough being a teen driving around in an ugly care is not going to help.

caffeinetrip - 8/11/2006 4:42:53 PM

0 Boost

What idiot wrote this article?

The Legacy is no where inthe price range of $15-25k. Its more $28-32k. The WRX and 2.5RS would fit better.

The Rabbit isn't a stupid name, the golf was a dumb name.

You forgot the Scion tC, one of the best deals on the road, especially for teens.

mstangpny07 - 8/11/2006 9:49:54 PM

+1 Boost

caffine:

Subaru Legacy starts at $21,995. They do make a non-turbocharged version, you know. it's the 2.5i. The one you were thinking about was the turbocharged GT, which starts at $28,795. The WRX has 230 hp and starts at $25,000. And, sorry to say, but the 2.5RS dosen't exist anymore.

And IMO (it's my article) the Rabbit is a stupid name because what 16 year old GUY want to be seen in a car named "Rabbit", with a cute-sy rabbit logo on the back. I don't think so.

AND, if you LOOKED at the previous comments, one person, OOJT, mentioned the tC, and origially I had thought it did not offer side airbags, but when I found out it did offer them, I posted that it was now number six in the list.

For the future, just read all the comments before you post.

UPshift - 8/12/2006 10:22:40 PM

+1 Boost

One of my favorite cars I owned when I was a (late) teenager was a '77 280Z (around 1989).

It must have made an impression on me -- now my weekend car is a 1983 280ZX Turbo.