car for teenager

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2008
car for teenager
2
Sun, 02-15-2009 - 5:50pm

My daughter is turning 16 soon and we want a good used car for her that we can pay cash for.

Avatar for sohappilyme
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 02-15-2009 - 7:05pm

I doubt I'll be any help to you. My parents gave me a brand new pickup truck (one that DH and I still have and DRIVE from 1994 -- over 260k miles and NO major repairs). We have a different plan in mind for our five kids. DH is going to help each of them find a beater when they hit 14 or so and all them -- including the girls -- will work out back in the shop with DH learning how to rebuild their vehicles from the inside out. He'll show them how to do any mechanical repairs, body work, interior work, and modifications. When it's all said and done, he'll paint it any color they want and they will have an utterly fabulous ride. He does this all the time -- fixing stuff and reselling it -- so I've seen it done time and time again.

The best thing about it isn't the frugal aspect, however. The great thing is that after putting all of that work into their cars/trucks, they will hopefully be more responsible with them. Lots of father/son and father/daughter bonding time, too! We're so blessed that DH can do that kind of work. =c)

By the way, my 1994 truck with 260k miles on it and no major repairs is a Ford Ranger. Great little truck and not much room for friends, which is wonderful when you consider that the more kids that are in a vehicle, the more dangerous it gets!

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Goal #1 $UCCE$$!

Sarah
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2007
Sun, 02-15-2009 - 7:05pm

Ally:

We were able to share so we never did need to buy an extra car. It meant planning ahead, and it meant letting each other know what we were doing and where we'd be (which is great with a teen anyway!). However, I know that I'm just plain lucky. I have a flexible work schedule and live and work all within a 5 mile radius. I could walk if I had to, or even just work from home.

If we did need to buy a good used car, I'd look for an old boxy Volvo. They go for about $3000 and are very dependable (I also think they're super-cute). If not a Volvo, then a used Subaru or Honda would be my next bet. They are dependable and you can really rack up the miles.

What were you considering?

Dee