Most new drivers have a bit of a learning curve with driving. I would suggest you find an older 'beater' car to get your driving skills in order before you get a car you want to spend the next few years with.
I specificly did NOT want the electric windows. One more thing to go wrong. Besides it is not that far to reach the other door and roll the window down.
I just turned 16 the October 22. Dad said I could save my money and he would pay half of my car that I want. I have been looking at the Smart ForTwo Pure for quite a while now and I've read all about the safety, the reviews from people who have smarts, and heard dealers from many videos talk about the features. I want to know if the Smart ForTwo Pure would be a good FIRST car for me? I really like it and it looks safe. Need opinions. Thanks
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District Champs 2008
Union County KY
8-52
union co. vs. mclean co.
I turn 16 this November 30th. I've decided to go with the Passion Coupe. you should probably look into it. If you can't wait the wait, go for an Orphan! take a look at the cars, configure some, then make your final decision. smart USA - open your mind to the car that challenges the status quo
I've made up a deal with my parents that they agreed to.
During the winter they will pay the payments/ insurance and I pay for everything else.
During the Summer I pay for everything.
I like that deal.
Last edited by Neonspinnazz; 10-25-2008 at 08:35 PM.
Most new drivers have a bit of a learning curve with driving. I would suggest you find an older 'beater' car to get your driving skills in order before you get a car you want to spend the next few years with.
I specificly did NOT want the electric windows. One more thing to go wrong. Besides it is not that far to reach the other door and roll the window down.
My Behind The Wheel instructor and my Driver's Ed. Classroom teacher actually did recommend a compact car, they both said the Yaris . It's okay though, because I chose a car that I like, and is instructor recommended.
My kid turned 16 last August. He has his permit and will get his license in the spring. I intentionally bought a Passion for him to drive if he gets a 4.0.
He drove it a few months ago and didn't like it because he said it was giving him whiplash when it shifted gears by itself.
He's been driving it regularly with me and is getting used to the shifting. Now I think he wants it, but wants to put in a good sound system.
I want him to drive this car because he can't lug other kids around in it, it's safe (red), it's slow (usually), gets great gas mileage, and other drivers tend to be courteous to it. It seems that it's sort of popular around town also.
We'll see what happens. I will teach him how to use the paddle shifters after he gets his license.
I think you'll like it.....good luck!
My kid turned 16 last August. He has his permit and will get his license in the spring. I intentionally bought a Passion for him to drive if he gets a 4.0.
He drove it a few months ago and didn't like it because he said it was giving him whiplash when it shifted gears by itself.
He's been driving it regularly with me and is getting used to the shifting. Now I think he wants it, but wants to put in a good sound system.
I want him to drive this car because he can't lug other kids around in it, it's safe (red), it's slow (usually), gets great gas mileage, and other drivers tend to be courteous to it. It seems that it's sort of popular around town also.
We'll see what happens. I will teach him how to use the paddle shifters after he gets his license.
I think you'll like it.....good luck!
I know I will like it, and I'm sure UCBrave4 and your kid will like it too!
I just gotta wait until May 09' to get my license!
There is a point to getting a small car. I learned how to drive on a 2005 Malibu (instructor car), I practiced my driving on a 99 Altima (mom's car)... both are your average mid-size sedans. I did feel initially like I just had way too much stuff going on in that car. Wanted something less. Then after I already mastered the Altima (got my license, it became my daily driver), we traded it for 2008 Rogue. Needed to make adjustments to driving an "suv" (technically crossover), and once I thought I had it down, I backed up into a light pole on a parking lot denting the bumper pretty good. IE...visibility is different/driving feel is different.
One of my friends had a similar story, but more extreme. She learned to drive on the same 2005 Malibu but then her parents got her a 2008 Honda Pilot... huge difference in size and driving style there. She's beat that car up several times in the last year.
My point is, I agree with your instructor on going small, partially because these cars tend to be (1) slower, (2) less room for friends to be distracting, (3) cheaper, (4) better on gas, and (5) easier to drive. BUT getting a new car is stupid. You will beat up your first ride. Get a used Civic or something....beat it to hell, then get a smart.
A teenager's first car should be: Cheap, small, slower than average and mostly reliable. The Smart fits that bill for a new car, but you can also get a used Honda Civic that will seat four. The reason I say it should be small is that a new driver is 20 times more likely to get into an accident because of inexperience -- it's just a fact of the learning curve, no insult to teenagers.
The car should be slow... why? A sports car (i.e. Mustang, Corvette, or any kind of BMW) just begs to be driven hard and as a teenager I loved the attention I got with anything that went over the top. I got a brand new '93 Toyota Tercel (equal to Yaris now), put in a $3,000 audio system and was happy driving slow but loud. I lived, too, only had a couple of parking bumps.
Which leads to "Small" - it takes lots more focus and mental work to park a big truck, and any distraction can lead to a simple paint scratch that costs $1,000 to fix. As for a back seat, I found friends very distracting in my first three years and refused to drive anyone around. A lot of accidents happen because someone cracks a joke, punches a friend, distracts the driver for all of one second. It only takes one second to veer off course or miss a light or not see a toddler that ran into the road.
A first car should have safety systems. My niece got into a wreck in her first car a week after she got her license... met a log truck on a curve, overcorrected, hit gravel, spun and T-boned the truck. Her car was from the late '80s... no ABS, no ESP, no airbags. She was in the hospital for a while for injuries that a Smart driver would likely have avoided.
A first car should be either reliable or easy and cheap to repair. Teenagers have to be in class, at a party, with friends, whatever life calls for... having a busted car is never an excuse.
Beyond that, price and features are up to the person getting the car... and why a 4-5 year old car is probably a good balance. If you're going to treat the car like your own baby, aim for a newer car... but if you're not planning to wash it more than a few times and might check the oil once a year, don't waste your dough on a new car.
thanks for all the feed back. this really helped with my decision. I really like the opions on what i should get first. I like the Honda Civic's. At first I wanted a Pontiac Grand Prix (preferably the 2004 model or newer because I like the body style) but i dont want the destractions like everyone said. I tend to pay attention to things other than whats really important and going on.
I get my permit tomorrow! and hopefully my restricted lisence in April and my full lisence my 17th birthday. Maybe by then i can get the car i want and the car I know I can afford on my own. My parents call me a 'money mizer' cause i never spend any of the money I earn.
Thanks again for your replys. Really appreciate it. Anything else about a first car would be great. I definitly need one that i can learn on!
My first car and all my other cars I ever get will be treated like my race bike (motocross). Always clean, always up to mantainance, always running right, and always taken care of. Yea I've wrecked it alot but it still looks good and runs great.
I will and always take care of the things I own. Especialy if I buy it my self or have anything to do with the money that goes into it. Look like new when I get it, Look better than new when I sell it.
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1999 Ford Expedition
Smart
The Beast
The Chick Magnet
. It's okay though, because I chose a car that I like, and is instructor recommended.
Today
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