Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Cars/trucks/suvs and first time drivers...

I threatened to get my son a 1984 220 Diesel for his first car. Built like a tank, and 0-60 in 28 seconds. And in a manual, so he would actually need to know how to drive.....

Yep! Parts everywhere, easy to work on, run forever.

And when the knucklehead runs it into a tree, he'll walk away instead of ending up under a rock.

For insurance purposes you need an old clunker insured with just liability insurance with them listed as the primary driver. They can still drive newer better vehicles you own when needed, but you'll save a bundle with 16 year old boys going that route. I've known guys who kept a tag and insurance on a 25 year old car that was rarely driven until their sons turned 25 and insurance rates dropped. My son turned 25 in Sept. and his rates dropped by about 60-70% overnight. He then traded his old clunker for a 2 year old car with full coverage and still saved a bunch on insurance.

I think it matters less exactly which vehicle you buy them to drive. Bad things can happen to any of them. A bigger truck or SUV might be safer in a head on crash, but they also have their weak spots and you cannot predict which type of accident they may be in. Bigger vehicles are harder to maneuver for young drivers and minor fender benders are more common which will increase their insurance rates. My daughter, now 29 and son both started on an ancient Honda.

When my daughter saved enough for her own car I kept the Honda for my son. When he bought his own car I did the same and drove it for a few more years just to save gas in local driving. By the time I got it it had several dings and dents from mistakes. At one point the plastic front bumper cover was duct taped on. But it never left them stranded, gas and insurance were cheap and we never filed an insurance claim to get the minor mistakes fixed.

Excellent advice..

Although I will never advocate for a big suv for new drivers..

Overcorrection and rollover are killers for the learners.

Yea, I'm now starting to lean towards the honda passport, accord etc. route. Buddy of mine had several stories of honda crashes and they all had no injuries or scratches. One lady was dragged by an 18 wheeler with a child in the back of the car and both came out with out a scratch.

I'd look for a '90 - '00 Honda Civic or Accord, Geo Prizm, or Toyota Camry or Corolla. They'll run forever, parts are easy to come by, great gas mileage, they're "safe", and are cheap to insure.

This!!! A 4 cyl manual ranger will last forever. Can only carry one other passenger and cheap.

I started my son out in a cheap ford explorer, but it had ABS and air bags. The explorer also had advanced trac auto 4x4 which is nice in the ice and snow. The explorer needed some work when we bought it, which was a good way to start teaching him about cars and maintenance.

I'd lean towards a vehicle that can take a solid impact, like the car in your first post.

Nothing is "always", but odds are if you combine a teenaged boy and a car with LOTS of horsepower, it won't turn out well

Getum a used Mercury Grand Marquis or Ford Crown Vic (essentially the same car). You can buy them cheap, 20-22 mpg, and insurance is cheap on them. Your sons will be driving the biggest car on the road, in case of an accident.

My daughter drove 2 while in college and when we got her a Honda Accord, she didnt like it at first, because it didnt ride as good and was too small.

I wouldn't buy any 'classic' cars, anything domestic, or a truck/suv for a new driver.

Get a toyota or honda four-banger that's good on gas, safe, and cheap to insure. Plus, when they wreck it, that's not if they wreck it that's when they wreck it, you won't lose your a$$ over it.

But generally speaking.

Cut a few folks out of a few vehicles... The Honda would be fairly high on my list too. If you are considering that vehicle. Thats one that when we roll up and look and think as we are getting out... this ain't gonna be good, but often once you get into the interior to get em out, you are ..... well lets say amazed often, is a good phrase.

Anything that has side curtain airbags is a plus IMHO.