The first thing to consider is cost. If your teenager is paying for it, do they have a job, are they using savings, or are they planning to seek financing? If they are planning to finance, are they able to keep up with payments, and are you prepared to cosign for them, knowing that if they fail to pay, you will be responsible for the payments? Another thing to remember is that if they are under eighteen, they cannot secure financing in their name as they cannot sign a legal contract. If they are thinking about a new car, remember that most likely, with limited credit history, they may not qualify for the best financing rates, especially the manufacturer’s special financing.
Before you decide on a type of vehicle, it is important to consider your teenager. How
responsible and mature are they? Remember, and remind them that a vehicle used carelessly can be very dangerous to themselves and to others. They do not want to have to live the rest of their life regretting a bad decision or a careless moment. Think about suggesting a used, older car as a first vehicle. Of course, every teen wants a neat new car to show off to their friends, but it is smart to let them earn their way up to a new car. They will take care of it better and respect it more if they have to work for it.
A smart choice for a first car could be a four to six year old four door car like a Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cobalt or Ford Focus, or even a slightly larger car. When you take into consideration all the factors of cost, insurance, cost of maintenance, fuel economy, and all the other factors that weigh in, these vehicles can be a very smart choice. They also are not high powered, so it adds a little bit of extra safety and reduces the risk for an accident for the inexperienced driver. Encourage them to get their Mustang, Camaro or Jeep Wrangler after they have a few years of driving under their belt.
Another reason to consider this type of vehicle is insurance cost. The type of car, engine size, risk for theft and a lot of other factors go into determining the cost of an insurance policy. High performance cars, two door sporty cars, and four wheel drive vehicles especially those that are lifted or modified, carry a much higher insurance rate due to increase risk for an accident or rollover risk. Also, any car that is financed will need to maintain full coverage insurance to protect the lenders’ investment, which will cause a significant increase in the cost of insurance.
Also, take into consideration the type of use that is required of the vehicle. If the vehicle is
going to be used to commute to and from school or work, the above mentioned vehicles would once again be a smart choice. They also work great if they have a job like delivering pizzas, etc. If your youth is working in a job such as construction or manufacturing, a vehicle like a Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier or a smaller SUV may be a smart choice as they offer the utility of the truck or SUV without the higher investment and cost of operation of the full size models of similar types.
These are just some of the many things to take into consideration as everyone’s circumstances and needs are different. But, probably most important of all, is to use your best judgment, because most likely it will not agree with your teen’s wish list. Also, always check out the vehicle thoroughly that you finally land on. Ask for, or do a CARFAX report to check the vehicles history, and ask if your mechanic can examine the vehicle before you complete the purchase. That added assurance can offer you a lot of peace of mind in your decision and your teen’s safety. Also browse through this publication as there are a lot of great dealer and private party choices to pick from.
This week’s recall announcements:
98,307 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 & M45
Vehicles for accelerator pedal sensor for cruise
control. Sensor may deteriorate cause vehicle to
get incorrect signal and go into limp home and
cause possible stalling.
614,722 2004-2005 & 2007-2009 Toyota Sienna Minivans
For faulty shift lock solenoid which can allow shift
lever to come out of park without pushing brake
pedal. This can cause vehicle to move into drive
gear or neutral and can cause crash.
161,400 2009-2013 Mazda MAZDA6
For rear door latch screws loosening. If screws
loosen sufficiently, door many not latch correctly
and could open while vehicle is in motion.
374,618 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey and 2003 Acura MDX
Due to electrical noise, component in airbag
module can fail causing front or side airbags and
seat belt pretensioners to deploy.
320 Yamaha XC50A Vino Classic
Brake lining improperly bonded to shoes and
may separate causing loss of braking
performance.
If you own one of these vehicles, contact your dealer for further instructions on what to do.
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