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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:39:11 AM EDT
Those of you who have bought a kid their first vehicle in the past 5 years or so, what'd you get for them?
My boy just turned 16 and we are looking to get him his first vehicle. Was thinking $3000 for a spending limit. Not sure if I should go with a $1500 total beater or spend $3000 or so on something a little better. I think he should have to go through the beater/jalopy experience (shouldn't be a problem with only domestic makes as choices, eh?  ), but the wife wants him to be safe with less risk of breaking down on the side of the road somewhere. Saturn Vue, Chevy Malibu, Ford Focus, Ford Escape, and Pontiac Vibe have been potential candidates so far.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:40:27 AM EDT
[#1]
Ford Ranger, manual
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:40:56 AM EDT
[#2]
At that price range and no imports I assume you want him to learn to work on his car too?
The vibe is a Toyota Matrix |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:41:21 AM EDT
[#3]
Get a used f150, for 3000 it's guaranteed to be a beater pos. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:41:42 AM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
At that price range and no imports I assume you want him to learn to work on his car too? |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:41:51 AM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
At that price range and no imports I assume you want him to learn to work on his car too? |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:42:11 AM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If need be, yep. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:42:14 AM EDT
[#7]
First off, you would be lucky to get a car that runs at all for 1500. Second, you want it to break down less, so your choices are all decade plus old domestics? Ok then.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:42:55 AM EDT
[#8]
Take a look at the 4.0 jeep Cherokee and grand Cherokee. They can be found for the 1.5 to 3k budget you have. Can take a beating. And after your son tears it up you can use it as a winter beater.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:43:12 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
At that price range and no imports I assume you want him to learn to work on his car too? |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:43:12 AM EDT
[#10]
n/m, not helpful
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:44:52 AM EDT
[#11]
I had a Focus ZX5, It was a great little car. Handled good and was zippy for a 130 horse econo poopster.
My only gripe is the rear wheel bearings had to be replaced. From what I understand they were a common replacement item on them. But easy to do. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:44:53 AM EDT
[#12]
Honda or Toyota are the only cars in that price range worth owning.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:45:11 AM EDT
[#13]
This is exactly what I got my nephew for his 17th birthday.
It needed a clutch, rings, and some bodywork. We did all the work together and he is now turning into a decent shadetree mechanic. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:45:46 AM EDT
[#14]
We bought my daughter her first car in 2013. It was a 2000 Saturn 4 door and cost $3800. That was the best we could find for the money. It was a great first car until some knucklehead pulled in front of her from a stop sign and totaled it. When the insurance paid we took her shopping again an she picked a 1999 Mercury Tracer. It was not near the car the Saturn was. Lots of crap went wrong on that car.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:45:50 AM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
Those of you who have bought a kid their first vehicle in the past 5 years or so, what'd you get for them? My boy just turned 16 and we are looking to get him his first vehicle. Was thinking $3000 for a spending limit. Not sure if I should go with a $1500 total beater or spend $3000 or so on something a little better. I think he should have to go through the beater/jalopy experience (shouldn't be a problem with only domestic makes as choices, eh? ), but the wife wants him to be safe with less risk of breaking down on the side of the road somewhere. Saturn Vue, Chevy Malibu, Ford Focus, Ford Escape, and Pontiac Vibe have been potential candidates so far.A 1500-3000 dollar version of any of the cars you listed is just cruel and unusual punishment. I have lost count of the number of cheap pontiacs I have seen people buy just to break down. For escapes that you can get for 3k are older models, lots of problems. Focus for 3k? Gonna be high miles. My first car was a 1989 Accord Se-i for <2,000. It never, ever left me stranded with all the miles and years I drove it. Get a Civic, Accord, Camry, Corolla, Rav 4, or CRV and be done with it. First generation CRV are great cars (get awd). If your budget is 3k and you want a reliable car, stay away from domestic. This is my opinion based on my experiences. YMMV. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:45:52 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Good man 
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:46:11 AM EDT
[#17]
Big, old, Detroit iron, with a small block V8 and manual transmission. He'll probably be the only kid in his class who can drive it.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:46:34 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
At that price range and no imports I assume you want him to learn to work on his car too? The vibe is a Toyota Matrix 
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:47:29 AM EDT
[#19]
But seriously why no imports?
French that price all you're gonna get are the Bubba specials that need $5k In work and parts just to get moving. Do you hate him? Or are you one of the herp derp amurica cars are best cars, muh uncle cleatus saids so. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:47:54 AM EDT
[#20]
Cherokee.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:48:14 AM EDT
[#21]
If he's like most 16yo boys it's going to get beat to shit. I'd get him something that he can work on. We bought a Cavalier for our grand daughter when she was living with us for $2800.00. It was fairly easy for me to work on and got decent gas mileage. I'd go with the Focus or something similar as he will be less likely to hot rod it hopefully.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:48:33 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
n/m, not helpful BTW A great birthday gift would be a AAA membership, in which he has towing* privileges. If you get him a beater, he'll need it! Also, the card goes with whatever vehicle he's driving in... so if he's out with friends and they break down, he can have their car towed to home. My wife has this and has included me in her card. We use it 2-3 times a year. Compared to the cost of actually towing the car, it's a deal! *You can get a tow-only option, or you can get it with insurance also. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:48:34 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
But seriously why no imports? French that price all you're gonna get are the Bubba specials that need $5k In work and parts just to get moving. Do you hate him? Or are you one of the herp derp amurica cars are best cars, muh uncle cleatus saids so. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:48:50 AM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Take a look at the 4.0 jeep Cherokee and grand Cherokee. They can be found for the 1.5 to 3k budget you have. Can take a beating. And after your son tears it up you can use it as a winter beater. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:50:06 AM EDT
[#25]
Whatever it is it ought to be a manual.
He's going to be driving his whole life and ought to learn how to drive anything that is handed to him. Start with the basics. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:50:26 AM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
First off, you would be lucky to get a car that runs at all for 1500. Second, you want it to break down less, so your choices are all decade plus old domestics? Ok then. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:53:00 AM EDT
[#27]
I got my son a 1997 4 banger ranger last christmas for $200 + a case of beer to have it dropped off. I have the trans rebuilt so it will move under its own power again but he gets to do all the other labor over the next year or so to get it street ready.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:54:33 AM EDT
[#28]
If you're going to subscribe to the "must be 'Murican" I've heard nothing but good things about Buick Regals, Chevy Impalas, Pontiac Grand Prix. @fxntime.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:54:37 AM EDT
[#29]
Shop around. There are still some "little old lady" cars from the 90s with low mileage and in good shape that'll put a lot of heavy steel around him as he's learning to drive. After a couple of years, he can upgrade to something more modern. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:54:48 AM EDT
[#30]
Just get the guy a Civic and be done with it. They aren't hard to work on.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:55:07 AM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
But seriously why no imports? French that price all you're gonna get are the Bubba specials that need $5k In work and parts just to get moving. Do you hate him? Or are you one of the herp derp amurica cars are best cars, muh uncle cleatus saids so.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:55:36 AM EDT
[#32]
3000 will get you a complete beater. Anything decent will be over 5k. Best bet is a Malibu, Impala, Pontiac Vibe, maybe a older ford fusion with the Mazda 4cyl in it. Other options would be if you could find a nice 99-05 grand prix, buick regal, or Alero 4cyl. You want to look at something with the 3.8/3.9 v6 or ecotech 4cyl. The vibe has a toyota 4cyl in it. Avoid the 3.1, 3.4, 2.4 non ecotec. Avoid all dodge/chrysler the were horrible in those years, most fords were too.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:56:08 AM EDT
[#33]
92-00 Civic's are cheap and extremely easy to work on.
Not to mention nothing in the OP is worth owning or as reliable as a Honda or Toyota in that price range. Or you could get him a NA Miata....thats always the best option for a first car. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:56:11 AM EDT
[#34]
1980's ford truck.
He's gonna wreck it anyway, they all do. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:56:16 AM EDT
[#35]
1990 ZR-1 Corvette
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:57:40 AM EDT
[#36]
I got both my sons Rangers.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:58:29 AM EDT
[#37]
So, if you're going to put in 3000, how much is your 16 year old adding to that? Ought to have some skin in the game, too.
Agree with the Cherokee if you're set against all foreign. Another option is Northstar Cadillac as they depreciated quickly, but are solid cars. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:58:34 AM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryDo that and give him your car! 
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Posted: 4/23/2017 10:59:39 AM EDT
[#39]
dodge hellcat
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Posted: 4/23/2017 11:00:04 AM EDT
[#40]
Another vote for a Ranger 4 cyl. I also like the S10.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 11:00:18 AM EDT
[#41]
Sounds like an old Top Gear episode with a cheap car challenge. Is he going to safari with it through darkest Detroit?
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Posted: 4/23/2017 11:00:34 AM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Another option is Northstar Cadillac as they depreciated quickly, but are solid cars. 
You mean the Northstar that's a maintenance headache that requires off the wall stuff like head bolts being retorqued every 20k? That one? |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 11:01:03 AM EDT
[#43]
My first car was a 2001 Ford Taurus.
Those things are tanks. Won't be anything fancy but it will keep him safe for sub $5000 |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 11:01:07 AM EDT
[#44]
A big, old, truck.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 11:01:21 AM EDT
[#45]
go with an early 90's chevy/geo prizim. that way you get the Toyota reliability with an American badge.
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Posted: 4/23/2017 11:01:28 AM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Good advice here. These old Jeeps can be found cheap and the 4.0 is a long lasting motor. I daily drive a '97 Grand Cherokee with 198k on the clock. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Take a look at the 4.0 jeep Cherokee and grand Cherokee. They can be found for the 1.5 to 3k budget you have. Can take a beating. And after your son tears it up you can use it as a winter beater. Fairly easy to work on, parts are pretty cheap, mileage sucks...so they learned to be careful how much they drove, and to be sure to do it all in one trip... AFARR |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 11:01:41 AM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I don't think "amurica cars are best cars", but I just don't like foreign brands in my driveway. Well, I did own a 1983 Toyota 4x4 pickup once, and it was okay, but very small and couldn't break 55mph unless on a downhill. He should buy his own car anyway. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 11:02:23 AM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Meh, this ain't 1985, dude. One of my vehicles is a 2004 Saturn Ion with 185k on it that might fetch $1500 if I were lucky. My daily driver. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it cross country. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
First off, you would be lucky to get a car that runs at all for 1500. Second, you want it to break down less, so your choices are all decade plus old domestics? Ok then. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 11:02:50 AM EDT
[#49]
Stay away from the Saturn VUE in that price range. They have Honda transmissions and were known to die prematurely if the fluids were not changed very often.
Of the ones you posted the Vibe would be my choice. It's all Toyota mechanicals and pretty bulletproof. |
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Posted: 4/23/2017 11:03:16 AM EDT
[#50]
Pfft. Make the kid earn and buy his own ride. Getting a free shitty ride isn't going to be nearly as a valuable lesson as spending your last dime on one. Parents these days.
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