Right, but statistically, the wreck is almost always the kid's fault. And if the kid happens to be drving a big vehicle when it happens, the people in the other vehicle end up paying for the kid's mistake – sometimes with their lives. Also, big vehicles accentuate a kid's natural tendency to feel invulnerable.

There should be a state law requiring all kids under 21 to only be permitted to drive very small, slow vehicles — Being scared of everything else on the highway is a HUGE motivator to drive carefully!

If you Are gonna go with something cheap, make sure that spare parts are readily availible for it.  Honestly, I would stay with American, they hold up better then the foreign stuff.

Keving67

Gotta throw in another vote for a used Volvo 240.  They aren't flashy, they aren't cool, they aren't fast(mine sounded like it was gonna die when I got it up to 112).  But they are safe, and they will probably still run after an accident(still driving mine after a 60 mph accident involving a road barrier and ice.  I did have to put in about 2k in body work though).  If I ever have kids, that's what they're gonna start off driving.

My 15yr old son and I have been working for a couple of years now on his first set of wheels.  I think it makes a big difference when they have to pay for it or work for or on it.

1976 Toyota Landcruiser FJ-40
Chevy 350 crate engine-330hp
Chevy nv4500 5spd transmission
4in lift
33 in BFG's
Lockers front and rear
Full roll cage
8ooo lb Ramsey winch
Saginaw power steering conversion
Custom skid plates

Hey Skibane, why not just give the kid a skateboard and show them the highway.  

Man am i fucking glad you ain't my dad.

If my kid makes a mistake, you can be damn sure I have done everything I can to make sure their still around to understand it.

And to hell with the poor bastard he hits, right? "Don't care if my son is right or wrong, I've got to protect the family namesake, even if it's at the expense of everyone else on the road...." And who knows? Maybe he'll still eventually learn about about taking responsibility for his own actions from his fourth wife, psychiatrist, parole officer, etc...

What ever you get her, MAKE SURE SHE WEARS HER SEAT BELT!!!!!

I would make it a condition of driving, if you catch her without it on, she loses her driving privleges for a while.

That being said, Get A Jeep.
Nice first car would be a Cherokee.

BMW's, Volvo's, and Mercedes Benz's are great first cars, but what the heck will you do if it breaks down ???

Tow it to a $75 per hr specialist ?

I'd suggest keeping it BIG, HEAVY, and American made...
Stay away from P/U trucks...
Teenagers, rain, Pickups, and turns don't mix...

Spare parts for your average Chevy or Ford sedan can be found in your local Wal-mart.[:D]


BTW...
I dont give a flying FUCK what happens to the person my kid may hit, just as long as I do my part to protect my kid, that's what is important...
Putting them in a vehicle that will help them survive a wreck is just plain common sense...
If they hit someone driving some little sissy car, to friggin bad...

Teach your kid rules of the road, and how NOT to drive, instead of putting them in an econobox deathtrap...

Right on DragracerArt!!  I get sooo pissed about these jerks driving econoboxes and crying about what happens to them when they get hit by a REAL vehicle!!  Just as it is NOT your responsibility to look out for the guy following you it is also not your responsibilty to protect the occupants of another car from their own stupidity!

Skibane you are sure PC on this one!!  Our very FIRST resposibility as a pareent is to keep our kids ALIVE.  Everything else is secondary.  Put the kid in a tank.  Teach them to feel sorry for the econoboxes and try not to squash them.  Works for me.

Here's the perfect car:

Mercedes Benz 240D.

By the time that thing gets up to 70MPH, the Bush Administration will be over.  It's built like a tank, and you can even teach the kids how to work on a car.  They will last forever - the body will rust off before the engine dies.  It gets remarkable fuel economy.  In a few years, they will all be "antiques", so in some states that will save on license plate registration.  And best of all, they are cheap - most are under $1500.

the_reject

Wasted,

I used to sell cars, new and used, to families looking for a good car for their teen.

I recommend the '97-'00 Saturn SL1 or SL2 (no teenager needs a new car).  It may be a compact, but it has serveral advantages:
1.  a high survivability in wrecks (check out the IIHS web site for accident statistics),

2.  one of the lowest insurance rates due to the high survivability

3.  dent resistant panels and great 5mph bumpers (the rear bumper at 5mph results in NO damage to your car -- the other car...).  For a teenager, this is a definite plus.

4.  Incredible gas mileage.  Naturally the 5-speed does better than the automatic, but even the automatic gets 25 or greater in CITY driving, 34-36 for the highway (which she shouldn't have to worry about for a while, but will help if she uses it in college as well).

5.  high resale value if/when you decide to sell/trade it on another car.

6.  not underpowered, but not a hotrod.  It'll pass things on the highway just fine.

7.  If it has ABS on it, the traction control will come in handy on wet and icy roads.  If you are one who hates ABS, you can actually get a Saturn without it.

8.  Whether you change the fluids or you teach her to do it, changing the oil filter, tranny filter fluids, etc. is easier than most cars.  It has a timing chain instead of a belt, so you have one fewer expensive maintenance replacements.

9.  [b]And the thing that might matter most to her -- the things are cute.[/b]

Skibane, it is obvious that you have no children. I've got to agree with DragracerArt, TxLewis, and MickeyMouse.
If I could find a decently priced Humvee, that's what she would be driving.
The idea of putting a kid in the equivalent of a Pinto, could be considered child abuse.[:)] We live in a rural area, where everyone knows everyone, if not by name, then by vehicle. Any stupidity is reported back to parents faster than CNN.

I'm going through this right now.
My daughter is turning 16 on the 26th.
She is about the most mature kid I've seen and she hates druggies and boozers.
To me there are two things to consider #1 the kids maturity and #2 what you can afford.
She used to have a friend that started drinking and probably smoking pot and no longer hangs out with her.
If she was a drinker or drug user she would be riding her bike.
She is always helping or offering to help do the paperwork on the family business so with that in mind she will be an employee and get a company car for insurance and tax reasons.
I'm going to let her get what ever she wants in the range of 8k-10k and if she wants a Camero or a Vette I'd trust her with it.

Anything cheap, slow and easy to insure.  I personally recommend a 1982 Reliant K.