Looking at used cars with my son

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by gtron

Get him an ugly 2017 Nissan Versa with a full warranty for that price.

I've got a coworker who hates driving and bought one of those to commute with (crank windows and all).

I'll do one better, Mitsubishi Mirage.

http://www.mitsubishicars.com/mirage

[jpnh]

Originally Posted by Beartato

I've got a coworker who hates driving and bought one of those to commute with (crank windows and all).

I'll do one better, Mitsubishi Mirage.

http://www.mitsubishicars.com/mirage

Ugly? Yes

Not HALF as ugly as the Fiat 500's

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by jpnh

Ugly? Yes

Not HALF as ugly as the Fiat 500's

Forgot about those. Dat's nasty.

[jpnh]

Originally Posted by Beartato

Forgot about those. Dat's nasty.

Butt Ugly

[MalibuBimmer]

Safety was my primary objective. Thus I got my 16 year old daughter an X1. She was desperate for my Z4. Too small. (She now drives a Canyon pick up truck in Virginia most of the time while away at college.) Since you live in SoCal, if you can't afford a BMW SUV, I'd get either a Subaru station wagon/cross over or any Volvo or Saab. They are the safest cars on the road. (And the Subaru is perhaps the most reliable of that trio.)

[Bluey//M]

Hey guys a B7 Audi A4 2.0T 2006-2008 is the best bet imo. Lower than 13K and very reliable AWD.

[chillindrdude]

Hope you're not just handing your child a car....Way to build work ethic.

[Chappers 71]

Get him a classic VW beetle

[GottWhat]

Originally Posted by turbo_joe

I would recommend getting him a Golf over a GTI. Even though 200hp doesn't sound like much it's still more than enough to get him in trouble. Golf is still a great car to learn how to turn some wrenches and insurance will be way less than the GTI.
A 5spd Golf would be the perfect car to learn how to drive in my opinion.

I agree.

[angelr]

Originally Posted by chillindrdude

Hope you're not just handing your child a car....Way to build work ethic.

If you need to go this route with them when they're 16-18 to teach the lesson you already missed the chance, sport. But I'm sure the op appreciates you teaching him how to parent.

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by chillindrdude

Hope you're not just handing your child a car....Way to build work ethic.

Sorry your childhood sucked.

[rabman5]

GTI is a good car. Got one for my son a few months ago. Insurance was very reasonable, comparable to a Ford Focus.

[BEM-S4]

+1 for the Subaru. Otherwise if you can find a nice one a pre-2002 Saab 9-3 is a great starter car. Fun, very practical with the hatch and incredibly safe. I rolled one 3x when I hit a downed tree on a dark road in the rain and didn't have a scratch on me. Literally not a single scratch and the passenger cabin was completely intact. Their whole business model fell apart bc they spent too much money overengineering things for safety.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by wdb

OMG no. The parts that aren't GM are Swedish, even more ridiculously priced than German.

I have been running one for 6 years, the mechanical parts are very reasonable, it only gets expensive if he bins it and needs body parts.

For under $10K you can find a 2008 9-3, under 60,000 miles, 2.8 litre V6, leather and power everything, safe as houses, looks sporty enough and is different enough to be "ironic" and cool for this "meh" generation.

It ticks a lot of boxes.

[psuibmw]

I'm in the same position as you OP, I test drove along with my son a bunch of small cars. My criteria are:
1-safe
2-new
3-not expensive to insure
4-reliable
5-not fancy so he does not show off

At the top of my list now is:
1- WRX
2-Honda Accord coupe
3-Civic hatchback, surprised how well this car drives

No decision yet but working on it :

[jpnh]

Originally Posted by psuibmw

I'm in the same position as you OP, I test drove along with my son a bunch of small cars. My criteria are:
1-safe
2-new
3-not expensive to insure
4-reliable
5-not fancy so he does not show off

At the top of my list now is:
1- WRX
2-Honda Accord coupe
3-Civic hatchback, surprised how well this car drives

No decision yet but working on it :

He DEFINATELY wont "Show Off" in the WRX.......that accord though......

How did the Caymen NOT make the list?

/sarcasm

[tke344]

My wife had an Infiniti G25 sedan with AWD - it's a tried and true legacy V6, slow enough to not encourage anything too stupid and they're dirt cheap in the used market.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by 3GFX

My beater car is a 2006 VW Passat Wagon 4 Motion.

ITS A TANK....reliable, cheap, easy to insure. Decently optioned. 4Motion 4WD is why I've got it (for the winter). Aim for the 1.8T motor, easier to run than the V6. Just make sure the waterpump has been done at 120k intervals.

Otherwise, any old Subaru would do! (my other choice as per the reasons above)

Just don't get the big engine one! That thing was quick as hell but boy was it thirsty!!!!

[3GFX]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Just don't get the big engine one! That thing was quick as hell but boy was it thirsty!!!!

Exactly, ask me how I know! I have the V6...I recommend the 1.8T. Cheaper to run, cheaper to work on.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by 3GFX

Exactly, ask me how I know! I have the V6...I recommend the 1.8T. Cheaper to run, cheaper to work on.

Oh wait we had the W8 4 motion which may have been the previous gen to yours. One of Dr. P's engineering experiments to prep for the Bugatti. That thing got like 2MPG! Blast to drive though.

[ians]

I bought my daughter a Forester as her first car. It is safe, AWD, well equipped, reliable, reasonable power. She have been driving it over a year and knock the wood, not even a dent put on the subie! But she did roll over some curb and glad it is high above ground so no damage at all!

[Gamb1t]

Subarus are great choices for young drivers. From the safe but sporty Impreza to the fire breathing STi if you want to get in on the fun too.
They are rated well by IIHS safety tests too.

But if you want to turn him off from automotive joys, yeah get a used Tercel or Corolla will do.