Best new Car for Teenage Kid in High School
The time has finally arrived and it’s time to buy a car for that certain someone, who’s still in high school. This thought rattles the brain of just about anyone faced with it, not only because it requires making some pretty complicated decisions, but sometimes it’s just a shock to think your kid is suddenly old enough and mature enough to drive already! Fortunately, at least those complicated decisions turn a lot simpler when you check whatautomotive expertshave to say and compare that to your own criteria for the best car for a kid in high school.
You can just go with what the experts say and they have picked some good cars for teens, but even they can’t agree on the best and you may not agree with them either. Kelley Blue Book and Consumer Reports are considered reliable sources for good automotive information and publish annual reports on what they determine to be the best cars for teens. TheKelley Blue Booklist tends to choose cars that are inexpensive and fun to drive and includes both new and used models, with the2006 Honda Civicat the top. As a contrary, Consumer reports leans towards newer cars with more prestige and a higher price tag, with the Hyundai Elantra SE as their pick for 2010. Both organizations, however, base their choices very heavily on safety and crash test ratings. Then, The Mazda 3 rated highly in most rating categories in general and ended up being the only car to make both lists. How does your own criteria compare to the experts?
Safety ranks highest on the list of concerns for most many people buying cars. After all, car crashes kill more teens in the United States than anything else. Most lists of best cars take this in account by looking at crash-test ratings. But is that where safety ends? Why not try to reduce risks and prevent crashes in the first place? Most teen car accidents result from situations of poor judgment, like drunk driving, speeding, tailgating, and not wearing seat-belts just to name a few. Statistics also show a higher likelihood of crashes for teen drivers with distractions, like cell phones or too many passengers. With this in mind, cars with voice controls, less seating, or less options may be the way to go.
Looks also play a factor. The average teenager wants a cool, sporty car with plenty of muscle under the hood. While it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t want drive a hot sports car that turns heads and goes fast, that kind of car is generally not practical on city streets and can lead to some unsafe driving habits and additional expense. Less exciting cars, on the other hand, tend to keep activities in the car more subdued, even boring or timid. Fortunately, the one paying the bills gets to make the choice. In the end, no teen will turn-down a shoebox with wheels and an engine, just because it doesn’t go fast or have a cool paint job.
Fuel efficiency is another factor that can’t help but squeeze itself in as important spot, especially with gas prices squeezing the pocketbook. Gas is the one thing that will come up day after day and the farther the cars goes on those gallons, the farther those dollars go, whoever’s paying for it; not to mention the convenience factor of not having to stop and fill-up every time there’s a trip to school and back. Usually, you can keep this issue under control, simply by choosing a smaller car and avoiding larger ones like SUV’s.
Reliability and low repairs may top your list of important criteria. The knowledge that your kid is making it home each night, without getting stuck on the side of the road weighs heavily for most parents. If this is the case you’ll probably want to skip the list of used cars, since they’re more likely to break down more often. New cars also make the buying process easier, because they’re in stock at the local dealership and you won’t have to hunt down the perfect used car in want-ads and newspapers. The only problem with new cars is they can be somewhat more expensive and if this is important you’re probably looking for a car that isn’t necessarily the exact model on some best picks list.
The best new car for a high school kid probably comes down to three, which cover the gambit of most desirable features.
-Fiesta
Excellent standard safety equipmentSmall size, but available in 4-doorExcellent fuel economyVoice controls for cell phone and Ipods
-Smart Fortwo
Only seats twoFull load of standard safety featuresVery fuel efficientSmaller engine that keeps speeding to a minimum
-Volkswagen Jetta
Controls and layout are simple and avoid distractionGood visibility in every directionReasonably low price under $18,000Includes 3 years of routine maintenance
Actually choosing the best new car your high school kid really comes down to what is most important. There are a few cars that fit the common criteria and even go that little extra and that’s what to look for. The choice is yours.
