Ideal first Cars for Drivers who have just Passed their Test
Everyone remembers their first car, and whether it was a fine sports car or a rusty economy car, it is still heralded as a step towards the freedom of the open road. However, the car a new driver learns to control is a very important decision, which should be weighed carefully.
Looking at the offerings by category it is possible to slowly narrow the field to a few acceptable options. New drivers need a car that is not so powerful that it 'gets ahead of them' leading to accidents, and it needs to be affordable to insure, so sports cars are out, despite all the moans and groans that this revelation will bring forth from prospective “road” scholars.
It needs to be small enough to control and handle. A full size SUV or long wheelbase truck can be a handful for even a veteran driver, and parking spots aren't getting any bigger. As a matter of fact, over the past few years the trend has been to shrink parking spots because more people drive cars which have a smaller footprint, allowing more cars per lot. So, SUVs and long wheelbase vehicles are out. Along with these behemoths, full size sedans can be eliminated as well.as well.
Luxury cars are far too expensive to risk getting scratched and dinged up, so they, unfortunately, are eliminated from the competition. The propensity of luxury cars to have big engines makes them far too powerful for drivers who may lack the maturity and experience to handle them safely and intelligently.
This leaves the mid size sedan and the economy car markets wide open. Now, we come to a touchy subject. Do you cringe at the idea of your new driver having multiple similar-aged passengers? Many new driver´s licenses have restrictions on that sort of thing, but just as many do not. It is a matter of personal preference where to go from here, but economy cars, especially on the small side of the market, aren't really comfortable for more than one passenger in addition to the driver. To eliminate a lot of the temptation to cram seven teens into the car an economy car will work like a charm. If the idea doesn't bother you, mid size sedans are a comfortable and affordable option, and they are neither too big nor too small.
New or used? Ideally, every new driver wants a brand new fire engine red 'Vette with a big V8, but, here in the real world, used cars are not only a good option, but they don't depreciate in value as quickly as a new car. Furthermore, mild fender benders don't suck the value out of used cars as they do in a brand new ride. Keep in mind that the car is one of the smaller expenses, and you can't insure a sparkly new 'Vette as cheaply as you can insure a few year old sedan with a little less glitz and glamour. For a new driver who doesn't have experience, you really don't want to hand them a new car and watch them bump into things with it.
Let's say you opt for a used mid-size car. Ideally, you will want to pick a model year to work from. Five year old cars (barring those used as delivery vehicles for certain pizza places) can have a lot of good life left in them for very reasonable prices. This being 2013, you're looking for a car around 2008. Don't immediately disqualify a solid 2007 model or overlook a slightly worn 2009. There are a couple of gem-quality cars from the mid to late 1990s which are rock solid even today.
Import, or domestic? If you're flexible on this you can pick up an excellent car that can do a good job for your new driver. Gas mileage is also awesome in some of the domestics, which is another part of the expense.
It really comes down to the engine options. Many mid size cars can be had with a V8 that a mature adult can get in trouble with, but there are usually smaller powerplants available, which, while lively, are much more manageable. The Chevy Malibu line from 2008-2012 can be had with engines ranging from the 2.4 liter inline four cylinder, a very manageable and economical powerplant, to the 3.6 litre V6 that behaves like a V8. The Ford Fusion line, from 2006-2009, are great cars which can also be found with four and six cylinder powerplants. For the import market, the Toyota Corolla is a great option. It's a compact car, but it doesn't feel like one inside, it's comfortably roomy without being too cramped. Likewise, the 2002 and later Toyota Camry and Nissan Sentra's are great cars that can be found cheaply and are easily managed by beginners.
The car choice itself isn't as important as a few critical questions. Has the car been fully inspected and brought up to date? Is there an offered warranty? What happens if it breaks down? How much do tires cost? Many small cars use low profile tires which can run into the hundreds per tire, thus drastically increasing the maintenance cost over the year. Are there any known recalls, and if so were those matters solved in this specimen?
What is the car going to be used for? Commuting to college, or as a car to go from home to work? A car which has a few annoying issues like a poorly designed console can be tolerated for several years if the car is used for fifteen minutes trips, but would become a hated design flaw if the car is used to travel hundreds of miles to college each week.
The economy car market is wide open, with great offerings from all the big names, Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, and Dodge. The Dodge Neon models, in all years, are extremely durable cars that are hard to outgrow even though they are technically older than the proposed five-year limit. Alongside it is a notable mention for the Chevrolet Cavalier model, years 1995-2005, which is also older than the five year limit. They are tough little cars that are small enough to be affordable to drive, but they feel like a mid-size inside with a surprising amount of roominess.
It should be said that back to roughly 2000 or so those cars may not be cutting edge anymore, but there is still plenty of meat on the bone for new drivers who are looking for reliable little cars that get them where they want to go. Used cars are sometimes derided as junkers but many of them are just the ticket for drivers who need an affordable option that wont get them killed.
Ideally,you would look for certified pre-owned, but dealership cars are by no means the only options, as there are some great cars being sold by members of the public. Have the cars inspected by a skilled mechanic you trust to verify that the car is what it appears to be. It is far better to spend a few dollars to have prospective cars inspected than to buy a car which is worn out beyond usefulness. Any car can be bad if the previous owner didn't have the oil and fluids changed regularly and didn't take care of it, so have your mechanic evaluate the car before you put pen to paper. Once you leave the seller, it's usually your problem to deal with, so don't let the seller pressure you into a car you haven't gotten to evaluate.
As you can see, the options are many, and the quality high. Many of these cars are low end, but the little details are astounding and would not look cheap in a much higher class vehicle. Some of them, it must be said, are also very stylish and sleek, and many came straight from the factory with nice audio and good interiors. True, the audio systems are not like those you could get from a custom sound shop, but they are certainly adequate for a car that costs less than some custom audio systems.
