<p>I would recommend a Saturn ion for a used car. We have a 2007, purchased in 2006, and it has been a gem! We’ve had no problems other than normal wear and tear.</p>
<p>Get her another beater, so long as it is not a death trap. </p>
<p>The advantages: money, safety (yep, safety), and a good precedent for your D. </p>
<p>It has been shown that “safer” cars aren’t all that safer: people just drive a bit more recklessly. This is especially true of teenagers. Give them a beater, and they will learn to rely on driving skill, not ABS or traction control or whatever, to say safe. </p>
<p>There is also something to be said or driving lousy cars when you are younger, then nicer cars as you age. At least she won’t spend her twenties reminiscing about the new leased car she had in high school.</p>
<p>“While the thing is rock solid, I do wonder at what age air bags stop functioning and how would one know?”</p>
<p>The air bags on my car were replaced at ten years. It may be part of scheduled maintenance - check on that.</p>
<p>The airbag issue is something I have been thinking about since the accident. The elderly man’s “curtain” side airbags deployed in his 2006 Audi. My daughter’s did not deploy, but the front of the car crumpled only on the front right corner and passenger side. The passenger compartment was completely intact. I am not sure if hers should have deployed or not. I am just grateful that both she and the other driver were able to walk away physically unscathed.</p>
<p>A couple things -
the elderly driver - most people are very shaken up and in shock after an auto accident because of the adrenaline. That may have added to his ‘not all there’ perception.
new car - I would probably get a ‘beater’, but one that is acceptable to the son also, since it might go to him in a couple years.
insurance - this is where I really wanted to give my advice. They WILL try to low ball you. Their job is to get you to accept as little as possible. So it sounds like you have already done your homework - have some prices (including tax and registration) from an actual dealer for comparable cars. They will not be able to argue with that. I don’t remember my exact numbers, but I was expecting them to offer like 2000 for mine, and they said $400. I am a horrible negotiator and my jaw just dropped (this was over the phone). I just hemmed and hawed and didn’t really give an answer and ended up probably saying something like ‘I’ll talk to my husband’. A couple days later they called back and upped it $1000. So that was with me saying nothing at all. If you have your
facts and numbers (and dealers names and phone numbers) ready, you will have lots
less problems. I found they don’t really go on the blue book, but now they use the
‘replacement’ cost, which is why you should call used car dealers or check the classifieds for something similar. Then be prepared to fight for your ‘add-ons’. Good luck to you
and sorry this happened. Glad everyone was ok.
ps you should also be able to get their insurance to pay for a rental car while you are waiting.</p>
<p>Air bags have been around for many, many years and should be in beater cars as well as newer ones. We tend to stick with used cars and rarely purchase new–have once bought a car coming off a lease that was a bargain for us as it had low mileage and was meticulously maintained by H’s co-worker.</p>
<p>Good that you’re doing your homework and won’t let them lowball you. Good luck!</p>
<p>Op… What state are you in? What my insurance does to figure out the cost is to average together what similar cars are settling for at dealerships… Ie same make miles model etc. Then they give you that average.</p>
<p>Mitsu makes very safe cars. I’d suggest something similar to what she has.</p>
<p>fendergirl, we are in WI. And yes, we love the Galant and would be happy with another one. In my opinion it is an underrated car and a great choice for a person on a budget.</p>
<p>HImom, I really prefer used cars too. My family had a notorious “lemon” when I was a teenager–they bought it new and it was fraught with problems from the beginning. It was actually a bright lemon yellow color, too–a Volkswagen Dasher, if you remember those. It was such an awful car that it put me off brand-new vehicles permanently, I think.</p>
<p>jbourne, your story gives me hope. The other insurance company seems to be accepting some responsibility already and is covering a rental car for as long as we need it. My daughter did a great job telling her story to the adjuster and was very calm and rational in describing what happened. I do agree that the old man might have been in shock at the time we talked to him–the whole thing really didn’t hit my daughter till yesterday, either. She has had trouble sleeping and seems unusually emotional. As bad as it was for her, I can only imagine how scary it would be to be 80 and frail and not know how your car ended up spinning around in an intersection.</p>
<p>Insurance companies will try to low ball you,your best bet is to look at the blue book value and any repairs you made to it…and don’t take their first offer!</p>
<p>Taking over a lease can be great but be careful. If mileage isn’t a problem,where they can get you is wear and tear, it is where they can sock you, a lot of dealers decisions on abnormal wear and test can border on the fraudulent. Especially if driven to school, dents and dings add up.</p>
<p>I think it depends on your budget, options like cars coming off leases or rental cars can be good deals (though if buying a rental car,get a mechanic to check it… ).</p>
<p>I love subarus myself,but they can be expensive.Toyotas and hondas are tough,but can also be expensive. The first thing you need to do is decide the budget,then work from there. One thing is insurance,with a lease it can be expensive for a young driver.</p>
<p>Another option is look at Fords like the Focus or edge,within the last 5 or 6 years I hear good things about them,and they don’t have the toyota/honda premium. Some of them come with awd for bad weather.The escape gets decent gas mileage and is pretty rugged,too (with the 6,hybrid is expensive),prob can get one at a decent price.</p>
<p>Just an update. The other insurance company has assumed 100% liability for my daughter’s totaled car and is paying us a pretty good amount ($2300 more than we paid for it). They also gave me a free rental car on Monday that I can keep for another week. So we are starting to look for the next car.</p>
<p>When I talked to the body shop yesterday the guy there said my daughter, and the elderly man, were “very lucky” to walk away from the accident. His car was totaled too. He also mentioned something that really bothered me–the elderly man had just had his car in a few months ago for another accident repair. So of course I want my daughter in a tank more than ever now. The idea that someone that old and feeble could be on the road again after an accident–and cause another one–is really concerning. (Of course, we don’t know if he caused the other accident as well, but still.)</p>
<p>Congrats. Glad insurer is testing you well and you have money and a rental car to work with. Good luck. </p>
<p>Around the older communities in our area, there are MANY 80+ drivers. My mom was in an accident but she was at a complete stop at the time and it was 100% the other perspn’s fault. She ended up with fractured sternum because the airbag deployed. Her brand new car that had under 5K miles was totaled and she had to spend a night in the hospital and just finished PT. the driver was distracted in stop and go traffic (likely illegally chatting or texting and didnt even apply brakes). </p>
<p>Our legislators are older and/or have aging relatives and refuse to cknsider or pass any legislation requiring any retesting of older drivers as age discrimination.</p>
<p>
There are lots of elderly drivers on the road who have all kinds of physical disabilities hindering them from being able to look over their shoulder, look to the side, react quickly, see stoplights well, etc. and then there are others who also have cognitive issues that affect their driving. This includes those who can still pass a written exam (which tend to be a joke anyway) and even those who manage to pass a driving test which of course is a very limited test. It really is a hazard.</p>
<p>On top of that are inexperienced young drivers, unlicensed drivers, aggressive drivers, careless drivers, cell phone talking/texting drivers, otherwise distracted drivers, etc.</p>
<p>And then there’re always weather issues with rain, snow, fog, etc.</p>
<p>The bottom line is you’re right - you want her in a safe car since she has no direct control over all of these hazards. From a safety perspective I think there are a couple of generalizations - </p>
<ul>
<li><p>The newer the car the more safety features and better ‘crash test’ ratings. In fact, cars have gotten so good at the crash test ratings that the test procedure is being amped up to be more rigorous to test even deeper.</p></li>
<li><p>The equation “e = mc squared” comes into play. Generally, the vehicle with a higher mass against one with a lower mass will come out ahead in a car vs car crash (it could be worse for a car vs fixed object crash). Some of this is mitigated by design and safety features but the basic equation still applies. Compare the results of a semi against a passenger car as an extreme example.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>If getting a used or new car, besides looking at reliability (which is important so she doesn’t get stranded in the middle of the night somewhere scary), look at the safety characteristics of the model ([Home</a> | Safercar – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)](<a href=“Safer Car Vehicle Safety, Ratings and Recalls | NHTSA”>http://www.safercar.gov/)). </p>
<p>If it’s a used car have it thoroughly inspected to make sure all of the safety features are actually present and in good working order - to the extent they can be inspected. There have been issues of some used cars being sold without the airbags actually being installed in the vehicle since apparently they’re of value as parts.</p>
<p>Some references -
[Best</a> Used Cars for Teens | Safe Reliable Cars - Consumer Reports](<a href=“http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/07/best-used-cars-for-teens/index.htm]Best”>http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/07/best-used-cars-for-teens/index.htm)
[The</a> Best Used Cars For Teenage Drivers - Forbes](<a href=“http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorzelany/2013/06/24/the-best-used-cars-for-teenage-drivers/]The”>The Best Used Cars For Teenage Drivers)
[Choosing</a> a Safe Car for Your Teen Driver](<a href=“http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/choosing-a-safe-car-for-your-teen-driver.html]Choosing”>http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/choosing-a-safe-car-for-your-teen-driver.html)
[10</a> Safe New Cars for Teens - Kelley Blue Book](<a href=“Kelley Blue Book - Error”>http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/safe-cars-for-teens-2012)</p>
<p>FANTASTIC advice. Thank you so much!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>When a car is started, the various warning lights, including the ones for the airbag, brakes, ABS, ESC, check-engine, etc. should all light up briefly, and then go out. If the light does not go out, that means there is trouble in the system. If it does not light up on startup, it may have been deceptively disconnected if the feature is supposed to be present in the car.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811825.pdf[/url]”>http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811825.pdf</a> indicates that newer cars are safer, but the biggest thing one can do for one’s own safety is to use the seat belt.</p>