<p>My oldest recently received his driver’s license, and has been driving one of the 2 family cars when not in use by me or my wife. As I’m certain this is the case with many others, if money grew on trees, it sure would be more convenient to have a spare 3rd car available, especially considering I’ll have another D ready for driving in a year or 2.</p>
<p>So, assuming I could spare some cash to buy a used vehicle, what are some tips for type of vehicle to buy? I am especially (& obviously) concerned about safety, and will definitely be looking at crash test data, but I also hear that “mass” may be important…that is, the bigger the better…of course, generally the bigger the more expensive too. I’d rather stumble forward with the inconvenience of 2 cars (which are both mid or large with good safety records) than purchase a 3rd vehicle that doesn’t do a stellar job at protecting our new drivers.</p>
<p>Several months ago, Consumers Report did an article about best new/used cars for ten drivers. I don’t have my copy with me, but it would be a good start for you. I recall that hondas and toyotas rated well</p>
<p>Some people swear by Toyota Camrys, others like old Volvos or old Mercedes.</p>
<p>We took a slightly different tack - our daughter is very petite, and a very careful driver - we shopped around for cars that she felt comfortable driving - small with good visibility, the instruments are off to the side, this helps her actually see over the steering wheel (she is really petite, close to needing adaptations to be able to drive) - all these things help her feel better in control of the car.</p>
<p>We still worry about an accident, because driving her little Echo reminds me of driving a go-cart, but she feels more comfortable than in any other car.</p>
<p>I worry about the HEIGHT of vehicles. An SUV rear-ended my friend who was driving a family sedan with her two children strapped into car seats in the back seat. The SUV actually drove up over the back of the car and stopped inches from her childrens’ heads. A side impact would have even worse results. I hate to say it (not environmentally correct), but I would get the tallest, heaviest vehicle with side air bags and good crash test data that I could afford. Most accidents involve two vehicles, and I’d rather my kid be in the biggest, sturdiest one.</p>
<p>I am not familiar with any of the ratings or studies. I know for a vehicle for my own kids, I wanted a reliable car that would not have problems and so I opted for a new one which I realize is not what you are looking for. I think part of the answer to your question has to do with where you live and what kind of driving your child will do…be it weather or types of roads. My kids live in the mountains and we live on a dirt road. We get LOTS of snow and ice and also have “mud season”. They drive on country roads in the pitch black. Here it is practically a necessity to have four wheel drive. I wanted my kids to have that. I also agree that in a two car collision, a small vehicle will not fare that well against the common cars around here…SUVs. We chose to get a mini SUV for the kids to drive. The one we got three years ago when D1 got her license was a Chevy Tracker ZR2. There were others that seemed good but price was a major factor. This past March, D2, who had had her license for two months, was in a very serious car crash going 65 miles per hour head on into the rock ledge on the interstate. This included the car rolling over several times. She survived but was injured (has since recovered). The car was totaled. I do not know if the car was good or not in a crash but that was the upshot. There were air bags too, She was not cut at all, except on her hand which we believe occurred when crawling out of the passenger side window which was the only blown out window and the car landed on the driver’s side in the middle of the highway and she likely gashed her hand in going out the window to escape the vehicle. But amazingly she had no other cuts. Anyway, enough about that. We had to replace the car and now got a Jeep Liberty as the kids’ car and really like that. Perhaps you can get a deal on a used mini SUV like these or the Honda or Toyota ones. Subarus are also a good choice. </p>
<p>Don’t know your climate…snow? Highway high speed driving or local city streets? Hills and curves there is much to consider regarding the type of driving in your particular area. Some kids never use highway/expressway driving others use it to get to school everyday. Hills…snow…4 wheel drive a necessity? I know in NH it is. Help us out just a bit more.</p>
<p>Minivans are very safe, and they don’t have big fronts which drive up over the top of the car you could hit, so you don’t become part of the problem.</p>
<p>Mid Atlantic, city outskirts, school less than 1 mile away on neighborhood streets…probably more risky use is for pleasurable evening events, which will require some highway & suburban driving, but probably very little in the way of windy country roads. A little hilly in the area, but no 4wd needed, at least M&D don’t need it.</p>
<p>but minivans (we have one) are an “attractive nuisance” in a way because they can fit a party into the vehicle…at least that’s the word I’ve heard from some other parents.</p>
<p>The reason I mention highway/expressway is that acceleration is an issue. I count visibility and ability to see the four corners of the vehicle a necessity for new drivers…no sloping hoods, big blind spots etc. I recommend a square sedan…a grandma kinda car. Not too long, not too low, not too plastic. One thing is certain…brakes should be disk antilock on all wheels. Think square and boxy. Nothing says comfort to a new driver like I know where my bumper is and i know that I can ease into this parking space…not guessing.</p>
<p>You can know your own kid and still put them into an attractive nuisance because more room=more kids=greater distraction. You own kid may be fine unless peer pressured into being the hauler for greater numbers of peers due to the space available. It is hard for kids to say no when they are at this new driving age.</p>
<p>You can visit <a href=“http://www.nhtsa.gov.org%5B/url%5D”>http://www.nhtsa.gov.org</a> for a nifty chart of top vehicle safety scores for various passenger seats and rollovers. Also look at <a href=“http://www.safecar.gov%5B/url%5D”>http://www.safecar.gov</a> to research a particular vehicle’s safety in detail. Probably you don’t need a 4 wheel drive vehicle if you don’t have much snow, but alot of sedans performed well. My son is eagerly waiting for us to relinquish our Toyota Avalon to him (fat chance!).</p>
<p>1999-2001 volvo station wagons are problematic–the electronic throttle module is a problem which leads to the car dying on the freeway (scary personal experience). The problem was fixed in the 2002+ models, I’m told.</p>
<p>Problem with SUVs is that inexperienced drivers are more likely to tip them. Happened this summer at local hs band camp–a Ford Expedition with 7 kids in it (attractive nuisance) driven by a 16 y/o flipped over over on taking a turn too fast.</p>
<p>I think the most dangerous things in any car are cell phones and the cd player. It seems many accidents happen due to either talking on the phone or fumbling for the phone. Second is looking for the lost cd on the floor while driving and such.</p>
<p>In NJ, for the first year, the kid can’t carry more than one other person under 21. That certainly helps with the possible peer pressure issue.</p>
<p>Plus, you can know your kids’ friends. You don’t have to believe me, but this was a seriously non-drinking, band geek, computer nerd bunch.
Partying in cars was just not part of the picture.</p>