What Car Should I Get for My Teenage Drivers?

[///BYU]

I have two soon-to-be teenage drivers and am looking for a car they can drive to high school and around town. We'll have a newer, safer car they can use for longer trips, so I want this car to have some character.

Here are my preferences.

1. Manual transmission
2. Seating for four or five
3. Safe-ish
4. Has character. Bonus points if it's older than they are (pre-2000), breaks down occasionally and/or you don't see one every day
5. Parts are available (I didn't say readily available) and repairs aren't super expensive
6. Will plant a love of cars deep in their souls
7. Near the bottom of its depreciation curve and - bonus points - possibily even starting to appreciate

I'm looking to spend $10k or less. Ideally quite a bit less, but I'd be happy to spend around $10k or even more for the right car.

I'm thinking older WRX or GTI, BMW E30, Saab 9-3 Viggen or 9-2X (Saabaru) - and maybe, just maybe, importing a 25+ year-old car from Europe (like a Peugeot, Lancia or Renault...). This is a quick list, so I'm sure there are more great possibilities out there. Trucks and SUVs are okay, too.

Let's hear your suggestions! Or, talk me out of my lunacy...

[ayao]

330i ZHP, Honda Fit, Integra GS-R, Mini Cooper S

[Esteban]

The GTI is a good all around car. Sporty and practical.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by ayao

330i ZHP

My son is 14 and we have 2008 GTI and 2003 ZHP. I told him to help me wash the gti. Because someday it might be his to drive to school. He said, Dad, I know I'll have to start with an old clunker but I hope you keep the zhp so I can buy it from you! I'm. Big fan of wrx but they are faaast and not good for rookies in my opinion. I think 325i or 330i manual is front engine rear drive and a blast in manual. They will definitely break down too so you will learn to work on them. 1Mgator got his kids an e30 sedan and I can't think of a better car to get the bug. They are light, quick, handle well and fairly easy to work on and very high on the cool factor. If you can find an old Scion FRS for 10k you will be a hero! Great mileage, handling, reliable and tons of mods out there to keep them interested. Also not stupid fast. God luxk

[1M SUSI]

does the old e21 320i get any love?

[CarJunkie]

There is a neglected 2002 a short walk away from me . . . I proposed buying it and fixing it up with my 13 year old, fun project for a few years and it would be a perfect first car for him. My wife shot that down. I still may go over there with a wad of cash one day . . .

[///BYU]

Originally Posted by 1M SUSI

does the old e21 320i get any love?

Absolutely yes. Love those!

[craina]

How responsible are these boys of yours? The WRX is a quick car as is a 330izhp or e36 M3. I know 16 year old Craina would have gotten into a lot of trouble with any one of those cars. I would think 200hp max for a first sporty car.

Something like an e30 or e36 (non-M) would be a good option. Nice ones are hard to come across but nice e30s are on their way up and I think a nice e36 would be as well. I don't have much experience w/ the e30 but with any e36 chassis there is a ton of support, working on them is relatively easy, and parts are readily available.

On the other spectrum, an old Toyota Land Cruiser FJ 40 or 60 would be a very cool car that is simple to work on w/ parts available and lots of support. I would also bet that this (or any old jeep or bronco) would make them more popular w/ the ladies than an old 3 series or wrx...

[kprocivic]

Subie legacy

[Josh (PA)]

e46 325. Not over powered, but very analog and w. good involvement. Easy to wrench on, easy to get parts for. Safe enough for a teen driver, and yet sporty enough (especially in RWD guise) to learn car control.

You can get a much better 325 for $10k than you can a 330. No love for the little engine.

We have an autotragic 325xit for our teeenage girls and I still enjoy driving it. You have to wring it out a bit to get it to move, but it is just has personality. There is a ton of character in those e46s

[COChris]

In order of size...

E39 wagon, manual
E34 wagon, manual
E46 wagon, manual

R53 Mini Cooper S or Clubman

[///BYU]

Originally Posted by COChris

In order of size...

E39 wagon, manual
E34 wagon, manual
E46 wagon, manual

R53 Mini Cooper S or Clubman

Originally Posted by ayao

330i ZHP

Originally Posted by Josh (PA)

e46 325. Not over powered, but very analog and w. good involvement. Easy to wrench on, easy to get parts for. Safe enough for a teen driver, and yet sporty enough (especially in RWD guise) to learn car control.

You can get a much better 325 for $10k than you can a 330. No love for the little engine.

We have an autotragic 325xit for our teeenage girls and I still enjoy driving it. You have to wring it out a bit to get it to move, but it is just has personality. There is a ton of character in those e46s

I've sadly pretty much given up all hope of finding an E46 Touring with manual transmission and RWD, so a ZHP definitely seems like the best E46 option out there, though I like the idea of a 325 for the reasons Josh mentioned.

[///BYU]

Originally Posted by craina

How responsible are these boys of yours? The WRX is a quick car as is a 330izhp or e36 M3. I know 16 year old Craina would have gotten into a lot of trouble with any one of those cars. I would think 200hp max for a first sporty car.

Something like an e30 or e36 (non-M) would be a good option. Nice ones are hard to come across but nice e30s are on their way up and I think a nice e36 would be as well. I don't have much experience w/ the e30 but with any e36 chassis there is a ton of support, working on them is relatively easy, and parts are readily available.

On the other spectrum, an old Toyota Land Cruiser FJ 40 or 60 would be a very cool car that is simple to work on w/ parts available and lots of support. I would also bet that this (or any old jeep or bronco) would make them more popular w/ the ladies than an old 3 series or wrx...

One boy, one girl. They're pretty responsible when it comes to cars, but they're still teenagers and new drivers. I worry more about them getting into trouble from not processing everything coming at them and just being inexperienced than from driving fast or trying to impress their friends. Even if that's true, it's still a lot easier for things to go bad quickly in a car with a lot of power. So I agree that hp should be around 200-ish at most.

Like a lot of people, I've kind of passed over the E36. I'm going to be more open to the possibilities, though. Great suggestion.

And yes, a Land Cruiser or something similar would be super cool. I know my daughter's first choice would be a Jeep Wrangler. I drove a '72 International Scout II in high school and loved it. My wife and I thought a Jeep Cherokee XJ like the one in The Goonies would be fun. The only downside is that I'd rather work on cars than trucks/SUVs because I'm a car guy through and through.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by ///BYU

I've sadly pretty much given up all hope of finding an E46 Touring with manual transmission and RWD, so a ZHP definitely seems like the best E46 option out there, though I like the idea of a 325 for the reasons Josh mentioned.

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eh...j=w480-h127-no[/IMG]

325 manual is actually quick enough to be fun but not crazy fast. A lot of people used to call the e46 325 slow but most drove the automatic which was .5 seconds slower 0-60 than 5MT. My first BMW was 325i and it was a great fun car that was still safe and roomy enough.
Just don't get SULEV version!!!!

Zhp is fast but power builds up unlike wrx where there is a lot of torque and traction that launch you quicky before you can react if you are inexperienced. Another issue with wrx for novice is that a monkey can drive them and they can form bad habits whereas a rear drive or even front drive teaches throttle management etc. Also the speeds at which you lose control in a car like wrx are higher usually and can lead to overconfidence. A car that loses grip at slower speeds is still fun at slower speeds and teaches them at slow speed how to manage traction. Most of us learned to drive on cars with low breakaway thresholds which teach you how to handle a car at safe speeds. That's my humble opinion.

Some advantages the older cars like e30 have is that kids can experience old school lightweight fun that they will never experience again in the future and They are a little easier to work on with less plastic pieces in the engine.

[Josh (PA)]

Originally Posted by ///BYU

I've sadly pretty much given up all hope of finding an E46 Touring with manual transmission and RWD, so a ZHP definitely seems like the best E46 option out there, though I like the idea of a 325 for the reasons Josh mentioned.

Agreed, on a manual iT, but I didn't see a need for a wagon based on your original post.

There are a million 325 sedans and coupes w/ stick. The sedan can comfortably fit 4 ppl w/ an unhappy 5th in a pinch. The coupe will hold 4 but most won't want to ride in the back seat (which may be a good thing for a kid not driving too many of his friends around).

ZHPs require a very large $$$ premium over regular e46s and by now any ZHP suspension improvements would be worn out and need replacing anyway. Get a 325 and show him how to put a decent set of springs and shocks on it if you want to improve handling. Still be cheaper than finding a zhp.

[suspenceful]

Originally Posted by ///BYU

I've sadly pretty much given up all hope of finding an E46 Touring with manual transmission and RWD, so a ZHP definitely seems like the best E46 option out there, though I like the idea of a 325 for the reasons Josh mentioned.

I have a 2005 325xiT with a 5-speed. Sport package, cold weather package, premium package, fully loaded with 138k. Have a guy coming to look at it tonight!

[HyeWarrior]

I've had 2 GTI's and a Golf. Fantastic beginner cars

[///BYU]

Originally Posted by nachob

325 manual is actually quick enough to be fun but not crazy fast. A lot of people used to call the e46 325 slow but most drove the automatic which was .5 seconds slower 0-60 than 5MT. My first BMW was 325i and it was a great fun car that was still safe and roomy enough.
Just don't get SULEV version!!!!

Zhp is fast but power builds up unlike wrx where there is a lot of torque and traction that launch you quicky before you can react if you are inexperienced. Another issue with wrx for novice is that a monkey can drive them and they can form bad habits whereas a rear drive or even front drive teaches throttle management etc. Also the speeds at which you lose control in a car like wrx are higher usually and can lead to overconfidence. A car that loses grip at slower speeds is still fun at slower speeds and teaches them at slow speed how to manage traction. Most of us learned to drive on cars with low breakaway thresholds which teach you how to handle a car at safe speeds. That's my humble opinion.

Some advantages the older cars like e30 have is that kids can experience old school lightweight fun that they will never experience again in the future and They are a little easier to work on with less plastic pieces in the engine.

Thanks, nachob! Great input, as always.

[///BYU]

Originally Posted by Josh (PA)

Agreed, on a manual iT, but I didn't see a need for a wagon based on your original post.

There are a million 325 sedans and coupes w/ stick. The sedan can comfortably fit 4 ppl w/ an unhappy 5th in a pinch. The coupe will hold 4 but most won't want to ride in the back seat (which may be a good thing for a kid not driving too many of his friends around).

ZHPs require a very large $$$ premium over regular e46s and by now any ZHP suspension improvements would be worn out and need replacing anyway. Get a 325 and show him how to put a decent set of springs and shocks on it if you want to improve handling. Still be cheaper than finding a zhp.

Thanks! Yeah, I don't need a wagon, but that would be my ideal in an E46. I can probably get a much better sedan for the money, however, given supply and demand.

[MightyMouseTech]

Teenage daughters? May I suggest something WITHOUT a back seat?

[Gangplank]

Suggest you narrow it down to a few different but good options and then bring them in on the buying decision. The more connected they are to it the more likely they are to take an interest in maintaining it.

E30, e36, e46 are all good options. Parts readily available. Good aftermarket support. Lots of diy videos on YouTube.

[Dee Pee]

I may sound old fashioned here, but I'd make them get a job and pay you back for their first car. It will help them understand fiscal responsibility and the importance of maintenance.

And not to be too blunt here (nor to undermine your generosity), but it also sounds like you're buying their first car used car based on your own personality, experiences, and priorities. You want a car with character that is also quirky and unreliable on occasion--even going to the point of considering something as impractical as importing a car form Europe. Those are all admirable aspects for an adult car-lover but your kids may not ever feel that way about cars. A car may just be something that carries them about town. Their passions may not parallel your own when it comes to cars and I think you should let them find their own way.

In short, safety and practicality should be the number one priority IMHO. Once they learn HOW to drive a car, then they can focus on what they VALUE about a car--it may be vastly different then what you value (and in a 1M forum we admittedly have very biased and unconventional values about cars that just aren't very sane IRL). There is plenty of time for them to evolve to the point where they could want to buy something european and quirky that they can wrench on. I think the true gift that you can give them here, is the freedom to choose.

If I had my druthers (and I don't have kids), I'd lease them a Fiesta or Focus for a couple hundy a month (24 month lease) which any teenager with a part-time job can afford. They'll learn how to drive stick, how leasing and finance works, and it won't break the bank.