Your First Car
No matter how long you’ve been driving or how many vehicles you’ve operated, chances are you still remember your first car. Maybe you had just turned sixteen, and it was your faithful companion through the later years of high school, or maybe it was the first symbolic step of adulthood you took after graduating college. Whether you’re fondly remembering your first ride as you help your child search for theirs or you’re a young driver setting out to find that first car, there are a lot of factors to keep in mind. Read on and check out some of the most important things to take into consideration when shopping for a first car.
Reliability: Nobody wants a car that’s going to leave them stranded or on the hook for hundreds or even thousands of dollars of repairs, but this is especially true for a young driver. Chances are, first-time buyers will be looking at used models, which most likely won’t come with a warranty, so reliability is incredibly important. Do your homework, and look for models that are trusted to run with few problems long term. Also, consider the price of maintenance. Experts at Puente Hills Chrysler Dodge Jeep tell us that certain makes and models can be more expensive to have serviced, and that might be an expense that young drivers want to avoid.
Safety: Safety is important for every driver, but young drivers especially can benefit from vehicles with a good lineup of passive and active safety features. Having features like a rearview camera or collision warning may take some of the anxiety out of driving alone for the first time, and parents will feel better watching their young driver pull out of the driveway in a vehicle with good safety ratings. In addition to this, having a safe vehicle can also be cost-effective, as it is often cheaper to insure a car with higher safety ratings.
Capability/Efficiency: These factors will largely depend on where and how the car will be driven. For example, a high school student might not need to worry much about fuel economy, as they’ll probably be driving primarily around town. They may, however, want additional cargo space for sports equipment or an eventual college move-in. A recent grad, on the other hand, will probably want all of the mileage per gallon that they can get, in the event that they’re making long commutes or driving long distances for interviews. Also, consider local infrastructure and climate: will your young driver be facing dirt roads or snowy conditions? You may want to look for vehicles with four or all-wheel-drive, and cold-weather features like heated seats.
So, what’s the best first car for a young driver?
Ultimately, that comes down to the driver, and factors like budget, needs, and preference. We do, however, have some suggestions, and you can use them as a starting point for your search.
Our suggestions:
- Subaru Outback: Nearly all Subaru models are equipped with standard all-wheel-drive, which is one of the biggest factors that make Subarus great picks for young drivers. Drivers will enjoy overall reliability in combination with trustworthy capability in dicey driving conditions in basically any Subaru, but for a nice balance of fuel-efficiency and cargo room, we recommend the Outback wagon.
- Toyota Corolla and Camry: These models are generally celebrated for good fuel economy and reliability over many miles, making them great picks in the used segment. Models from the late 90s through the mid-2000s are plentiful and generally easy to find within a reasonable price range.
- Kia Soul: The Kia Soul has admirable cargo room and impressive fuel economy for its segment. In addition to this, many young drivers enjoy the vehicle’s funky vibe and fun exterior colors, which makes this car a great pick for a young driver who doesn’t want to sacrifice style.
- Honda Civic and Accord: Like the Toyota Camry and Corolla, the Civic and Accord are reliable and fuel-efficient. These vehicles are easy to come by used and come in sedan, coupe, and hatchback styles.
Another thing you should consider when getting your first car is to make sure you have a local repair shop, Whoops wheel fix it could be just that.
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