I assure you that in this case the answer will not be "Miata"

(Yes, another "what car" thread)

A friend of mine is looking for a car. Ordinarily, recommending something to a friend would be fairly simple, however, said friend's driving abilities (or lack thereof) make it a little tricky. She really should just stop driving, but, since this area has no public transportation, that is really not an option.

OK, so I need an underpowered, FWD/AWD idiot-proof, curb-check proof, cheap, easy to handle, SAFE car.

She has already destroyed a Nissan Sentra SE-R spec V (rolled), along with a Camry, Celica, Explorer, and now a Buick Century. Most have been destroyed by curb checking or sheer neglect, and the Nissan was rolled while she was (according to her) traveling in a straight line and hit a patch of ice on the highway.

She is currently looking at a Mazda Tribute with 124k on the clock. Thoughts?

Other recommendations?

(And yes, I realize wrapping her in bubble wrap and hiring a chauffeur would be the wisest move, it's just not practical.)

Thanks!

Good option. Another would be a Subaru Forester or Outback. Lower center of gravity on those to reduce rollover and idiot friendly AWD system.

why can't it be RWD, is RWD unsafe?

ZOMG RWD WILL KILLS YOU!

plance1 wrote: why can't it be RWD, is RWD unsafe?

For her, yes, RWD would be extremely unsafe.

And @ amg, I would hate to see a Subaru meet such an untimely death (as I am certain it would)

Morbid wrote: (And yes, I realize wrapping her in bubble wrap and hiring a chauffeur would be the wisest move, it's just not practical.) Thanks!

How about buying her a driving school?

I've been instructing for the Street Survival program http://www.streetsurvival.org/ for the last few years in the NY/NJ/PA area. It is cheap, short and it just might make this next car last a little longer.

John Brown wrote: ZOMG RWD WILL KILLS YOU!

WONT SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

Morbid wrote: (And yes, I realize wrapping her in bubble wrap and hiring a chauffeur would be the wisest move, it's just not practical.) Thanks!

How about buying her a driving school? I've been instructing for the Street Survival program http://www.streetsurvival.org/ for the last few years in the NY/NJ/PA area. It is cheap, short and it just might make this next car last a little longer.

AFAIK, there aren't any driving schools that do more than basic driver's ed in the area, and traveling to one just won't happen. She's stubborn like that.

In this case, how about a P71? Large, safe, tough, cheap.

...but RWD.

Get a Volvo. Or maybe five or six Cavaliers and just replace them as they die.

cwh wrote: In this case, how about a P71? Large, safe, tough, cheap.

Yeah, let someone else's crumple zone do the crumpling!

Or a Volvo. Same concept, really, though a bit smaller if a large car like a P71 is too scary.

Morbid wrote: ...and traveling to one just won't happen. She's stubborn like that.

I'd recommend the smallest, lightest car you can find, if you're going to enable a person who shouldn't be driving. At least when they hit someone with a Metro, it's less likely to kill the other people.

Seriously, direct your energy to making a safer driver, not a lethal to everyone else driver (P71/Volvo/any car going at any rate of speed is lethal).

Moped

parker wrote: Moped

I have presented this option to her, but she seems to think that below zero temps are inhospitable to moped riding

a very large swift kick to the rear end for killing cars and driving like an idiot..... something for $500 and be done with it, but travling to a drivers school would be the best bet, if she wont go, then duct tape and toss her into the trunk.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1977-General-AM-M35A-Military-Truck-Deuce-Half-1-2_W0QQitemZ370319513321QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMilitary_Vehicles?hash=item5638c356e9

Need I say more?

Andrew

Tempo. Your friend is an automotive assassin, and no one sheds tears for a Tempo.

Hi, I see you over on CICENET sometimes. D I know your friend?

I vote for a Focus.

Morbid wrote: AFAIK, there aren't any driving schools that do more than basic driver's ed in the area, and traveling to one just won't happen. She's stubborn like that.

Yes there is, run by the BMW club. It is aimed at teens 15-21, but there will be a good chance that they open it to all ages; I know they did this last year because they didn't have enough entrants. It will be at Mossville, tentatively on April 25. Nothing is set yet, and here is all that I've seen so far on it:

Keep watching sissynet and you'll see it before too long.

Idk what the budget is but.....(and i know im really biased)

A FWD 3000GT. That car is a tank (i used to own one). Especially with the stock chrome wheels, curbs are no issue. Plus, your talking about 160fwhp on a 3400lb car and its especially safe in case of an accident. A friend of mine on 3si was sideswiped by an ambulance going 70mph crossing a redlight and walked away with scratches and bruising. Plus, the auto is indestructable. Just make sure you purchase one with a nice maintenance record. The 60/120K arent cheap if they havnt been performed yet.

In reply to mtn:

Thanks for the info, I hadn't heard about it. I will keep an eye out and figure out a way to rope her into going.

In reply to Eric M:

Maybe(but I doubt it)? And yes, I am new at CICEnet

digdug18 wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1977-General-AM-M35A-Military-Truck-Deuce-Half-1-2_W0QQitemZ370319513321QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMilitary_Vehicles?hash=item5638c356e9

There's my new commuter car! Thanks!

As for the OP: Cheap Trucks are cool, but RWD.

Motorcycle! If the stuborn car killing menace insists on keeping driving and won't shape up and treat driving like the responsibility it is, maybe she will only get herself killed... And at most only 1 passenger. (don't ride with her)

Joey

Chrysler cloud car.

How about one of these. They sell them here in the states too...

40MPH tops

http://www.greencarsite.co.uk/GREENNEWS/ZAP-electric-xebra-Car.htm