What Car: Teenager Edition

Despite my abject terror at the prospect, my oldest will soon be behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. Car shopping for myself is easy: Is it a standard? Is it a hatchback? Is it fun? Done deal. Car shopping for a kid has me looking at all kinds of stuff I know nothing about.

We're shopping Carmax primarily. Maybe there are better deals to be had elsewhere but Carmax makes the whole process so easy and stress free that I'll pay a small premium for it.

We're looking at a price cap of $12-$15K, probably financing half of it. I'd love to stay closer to $12k but could stretch to $15k for the right vehicle. Ideally we're looking at something with 4 doors that's reasonably fuel efficient so it can double as an occasional family hauler. Our stable currently consists of a 21 Tacoma and 17 Focus RS, both of which get right around 20mpg. As much as it pains me, we're shopping exclusively automatics, kiddo has no interest in manuals.

His drive to school would be ~32 miles round trip with most of it being highway speeds. Here are the things that have caught my eye so far:

Mazda 5: Kind of minivan-ish but I really like these. I remember them being popular with the GRM crowd many moons ago, but that might have been because they could be had with a standard. How do the autos hold up? Looks like the ones in my price range have 70-100k on them.

Chevy Cruze: They sure are car shaped cars. The hatchbacks don't look half bad. Other than that I know nothing. Seem to have ~60k miles in my range.

Kia Soul: I won't lie, I've always liked these for some reason, but I've also never driven one.

Chevy Volt: Love the idea that basically his entire drive could be on the electric motor and also really like the idea of an ICE backup. But how are they as a car?

Ford Escape: Just tell me it's not the same transmission as the Focus/Fiesta. I'm pretty sure it's not.

Toyota Corolla: In my price range these look to be in the 2013-2016 range with ~100k miles. Unless something has changed dramatically Corolla has always been a solid answer.

Honda Fit: What are the autos like? I love tiny Honda hatches but this might get vetoed for being too small.

I've seen a couple mid 10's Prius...es? Prii? That fall in the price range with a tick under 100k miles. How have these been holding up?  The hatch and wagon look rad, not gonna lie.

No Focus/Fiestas. I won't inflict that automatic transmission on anyone but my worst enemies.

No Mirage, Versa, Mazda 2, etc. All of these are pre-vetoed for being too small or being too Nissan. On the other end of the spectrum, things like the Sonata or Fusion are a litter bigger than we'd like.

What says the hive mind?

Buy the best corolla you can afford. The end. 

Alternatively, Mazda 3 hatchback offers a compelling argument and is NOT a corolla. 

As an aside, I find it amusing that the mazda5 was a consideration but the sonata is too big. 

First vehicles get trashed. Financing a kid's first vehicle makes me cringe a bit as the odds of it getting wrecked are relatively high. Pay cash for a reliable beater, maybe with some contribution from them.

I'd buy them an inexpensive Gen 2 Prius to drive until they're done with school. If that goes well, and you feel like rewarding them, then perhaps a nicer/newer/more expensive vehicle could be an option at that point in the future. Could also be used as motivation for earning good grades, etc.

In reply to STM317 :

He's already a straight A+ student who stays out of trouble. I'd love to think that would carry over to driving but you are 100% correct, first cars get trashed.

Yeah the 5 is big too but it gets extra points for being coolish.

Mazda 3: super reliable, nice to drive, good size and good fuel economy.  Look at the 2014+.  They can also be updated for CarPlay even if they didn't have it to start.  

Any post-ford Mazda: cx-5, mazda3, mazda6. Newish, safe, and modern interior. Enough power to be forgiving for a new driver. 

If I'm remembering correctly, the mazda5s had poor side impact ratings.

I want my kids' first cars to be Miatas. That's not some sort of insider-GRM joke, either. There's something to be said about not being able to haul a car full of noisy, distracting friends around. I think. Plus, when you're 16, 17, 18... there's nothing more fun than blasting to the beach in a convertible. I'd prefer my kids to have to learn manual, though I don't believe there's really any argument for it except that they might enjoy driving a little more if they learn that. But they (my kids) are still tiny. One of them wants either a Prius.... or a Porsche. Then a Tesla as her second car. So, you know... I don't know what they want yet.

That said, I heard Mazda made automatic Miatas.

Of the cars on your list, I had a first generation Volt, and I loved it. I recommend 2012 (the second year) or later because one of the drive modes was "Hold" where it would fire up the engine when you pressed that, keeping the battery level wherever it was, so you could use your battery around town, and use the engine on the highway. My 2011 didn't have that mode. I don't think the second generation Volts were quite as cool-looking, but they were good cars, I think. The batteries were doing really well in these cars, last I checked, and were expected to last to a very high mileage. The stated 0 and 100% charge states were actually, I think, 20-80%; plus they are liquid cooled. I'm not sure if you can buy replacements, and I'm not sure if the car will function with a dead battery. I also don't know what age does to that battery.

Corolla is always a good choice. It's everything the Camry is, just... smaller.

In reply to confuZion3 :

I definitely want and encourage them to learn manual but like you said, it's hard to make a good point for it in 2025. Even fuel economy goes to the autos now. I've been thinking on this and can only remember one time in my life that someone (not even me) had to randomly drive a standard on the spot.

It's cooler/more fun/badass doesn't seem to be a compelling enough argument. I didn't learn manual till my third car though, so he still has time to see the light. It also means that my car is in no danger of being driven by a teenager, just driven into.

I've always liked the Mazda 3, will definitely look at those.

In reply to PubBurgers :

Here's my compelling argument...

Learning to drive manuals makes better drivers. 
 

The reason is because young people today live 24/7 in a default mode of being distracted. Everywhere they go, everything they touch is looking to grab their attention. They think it is normal. 
 

Driving an automatic is boring. It rapidly gives the impression that driving is something you don't need to pay attention to, so texting while driving, watching YouTube videos, or checking Instagram while driving all seem quite feasible and normal. 
 

A manual car requires more attention. It requires coordinating all 4 limbs, listening to engine sounds, learning to read a tach, etc. 
 

Smart kid?  They are even more bored with automatics.

I'm absolutely convinced.. learning to drive manuals makes better drivers.  (And autocross helps too).

Elantra should be on your list. 

There is another compelling reason to learn to drive a manual. All the world is NOT 'Merica. 
 

There are still a lot of places in the world where manuals are common, or even outnumber autos.  My daughter has traveled extensively and found rental cars in other countries are often manuals. She has frequently found that she had to be the designated driver among her friends because she was the only one who knew how to drive a manual. 

In reply to SV reX :

My wife was going to pass down her 2018 Elantra till she totaled it out on a deer. They're definitely on the list too.

The inability to do anything but drive it (in the best kind of way) is definitely a massive point in favor of manuals.

In reply to PubBurgers :

I have 5 kids. I forced all of them to learn to drive a manual. They now are aged 21-37 and none of them have ever had an accident. YMMV.

My oldest daughter learned first in a Suburban.  She was a horrible driver. The only person I've ever ridden with who could make me cringe and flinch because she was about to hit something. Every time I rode with her.  After a couple months I told her that she'd have to drive the 5 spd Impreza in the driveway. She cried and fussed and complained how much she hated that car.  I told her the choice was the Impreza or walking.  Within only a couple days she suddenly became an exceptional driver. I'm convinced she was simply bored driving an automatic, so she was constantly thinking about anything else except her driving. 
 

Think about it. I think it's a valuable skill.

Story time from only around 10 years ago: My father in law made my brother in law get a manual when he was around 17 years old (an 02-ish Civic IIRC). I was surprised because my FIL is not an enthusiast and he had not owned a manual since the 80s. 
Fast forward a few years and my brother in law is a Civil Engineering Intern at a work site. They ask him to go move one of the work trucks. Turns out it's a manual, but he moved it no problem because he learned on his Civic. I can't imagine how much E36 M3 the engineering intern would have taken if he was incapable of even moving the work truck to a new parking space. 

Similar: In college I had a summer job working in the foods warehouse at an amusement park. Some vendors (like Wonder Bread) would just drop off a box truck every week and take their empty truck from last week back. The Wonder Bread trucks were manual so it came in handy that I knew how to drive stick, just for moving it around our lot. Unrelated but I also got trained on the forklift which was fun. 

Not necessarily reasons to make your son learn stick, but it does still come in handy. Also, as a bonus, none of his friends will be able to borrow his car. 

I've got an automatic 5, and the transmission is fine.  2012-2015 is what you want to look for.  It's the 2.5/5 speed auto, so quicker than the first gen with the 2.3/4 speed.  It's not fast, but it is perfectly reasonable.  Outside of checking for rust (which the 2nd gen is better about anyway), the suspension is what is most problematic, which makes sense, since it is basically a tall Mazda3 hauling around an extra 600 lbs.  Based on the mileage your are looking at, I suspect they'll be due for a refresh in the near future.

Oh yeah, pretty sure a 5 is still considerably smaller than a Fusion or Sonata.

PubBurgers said:

We're looking at a price cap of $12-$15K, probably financing half of it. I'd love to stay closer to $12k but could stretch to $15k for the right vehicle. Ideally we're looking at something with 4 doors that's reasonably fuel efficient so it can double as an occasional family hauler. Our stable currently consists of a 21 Tacoma and 17 Focus RS, both of which get right around 20mpg. As much as it pains me, we're shopping exclusively automatics, kiddo has no interest in manuals.

 

His drive to school would be ~32 miles round trip with most of it being highway speeds. Here are the things that have caught my eye so far:

Kia Soul: I won't lie, I've always liked these for some reason, but I've also never driven one.

Chevy Volt: Love the idea that basically his entire drive could be on the electric motor and also really like the idea of an ICE backup. But how are they as a car?

Toyota Corolla: In my price range these look to be in the 2013-2016 range with ~100k miles. Unless something has changed dramatically Corolla has always been a solid answer.

I've seen a couple mid 10's Prius...es? Prii? That fall in the price range with a tick under 100k miles. How have these been holding up?  The hatch and wagon look rad, not gonna lie.

 

What says the hive mind?

 

Im gonna recap what I think you're saying:

• Car for kid but doubles as family hauler
• Nothing too big, nothing too small  

 The sedan is dead and everyone wants a SUV and that high SUV demand can result is high SUV prices.  Some real values are therefore the less desired sedans.  I highly suggest having sedans on your list.  

Prius:  I am a Prius fan-boy but I recommend them to GRM'ers who will DIY the repairs.  At retail, the few repairs needed are prohibitively expensive.  At DIY, the few repairs needed can be humorously inexpensive.  If, as an example, this Prius would be moving to another state for college, you'd be better off with a Corolla than can be more reasonably fixed at any corner retail auto repair place.  

Staying with Prius, '04-'09 are Gen2 and '10+ are Gen3.  For Gen3 the engine went from a bullet proof 1.5L to a problematic 1.8L.  These 1.8Ls are know to burn oil and blow HGs but not typically until 165k+.  My recommendation is solely the Gen2's

I'll suggest adding the 2nd version of the Scion xB to your search.  This is the bigger one, not the tiny first one (but those are good too...but maybe too small.)  The bigger one is a Camry/Rav4-sourced 2.4L (so big engine) in a boxy body sized near a Rav4 but not being a true SUV it is often cheaper than a Rav4.  Unfortunately, that boxy body makes mpg right in line with the Rav4 at about 26 combined.  The more sleek Camry does better.  However, like the Kia Soul, some SUV vibes without quite being an SUV.  Kia Soul as a box and Mazda5s also get similarly poor mpg.  So, what I'm getting at is some are your choices are not really that strong in the mpg departmet.  I suggest using the compare feature of https://www.fueleconomy.gov/ to see the epa rated mpg of any car sold in North America since 1985.  

Also good for driving down price, the Scion name is dead and no one thinks to go looking for one but it's 100% Toyota underneath.  

Staying with the family hauler goal, the Scion xB is roomy inside as a people hauler.  

In reply to John Welsh :

Some years of the 2nd gen Scion xB had major issues with burning oil. A lot of engines were replaced, but there are still many out there with that problem.  Goes for other Toyotas with the same engine.

I really like gently used Mazdas for this one. At that price point, I'd go with a 2014+ Mazda3. Try and get one with the 2.5L. Hatch or sedan, you can't really go wrong. Try and get the highest trim you can. 

If you want something a little bigger, you can probably swing a 2014+ Mazda6 or even a 1st gen CX-5. One of those in the Sport or Touring trim would be a nice ride. The 2014+ 6 doesn't have the magical disappearing subframes that the earlier cars have. Only thing with the Touring trim on the 6 is they have the cool looking 19" wheels, so teenage curbing shenanigans and consumables would carry a higher cost over the smaller wheels on the Sport. 

In reply to John Welsh :

I had a 2010 Scion xD a while back. It was a great car right up until I crashed it. Still felt and looked great with almost 200k on it.

I prefer smaller cars myself, including the tiny ones, but we're a tall family of 4 and they just don't cut it. My Focus comes in at just big enough.

I'm sure that your son is a great kid, but he is going to trash and probably crash the car. I'd get a cheap beater, probably a Corolla or Mazda3 since you want a car that can haul 4 people. Otherwise, I'd recommend the latest Ford Ranger you can fine, for one reason - only one other person will fit in it, minimizing distractions.

I've helped raise four teenaged drivers (all of who were great kids with excellent grades), so I feel qualified to give my opinion.

eastsideTim said:

In reply to John Welsh :

Some years of the 2nd gen Scion xB had major issues with burning oil. A lot of engines were replaced, but there are still many out there with that problem.  Goes for other Toyotas with the same engine.

I was not aware of this 2.4L issue.  But, that does take me to another neat Toyota/Scion thing....  

Over at https://www.toyota.com/owners/ anyone can set up a user account for free.  With that set up you can then enter a Toyota/Scion VIN and the site will return to you all the dealer service the car has ever had.  This even works for car you do not own!  So, part of your shopping can be to see if this 2.4L has been warranty replaced.  

The Lexus site does same for Lexus service records.  

PubBurgers said:

In reply to John Welsh :

I had a 2010 Scion xD a while back. It was a great car right up until I crashed it. Still felt and looked great with almost 200k on it.

I prefer smaller cars myself, including the tiny ones, but we're a tall family of 4 and they just don't cut it. My Focus comes in at just big enough.

 

The second xB is significantly larger than the xD.  Here is a list of comparison specs and deep down that list here are some points that stick out to me:
Gen2 xB is 13" longer overall, has 4" more rear leg room and overall interior volume is 22.4% larger 

eastsideTim said:

I've got an automatic 5, and the transmission is fine.  2012-2015 is what you want to look for.  It's the 2.5/5 speed auto, so quicker than the first gen with the 2.3/4 speed.  It's not fast, but it is perfectly reasonable.  Outside of checking for rust (which the 2nd gen is better about anyway), the suspension is what is most problematic, which makes sense, since it is basically a tall Mazda3 hauling around an extra 600 lbs.  Based on the mileage your are looking at, I suspect they'll be due for a refresh in the near future.

Oh yeah, pretty sure a 5 is still considerably smaller than a Fusion or Sonata.

We also have an automatic 5, and our transmission is also fine. Ours is a 2009 model, so the engine is only a 2.3, but it does have the 5-speed automatic. It's at 150k and probably still on the factory fill. I'm smitten enough with that thing that I'm starting to eyeball other contemporary Mazda products in traffic. 

Full agreement here on teaching manual proficiency for all the reasons listed above. You don't have to teach him to run a steam locomotive, but those who understand the physics of driving are a lot more likely to operate within the laws thereof.

Here is a thread from last month that is a similar question.  I remember giving the same answer and there are other helpful responses also.  

John is the Gen 2 Prius expert, so no more comment needed there.  My kids bought their own first car, it was something about the same age as the driver.  You might consider this last sentence, price insurance with and without collision.  That price/age can still be an occasional family car, we visited colleges with my daughter's volvo 240 without incident.