Teen parents how much $ for used car?

[HeatherC]

My DD is taking drivers ed this August and will get her license by next April. With this new added expense headed our way, I was wondering how much we should expect to pay for a safe used car?

I realize everybody may have a different idea of how much to spend, but I am just trying to get a good idea of what it may cost for something relatively in good condition and safe.

She has been saving up for one, but I am not even sure what a good amount to shoot for would be.

What did you do when your teen needed a car? Did you pass down a car or buy used?

And...yes...we are thinking need more than want in respect to her having a
car. The high school is almost 30 minutes each way. Between work, sports and activities between all 3 kids, we look upon it as saving our sanity.

Thanks!

 

[Southernmiss]

My DD is taking drivers ed this August and will get her license by next April. With this new added expense headed our way, I was wondering how much we should expect to pay for a safe used car?

I realize everybody may have a different idea of how much to spend, but I am just trying to get a good idea of what it may cost for something relatively in good condition and safe.

She has been saving up for one, but I am not even sure what a good amount to shoot for would be.

What did you do when your teen needed a car? Did you pass down a car or buy used?

And...yes...we are thinking need more than want in respect to her having a
car. The high school is almost 30 minutes each way. Between work, sports and activities between all 3 kids, we look upon it as saving our sanity.

Thanks!

DS 18 started out with our 1994 Toyota Camry which had 225,000 miles on it. He did not put oil in it (after being nagged to do so by DH) and blew the engine. Otherwise, I think it'd still be going today.

He bought his own car a 2002 Ford Taurus for $2000 in October. He has had no issues with it and I see a lot of them on the road.

Just make sure to have a used car checked out well by a mechanic or someone who knows cars.

I believe in the Toyotas and Hondas for reliability and safety. YMMV.

 

[AngieMouse86]

I can't help much on prices, I got my first (and only, still, lol) car handed down to me by my uncle. A 1992 Honda Accord that had 134,000 miles on it, pretty low for that old of a car, but it's still going strong at 168,000 miles. Haven't had any major issues with it, just do routine maintenance as required.

All the daily commuter cars in my family are Hondas and they've served everyone well (my mom's weekender is an Expedition), so I believe in imports for reliability.

 

[wvjules]

We paid $8000 for DD's first car. It is a 2004 V6 AWD Saturn Vue. It's a great car for her. I liked that it was AWD and it's big enough, and small enough, I feel safe with her driving it. She hates gassing it up though. lol But it's what she wanted so that's what she got. Her, her grandparents, and I split the cost. She just got a great touch screen DVD player/stereo put in it for her birthday. So now it's the perfect car for her. She says she plans on keeping it through collge. Here's hoping!

 

[taymaesmom]

We handed down a car to dd, she got a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am. It has 65,000 miles on it and is great on gas. She is happy with it and I think it will last her a long time. We bought it new in 2005 and I drove it for 6 years and then passed it to dh when he blew his engine (I got the new car). Dh being over 6 ft hated it because it sits low so he passed it to dd and bought himself a used sebring convertible (which actually sits lower than the grand am) I have nick named the convertible "midlife crisis" lol

The insurance is what shocked us the most, dh and I paid $98 a month full coverage for both our cars, we add dd and the third car and our insurance jumped to $221 a month. ouch.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

When I got my first car, my parents made me work for it, literally. I got a part time job as soon as I turned 15, I could work upto 20 hrs a week. It wasn't too far away. I either had to walk, ride my bike or get rides.

My parents matched what-ever I saved from my job. I saved up 1500, so I/we had upto 3k all together.

I bought a used red 2 door Mitsubishi Mirage. we bought it from my mom boss, which it had been sitting in the driveway for almost a year. It was 7 years old had over 85k

I didn't want to pay 3k for it, so my parents made ME talk the price with him. We settled on 2,000. Which that extra 500 was enough to pre-pay my car insurance for the year on my parents policy and gas money for a few months. I think i had a lil left over for pop on wheel covers, lol

I def took care of that old used car, more, knowing that I had to save for months and months to buy it, pay my own ins and gas, repairs, etc



I think a good way to gauge what people are asking in your area would be take a look around on craigslist and in the paper too.

 

[SC Minnie]

DD saved her money from babysitting for a car. I kept an ear out for people that I knew that were selling a car. A coworker told me she was selling her grandmothers car. Her grandmother had passed away and no one needed the car. It was a 1994 and had 56,000 miles on it. And no, I didn't leave off a 1 in front of the mileage. DD paid $2000 for it. That was 2 years ago and its still going well. We've had to put some $ into it for general maintenance and new tires but nothing too bad and better than a car payment. She plans on taking it to college next month. We're hoping this car will get her through at least the next 4 years.

 

[davmill]

Between 2000 and 3000 will get your child a nice and decent car. It may not be fancy and have all the bells and whiles, but it should be reliable and safe. Be sure to have it checked out first and buying from a private owner.

 

[snowcupid]

We just helped our son buy his first car. We told him we would match up to $2,000 and he saved up exactly that and a little more. The price of the car was $3,800 its a 2005 and only has 110,000 miles on it. He is SO proud of it. Dented and all .

 

[LJSquishy]

My parents spent $4,000 on a car for my sister and $2,000 on a car for me. Her car was much nicer and had fewer problems but a car is a car. My parents did not want us to get jobs in high school because they wanted us to focus on school and enjoying our teen years. They paid our car insurance and gas money (but this was when gas was 99 cents per gallon!).

 

[disneysteve]

The answer to how much to spend is the same as the answer to how much does she have and how much are you willing to kick in.

Our DD has her permit and will likely get her license in November. I had hoped to pass down my car but it died last month so that idea is shot.

She has plenty saved. DW and I certainly plan to help and I suspect grandmom will want to be involved too. I would shoot to spend no more than 5-7K.

 

[Sandi]

We planned to pass on my Pilot to my DD and then I was broadsided and my Pilot was totaled. I got a CRV to replace it and, after checking out safety features, discounts available, etc. we decided to buy a new CRV (a lesser model than mine) for DD. It felt very odd to buy a new car for our DD, but it was one of the best investments we've made (for our sanity -- as someone else said). It wasn't that much more to get her a new car than to buy a used car with everything that DH and I thought was important to have. DD got to choose color, but that was about it.

 

[Darcy03231]

We have four children and have spent between $2000 and $4000 for cars for them. For the $4000 cars each child put in $1000 (so we actually put in $3000). For the $2000 & $2500 cars we paid the whole thing. Cars were:

$2000 - 1999 Jeep (bought in 2011)
$2500 - 1998 Saturn (bought in 2004)
$4000 - 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse (bought in 2006 - had $1500 from the Saturn - it was totalled in an accident)
$2500 - 2000 Chevy Cavalier (bought in 2007)
$4000 - 2004 Chrysler Concorde LCI (bought in 2009 - had $1000 from the Cavalier - resold it - dd #2 wanted something better - she put in an additional $1000 and we matched it)
$4000 - 2000 Chevy Malibu (bought in 2011 with 40,000 miles on it. True little old lady car)

 

[torinsmom]

My son got a 2000 Chevy Malibu. It was owned by an older friend of my dad's who had recently gone into a nursing home. It was in great condition, had air bags, etc. My dad bought it for him for $3000. He has had it since October and so far, it has been great.

 

[Jenny3]

We are going to pass down the Jeep Cherokee to my DD once she's ready (and responsible enough) to own her own car and get DH a new truck.

I talked to my insurance company and the rate really flies through the roof once they have their own vehicle, so we're in no rush!

 

[disney fan4]

I don't have teenage children, but when I turned 16 my parents said they would match whatever I saved. I think paying for part of it was a big incentive to take good care of the car. My younger brother got my moms car passed down to him and did not pay for part of his car. We both had $2000 cars. If you will be buying cars for other children in the future, I would also keep in mind what you can afford to do for each child.

 

[Nomad70]

Right now my husband is scouring Thesamba.com for an old VW, either a bug or squareback. We are looking to spend about $2000 on one then he will put a bit of $ into to refurbish it. Our dd will be getting her license in December. Now, she may have to fight me to drive it! lol

 

[Sally]

My oldest got a used Honda Accord $4000 from her grandparents as her graduation gift. They set her up on her own insurance policy for the first year, and she has paid for her insurance ever since.
My youngest got DH elderly Concord (238,000 miles), because she begged for that car since he got it, to be fair her grandparents set her up with car insurance for 2 years. She works part-time even at college, so she pays for general upkeep and gas.
DH bought a gently used Suburban (61,000 miles on it) as his vehicle when he is home, otherwise the Pete (653,000 miles) is his full time vehicle.

 

[njmom47]

For dd1, we spent $2600 (mostly what we saved from birthdays etc over the years) on a 2000 Cavalier Z24 in 2009. For dd2, in 2010, first car I don't want to talk about (what a disaster) but $1500, $500 which was refunded by the dealer. In 2010, her 2nd car was $3400, a 2002 Dodge Neon, which was the rest of her savings and some put in by me. That car got totaled, and her 3rd car is a 2002 Jeep Cherokee (her choice, paid with money she received from a savings acct my aunt had for her to the tune of $2500). DS will get his license in 3 months, and we're planning on spending somewhere around $3000 for a car for him. He is 6'4 and still growing so we'll have to find something for him to fit in comfortably! My kids have never had to drive far to work or school, so for their first car, I have been ok with what they've had.
I guess we fall right in with most posters on here (so far). I was feeling like we were gypping our kids.

 

[leahjade]

I don't have teenage children, but when I turned 16 my parents said they would match whatever I saved

That's what we did - kids appreciate and take care of things more when they have some "skin in the game!"