What's a good used car for a teen with a $10,000 budget?

[linnylu]

We are starting to look for a 3rd car for our family. We have 2 driving teens- ds18 and dd16. I'd like a car- not an SUV that is decent on gas, not too expensive to insure, is safe, and won't break the bank on repairs. Any thoughts on what make/model/year would fit these criteria?

 

[Owishingonastar]

10,000 for a first car for teens? I would consider look 2002-2005 chevy malibus. Good reliable cars, good mpg. and as long as they dont beat on their cars (which all teens do) they will be great. Cost is about 4-7000

 

[soccerchick]

I'd look at a used Ford Focus, Ford Fusion, Honda Civic or Toyotal Corolla. All get excellent gas mileage and have good reviews.

 

[PigletsPal2]

A Kia Rio? I was going to suggest a Sportage til I saw you said no SUVs...but it's just a LITTLE SUV! DGD loves hers.

Queen Colleen

 

[dakcp2001]

I would look on autotrader and see whats in the price range. That is actually a pretty high budget so you will be able to find a lot to choose from.

Then I would look at crash tests & safety ratings since teens need to be kept safe! Then when you find what you want, run a carfax. You might want to get a month unlimited carfax while shopping. I have had good luck with private sales over dealers.

What does your teen do? Are they into any sports that require an SUV? Do they ski or surf? Do you live in an area where you might need 4wd? Do they need 4 doors or a hatchback? Do they drive far, will they have other people in the car?

I had a great used Jeep Grand Cherokee, it took a lot of abuse and kept on keeping on til I resold it. I tend to lean towards bigger heavier safer cars. I know you dont want an suv, but I would go for a bigger car over a tiny smushable one.

 

[Philleigh]

A couple of weeks ago, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal in which the reporter came up with a list of the best used cars for teen drivers. (I remember because my car, a Subaru Legacy, came in #3.) I think the criteria was that they be under $20k, but it should still help. It's in my recycling bin at home, so I'll check it tonight and post the info.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Consumer Reports publishes an annual auto issue and identifies good used cars in various price ranges. Even if you don't get something from their list, you can use the magazine and/or annual book to determine which cars are good and which ones have problems. Please be aware that for a number of reasons the value of used cars has shot up a lot in the past year or so.

 

[englishteacha]

My mechanic recommends a Honda Civic as a good starter car. I must say, everyone I know with a Civic likes them and they're not very expensive to fix or to maintain. I've been driving a '97 Chevy Malibu. I like it a lot, but it now needs a lot of work. If I can find a used one in my very low price range, I would probably get it. (though a work friend has offered to sell me his used Lexus cheap!)

 

[MAH4546]

Why buy used when you can get a new Nissan Versa around that price - safe and reliable.

 

[SandrA9810]

Honda or Toyota. Both retain their value very well, and the parts are also very cheap to replace. Now you do want to have adequate insurance on them though, they are one of the highest theft vehicles pretty much nation wide.

My aunt has a 2000 Honda Civic that has a retail value of 5-7,000.
My bf's grandmother has a 2002 Toyota Corolla that has a value of nearly 10,000. She allowed some one else to drive her car recently, and they got into a front end accident. The repairs were over 7 grand, and it was still cheaper to repair than total it out.

And there's many owners that have put nearly 300,000 miles on their car. Plus really good gas mileage, even for the older ones.

 

[dfchelbay]

Check into the entire Honda line. Known for reliability and retaining value.

Consumer Reports Annual Buying Guide will tell you what are good buys.

 

[solfan68]

My 98 Civic is closing in on 200,000 miles. Easy on gas and has required minimal maintenance. Can't go wrong with a Honda.

 

[puffkin]

We drive a '06 Corolla that we bought new and LOVE it. Its KBB is around $9k now and it has side curtain airbags which were very important to us at the time (I believe they now come standard). There are definitely Corollas out there that are very safe and it is a great little car. I don't think you can go wrong with a Civic or Corolla!

ETA: The Corolla is my DH's car and I have a 2011 Rav4 but I still love driving the Corolla every now and then!

 

[Katy Belle]

Bookmarking! We have a teen that we will be purchasing a used car for in the next year.

 

[disfan07]

Honda.

My first car 4 years ago was a 2002 Honda accord. It was a great car and saved me in a head on T-bone collision. The car got totalled but I lived.

We got a used toyota camry in 2008 after that car was totalled. It ended up being one of teh recalled camrys and could not be fixed...long story short...we traded it in at carmax and got a 2007 Honda Civic.

I LOVE my honda civic. It's my baby. It's big enough that I feel safe in it (which was a huge thing after my accident) but it is still small enough that parking in a parking garage is pretty painless even in compact spots.

We used to be loyal toyota customers but after the recall fiasco in 2009/2010 we would trade in the other 2 toyotas we have if we could afford it but we just don't have the money to do it right now. We just don't trust toyota anymore.

 

[clh2]

A couple of weeks ago, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal in which the reporter came up with a list of the best used cars for teen drivers. (I remember because my car, a Subaru Legacy, came in #3.) I think the criteria was that they be under $20k, but it should still help. It's in my recycling bin at home, so I'll check it tonight and post the info.

My DH commented on this article too. I guess it included specific years/models. DD has a 10 or 11 yearl old Sable. Some sables are on the list, however, our specific year is not. (I'd help out - DH say the article at work, so no doubt it is long gone by now.)

ETA - here is a link to the article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703712504576244871890273248.html#project%3DSLIDESHOW08%26s%3DSB10001424052748703806304576244982648013452%26articleTabs%3Darticle

 

[Sagginit]

my starter car out of college was a 92 honda accord, still have it! i knew several people in college that had the same car. my friend has a ford fusion she just got and loves it. i have also heard good things about toyotas.

i would avoid mustangs, knew two people who had them used and they turned into money pits after a few years. you also get what you pay for, my roomie has a kia and it keeps needing repairs. i know someone who had a suzuki, a few years after having it they just donated it because it kept breaking down and wasn't worth much.

bigger seems safer, but i knew girls who had SUVS and admitted they could not always see around them and often came close to hitting things that someone in a honda could easily see.

 

[shortbun]

I know I have about the same budget but I'm going to be putting safety as my #1 priority. I just don't feel that one of those tiny, itsy-bitsy cars is a good choice for teens who tend to be accident prone-according to insurance companies. My agent says go for safety, cost of parts and reliability of the specific car. My son wants a 300M. Don't ask me why, I have no idea 'cause they seem like a realtor car to me but that's what he wants, lol! I'm watching for a Lexus, Volvo, Accord, Subaru all for safety.

 

[Fyrefly]

Joining the "I have a stupidly old Honda Accord" party. I'm driving a '91 Accord.

Granted they don't make them quite as fantastically as they used to (1990 through 93 or 94 are considered the best years of the brand I think) but they are still fantastic cars. A Civic or an Accord would be great. I'd go Accord if you anticipate lots of friends going places in a group or space to move things to college, etc. Civics are a bit tight, IMHO.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

Both of my daughters had a Chevy Cavalier as their first car - a 1997 and a 2001. We still have the 2001 with over 100K miles on it and lately I drive it a lot more than my Chevy Tahoe - we sold the 1997 when it had 180K miles on it. Very dependable and very low maintenance on both. I think the Cobalt replaced them a few years back. I have always heard good things about Hondas but my BIL works at the Honda plant here in Alabama - he drives a Chevy.......