I need ideas for a $15,000 car for an 18 year old

[GenXer]

Do you love your kid and value your money?

If yes
1. Used Toyota Corolla
2. Used Honda Civic
3. New Hyundai elantra

If no
1. Used Mercedes S class
2. Used BMW 7 series
3. Used Jaguar X Type
4. Jeep Compass or anything owned by FIAT at this point

[chenry]

My Sons first car was a last generation toyota corolla -

• safe
• reliable
• not fast enough to get into much trouble
• normally aspirated
• decent insurance premium
• great resale
• cheap to maintain
• great mpg

But it had a CVT...i truly despise CVT transmissions

Wonderful first car

[osteome]

Honda CRV: they made and sold so many of them that they are easy to find in the used market and cross shop them at dealers. I had one as the winter car to my former M3 and our son has one now. AWD, reliable, safe, and adequately underpowered to keep the kid and the insurance company in balance.

If you want something with the same formula but with a stick, then look at a used Honda Fit. It will be a little smaller and FWD, but is incredibly well packaged.

Our first CRV was a stick, but alas that is not longer an option. Living in Germany at the moment, does make a tad bit jealous of the diesel stick CRVs that the Europeans got.

[Captain Blood]

Update: I ended up getting one twin a Honda civic, gray, nice car. The other one got a Hyundai Elantra, A total cream puff with less than 20,000 miles on it. Dark red. And get this, when totaled last year by hail storm, we got $18,000 for it, and that would not buy as nice a car as the original. We went with the same car, except black, with 50,000 miles on it.

[M-technik-3]

Nothing special.

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by Captain Blood

when totaled last year by hail storm, we got $18,000 for it, and that would not buy as nice a car as the original.

Do you mean with zero miles brand new because that is not what they are legally bound to do.

Most insurance companies have to by law give you the replacement value of the car. They say it is worth 10k a comparable one with your options and miles is 15k. If you have an option that is rare this really plays into your favor. They have to pay you 15k the replacement value of the car. That is why you have insurance. I have argued with insurance many time when they try to give you crap for your car. Another way they rape customers.

The question is literally find me the make model miles and options for the price you are giving me. They rarely do.

[StradaRedlands]

Late to conversation, but three options I think of:
Mazda 3 w/ MT if they like dependable yet sporty.
Crosstrek w/ MT if they are into the REI lifestyle.
Finally, Prius: Ubiquitous, low maintenance, slow AF, great mileage, decent insurance costs.
That said, I did the exact opposite and got my kid a high mileage E91 slushbox.

[gunsmoker]

Toyota Corolla safe? Seriously? I was given such a loaner a few years back and on a twisty road I found myself driving on 2 wheels. Then I had a Scion tC. The rear end of that thing was so light that I spun on a highway once in dry weather and a couple of times in winter conditions. A stiffer ARB fixed the problem. I think toyotas are among the most unsafe cars due to compromized handling in favor of ride quality. I bought my son a Veloster Turbo for 15k when he got his driver's license.

[Drop the hammer]

Honda Civic SI manual. Start the kids off with something that develops their love of a manual transmission.
15k will get you a decent one in mint condition. My kid was reluctant at first with the manual, he didn’t understand why all vehicles are not autos. But after a month of driving it, he said he now understands how driving a manual is way more an engaging experience. Patted myself on the back when I heard that!

[dangerus_car]

Originally Posted by Torgus

Do you mean with zero miles brand new because that is not what they are legally bound to do.

Most insurance companies have to by law give you the replacement value of the car. They say it is worth 10k a comparable one with your options and miles is 15k. If you have an option that is rare this really plays into your favor. They have to pay you 15k the replacement value of the car. That is why you have insurance. I have argued with insurance many time when they try to give you crap for your car. Another way they rape customers.

The question is literally find me the make model miles and options for the price you are giving me. They rarely do.

question about insurance replacement, is it possible when a car is totaled, you can ask insurance to replace you with the same car year and model (probably different mileage and color) and not just accepting cash options?

so in his case, i would rather get the exact car with the same mileage rather than 50k mileage, definitely a loss on my end when my car is newer

[Hegge]

Originally Posted by Drop the hammer

Honda Civic SI manual. Start the kids off with something that develops their love of a manual transmission.
15k will get you a decent one in mint condition. My kid was reluctant at first with the manual, he didn’t understand why all vehicles are not autos. But after a month of driving it, he said he now understands how driving a manual is way more an engaging experience. Patted myself on the back when I heard that!

Terrible idea. New cars won’t be offered with a manual transmission too much longer.

[mdf]

Old thread but for anyone who might be shopping with a similar budget or for a teen: Consumer Reports has an article "Best Used Cars for Teens Under $20,000" available via MSN https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/rese...000/ar-AAXJTWa .

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by Hegge

Terrible idea. New cars won’t be offered with a manual transmission too much longer.

It's not like driving a manual prevents you from driving any other car...

Most of us drive cars with IC engines, and they won't be for sale that much longer

[e90335e36m3]

I was looking for a DD back in 2015, wanted to spend as little as possible (ideally under $10K), for as low a mileage car as possible, features did not really matter, just wanted a DD that would be reliable for a while.
Didn't take me long to find a 2014 Chevy Sonic, 9K miles, 10K dollars. As base as it gets, no leather, no power anything (even windows), manual transmission (not my first choice for a DD). But it fit the bill, bought it in cash on the spot, liability insurance only.
This car is pretty practical, gets 37 MPG, has been reliable (maybe $1,000 spent in non-maintenance care). I'm sitting at 87K miles, the car was purchased in TX, spent a year and a half in CT and harsh winters, then Charlotte and San Diego.
Best DD ever and don't have any plans to sell. Will buy again, only in automatic form.

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by dangerus_car

question about insurance replacement, is it possible when a car is totaled, you can ask insurance to replace you with the same car year and model (probably different mileage and color) and not just accepting cash options?

so in his case, i would rather get the exact car with the same mileage rather than 50k mileage, definitely a loss on my end when my car is newer

I mean they are not going to buy and register a car for you.

They will give you the cash to replace the car. All you have to do is talk to them. Every time it was a VERY easy process. I picked a 200 mile radius and then looked for cars for sale with my EXACT options. Then sent them the links. They have tried to screw me by over 5k before.

Never take the 1st offer in almost anything in life. Everything is negotiable.

[SpacegrayMe90]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I say a manual car and make it a car not a truck/suv/crossover

A manual keeps people from being stupid. You can't drive it when intoxicated. Your jackass friends can't drive it either because they don't know how to. You can't eat pizza or do your makeup while driving a stick shift either

A car also helps avoid people from doing stupid things. In a car you have a better feel for your mortality when 18 wheelers pass you by.

There are plenty of cars with manuals in your price range, Mini Coopers, Civics, etc

Spot on! However, you do have idiot drunks who have crashed a manual.

[CarsAndGuitars]

The newest / best condition Honda or Hyundai you can find in your budget. Can't go wrong with a later model Civic, CRV, Sonata, or Elantra. Model is mostly subjective at this point to your likes and needs.

Someone mentioned the CVT transmission, which I also despise. That said, two of my kids (young adults) drive civics and are very happy with them. So beyond gentle suggestions, I've learned not to project my fairly strong car preferences / opinions onto my kids. I just limit my advice to guiding them towards quality and reliability, but of their liking.

[Sublime00]

Honda Fit w/ stick.
Mazda 3 hatch
IS250/IS300/IS350.

[danny387]

Meh - too late to the party it seems, but Subaru WRX or legacy would have both fit well here.

[stein_325i]

Two years later and now in the current market $15k gets you jack s*** compared to early pandemic prices. I just saw a POS Fiesta with 60k miles on it for $16k today! They couldn't sell these for that brand new!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by e90335e36m3

I was looking for a DD back in 2015, wanted to spend as little as possible (ideally under $10K), for as low a mileage car as possible, features did not really matter, just wanted a DD that would be reliable for a while.
Didn't take me long to find a 2014 Chevy Sonic, 9K miles, 10K dollars. As base as it gets, no leather, no power anything (even windows), manual transmission (not my first choice for a DD). But it fit the bill, bought it in cash on the spot, liability insurance only.
This car is pretty practical, gets 37 MPG, has been reliable (maybe $1,000 spent in non-maintenance care). I'm sitting at 87K miles, the car was purchased in TX, spent a year and a half in CT and harsh winters, then Charlotte and San Diego.
Best DD ever and don't have any plans to sell. Will buy again, only in automatic form.

Nothing wrong with that! Your post reminded me of this article just posted last week: https://www.theautopian.com/the-key-...r-is-the-king/

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I say a manual car and make it a car not a truck/suv/crossover

A manual keeps people from being stupid. You can't drive it when intoxicated. Your jackass friends can't drive it either because they don't know how to. You can't eat pizza or do your makeup while driving a stick shift either

A car also helps avoid people from doing stupid things. In a car you have a better feel for your mortality when 18 wheelers pass you by.

There are plenty of cars with manuals in your price range, Mini Coopers, Civics, etc

I know this post is 2 years old but...What? Can't drive a manual when intoxicated? LOL. I beg to differ.