My two 16 YO boys are starting out on our 2015 Sequoia. Next year, that will probably go to our daughter and I'm thinking about a base trim level Ram 1500 for the boys to share at that point. I'd also consider an F150 STX if Ford prices would get just a little more reasonable.

Tim Weaver said:

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atag said:

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CanyonAg77 said:

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Side issue. Does your daughter's definition of cool line up with yours? I've seen some parents buy cool cars for kids, that the kids proceeded to treat like crap, because the kid didn't like the car

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Yeah pretty much. Unfortunately German cars are high up the list on cool factor. I do like Subaru tho....I also like that rav4.

As far as insurance goes, I'm buying the car and her dad is paying for insurance lol....so that's less a concern.

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Golf/Rabbits/Jetta with the 2.5L are pretty reliable I think. The 20-teens models are a lot nicer on the inside vs most anything else from other car makers. VW has been doing a pretty good job on interior fit and finish.

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She likes those models actually. My mom had a passat that was a great car. Her dream car is a white vw bug but I have a few concerns with those so prob a no go there.

Bought my oldest daughter a Mercedes CLK 350. Totaled it within the first year.

Bought her a Camry, totaled it on the second wreck (not her fault).

Bought her another Mercedes, this time a bright red C300. Was hit twice in minor accidents, not her fault.

The only thing cool about her cars is that she is married now and I don't have to buy her a car anymore.

Naveronski said:

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RAV4 too!

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This is really the only answer anymore unless you stumble upon something really good in the Accord/Camry/CRV realm. She'll like driving it better than a car, it is at least marginally safer, and you'll get a dependable vehicle that will last a long time. Plus, if she has any activities like sports, band, cheer, etc., she can easily put all her gear back there. I dated and knew girls in HS that were in drill team that would have killed for a Rav4. They had all sorts of stuff strung out all over their (usually small) car.

In my neighborhood, kids gets Mazdas. I know nothing about Mazda but I see a lot them in multi car households. Lots of them.

JSKolache said:

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In my neighborhood, kids gets Mazdas. I know nothing about Mazda but I see a lot them in multi car households. Lots of them.

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Is there a Mazda dealer nearby?

Here in my medium sized Central Virginia town, there are more Volvos than I can count. It appears every middle - upper class household owns one.

Yes very visible Volvo dealer in town.

Our daughter has a hand me down 2017 Highlander and we feel good about safety and reliability.

She dented it before she even got her license in the mail so don't spend too much on the first car if you can help it.

Is t the visibility in those terrible? They are definitely cool.

If it were my daughter I'd buy her a used Mazda 3 w/ a manual transmission.

Yes it is but it is teaching her how to head check and be careful. It was certainly a consideration.

I bought a high mileage Jetta for my son's first car. By the time that I sold it 7 years later, we had spent more on parts and chasing electrical gremlins than the original purchase price.

We learned a lot about car repair and busted a few knuckles. By the end of the run, no one was sure what electrical gremlin would flare up to prevent him from using the vehicle.

I learned a lot and would not do that again even though I got a "great" deal on the original purchase price.

Buck Turgidson said:

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My two 16 YO boys are starting out on our 2015 Sequoia. Next year, that will probably go to our daughter and I'm thinking about a base trim level Ram 1500 for the boys to share at that point. I'd also consider an F150 STX if Ford prices would get just a little more reasonable.

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I'm still a few years out as my oldest is almost 9 but this is my thought as well. I'd like to get him a base single cab truck. I started in a 92 Chevy 1500 single cab stepside. Man I miss that truck.