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Hooniverse Asks: What’s the best “first car”?

Jeff Glucker

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My daughter will be five in a few months time. She’s quite a bit away from an age where I need to worry about her driving. Still, I think about random stuff like this and I’m curious what her first car will be.

What makes a good first car? Something economical, certainly. But also a vehicle that’s safe. You have to walk the line between those two, leaning as much towards safety as you can afford. Thankfully, most cars produced in the last few years are incredibly safe. So well-maintained used cars of the future should be great for first-time drivers.

Still, I’d like to believe my daughter also won’t want something boring. To that end there are a number of cars that could be a great first car. Maybe a Volkswagen GTI or a Subaru Crosstrek? Perhaps some fancy used wagon will be dirt cheap in the future and she will inherit my love of the longroof. Regardless, I hope it will be an enjoyable process for both of us and she gets something her mom and I deem safe and affordable… and she loves to drive.

Maybe my own wagon will be done by then? Regardless, what do you think would be a good first car for someone now, or 10+ years from now?

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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47 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What’s the best “first car”?”

  1. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Something that hits the odd sweet spot between disposable, yet lovable and reliable. I guess your daughter will be a car person, no other option. For my own kids, I would point to versatility rather than going fast, so a van or wagon that can carry whatever they want to take on their newfound freedom trips makes sense.

    Also: Good visibility. My first car was a cube that allowed me to park swiftly and with good control, hardly ever hitting anything.

    https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDUwWDYwMA==/z/LAQAAOSwIxVcmYJQ/$_10.JPG

    Reply
  2. neight428 Avatar
    neight428

    I’d advocate for something disposable with dents already installed. I’m ~4 years out from this situation, and while I might hand down the 4R eventually, I have come to the realization that it will likely still be in good condition and quite valuable at that time. A Camry with 125K on the clock should do.

    Reply
  3. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    Something with a cop motor, a 440-cubic-inch plant, cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. Preferably a model made before catalytic converters so it’ll run good on regular gas.

    Cop cars have the right blend of performance, safety, depreciation, durability, and maintenance history. if you choose wisely, a front push bar, too. And wherever you go, other drivers are going to drive cautiously, about 10% under the speed limit.

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I’m getting visions of Blues Brothers chase scenes.

      Reply
    2. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Don’t fix the cigarette lighter? (can’t charge a phone!)

      Reply
      1. 0A5599 Avatar
        0A5599

        I just thought of the ideal cop car: a 1A2 Caprice. Body-on-frame, with stab-proof seats. Where else are you going to find a longroof with such a combination of safety features and durability?

        Reply
        1. outback_ute Avatar
          outback_ute

          May as well go for a Tahoe/Suburban at that point? Especially if you subscribe to movie car physics.

          Reply
    3. Scoutdude Avatar
      Scoutdude

      I subscribe to that school of thought, more or less. My Son got a hand me down Grand Marquis, though it lacked HPP to give it the performance cred, though in the mean time we did at the HPP sway bars for an improvement in handling. Now my Daughter got a P71 from auction and she is still driving it 60k miles later. OK she currently isn’t driving it since she has moved to Spain to teach English for a year, however she did drive it when she was home for Christmas. They both love their cars, though they just don’t work at getting people out of your way, making them drop their phones and put on their seat belts like they used to.

      Reply
  4. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    My first car was a ’66 Mercury Comet with a 390 big block and three-on-the-tree. As a kid, I thought it was awesome. As an adult, I still think it’s awesome. But as a parent? No way would I put my kid in something like that. Too much power, too little safety. Even I now look at the lap belts and think about my head hitting the steering wheel. And the lack of B pillars that I thought made the hardtop look so cool with the windows down, now I see as only an insubstantial roof in the event of a rollover. Parenthood sobers you up– kids are kryptonite.

    My son wishes he could drive my ’87 535i, but my wife forbids it. I felt the late 80’s German was relatively safe for its day, but she wants our son in a fairly modern car with airbags and stability control at a minimum. So, he drives her old XC90– her “Swedish Tank”.

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      So…worst case scenery is nurturing a dislike for Swedish rational-o-boxes?

      There was a single car accident in Norway this summer that was reported in the news with five dead people. It struck me how rare so severe crashes had become, and others, too, reacted to that when we heard the news at work. Turns out, it was a classic, an old Cadillac. It’s a horrible reminder about the downside of an otherwise great hobby.

      Reply
    2. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      So…worst case scenery is nurturing a dislike for Swedish rational-o-boxes?

      There was a single car accident in Norway this summer that was reported in the news with five dead people. It struck me how rare so severe crashes had become, and others, too, reacted to that when we heard the news at work. Turns out, it was a classic, an old Cadillac. It’s a horrible reminder about the downside of an otherwise great hobby.

      Reply
    3. mdharrell Avatar
      mdharrell

      You had lap belts in your first car? My parents gave me a beltless ’59 Ford sedan as my first car without so much as even the questionable benefit of a padded dash. Clearly I turned out perfectly normal.

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        Clearly. Other than your proclivity for death traps, of course.

        Reply
        1. mdharrell Avatar
          mdharrell

          I like to think that much of the accumulated deathiness regularly escapes through the rust holes.

          Reply
      2. 0A5599 Avatar
        0A5599

        Your current ’59 Ford is among the safest cars you own.

        Reply
        1. mdharrell Avatar
          mdharrell

          True, although it may be edged out by the fact that, according to the club, there has never been a fatality in an HMV Freeway.

          Reply
          1. 0A5599 Avatar
            0A5599

            I think the club is wrong. I googled freeway fatality and plenty of results came back.

          2. mdharrell Avatar
            mdharrell

            “HMV” isn’t of much use as a search term, either, not to mention the joys of searching for relevant “KV” “Mini” material.

            https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/incoming/article8399467.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200/hmv.jpg

    4. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      So…worst case scenery is nurturing a dislike for Swedish rational-o-boxes?

      There was a single car accident in Norway this summer that was reported in the news with five dead people. It struck me how rare so severe crashes had become, and others, too, reacted to that when we heard the news at work. Turns out, it was a classic, an old Cadillac. It’s a horrible reminder about the downside of an otherwise great hobby.

      Reply
    5. 0A5599 Avatar
      0A5599

      I would put my kid into a 390 TOTT Comet if I had one available. The best way to learn to drive is toLEARN TO DRIVE. Let the traction control, ABS, and other crutches come later. I’m not saying to take that car around corners at unsafe speeds; quite the opposite–know that the car will put you in a lot of trouble if you lose control.

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        I like to think I would agree with you, because in my own experience, the more direct my connection to the car, the better. But when I think about my own kid, I really wouldn’t put him in the Mercury. He’s much more like his mother than me with regards to driving (which isn’t a compliment). I wanted to teach him to drive a stick on the Bimmer, but she won’t allow it. Despite the ABS, seat belts, disc brakes, etc., the lack of airbags and traction control mean it’s off-limits as far as she’s concerned.

        Reply
        1. 0A5599 Avatar
          0A5599

          She’s aware airbags can be very unsafe?
          https://www.nhtsa.gov/recall-spotlight/critical-warning-regarding-certain-honda-acura-mazda-and-ford-vehicles-takata-air

          Be sure to put him into a teen safety course, like Tire Rack’s Street Survival or Ford’s Driving Skills For Life, or something offered by the local track. It’s good to allow kids a controlled place to fail.

          https://youtu.be/jYHxM_LEeBw

          Reply
  5. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    The Crosstrek would be a perfect choice if the resale values weren’t so ridiculous. By the time a Crosstrek reaches typical “first car” money, it’ll be all but used up. If you are “buy my 16 year old a new car” affluent, a Crosstrek fits the bill nicely. Don’t buy a used Crosstrek. They are not a good value used.

    Reply
    1. danleym Avatar
      danleym

      We bought a new Crosstrek simply because of how much the used ones are.

      My oldest is 4. The thought has crossed my mind of passing the Crosstrek to him. At the rate we’re putting miles on it though, it my not be around anymore by then…

      Reply
      1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
        smalleyxb122

        Passing a Crosstrek you bought new down to your kid is the only way a Crosstrek makes financial sense as a first car. Solid strategy if it lasts long enough.

        Reply
      2. smalleyxb122 Avatar
        smalleyxb122

        Passing a Crosstrek you bought new down to your kid is the only way a Crosstrek makes financial sense as a first car. Solid strategy if it lasts long enough.

        Reply
        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          I don’t really get how they retain their value so well. Older Subarus still get oil consumption issues? They rust? The AWD system generates healthy maintenance costs? Seems like the lack of sensibly sized cars in the US marked is due to their respective customers buying them used, rather than new?

          Reply
  6. Kamil K Avatar
    Kamil K

    My first vehicle was a Jeep CJ-7. My daughter, now 12, loves Jeeps and already wants one. While these are not the safest, economical, or these days the cheapest, they’re great first cars.
    First, they are kind of slow. They are tough in small taps and have somewhat real bumpers. Visibility front and back is great – the front ends pretty much where the hood ends and the rear ends where the spare tire is. The two-door models are kinda small, so her Jeep won’t be used as friends’ bus.
    I told her she gets a new Jeep if she gets a full ride to college.

    Reply
    1. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      But not very tolerant of overly exuberant cornering that an inexperienced driver might attempt. My daughter really wanted a Jeep but the thought of her rolling it during an emergency avoidance maneuver gave me pause.

      It helped that any decent Wrangler was fairly expensive and still likely a maintenance nightmare.

      Reply
      1. Kamil K Avatar
        Kamil K

        I almost rolled mine. I was inexperienced and I was performing overly exuberant cornering maneuver. Had it up on two wheels entering a side street right by my high school. Didn’t do that again.

        Reply
    2. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I had installed a ‘glass body on my CJ-7, so I sold it when we had kids. The reinforced frame and roll cage was stout, but everything else would likely slice you to pieces in the event of an accident. My 17-yo would LOVE to have a Wrangler.

      Reply
  7. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    Part of me says Nissan Leaf – not work much used, not going to encourage heavy hooliganism, reasonably safe and reliable (plus, the shorter range should keep them pretty close to home). On the other hand, I’m not sure how much you want to risk getting biweekly calls that your kid forgot to plug it in again and needs picked up from wherever (although, that’s assuming they’re not already attuned to charging their devices at every possible opportunity).

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      The Norwegian Leaf forums are full of parents asking for advice for their kids’ new Leaf…s…s? For all the reasons you mention, and weak resale values, this is a good choice. But the Leaf is also pretty dead inside when it comes to driving pleasure. This either inhibits a love of driving to develop ever, or you have the proverbial light bulb popping up the day the kids drive a Honda, Porsche or just a lawnmower.

      Reply
    2. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      The Norwegian Leaf forums are full of parents asking for advice for their kids’ new Leaf…s…s? For all the reasons you mention, and weak resale values, this is a good choice. But the Leaf is also pretty dead inside when it comes to driving pleasure. This either inhibits a love of driving to develop ever, or you have the proverbial light bulb popping up the day the kids drive a Honda, Porsche or just a lawnmower.

      Reply
      1. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        At least for a North American perspective, unfortunately, it’d be very difficult to find something that simultaneously encourages a joy of driving without encouraging reckless driving, in addition to the perpetual threat of the many 6000lbs pickups running around (otherwise, I’d say something like my Mazda2, or a Fiesta with the Ecoboost triple).

        Reply
        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          Yes, that’s a real difference. You can’t beat physics. I am already scared for my boy especially, even if his driver’s license is still 10 years away. And that is not accounting for other drivers.

          Reply
        2. Jeff Glucker Avatar
          Jeff Glucker

          Fiesta is a good call

          Reply
      2. Lokki Avatar
        Lokki

        I kind of like the idea of a used Leaf for a first car. It ticks off a lot of boxes:

        Inexpensive.
        Small, so you’re not carting a lot of distracting friends around.
        Limited range – she’s not skipping classes at college and driving that Leaf off to San Francisco (like I did as a student).
        Cool factor – no one is going to tease her about her weird old car. This is more important to teens than you remember.
        Low maintenance So there’s nothing for her to have to remember…except to plug it in.

        Reply
  8. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    In 10 years? A 2015 Civic with a clutch. The stick will make it extra cheap.

    My older 2 girls got the best car about $2K could buy. That meant the oldest got a 1998 Escort 5 speed in 2012 and the middle a 2003 Protege in 2014. The youngest lucked out and got mom’s hand me down 2007 Prius Touring in 2018. When that was totalled last year, she got a $1,700 2002 Protege.

    While I understand the desire to put your kid in a car with the latest safety gizmos, I’m a big proponent of kids having a dirt cheap first car.

    Reply
    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Manual transmission is a good safety feature too, because it helps limit playing with gadgets while you’re driving.

      I’d go for a C-segment car at minimum (Civic/Golf/Corolla) and something the new driver has to part-pay for, so they have skin in the game.

      Reply
      1. salguod Avatar
        salguod

        Yep. I should say, however, in the interest of full disclosure, that Escort is the only manual that I bought for them. I tell them I’ll get the nicest car I can get for $2K. In the case of the Proteges, they’ve all been automatics.

        When I was buying for my oldest, the Escort was the hidden gem of the cheap used car world. Tough, economical, reliable and cheap. Now it’s the Protege, but those are disappearing too.

        I’m also generally amused when CR or AAA puts out a “best cars for kids” list. They’re typically $20K and up late model vehicles. Heck, i didn’t even spend that kind of money on my wife’s car, I’m sure not going to for my kids! (My wife drives a very nice base 2015 Accord Hybrid that she loves, in case you’re worried about her well being. It was $17K at 2 years old and 45K miles. :-D)

        Reply
        1. outback_ute Avatar
          outback_ute

          The local paper had a story on cars for new drivers (can’t find it online) and the first category was >$5k, and one of the nominations was the Holden Cruze which is a fairly trouble-plagued car.

          I’d recommend something up to about 10 years old, with curtain airbags, and spend more on making sure the new driver knows how to drive well/safely as in road skills not just car control.

          Reply
  9. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    I would say “3800-powered GM H-body”, but that’s more what were often the first cars for my cohort who started driving in ~1995… in either the parents’ old car, or maybe the car of a grandparent who wasn’t driving anymore. Or a few who just wanted something cheap, spacious, easy to get parts for, able to get 30 MPG highway without too much effort, yet heavy and structurally-sound enough that the crash that killed the car probably didn’t harm the occupants.

    Now I guess it’d be something on the Camcordibusionatavenger axis.

    Reply
  10. danleym Avatar
    danleym

    I highly recommend some sort of project- small or large. My first car was an AMC Spirit, which I still have. To be honest, it was probably too big of a project, but those 3 years spent in the garage with my dad are a lot of very fond memories. I’d like to do something similar with my boys.

    Reply
  11. Lokki Avatar
    Lokki

    Although I have no kids, I have always thought that the best first car for a teenage boy is a really badass 80’s Camaro… that doesn’t run, and which needs a LOT of work. All he has to do is fix ‘er up and get ‘er running. In the meantime he has to shlep around in mom’s SUV…. but he can tell all his friends about his cool car. Which he will never, ever, get running.

    Reply
    1. mdharrell Avatar
      mdharrell

      Oh, sure, it’s funny at first, but as the years turn into decades it becomes hilarious.

      Reply
  12. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    My answer used to be full sized late 1970s 4 door American sedan with a stock big block V-8. Make them pay for their own gas. With all of 150 HP they can’t get into too much trouble. With 7 mpg they can’t get far from home. It is big enough to bounce off most things in minor accidents. These are now getting hard to find.

    Reply