Getting my first car - help?

Question

Hi everyone I'm in a very difficult situation and I was hoping the Yahoo!Answers community could help me.

I am 16 years old and I have my Driving Instruction Permit. I've been having some trouble with driving because my family only has only one car which is a Toyota S.U.V. which is a hard car for me. It's big and bulky which makes it hard for me visualize where I am when it comes time to practice parallel parking or adjusting for proper lane position.

So my parents and I have decided to buy a smaller car for me so I can drive more easily. We've come down to two options within our financial price range:

1) The Hyundai Accent

2) The Toyota Yaris

My questions are:

1) Am I right in thinking that as a driving novice attempting to drive an S.U.V. is a next to impossible challenge?

2) What is your opnion on the cars we have chosen.

Thank you all so much.

Answer 1

Good enough cars, I find too, that you can get cars for a bit cheaper if you pay cash (I got a 4400 dollar car for 2700)

Answer 2

Yes you should get a small car for the test,I think you should get the Hyundai its easer and less expensive to fix if broke.

Answer 3

The Accent is an ok car but I would definitely go for the Yaris. Toyotas are about as reliable and trustworthy as you can get, and the Yaris gets great fuel economy too, so you won't spend all your money on gas.

I think you should drive what you;re comfortable with. Lots of people have learned to drive in huge beasts, but if your folks are gonna buy you something else, let them do it.

Answer 4

They are both ugly cars. But I would pick the Yaris because it's toyota. Toyota cars last long. Hyundai are sucky cars.

Answer 5

I think you are right.  A smaller car is easier to handle and will also have lower operating costs, which is important for a young person.  My son is 16 also, and he does not want to drive our truck or our stick shift car.

Bravo to you for thinking so carefully about this new responsibility in your life.

Answer 6

get a car you can see out of.  A lot of smaller cars are harder to see around than a big truck.

Answer 7

Buy a MOnster Truck

Answer 8

To answer your question:

1. No. It is a challenge. When I was 17, I learnt my driving using Toyota Sunny which is a moderate car. The instructor will teach you how to do a side parking and what to see, where to see and the feeling of your car.

Please remember that all parking size are almost the same according the size of the car. The most important is your skill of driving. Toyota SUV is a very good sport car....faster and steady!!! Since you are 16, I think you better take a smaller car.

2. Hyundai Accent is not bad, most people are driving, easily get spare part. The car is smaller than Toyota SUV, easier to handle.The price is cheaper.

Whereas, Toyota Harris...which I liked most, because the exterior/appearance is very outstanding, furthermore 1.5L, faster. The car size is slightly bigger that the Hyundai Accent. Easy to handle. The price is not cheaper than Hyundai Accent.

I don't know which model that you are taking....tough for me to give you more elaboration.

Are you going to choose manual?

More power....and not many people can handle.

or Auto?

Easier to handle.....and expensive if buy new.

Answer 9

UUMM i dont think thers anything wrong with a big SUV im 16 and hav had my license for 4 months and my parents bought me a nissan titan and i jacked it up and put some nice beefy tires on it and I have no problem driving it!!! I learned in my moms bmw though and it was way easier!! but go with the yaris! toyota is a waaaay better company and has waaaay better cars than Hyundai

Answer 10

1.  No because when i was just learning my uncle made me drive his truck all the time which was way bigger than my Altima.  i think it helped me become a better driver

2.  Toyota is more reliable but either will be easy to learn on

Answer 11

good questions

Answer 12

I learned to drive on a Ford Expedition, and a Ford F-250 and I think it was a little harder to learn on a larger car, but now that I have a Hyundai Elantra I certainly think that driving a car rather than an SUV is much easier. Now that I've learned how to drive both a car and a larger vehicle it's pretty easy to adjust either way. I have really liked my Hyundai, it has been a great car so far. I know that I sat in a Toyota Yaris and it was immediately out because it was enough smaller than the Hyundai Accent or Elantra (I sat in both, but ended up with the Elantra) so I didn't fit in it (I'm 5'11"). I have heard good things about both cars, so I think whatever you decide, they would both be a good car.  

Answer 13

Well in all honesty I learned in one of the most difficult vehicles to drive, a 93 Firebird Formula v8. Made for racing basically, so many blind spots! It was VERY hard to parallel park because you had to just know the car, you couldn't actually see much of anything. I am now an expert at driving my car, PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.! But, if you feel you want to try an easier car by all means go for it. It is all in what you want. :]

Answer 14

1) Am I right in thinking that as a driving novice attempting to drive an S.U.V. is a next to impossible challenge?

You'll will eventually learn.

2) What is your opnion on the cars we have chosen.

Both are good cars, but I would go with the Yaris. It's cheap, great on gas, and like most Toyota sedans, they are very, very reliable. The Yaris is a good car, but you should also consider the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa.