I'm turning 16 and looking for a car! Any ideas what I should get?

Question

I am turning 16 in December but my Grandpa wants to take me to buy a new car soon. I can spend $30,000. I want it to be small and cute, but safe. Any ideas of a good first car?

Answer 1

Give me 15K to help my fix up my Z, and then go get a 5 speed neon to beat on. Or, if you aren't to hot on that, my friend has a VW rabbit, and she seems to like it alot, it's well under 30K if im not mistaken, but a nice car nonetheless.

Answer 2

the scion xA

its small and cute

great on gas

and affordable

http://www.edmunds.com/scion/xa/review.h...

Answer 3

nissan altima

nissan altima coupe

nissan maxima

honda civic

Answer 4

$30,000 for your first car!!

You have a great Grandad, does he want another Grandchild, I am up for grabs!!

Answer 5

A 2008 SAAB 9-3 (Aero, if you can sweet talk grandpa into a few extra dollars towards your car). Definitely. They are fast and incredibly safe. As of 2003, they officially beat Volvo as the safest vehicles on the road (both here in the US and in Sweden, where both originate). The Volvo S40 is also a great little car with plenty of pep and an excellent reputation for safety. Fuel economy on both are above average. And I believe the 9-3 achieves almost 30 highway miles per gallon.

Answer 6

Jeez, $30K.  My first house didn't cost that.  I'd suggest a hybrid, or full electric if you can find one.  Serious.  By the time you're 25, I'm not sure gas will even be available.  I know that sounds like 'the sky is falling' talk, but i'm very concerned about the price of gas.

Answer 7

Will you have to pay for your own fuel? Try a hybrid, the Honda Civic hybrid is pretty nice and cheap with lots of add-ons (Like GPS).

If it's your first car you actually probably don't want anything too small (like a Miata) because if you get into a wreck in it.. It won't be pretty. :x

Answer 8

check out these cars, equipped with ABS brakes, side curtain air bags and ESC stability control these are the safest and most reliable.

Acura RSX & TSX

Ford Fusion

Honda

Accord 4cyl

CR-V EX 05^

Civic EX

Fit

Hyundai

Sonata 4cyl 06^

Tucson

Kia Optima 06^

Mazda3

Mercury Milan

Pontiac Vibe 06 & 07

Subaru

Impreza (not WRX)

Forester (not XT)

Toyota

Camry 4cyl

Corolla

Matrix 06 & 07

Answer 9

Go for a car that is at least one year old and used because when you buy a new one it's resale value drops as soon as you drive off the lot. For a truck that is 2,000 dollars just as soon as you drive off. Most of the time if it is used and only a year old it was a lease car and still in great shape and low mileage.

Answer 10

Buy a Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, or Honda Civic.  All get great gas mileage, which is obviously important nowadays, and are far more reliable than other brands out there.  You need to pay attention to what types of vehicles are most likely to cost you the most in maintenance once they are out of warranty after the first few years.

Or, ask you Grandpa for the money, buy yourself one of the same models listed above but about 4 or 5 years old already and put the rest of the money into a high-yield savings account like ING and let it earn interest.  The interest alone will most likely pay for any repairs you might need to provide for the vehicle down the road, plus you've got a nice start to your nest egg.