practical first car

A popular question when growing up or raising a teenager is what their first car will be. Should they get something new, old, or maybe something that’s been in the family for a long time and are known to be dependable. My goal is to help you find out what would be perfect for you and your budget.

Lots of kids get “Mom’s old Corolla," but is that always the best choice? When it came time for me to get a car, I knew that I needed a truck because of my hobbies and interests like dirt bikes or working on cars, I needed something that could take me to the desert over the weekend. Lucky for me, my grandpa had a truck he wasn’t using anymore and I could take that without spending money on buying something new for myself. Not all kids are like that though, for instance, when my sister got her first car, our parents had the money to buy something. We could get her a fun, reliable car with high gas mileage and with enough seats to take a couple friends along for a ride.

A big problem when getting teens their first cars is the lack of communication between the parents and the child. Most kids seem to want a nice sports car or a super cute, new car and don’t realize the actual cost the parents will have to bear. However, parents tend to not realize that getting their kid something old does not always make it good, and might have unforeseen problems down the road. A good idea would be to find a car you like and discuss it with your parents to see if it is reasonable or not. Don’t forget that you will have to buy your own gas often and take that into accountability. Can you afford this car daily without the help or your parents?

Personally, I would rule out brand new cars all together, because when you inevitably have your first accident, you want to not worry about the cost of damage, or even about having to fix it right away. When I was growing up, people always told me “the child should never be older than their first car," and I think this applies well.

You want to like the “personality” of your first car. It's a unique experience to bond with it and form the respect of the road and for driving. New cars make driving feel easy and risk-free when it isn't. Then again, if you find a good, reliable, cheap car that is decently new, like a Civic, Camry, or even early 2000s pickups, go for it.

I can’t pick your car for you, or even tell you what the best starter car is, because there isn’t one. However, when searching for it, keep in mind: does it have good gas mileage? Is it easy to maneuver? Is it practical to drive every day as a high schooler? Is it tough enough to survive a slight crash or a major one?

and, finally, do your parents agree with your decision?

You will never get all of those and save money, but if you put time and effort into it instead of going out and getting the first thing you see, you’ll learn to love your car. Whether you’re a car person or not you will never forget your first car.