BUYING A CAR FOR YOUR TEENAGER
Teen drivers are the most dangerous drivers of all
age groups. The most important thing to consider when buying
your child their first car is safety. Below are some
basic tips that will help you select the right car for
your child's needs, at the right price.
Avoid buying Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and smaller
cars
SUVs and small cars are not recommended for first time
buyers. SUVs have a higher center of mass, resulting in
more difficult handling. Rollover accidents are likely
as a result of unexpected maneuvering caused by
distractions, horsing around or any other disruption
common amongst teens.
Teenagers are inexperienced drivers. As a result, kids
between the ages of 18-21 get into more accidents than
any other age group in America. Compact cars do not
offer as much protection as a bigger automobiles.
Therefore, new drivers should have a larger size car
with stable handling characteristics.
Sports cars are a 'no-no'
The chances for getting into a speed related
accident increase greatly when you put a teenager behind
the wheel of sports vehicle or a muscle car. Speed =
reckless driving.
Consider buying a new car
Just because a 1975 Malibu is bigger than a 2005
Honda, that does not mean it is safer. No
matter how you slice it, newer cars offer more
protection. Not only do they offer better structural
crash protection, almost all new cars come with airbags
and anti-lock brakes. Newer vehicles also have less
mechanical and component problems that can result in the
vehicle going out of control.
Choose a make offering decent performance, but not
high performance
You don't want a car that is too weak or one that
has so much power that it encourages speed and reckless
driving. You want to choose a car that is moderate in
performance. Specifically a vehicle that can make
passing maneuvers and merging with ease.
New drivers should always drive automatic
First time drivers are going to have to learn how to
deal with everyday driving distractions as well as
common teenage distractions (changing the radio,
talking, horsing around, etc.) and should not have to
worry about 'shifting' all the time.
Here is what we recommend for first time drivers...
Star Loan Services suggests the Honda Accord, Nissan
Maxima or the Ford Taurus for new teen drivers. These
cars are midsized sedans that offer just the right
amount of power and great protection. You can also check
on ConsumerReports.org for more input on vehicles for
first time drivers.
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