Teenage driver: Help me, Oppo

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 03/23/2018 at 00:24 • Filed to: None

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As most of you know, my 17 year old totaled our 2001 Sport Trac. But then some crazy shit happend.

Insurance gave us $6k for a car I thought was worth 4 at most. I have mixed feelings about this. When I was 18, I wrecked my car, a 1981 Sparlingco drop top Celica more rare than a Sunchaser. Part of my pain was replacing my unicorn (I spent 3 summers on the road crew for that car) with a 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon.

I lack the words to express how much I hated that car. It awful, and the day I replaced it with an 87 Integra was a true day of joy.

A part of me thinks he should get a hunk of shit.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 00:38

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A 1996 Camry sedan with 150k miles costs less than two grand.

Wacko > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 00:38

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What does he want?

Can’t you use the six grand on the Tbird ?

What are you thinking?

PS9 > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 00:41

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They know your profession and were afraid you’d come after them if they shortchanged you.

whatisthatsound > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 00:44

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Anytime I have this discussion with parents I show crash test videos of 90s cars vs todays. I imagine you’ve seen them too, the evidence is pretty convincing.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 00:47

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Easy - tell him you’ll match what he puts into a used car, dollar for dollar up to 6 grand. You don’t want him rolling around in a literal deathtrap, but you need to make sure he puts in the elbow grease and gets the hint that cars don’t grow on trees.

The catch (for him)- he has a 2 grand minimum buy-in. Then you’re spending 4 grand on a used car (or 3grand on a car + a grand on tires, maintenance, repairs, etc...you know the game). You can get some pretty rock solid cars for 4-5 grand. Don’t know what I;d do if his plan was to modify or fix up a more damaged car, but you can cross that bridge if you get to it.

I’d just keep the rest of the cash as bail-out or emergency funds but not tell him.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 00:49

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$4k for a car for him, $2k for the T-Bird?

whatisthatsound > whatisthatsound 03/23/2018 at 00:51

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That being said, an AWD Chevy Astro tri door, you know because safety at drive ins.

smobgirl > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 00:54

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I’ll sell him a badly hail-damaged Abarth if you can source me a clown shoe to drive home.

Svend > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 00:55

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What like a chromed, stanced JDM-esque ricer with a fart can and dump valves?

Gotcha back Jack,

Or something beige or Jewish-beige (gold).

pip bip - choose Corrour > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 00:55

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Get him a Chev Cavalier



Tristan > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 01:10

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Volvo or Saab. Unique, cheap, ridiculously safe, not flashy, reasonably reliable. I can’t really think of anything really shitty that won’t also get him killed/injured if he continues his inattentive driving. Whatever you get, make it a manual. It helps keep your attention focused on driving, and it’s hard to have a phone in your hand when your hand’s full of shifter.

promoted by the color red > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 01:12

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I vote you buy two cars: an ‘80s 5MT Toyota 4Runner or pickup for you and so you can teach him stick (if necessary) and then make him chip in some money for the rest towards a “newer” car as otherwise suggested.

Having driven a ‘90s car in modern traffic, I spent more time in fear of getting run over than anything else.I think a mid-’00s Mazda3 or Corolla/Matrix XRS is what he needs. They’re cheap, safe, practical, and do what Corollas do without the soul-crushing sadness of the base model.

CompactLuxuryFan > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 01:18

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Just because it’s not an old turd doesn’t mean it can’t be awful  Sounds like the perfect candidate for one of those $50/mo stripper Jetta 2.slow deals. Maybe a Fiat 500e but that would be too exciting I feel.

You can go reasonably nice and safe while still making sure it’s not what he wants so there are still consequences for his actions. Definitely would not get an early 2000s SUV, as that is both unsafe and satisfying.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 01:25

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I’d be thinking newish penalty box Corolla, Focus, Cruze. They can all be had for well under what you got, are functional, but not great. Make sure to get the stripped down base model sedan, no bells, no whistles, no power anything...

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/23/2018 at 03:16

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As late model base Impreza as they can get, because slowness and safety.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 03/23/2018 at 03:21

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good option.

InFierority Complex > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 03:34

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https://www.nexcarclovis.com/mobile/mdetails.aspx?vid=16115604

Is car. Will do unexciting car things well. That said, teens will still do teen stuff anyways.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 06:38

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What about something mid 2000s GM...an Olds Alero or some Saturn or some such...? Not amazing at all, but reliable and safe enough?

punkgoose17 > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 06:54

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I agree with getting him a turd. A Buick Century would be aweful and very uncool.

Long-Voyager > punkgoose17 03/23/2018 at 07:12

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Counterpoint: A Buick Century (pre 96) is an awesome ride. Comfortable, reliable, and actually quite fun with the 3300/4-speed combo.

Long-Voyager > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 07:14

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Make him work and buy his next car himself. Period.

Joe6pack > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 07:20

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Used LEAF. Look for one that has had the battery replaced. He can’t go far and he can’t go fast.

Kiltedpadre > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 07:31

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Looks like a 2004 Rav 4 with the optional side airbags is the best safe bet. It was the first vehicle to get good ratings in both front and side impact tests.

You could probably go a little newer at the same price point for a Toyota Echo and get similar safety ratings with more of a penalty box feel.

Hell, you might find a 2-3 year old Mitsubishi Mirage for less than your insurance payout.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 07:46

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Slow (180 hp in a 5500-lb SUV)

Durable

Safe enough - later models have airbags

Terrible gas mileage

Unsatisfying to drive on highways

Not super comfy (seats are high up and stiff)

Alternately:

All of the above without the off road ability and horrible gas mileage.

Decent examples of either can be had around $6k

OPPOsaurus WRX > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 07:51

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WHAT?!?! i missed that. I guess your not going to want the speaker box any more.

Chuckles > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 07:51

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Teenagers should drive cars that are safe and boring, especially if those teenagers have already totalled a car. Teenage driving is about learning to embrace whatever awful car you have to drive. He’s got the whole rest of his life to drive cars that he likes.

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 08:35

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If it’s going to be his car I might suggest letting him pick his poison. Lets say you give him $4k to find a car newer than X year and it can’t cost more in insurance than the last car. That insurance thing is what kept me from buying a VR-6 Jetta when I was 16 (which was 2 years after Fast and Furious came out). Might be why I’m still around. Also taught me a lot about insurance I had never thought about

f86sabre > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 09:01

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Chevy Mailibu or a Prius C. We all talk about the cars around here that make us go “ugh”. They are still perfectly safe and reliable enough. They just have no cool factor. One of those.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 11:15

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2003 Dodge Stratus. We had one and it was bulletproof. But it was actually relatively fun to drive, but at the same time it’s an old Dodge.

RallyWrench > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 12:38

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Early 2000s Volvo V70, 2.4L non turbo. Safe, slow, reliable, hated by kids everywhere. Also room for his shit (he’s a musician, right?). The turbos actually haul ass, don’t want that.

Good luck in Monterey btw, just saw your other post.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 14:01

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A part of me thinks he should get a hunk of shit.

All of me thinks you are correct and a ‘79 Cutlass Salon would be perfect.

Otherwise, Nissan Versa. There should be essentially nothing cool about his next car.

Die-Trying > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 15:41

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old truck life........

part of me says get him a pile of junk old car. something that is not valuable, that wont be crushing when it gets hit, something safe.....

the other part of me says just give him the T bird. in that line of thinking, you tell him “this is THE last nice/unique car that EYE will buy FOR you. you wreck it, and it is done, youre walking until you can come up with enough cash to replace it”...... basically give him the RESPONSIBILITY of not wadding it up.

its hard to appreciate nice things until you have had nice things. its hard to appreciate things that are just handed to you. tough decision for sure......

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 16:18

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Well maybe a somewhat reliable hunk of shit but yeah.

MM54 > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 18:26

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Why isn’t he buying it? Already wrecked the one you (very generously) gave him. Insurance reimbursed you for his learning experience.

MM54 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/23/2018 at 18:27

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I like this

daender > ImmoralMinority 03/23/2018 at 20:27

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The answer is a Miata? If you need to give him some additional safety then go buy a non-intrusive yet proper rollbar for it. 4k$ can buy a decent 1.8L NA with money to spare for maintenance (force him to work on it, they’re not bad to work on) and said rollbar. He’s going to learn to be a careful driver because he’s in such a small car and he doesn’t have a lot of horsepower to work with. Throw in the Tire Rack Street Survival School and a few autocrosses and he’ll have a good grasp on the handling limits of the car and some good defensive driving techniques. Also, it’s a two-seater so he won’t be the go-to taxi if he wants to go out with friends. I used mine as the grocery-getter for myself and my roommate in college, you can pack a lot into the trunk and passenger foot well.

That said, I heavily agree with themanwithsauce , match whatever he wants to spend on a vehicle...just remind him that fuel, insurance, and maintenance aren’t free. Or make him buy his own car but it’s a chancier dice roll on if it’ll be safe or not.

Bummer to hear about the Sport Trac, didn’t know what happened to it until now but good to know it kept you boy safe.

Alternative answer: Mazda3.

Jayvincent > Long-Voyager 03/24/2018 at 09:29

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counterpoint - no running examples of pre 1996 Buick centuries exist because electrical gremlins let all the pixie magic out... based on a single data point, ‘95 Buick Regal Custom 3800. I agree with your premise, though, it was a great ride

Jayvincent > Chuckles 03/24/2018 at 09:33

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this is how my son progressed from Cobalt to Ranger to Scion Tc... although he didn’t crash the cobalt, he did beat it to death. He begged for the Ranger, quickly tired of it, had to kick in his own money for the Tc, but he learned to value and respect the car he had to earn

Long-Voyager > Jayvincent 03/26/2018 at 07:04

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Anecdote to your Anecdote:

I just sold my 1990 Century 2 years ago. My dad still daily drives his 1995 Century today. 345k and still looks showroom, has needed nothing outside regular maintenance.

The Regal had a lot more electronics than the Century, so using it for a gauge on the Century’s issues doesn’t work, they’re not the same car.

CaptDale - is secretly British > ImmoralMinority 04/03/2018 at 11:26

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Well fuck, I didn’t see this post.