Suggestions?

Texas

 

Will it be for sale when the taco arrives?

 

Oh, well, then…

definitely:

 

FWD manual CR-V, Civic, Corolla, Matrix, whatever Honda you can find, or Toyota if you can’t find that, that’s been maintained and you’ll be good to go.

That said, I’d have been STOKED to have as nice of a truck as a ‘07 Tacoma you posted as a first car. I got a Mazda B4000 as my first truck, and a Tacoma would have been appreciated haha.

 

I'm actually thinking of giving it to my grandkid, who is 17 and will get her license this year. It's the perfect vehicle for a high school kid--13 years old, easy on gas, has a few nicks but overall in great shape, leather seats, AWD, has great crash safety ratings.

 

Yeah, those Matrixes (Matrices?) run forever.

 

It’s just a Corolla with a hatchback, sweet fold flat rear seats with tie down tracks, and all the style of a 90s teenager. NBD.

 

The wife drove hers until the odometer,

ended.

No shit, 390K…. Toyota said: “Reached the mechanical limit of the instrument.” and would not replace it.

She ran it to 450K. The only thing it ever needed was a new alternator.

 

I’d drive one for sure!

 

10k will buy him a car and a life lesson.

I have no specific suggestions… all I can add, is that my dad gifted me a real piece of work for my first car. Being on a real tight budget and trying to keep an older car/truck running, can bring out the best in a young guy.

I hope you find a solid car for him and get him some nice wrenches to go with it

 

We gave my kid my wife's car when he turned 16, then bought her a new one. I think (my opinion) that the person paying for it should get the new one; we as parents should help out all we can, but let them buy the new stuff when they can afford it.

 

Agree but my wife and I both drive new cars

 

Not sure of your sons age but if it his first car because he's young then a good choice would be a older persons 4 door sedan. The more "uncool" the car is the less chance of him doing something stupid with it and less passengers he will be giving rides to.

There are tons of Camry's and Avalons out there with plenty of life still in them. Save even more money and purchase a mercury Grand marquis, Ford Taurus or a General Motors sedan.

And if or more likely when it gets wrecked its no big loss.

 

+1 on Corolla. Good gas mileage - they generally go forever -

Bought a new one in 2003 for $16,000 - daughter ended up with it sold it for $1,000 2 years ago.
Bought a 2004 with 10,000 miles on it paid $8,000 for it back in 2006. My son drives it now I just put a
new set of tires on it.

He's gonna have a Masters in Computer Science this spring and will make about $100k to start says he'll keep
that old Corolla because according to his 'logic'... every time he turns the key it cranks up...

Back story is he knows I'm not long for the world and a 2021 Tacoma will be his LOL... smart kid LOL ...

 

Weren't those the chevy's that were good at burning your garage up? I think one of our shop customers had one and ended up losing half his house when his garage caught fire from these cars.

 

The only reliable Chevys left today qualify for vintage plates

 

Lease. 10K/36 months = $277 thats a base Hyundai

 

Then again, 10k cash, no payments, don’t have to give it back.

 

Used to flip cars when I was young.

this is what I would suggest.
Honda CR-V. Good on gas. Can do some trails to get to the beach or woods. Has decent trunk for outings.
Toyota Avalon. Bulletproof. Comfy. Good on gas. Pretty cheap for what it is.
Honda Accord. Great on gas. Roomy. Pretty dang reliable. Lots of parts out there just in case. Always in demand so when it’s time to sell….

 

I don't see 4x4 as a must have. All my trucks were 2wd until I was 24. I have lived In Northern Indiana my whole life. All my wrecks as a teen were in warm months doing stupid shit. don't see them as being a lot safer either. 4x4 can give.a false sense of security in the winter causing you to pass vehicles when you shouldn't and out driving the braking system. If you live in snowbelt good tires and lots of weight in the bed will get you down any public street. Unless you are in a very remote area the plows and salt trucks are everywhere.