Buying a car for 16 year old

That CVT is a deal breaker. I mean I don't disagree with you that halving the maintenance schedule is a good thing, just that the kid's mom, dad, and grandparents are not what you would call car people. The extra cost for a shop to do the service, if they even remembered to do it . . . . yeah, all cars with CVT's are out of the running. Do all Subaru's have them?

I know the grand father has $19K cash, but I know the idea of building credit would appeal to him. I'll mention it. I also know that the kid's part time job isn't going to be enough to make the payments. And, his mom and dad are adamant that school and good grades come first.

 

A Volvo wagon.

 

Honda CR-V. AWD, great safety ratings, roomy, and reliable. Check reviews on places like Edmunds. I bought a used single owner 2010 CR-V after my 2018 Tacoma was totaled and needed something to drive for 5 months. It’s easy to drive, after my new Tacoma arrived my grandkid in high school (now in college) got it. Safe and reliable for a teen and easy on the gas.

 

Buy a 50k mile hyundai Tucson/kia sportage. Factory warranty still in tact, AWD, modern safety features.

 

Toyota RAV4 AWD or Honda CR-V AWD. Reliable, and cheap on gas, might have to go with a model several years old to meet the price point, but these cars will go 250K miles easily with routine maintenance.

I can't imaging a guy not wanting a pickup truck, or I'd suggest a double cab Tacoma long bed, but you'd have to go way back to early 2nd Gen with a shit ton of miles to reach the price point.

 

I know the grandfather doesn't need to get a loan. I had a brain fart thinking that somehow this purchase could be a way to build the kids credit. However, at 16 he cannot enter into a contract, so credit building will have to wait. All that said debt is just a tool. Granted nobody is ever taught how to use that tool. When I bought my first car it was get a loan or walk. After the 4 year loan was paid off I kept making "payments" to myself. When it came time to replace that car I had a nice down payment. Rinse and repeat till my most recent car purchase and there's more than enough invested to pay cash. So, what did I do, yup I went out and got a car loan. My investments make more than the car loan costs. I left the money invested and every month an auto payment is sent to the credit union and the remaining balance continues to work for me. While that happens in the background I continue making "payments" to myself. Paying cash would cost me money, so I use debt as a tool. There is however, a world of difference and mumble decades of saving/investing between me and a 16 year old high school kid.

Those are the ones that destroy the engine because of a shit design. Though they will get a new engine due to the recall. Maybe they've fixed the design, but I think I'll pass.
https://www.classaction.org/blog/ne...lure-settlement-covers-2m-additional-vehicles

 

Toyota Camry AWD.

 

Toyota or Honda

 

$19K budget? Lol.

$4K gets a Subaru. $15K goes towards the first home.

 

I would suggest checking insurance rates on whatever makes and models you're considering, but insurance is going to be a rip no matter what you pick.

Maybe something that's cheap to fix/repair? Camry/Corolla?

First cars always take a beating.

 

Whelp here's the car my friend bought for his grandson. I don't know much about it other than it's an orange Subaru Crosstrek. I did warn them about the requirement for more frequent transmission maintenance. Sure beats the car I had when I was 16.

 

Id say a used volvo s80. Not sure if all models/years have it but I know most have 4wd, has typical volvo safety, a nice car, pretty fancy, and is reliable as far as my limited experience with one goes.