.

the car junkie daily magazine.

.

BangShift Top 11: Best First Car Options For The Ungrateful Little Brat!


BangShift Top 11: Best First Car Options For The Ungrateful Little Brat!

So, one of the stories that went flying around the Internet this week was a report from the IIHS and Consumer Reports that was a list of the best cars for Mom and Dad to get a teenager for their first car. If you are suddenly making a noise that is a cross between a retching sound and unmitigated laughter, don’t feel bad, I’m right there with you. I did get a couple of cars handed to me early on (read: before learner’s permit), but the complete sum of the value of all of those vehicles might have crested $1,200. Maybe. I was expected to figure out how to make the thing run and drive, and to keep it up, keep it insured, and to keep my dumb ass out of trouble with it.

In today’s society, the whole idea of “let the kid pay for it” doesn’t seem to be working out. But that doesn’t mean you have to cave to the kid’s whim…which is another subject for another day. Instead, I decided to put together a list of options for what the kid could use to putt back and forth to school or to whatever job they might get that doesn’t involve being a YouTuber.

11. “I want it to go really, really fast!”

Vehicle: 2006 Hyundai Sonata.

Why: Remember back to when some guy triggered a ton of speed cameras near Scottsdale, Arizona at high speeds? 147 MPH on the Loop 101, in a rental Sonata. The styling will put you to sleep, the safety features are modern enough and the prices should be affordable. Hey, you wanted fast, kid. 147 MPH isn’t a bad start! (I’ll also attest personally, 141 MPH in a similar vehicle in the middle of nowhere, Illinois. -ed.)

 

10. “Yikes. Um…maybe a big truck I could use for work?”

Vehicle: 1996 Chevrolet C1500 W/T

Why: You’ve been driving for about seven minutes. No way in hell would we cut a newbie loose in a diesel truck. They’ve probably been watching a couple of bearded dudes make some poor old Dodge belch more smoke than the first five years of the Industrial Revolution on YouTube and suddenly want that. Nah, kid. You get a 4.3L powered truck. You want to work it, fine. You want to trick it out, fine. You want to bitch about it? Okay, it’s my truck now. Moving on.

 

9. “It seems underpowered. What about a V8 truck?”

Why: Have you seen the YouTube video of a U-Haul rental GMC at a sideshow, ripping donuts with some guy hanging out of the bed yelling, “For $19.95 a day, you can rent this MF!” That’s why. Keep trying, kiddo.

 

8. “Ugh. Fine. Is there anything with a diesel I CAN have?”

Vehicle: 2015 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel

Why: You want a diesel, kid? Ok, here you go. Car and Driver managed to get 44 MPG out of it in real-world driving and it was rated at 46 MPG on the highway. They are actually pretty decent to drive, you’ll have legroom and because it turns into a marshmallow inside at the first point of impact, insuring the car should be a breeze. It’s also got all of that tech crap you kids like.

 

7. “Okay…I can do a front driver. How about something from Japan? I don’t trust American cars, my friend’s dad said…”

Vehicle: 2006 Scion xA

Why: One, your friend’s dad is a moron who gets frustrated when the rental car has a physical key instead of a fob. Two, you’re starting to piss me off, kid. Three: Toyota reliability packaged in a purple thing that looks like piled dog doo. Any other requests?

 

6. “You don’t have to be so mean about it. Okay, what about a Subaru? AWD safety, y’know.”Vehicle: 1987 Subaru XT

Why: Oh, I’m so glad you suggested a Subaru. How about a 1980s throwback that is packing all of the funky looks of the decade, 97 horsepower out of a flat-four that can turn all four wheels through a part-time four wheel drive system, and more than enough time to think up answers to questions you’ll be texted, like “WTF is that?” and “Are you still a virgin?”

 

5. “What IS that?! Alright…what about a Jeep?”

Why: Because a little work is needed with some of these older models.

 

4. “What about a Mustang?”

Vehicle: 1974 Ford Mustang II

Why: No V8, possible fuel economy, no chance in hell of you “accidentally” driving through a crowd of bystanders. You bumped them, and they were able to push you away easily. You won’t even be tempted by the idea of being fast. Besides, the guy who drew up the first Mustang loved this version. You will too!

 

3. “Nevermind, I want a Camaro!”

Vehicle: 1977 Chevrolet Camaro

Why: Nothing says high-performance like a straight-six, banana creme paint job with the graham cracker crust half-roof and the luggage rack, amirite?

 

2. “Okay, I get it, you’re a savage. How about something a few friends of mine can hop into and go places in?”

Vehicle: 1973 Dodge Tradesman

Why: *Slaps roof* …because there is so much room for activities in here! You and your friends can literally pile in here and head anywhere. I encourage that. What I don’t encourage is you turning this into a mobile Motel 6, so why not pick out something that the lovely little lady you’re dating will only get into once she’s packing enough pepper spray to put a moose down with? And that’s if her parents don’t see this thing first. I like to think of it as “rolling contraception”.

 

1. Alright, you’re a dick. What would you recommend for a first car?

Vehicle: 2002 Buick Regal GS

Why: If you break it, you fix it. If you get in trouble with it, your ass will be mine on a silver platter. And if you tell your mother that it’s anything other than a nice, comfortable car, I’ll kick your ass. Don’t be stupid.


  • Share This
  • Pinterest
  • 0

6 thoughts on “BangShift Top 11: Best First Car Options For The Ungrateful Little Brat!

  1. Gary

    A Cruze is pretty decent to drive? I rented one once for a trip down to WRAFB, told the rental guy in BG “Don’t you EVER give me another Cruze! I’ve never ridden in a Chevy that wasn’t sickeningly overly softly sprung (except the 10 wheel drive wrecker I operated in the Air Force. I’m not sure it HAD a suspension under it!) Dangerous in my opinion. The Ford Focus is a far superior car.

  2. bob

    Ranger pick-up. Full frame, air bags, not much power and most importantly, you can only carry one passenger. The more people in the car the more distractions. My daughter didn’t think much of this idea but she got over it.

  3. 75Duster

    Have the Ungrateful Little Brat get a job to fully pay for his / her first car and all the expenses that go with it! I did when I was a senior in high school!

  4. old guy

    mid 20’s Ford PI – full frame , lots of weight ….
    Yeah my kid that that was a late drive ( license at 28 ) totaled one ….
    He hit a Cherokee from behind , the Ford sub-marined the jeep bumper
    Bummer – 2007 had a posi rear end and good trans that could start off in second
    like the good old days …

  5. Whelk

    Crown Vic
    Cheap, tough, easy to get parts for. If it’ll hold up to cops and cabs then it’s enough for your teen.

Comments are closed.