Is the Answer the answer? (Young driver)

Here we go again...

I know some of the recommendations we generally have for young drivers. 

How do you feel about an NA as a first car?

I like the simplicity, the handling ability, and the low power level. I also like that it had some modern safety features, and no back seat. 

The size scares me a little.  I don’t like looking up at the undercarriage of SUVs and knowing I am invisible. But it is still probably more crash-worthy than older vehicles. 

The other vehicle I have is a Vibe GT.  More substantial, but much harder to learn to shift on.

Background... we live in a reasonably congested area. Driving in traffic with soccer moms in SUVs is a daily thing.   I have a clean mostly unmolested NA that would be a great first car for my daughter. I just don’t want her to become roadkill. 

Thanks!

Darn it... 

Moderators, can somebody fix my title?  I wasn’t actually looking for Ian!

What you want: 

What you have: 

In reply to pinchvalve :

No doubt!  Haha!

As big a fan as I am of Miatai, I think the Vibe is a better choice for a new driver just from the crashworthyness standpoint. 

And if the shifter is a touch tougher in the Vibe it just means she'll be that much better for it.  My first driving experience was a '65 Ford PU with three on the tree.

You can add this to a Miata.

Paint it primer. The more shades the better. It's like vehicle repellant. 

Obviously I don't recommend this for a car that already has good paint on it. 

I used to have the statistics (driver's ed instructor) but teens have higher crash numbers mostly because they crash more, not because they are crashed into more. And logically this makes sense right - if the only difference is the driver, and the result is higher crash rate, the driver is likely the cause. Speeding, distractions, and drinking top the list of statistical driving errors leading to crashes (I think in that order).

So I like that the NA reduces distractions by removing the backseat. The fear of being tiny and invisible is probably a negative though (yes, maybe SOME kids need a little extra fear, but by and large kids are scared of this, whether they readily admit that or not). Also, check insurance rates. Sometimes there will be a major difference between two seemingly similar cars. Low power in the NA reduces speeding somewhat but I think the manual transmission is a better speed control device. 

TLDR:

The car doesn't matter. Your daughter's preparedness to drive does. 

Paul, 

It's more up to you on how much safety you want your kids to have to tolerate.  

If it were me, I'd at least make the cut off as an NB, since they have a little better crash structure.  Or even an NC.

But I would also be ok with an NA that had both airbags.

There are many crash pictures out there of Miatas, which show that they are very good at taking a hit and keeping the passenger reasonably safe.  And they are also capable of more remarkable avoidance maneuvers than most cars out there.

What is Your daughter’s comfort level in this equation?

pete

I'm in the same boat, though we're a little farther down the Miata path.  My 14 and 12 year old kids and I each own a third of an NA.  They are engaged in maintaining/fixing the car, so I'm hoping that translates to a real feeling of ownership and taking better care of it.

I like it as a kids car for all the reasons the OP lists, and I have the same concern about size and safety.  My plan is to get the older one through the learner's permit in the Miata and see how I feel about her driving it on her own when she gets the license.  

As long as it has a good rollbar (more to help with high bumpers, than actual rollovers), I think it would be perfectly fine for a congested area as speeds tend to be lower.

What sort of things does she like to do?  If she enjoys doing things where being able to carry things larger than a Miata might easily carry, then the Vibe might be the better option.

This is my youngest of 5. All of them have had beater compact manuals, and were confident drivers (capable autocrossers, etc). 

CRX SI, Impreza, ZX3, Elantra.

I have an NB, but it it turbocharged, and seriously overpowered. Not an option. 

Shes early in the learning process, so too early for her own car.  But I am debating whether I want to introduce her to the NA as a possible “Her car”... I don’t want her to fall for it and then me change my mind.

My question is not about her.  It’s about me.

In reply to Stefan :

Good question. She’s a brainiac. Most of what she enjoys doing can be done on her iPad. 

I think it's a good first car, simplistic, low power, good parts availability, good mpg, and still new enough to be relatively safe. Plus rwd is always good for learning car control in the snow, that's a solid skill to have.

As a NA owner trying to put myself in your shoes... Miata, add roll bar, add DRL's, add a freight train horn, maybe add stripes (they seem to make Miatas more visible) I'm still a little scared of the visibility and size.

I had a NA for a daily driver, it was getting a lot of miles on it, about 230k,  I wanted something newer so I parked it. The plan was to sell it later but never did. When the oldest boy was 16 he decided he wanted it so I gave it to him and he fixed it up mostly on his own and with his own money so he would be invested in it. He really does need a low power car, I like that about it. He likes it so he takes good care of it. He did add the freight train horn, they are all but invisible.

Miata or taller car?  How about both!  

All kidding aside, here's my take, based on almost 30 years with the Prosecutor's Office.  This is all "personal experience" and not scientific in any way.  Teens seem to die disproportionally in rollovers and crashes with immovable objects such as trees, concrete barriers, etc.  I would narrow causation down to three factors based on what I've seen:  Distraction, overconfidence and an underdeveloped skill set.  Once upon a time, the primary sources of distraction was other passengers, and a 2 seat car definitely minimizes this.  Unfortunately, modern technology has heaped on cell phones, multi-function displays in cars, multi-message LED ad signs, etc., etc.  I think a manual transmission, low tech car helps somewhat with some of these issues.  There is no miracle cure other than good driving habits.  The other two issues can only be addressed with time and practice.  Autocross/car control classes can be a double-edged sword.  It certainly helps with the skill set, especially the ability to adapt when the car isn't doing what you want it to.  Whether it ads to or subtracts from overconfidence probably depends on the personality of the driver.  

So on to the original question: Miata as a first car?  The pluses: Manual, two seats, low technology, exceptionally neutral handling.  The minuses: Not great in any sort of inclement weather, small, semi-invisible (although finding a red or sunburst car might help with this), not a lot of sheet metal, significant blind spots with the top up.  When my son started driving, I actually had an NA Miata with a roll bar to give him.  We bought him a Protege5.  (To be fair, we're in Michigan, so winter driving was a BIG part of the equation that may not apply to you)  

What I absolutely WON'T do, under ANY circumstances is buy a car for sheet metal.  This inevitably leads people to put new drivers into SUV's or land barges.  They are (in my opinion) the worst possible choice.  They tend to have terrible dynamic handling, are top heavy, full of distracting "convenience" features and often have relatively powerful engines.  They are almost never manuals and usually capable of hauling large numbers of passengers.  

YMMV

My oldest is 18 and he has already rear ended someone. His cousin totalled her Honda withing 3 months of getting it, his two best friends have already had accidents, with one totalled his Moms Jetta withing a year of getting his licence, and the other putting his pickup through a chain link fence. All single vehicle accidents other than my kid who destroyed the minivan he hit. My takeaway is there is no excuse for experience, and buy something that will protect her. 

I highly recommend having her take the Street Survival Course :   http://streetsurvival.org/

I made my 16 year old daughter take it before I would let her drive solo.  She very reluctantly went and only because I made this decision an absolute.

An hour after they started they took a break.  She was grinning ear to ear and telling me she was really enjoying it. 

Then, the next weekend, I made her change a tire by herself and do all the jacking and tire removal/replacement while I changed her brake pads.  

Her first flat was several years later at 2:am coming home from a concert.   I did not get a phone call, she just changed the tire and drove home.

In reply to kazoospec :

That’s a really good summary. 

I'd do it. It is getting close to the "too old for me to feel comfortable" but not there yet. Driver dependent of course. I'd feel much better with an NB though. 

I agree with much of what Kazoospect said especially regarding skill set and experience. It would be a much better 2nd car.

It is the answer. Do the miata. 

bearmtnmartin said:

My oldest is 18 and he has already rear ended someone. His cousin totalled her Honda withing 3 months of getting it, his two best friends have already had accidents, with one totalled his Moms Jetta withing a year of getting his licence, and the other putting his pickup through a chain link fence. All single vehicle accidents other than my kid who destroyed the minivan he hit. My takeaway is there is no excuse for experience, and buy something that will protect her. 

That’s not good. 

I have 5 kids. The first one started driving 16 years ago. Combined, they have 39 years total driving experience. None of them have ever had an accident. 

But I appreciate your perspective. I don’t want to become complacent.