Teenage girl who will not take care of the car--the old saying "Rode hard and put up wet" comes to mind. Strict budget of $4000, and gas mileage counts. Is there any reason not to go Camry/Corolla/Accord/Civic?
Teenage girl who will not take care of the car--the old saying "Rode hard and put up wet" comes to mind. Strict budget of $4000, and gas mileage counts. Is there any reason not to go Camry/Corolla/Accord/Civic?
Mid nineties Escort/Tracer because parts are cheaper?
Late model GM J-body same reason as the Ford?
Appleseed wrote: Mid nineties Escort/Tracer because parts are cheaper?
I don't think they hold up to being treated like crap, though. At least... not in my opinion.
Not much takes abuse like a 90s Camry.
On the other hand, for $4000, you could buy FOUR Escort/Tracers. Each one she destroys, scrap it. Scrap all four, and you've got enough for a 5th one.
By the time she destroys number 5, she'll probably be living on her own and it's no longer your problem.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: By the time she destroys number 5, she'll probably be living on her own and it's no longer your problem.
Its not my problem, I'm just trying to help her out since her parents are idiots and won't help her. I'm thinking that the Camry is the way to go.
mtn wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: By the time she destroys number 5, she'll probably be living on her own and it's no longer your problem.Its not my problem, I'm just trying to help her out since her parents are idiots and won't help her. I'm thinking that the Camry is the way to go.
Ah ok then. 
Then yes, Camry or Corolla.
Alternatively, $4000 would get her a nice XJ, and they're pretty indestructable as well.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:mtn wrote:Ah ok then.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: By the time she destroys number 5, she'll probably be living on her own and it's no longer your problem.Its not my problem, I'm just trying to help her out since her parents are idiots and won't help her. I'm thinking that the Camry is the way to go.
As much as I dislike the things, my mind immediately went to XJ. The other three initial thoughts were Crown Vic, Ford/Chevy pickup, and Toyota Tacoma. I'll have to ask her what she thinks of these, but the gas mileage will probably kill it.
Can she drive a stick?
Beige Corolla. We had a Saturn SL1 that wouldn't die but I wouldn't say it was as durable or "substantial" as a Corolla.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Can she drive a stick?
Unfortunately no. Why do you ask?
Even the best car will not prevent stupid. A young teenage female relative of mine killed a 69,000 mile 2004 Accord in about a year. Cam bearing seized and snapped the cam.
My 91 Escort with 364,000 miles gets good care AND treated like crap. I deliver pizza in it.
I know of one young lady that insisted that any car that needed worked on (scheduled maintenance) more than once a year is defective. She thinks that if she buys a car for more than $5000 it should last 5 years without even checking the air in the tires!!
Bruce
egnorant wrote: Even the best car will not prevent stupid. A young teenage female relative of mine killed a 69,000 mile 2004 Accord in about a year. Cam bearing seized and snapped the cam. My 91 Escort with 364,000 miles gets good care AND treated like crap. I deliver pizza in it. I know of one young lady that insisted that any car that needed worked on (scheduled maintenance) more than once a year is defective. She thinks that if she buys a car for more than $5000 it should last 5 years without even checking the air in the tires!! Bruce
That's perfectly fine if she's cute. 
mtn wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Can she drive a stick?Unfortunately no. Why do you ask?
A manual Camry or Corolla would get better MPG and likely last even longer.
I would play the fringe a little. The common and well respected cars for economy and reliability like Camry, Corolla, Civic, Accord tend to command too much of a premium in the sale price.
I like the idea of an overlooked car of average reputation.
In that vain, I would recommend a Olds Achieva/Alero.
Typical GM build quality and driving dynamics (which will meet your requirements here) but I think that no one really sets out looking for one. You should be able to find dealer/shop maintained, grandma car, with reasonably low miles that will continue on with little effort. The mpg will be well within the range of acceptable without having to pay the steep purchase price for the well know "high mpg" cars.
Does your driver drive enough miles per year to offset the benefits of good mpg?
Local to me recently was a '95 Buick Regal 2 door. It has 85k miles and a GM 3800 engine (reliable) and they were asking $2,200. To me it seemed like the perfect "daughter/new driver" car.
In my local CL, I can find '01,'02,'03 Aleros w/ 80-110k miles for less than $4k. Many to choose from.
Similar search for Corolla brings nothing newer than '99 and more like 150k miles.
+1 for the Olds. The last ones were decent-looking and they don't carry the Honda/Toyota resale markup.
pretty sure if you mention these choices to her, shes gonna jump on the hondas and toyos. i dont think current teenage girls want anything to do with j-bodies and escort/tracers haha
What's the old saying, a GM will run badly far longer than anything else will run? I plus whatever anything newish with a GM 3800 in it. Good highway mileage at least and tough to kill. If she's a teenager and it's an appliance to her as long as the color's right she won't care that the driving dynamics aren't great.
ohms wrote: pretty sure if you mention these choices to her, shes gonna jump on the hondas and toyos. i dont think current teenage girls want anything to do with j-bodies and escort/tracers haha
It's called managing expectations - if you don't mention the honda/toyotas she won't see them...
I think a teenage girl cares more about the quality of the radio and if it has clickers for the locks more than the driving dynamics and nameplate.
An '02 Old will be relatively modern at 10 years old (and sold the same till '06.) A 15 yr old car will be seen as ancient since the car is nearly as old as the girls lifetime.
Vulcan Taurus.
The Escort/Tracer is a much overlooked ,reliable car. Maybe because it wasn't made in Japan.
We put ours in an E30 convertible. One year later and LOTS of miles (she drives 20+ each way to school), it's finally getting the water pump, wheel bearing and top it needed when we got it. We had to basically kidnap it from her while she was away on a school trip over Spring Break because the thing never stops moving.
She thinks it's awesome because it's a 'vert, and she hasn't been able to kill it or even make a difference as far as I can tell. That's saying something.
Margie
No to an E30; it wouldn't work in Illinois (I know, I had one--see avatar). Besides, your daughter has parents who will make sure the thing is maintained. Her parents let her drive on corded tires; I had to put my foot down and say that somebody had to buy new tires for her or I would call the police. Thank God her grandmother cares about her.
There is another thought--the current car (that just died) has brand new wheels and tires. What takes 5X100?
(FYI, she is my girlfriends roommate)
What is she driving now?
Camry, don't even mess around.
All of the reliability, non of the premium cost with even an old-ass accord.
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