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Suggestions on a smaller vehicle for new driver

YJBrian

Active member
Joined
May 22, 2020
Member Number
1154
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Daughter is in drviers ed and will need some wheels in a few months. I'm looking to add a smaller car to our fleet that she would use as a daily driver and we could use on longer trips to get better gas mileage than the family SUV or truck.

I'm not all that up to date on smaller vehicles and looking for the expertise of Irate to help point me in the right direction and what to avoid. I'm open to a sedan or smaller SUV/crossover and not against any particular brand/model except we are not going full EV.

I would like something that gets decent gas mileage, is reliable, and obviously safe for a new driver. Odds are there will be some interaction between this vehicle and other moving or non moving objects, so repairability and availability of parts is of concern, as well as cost to insure. Aiming for something up to maybe 5 or 6 years old, lower mileage, and hoping to keep in the 20K range. I anticipate this vehicle follows her to college

I've looked a bit at Kia and Hyundai sedans but have not been in one yet. Had both a new Rav4 and Nissan Rogue as rental recently and liked both, however, it seemed the Rav4 didn't have a lot of get up and go when it was needed. Sister has had two Santa Fe now and has been happy with those.

As much as I would like to get her a clapped out shitbox, I will take this for longer trips at timeas and do not have the time to deal with the issues that would come with that.

Thanks.
 
Family trips would be in our larger vehicles, in this one I'm talking about trips that are just myself or my wife alone or with one kid. For example, just took the truck on a 7 hr trip by myself for a wedding, would have been perfect for something smaller.
 
We had a 2012 Rav4 for the wife, liked it. I thought it had plenty of spunk, for what it is. Got rear ended and totaled.
 
Sell you my wifes 2016 rav 4 hybrid with 125k on the clock. Each corner is already scuffed so the first scratch wont be an issue. 30mpg driving like an asshole, and 40mpg if your doing everything in your power to make it to the next gas station before running out.
 
1985 ford thunderbird in nascar flavor :flipoff2:

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My friend likes the Yaris. She's on her third, she gave the first two to her kids and they're still driving them. No major issues with any of them.
 
3rd gen Rav4. Not as gutless as the newer ones. Reliable, great in rain and snow. Plenty of room. Ex had one, I was surprised how well I fit in it and liked it a lot more than I would have expected.
 
Lots of older Rav recommendations...had a 3rd gen (2006-2012 - mine was an 08) with the mighty v6 and it's not just quick for an SUV, it's quick for any vehicle, with a mid 6 second 0-60 time. Loved it, but got written off by someone blowing through a stop sign.

Honestly, any Toyota hybrid is where it's going to be at....there's nothing better as safe, reliable, fuel efficient daily drivers.
 
My first car was an 88 4 door Sentra. Was the ugliest , most underpowered car but it was ultra reliable and was easy to maintain and it was a manual. Hard to beat an older Japanese car. I vote civic, Tercel, corrola or canary.
 
In the same boat. My daughter is currently alternating between my 08 single cab duramax and 2018 wrangler. Her bday is coming up and I’d like to find her something reliable but used that I won’t mind her beating up. Her daily commute is maybe 10 miles to school. I’d like a manual for her but not a deal breaker. AC definitely needed. She’s actually a pretty decent driver [knock on wood].

What I’ve considered:
2014ish Focus
2010-2015 Civic/ accord
TJ or JK in 2 door

She wants a squarebody but just not a mpg smart decision.

Short term goal is getting her something to beat up as needed by a female teen driver. Long term goal would be passing it down to my younger daughter and getting the older one a newerish car with warranty as a grad gift.



2big bronco said:
Sell you my wifes 2016 rav 4 hybrid with 125k on the clock. Each corner is already scuffed so the first scratch wont be an issue. 30mpg driving like an asshole, and 40mpg if your doing everything in your power to make it to the next gas station before running out.
Click to expand...
Give you tree fiddy :flipoff2:
 
72blazer said:
What I’ve considered:
2014ish Focus
2010-2015 Civic/ accord
TJ or JK in 2 door
Click to expand...

In that case:


irate4x4.com

AZ - 35k Miles 2015 Focus titanium

My grandma bought it new, it's got dings and scratches, IIRC she sideswiped something in a parking lot, he'll maybe both sides:laughing: and had insurance fix it, so if you want to carfax it, that'll probably show. But it is a good looking car that's been parked inside most of its life. It's...
irate4x4.com irate4x4.com



:laughing:
 
Check with insurance before buying a Kia. My buddy bought a Seoul for his daughter and insurance is killing him… something like $700/month with USAA. Tried to move companies, but state farm told him they are not writing any new policies on Kia’s….

Anecdotal…
 
If your crotchfruit is the kind of driver who "just doesn't get it" and pisses off everyone around them get her a 'burb or whatever big SUV you fancy so she's less likely to get run off the road.

She gonna be dead an "oops there's my exit" turns into a barrel roll though.
 
5spd late teens early 2020s Mistbuishi Mirage. Pretty much all of them are 4dr hatch. $15k on down from the used car lots (so like 10k private party). They're basically a 3rd world car that Mitsu slaps a backup camera in and imports. Stupid cheap, stupid simple, no major achillies heels.

It's basically a modern Pontiac Vibe.
 
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Any old Suzuki from the 90s.

On second thought, get her something that can be written off after its crashed.
 
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