What Is a Good First Car for a Teenager?

subaru auto mechanic

You just found out that your teenager son/daughter has recently passed the driving exam and already got his/her driver’s license. Because he/she is a good child, you are planning to give him/her a gift, his/her first car. Now, what should be a good first car for a teenager? The best car for a first-time teen driver is the one that will decrease the odds of the first-time accident happening and minimize the potential for harm if it does. The goal is to shield your teen as much as possible from the almost inevitable consequences of youth and inexperience. Check out the Subaru mechanic near me if you are looking for some advice. 

No matter how responsible and mature our child is, he/she is still not too experienced behind the wheel and it will take a lot of seat time to become familiar with how a car behaves in various situations.

So let us help you by giving the list of car-buying guidelines that will your teen driver keep out of trouble:

1. Choose a car

In choosing the right car, consider the size of the car. SUVs and pick-ups are poor choices for first-time drivers especially if it is not a 4-wheel drive as they tend to be light in the rear and so have a tendency to fishtail during panic stops or when the road is slick. But even so, it is better to learn the essentials in a car before moving to a specialty vehicle of any type, whether it’s a pick-up, SUV, or sports car. A Subaru auto mechanic can help you with this one.

2. If you do choose a small car, be sure it has multiple airbags

Airbags are one of the most important things in the car. It is to protect against impact forces in a crash and is particularly valuable in smaller vehicles as they compensate to some extent for smaller size and weight. If you are considering buying a smaller car, try and find one with both frontal and side-impact/curtain airbags. They will dramatically improve the survival rate of a smaller car especially if it’s hit from the side by a larger vehicle. You can also have the car parts checked every now and then to refrain from possible accidents. Check out the Subaru mechanic near me.

3. Choose a FWD or AWD over RWD

Front-wheel drive cars and all-wheel drive cars have better traction in rain and snow and so are more controllable than rear-drive cars. RWD cars also have a tendency to oversteer (tail out) when they begin to slide out of the control wheel the FWD cars tend to understeer which is easier for the driver to deal with. 

On the other hand, if you would go for an RWD, try and pick one that comes with some form of an electronic stability control system that uses anti-lock brakes to keep the vehicle on the course when it would otherwise begin to slip out of control.

4. Choose a car that is good in overall shape

You don’t want your kid learning the hard way about bald tires, bad brakes, shot shocks, and a worn-out suspension so whatever car you end up buying, take the time to make certain it is mechanically sound and completely road worthy. Have a reputable Subaru auto mechanic that can fix anything that needs fixing.