Kids car? Hyundai?

[MissCrabette]

there was nothing scarier for me while I was learning to drive than trying to merge onto the highway in a 4-banger. It just doesn't have the get-up to accelerate well onto a busier interstate.

That was exactly my experience when I started driving in the US. I avoided I-95 like the plague because I felt like I would get creamed in my itty bitty Kia. However, I wouldn't necessarily assume it's a 4- vs 6-cylinder issue. Look at horse power as well. The little Kia had 96 measly hp. The Accord I drive now well surpasses it, but it's still only a 4-cylinder. In spite of that one issue with the Kia, I would highly recommend them. I would also not hesitate to buy a Hyundai.

On the topic of manual vs automatic, I learned to drive manual MANY years ago. I can no longer drive manual, by the way, and I wouldn't force my kids to learn it unless we lived in a flat, rural area. There's far too much going on around them in a busy urban setting to have to worry about shifting. Stop lights on a hill also scared the bejesus out of me, especially with how close other cars pull up behind you. More power to those kids who can handle it all. I wouldn't want to if I had a choice.

[Pollyanna]

One rule we had about driving was that the kiddos have to have their act together. For us this means, working hard in school, being responsible, contributing to the family in action and deed, being willing to discuss and understand when they make a mistake and then learning from it. Of course these things will always be in flux but we told them from the time they could understand that driving is a privilege and if they could demonstrate responsibility, etc with smaller things then driving would not be an option. As they get closer to the driving age these things are discussed on a regular basis. DS15 has it together in almost all those areas but he is not great about checking in via text. He is aware than until he starts doing so he will not be taking the permit test. Once they have a car it's a whole new level of freedom and it goes much easier if they know the expectations and everyone is on the same page.

[peggyfromwastate]

Personally I want to get a stick bc it's a turn on for me to watch dh drive a stick. This is a selling point to him too lol.

[diggitydot]

I prefer manual transmissions, too. My first 4 cars were all MT's and that's what I was accustomed to driving. It was odd when we bought a car with an automatic transmission.

We have been really happy with our Hyundai which we have had for 4 years now. It's not a car though - it's their small SUV. We will definitely buy a Hyundai again, probably a car, when DH's 17 yr old Honda dies.
We both prefer to drive stick shift but it seems like it is being discontinued in many models. I think the SUV we have is no longer available in manual transmission. I can't imagine not learning to drive stick but that's my British perspective - everyone learns that way!

[SoonerTexan]

ETA: If you want to avoid a truck look at the Ford Taurus. Most of the driving schools around here use them exclusively. Quality safe vehicle that is easy to drive.

This was the "kid car" in my family--4 of us have used it so far. I ended up buying one I still drive now. They've been reliable and easy-to-maintain. I also feel they are pretty safe. However, I did learn in my parent's suburban and 15 seater van as well. It was social torture, but I can drive anything.

As for 4 vs 6 cylinder, I'd go with the 6. DH has a 4 and I HATE it...it makes highway driving so much harder. We call it the "go kart."

[alison]

Can you wait till CA to buy the car? There are tremendous hoops and fees (big and small-- a smog test among others). Tabs and car insurance are super high in PA. If you can swing that year without any extraneous cars, you'll save a ton of money.

[peggyfromwastate]

Luckily we get to keep our Washington state licenses and we don't need any tabs or anything from California. Our plates are from Washington state now-- it's a perk of military. Washington state also has no income tax-- so that's our official state of residency...

We have 2 Kias. The one we just bought for dh (as opposed to a fancy-schmancy all-done w/training car) was also purchased partially b/c the plan is it will be the car passed down to Jacob when he starts to drive. It's a Kia Optima, very safe (and this one happens to be tripped out, so dh feels a little better about it). He'd researched ahead of time, and was committed to a Hyundai or a Kia pretty much from the get-go.

I learned on a stick, and I love that I've got that skill in my bag. I can't imagine the additional stress of trying to teach a kid stick though -- I remember yelling at my mother "What you're telling me to do is IMPOSSIBLE!"

[SoonerTexan]

Just an FYI if you are interested in Tauruses...they had an identity crisis in 2007-2008 and were called the Five Hundred for a short time. So look for that name as well if you decide to search.

My family has owned some version of a Taurus (a few wagons in there) since 1987. Five total I think!

[diggitydot]

Also, keep an eye on Edmunds.com. They list all the available incentives to both the dealers and the customers. If you know what the dealer is recieving incentives on, you can negotiate for it.

[alison]

YAY!!! Residency in WA will save you a ton of money. CA used to take a huge chunk out of dh's paycheck, and they still wanted more at tax time.
Insurance for our Toyota Matrix was $1000 every 6 months!

[peggyfromwastate]

I expect insurance to be high for us bc it's based on where you live... And adding a teen will be ugly. But oh well.

Being an adult sucks.

[Pollyanna]

I expect insurance to be high for us bc it's based on where you live... And adding a teen will be ugly. But oh well.

Being an adult sucks.

On the plus side, girls are cheaper to add than boys and if she does a driving course that could be an added discount on some policies. But yes, she will still cost you about as much as you pay for you and your hubby combined. That doesn't happen until she gets her license though, you won't need to change your policy while she has her permit.

[alison]

Don't let her on 101! Doinking around PA during the day should be ok.