What cheap safe efficient car for Daughter?

[asagaai]

So, I taught my daughter to drive in a manual Camry V6, our 3rd car, and she refused to let me teach her car control, sliding in wet, and lock up braking etc.

Refused to even consider letting me teach her these things, saying "Dad I am not interested in your racing and hooning" and rolled her eyes and moaned to my wife that I was guilty of child abuse for trying to teach her such antisocial irresponsible behaviours..... She went and got her license first go, drove real slow and instructor said she was ok but slow. I felt like saying that she cannot drive-she is unsafe etc etc. Anyways, I had my reservations....

Anyway, 10 months later, today in Newcastle, wet, she has totalled the Camry. In a rush for work, missed a turn hit the anchors, locked up tyres, and got into a slide, another car took out her total passenger side, and immediately thereafter another car took out the rear.....

Nobody hurt thank goodness.

So, what car should I look at that is cheap, reasonably efficient, and one that has abs for a person who cannot drive. Been a very long time since I bought a second hand car and I am out of the loop as to what are good things for cheap good value. Most important thing -one that is safe for drivers who do not understand the foggiest about car control.

Cheers and thanks for any suggestions as to where I should start the search...

[PG2]

Budget? Size? Manual? Auto?

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by PG2

Budget? Size? Manual? Auto?

Manual, budget to probably $7,000, less would be good, size not fussed, not a gass guzzler.

Cheers

[simon varley]

Glad nobody was hurt. If she won't let you teach her, maybe you could persuade her to attend a commercial defensive driving course? Maybe she'll be more receptive now.

[olfella]

Hyundai make a good product but I am not a fan of FWD. When my kids got their license I waited a few months then shouted them an advanced driving course. Worth considering now maybe as she may be open to the idea now?

[Mulberry Laine]

You want a car with all the safety gear on it for a person who cannot drive?(you said yourself).Why and the hell is she on the road,learning to control a car in a slide etc is one of the first things you should learn.Kick her *** buy an old crapper, and get her out in a paddock to learn properly.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by Mulberry Laine

You want a car with all the safety gear on it for a person who cannot drive?(you said yourself).Why and the hell is she on the road,learning to control a car in a slide etc is one of the first things you should learn.Kick her *** buy an old crapper, and get her out in a paddock to learn properly.

Thing is, that's why I let her use the hand me down Family Camry, thinking it is big and safe.

But, when I taught her to drive, I taught her to pass the driving test, and did my best to teach her defensive driving ie approaching an intersection with car, hover foot over brake in anticipation of braking, always look for dangers, and constantly think about options to evade collision etc.

But there is a difference between defensive driving and really learning car control, ie high speed brake lockup with no abs, sliding in wet and how it feels and how to deal with it-all this stuff you need to experience and then go to an area void of public and practice and practice. It is not a natural thing to acquire such car control, well it was not for me, but after practice it becomes innate and is imprinted into ones reflexes.

How many young drivers getting their Red Ps really know car control?

My daughter has got the speed gene passed down from my father through me, but has refused to open her mind to let me really teach her car control.

I think I may say-I am not getting a third car unless you learn car control to my satisfaction, I am not throwing good money after bad and you can go get your own car .....

[Mulberry Laine]

Originally Posted by asagaai

Thing is, that's why I let her use the hand me down Family Camry, thinking it is big and safe.

But, when I taught her to drive, I taught her to pass the driving test, and did my best to teach her defensive driving ie approaching an intersection with car, hover foot over brake in anticipation of braking, always look for dangers, and constantly think about options to evade collision etc.

But there is a difference between defensive driving and really learning car control, ie high speed brake lockup with no abs, sliding in wet and how it feels and how to deal with it-all this stuff you need to experience and then go to an area void of public and practice and practice. It is not a natural thing to acquire such car control, well it was not for me, but after practice it becomes innate and is imprinted into ones reflexes.

How many young drivers getting their Red Ps really know car control?

My daughter has got the speed gene passed down from my father through me, but has refused to open her mind to let me really teach her car control.

I think I may say-I am not getting a third car unless you learn car control to my satisfaction, I am not throwing good money after bad and you can go get your own car .....

You still aren't addressing the real problem,SHE CANT DRIVE.
Like you said you taught her to pass the driving test,half the muppets sitting next to them (instructors)cant drive either,so passing the test is easy as you found out.
Driving can put you in dangerous situations,which requires a certain skill set to make sure you have the best chances of surviving if the worst happens.
Im not the greatest driver in the world,but I made damn sure my Daughter and son had as much experience that I could give them before they got on the road.They both started in an XK falcon manual 3 in the tree,then progressed to a v8 zg fairlane ,4x4 patrol,and finally our Fg xr6 turbo.Dirt roads,wet ,dry,fast ,slow,slides ,burnouts you name it we tried to do it.Yes I have more grey hairs,and stained my undies a few times but in the end got their licenses first go and instructors couldn't believe how well they drove.
Now I don't worry as much when they are on the road as they can only get better with more experience.
How would you feel if out of her incompetence she cause the death of herself or someone else on the road? Because that is what it could come down to.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by asagaai

I think I may say-I am not getting a third car unless you learn car control to my satisfaction, I am not throwing good money after bad and you can go get your own car .....

THIRD car?? If she's crashed the first two I'd be telling her "you bend it, you mend it'

Stop spoiling her.

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by asagaai

Thing is, that's why I let her use the hand me down Family Camry, thinking it is big and safe.

But, when I taught her to drive, I taught her to pass the driving test, and did my best to teach her defensive driving ie approaching an intersection with car, hover foot over brake in anticipation of braking, always look for dangers, and constantly think about options to evade collision etc.

But there is a difference between defensive driving and really learning car control, ie high speed brake lockup with no abs, sliding in wet and how it feels and how to deal with it-all this stuff you need to experience and then go to an area void of public and practice and practice. It is not a natural thing to acquire such car control, well it was not for me, but after practice it becomes innate and is imprinted into ones reflexes.

How many young drivers getting their Red Ps really know car control?

My daughter has got the speed gene passed down from my father through me, but has refused to open her mind to let me really teach her car control.

I think I may say-I am not getting a third car unless you learn car control to my satisfaction, I am not throwing good money after bad and you can go get your own car .....

Are you saying she's crashed three cars?? If yes you both need your heads read!

[sprintman1]

Shouldn't she be learning to drive first?

[Carrion]

Buy her one of these. Great value.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by Carrion

Buy her one of these. Great value.






image

Yeah- if in Sydney this would be the TICKET.

But Newcastle-crappy public transport, and she goes to uni and has 3 part time jobs.

[FPV+fteT3]

I looked at a 2005 subaru impreza for a mate recently with only 75,000km on it picked it up for 7k it has abs, awd, fun bags and relatively cheap to maintain. Having awd is a nice touch with the weather in Newcastle today. My daughter also has a subie I would prefer an awd in the wet and slippery conditions especially with my daughter driving.

Oh' and insure it with AAMI they have free safe driver classes for young drivers done at SMSP on the skid pan

[ReVd_uP]

I'm currently selling my wife's 09 Lancer at the moment, it's an auto though, been a top little car for the last 6 yrs

[Falcman0o7]

BA XR6 Turbo.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by Falcman0o7

BA XR6 Turbo.

We have a winner....

[minheim]

Have a look for a CJ lancer. They have ESC, ABS and TC. If you stretch the budget a little you might be able to score a later model with side airbags. They also are built with a rigid unibody with extensive use of high strength steel and are a a pretty solid vehicle. They are also one of the most reliable model cars around and have low maintenance costs and use a timing chain not a timing belt.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by minheim

Have a look for a CJ lancer. They have ESC, ABS and TC. If you stretch the budget a little you might be able to score a later model with side airbags. They also are built with a rigid unibody with extensive use of high strength steel and are a a pretty solid vehicle. They are also one of the most reliable model cars around and have low maintenance costs and use a timing chain not a timing belt.

Thanks - this sounds a very very good suggestion, as did the Subaru, but Subbies I have found can be expensive to maintain.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Who is buying the car?? You or her.

Personally I think kids get stuff way way too easy these days, if she has written of the car that she was given and is not interested in learning how to drive properly might be time to learn a hard lesson and catch a bus, or buy your own car.

I never had a car bought for me, I bought my own once I got a license, when I wrote off my first car it was my problem, not my parents.

Up to you.

Personally with my kids, who are not driving yet I will be looking at something reasonably slow, without too many bells and whistles to distract young drivers.

Possibly look at a small SUV style vehicle, I am not a huge fan of small cars, really it's up to her and what she can afford...

[Beastie]

Can't believe how much rain has fallen today in Newcastle....Saw quite a few prangs today.

Glad to hear that everyone is ok....

My wife has an 04 Astra and they are a solid car. Cheap to buy, run & maintain (just need a set of those hex spanners).

Well worth a look in my opinion.

[XT UTE 68]

Originally Posted by minheim

Have a look for a CJ lancer. They have ESC, ABS and TC. If you stretch the budget a little you might be able to score a later model with side airbags. They also are built with a rigid unibody with extensive use of high strength steel and are a a pretty solid vehicle. They are also one of the most reliable model cars around and have low maintenance costs and use a timing chain not a timing belt.

+1 we bought a 2010 CJ lancer ES for my red P plater daughter, she is paying back the mum dad bank, Its only the base model ES but I've been impressed with how good it is for the money. Plenty power for her and good economy. Heaps airbags and ABS. We got it from the auctions as a ex gov car, has a few marks but is mechanically sound. Worth a look.

[asagaai]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

At present I am in the process of dealing with the Insurers, seems a 4wd is likely to be found responsible, causing the 3 pile up.

Also seems had my daughter had abs, accident would not have occurred to begin with- so the car she gets will need abs.

I am letting my daughter get the taste of being carless, and she is looking at bombs round $1,500 because I have indicated that's it-she wiped out my car- she's on her own.

Let her sweat for a number more days - and I will just mull over what I can and want to spend, and what machinery I will stump up for.

[Qwerty321]

Originally Posted by asagaai

So, I taught my daughter to drive in a manual Camry V6, our 3rd car, and she refused to let me teach her car control, sliding in wet, and lock up braking etc.

Refused to even consider letting me teach her these things, saying "Dad I am not interested in your racing and hooning" and rolled her eyes and moaned to my wife that I was guilty of child abuse for trying to teach her such antisocial irresponsible behaviours..... She went and got her license first go, drove real slow and instructor said she was ok but slow. I felt like saying that she cannot drive-she is unsafe etc etc. Anyways, I had my reservations....

Anyway, 10 months later, today in Newcastle, wet, she has totalled the Camry. In a rush for work, missed a turn hit the anchors, locked up tyres, and got into a slide, another car took out her total passenger side, and immediately thereafter another car took out the rear.....

Nobody hurt thank goodness.

So, what car should I look at that is cheap, reasonably efficient, and one that has abs for a person who cannot drive. Been a very long time since I bought a second hand car and I am out of the loop as to what are good things for cheap good value. Most important thing -one that is safe for drivers who do not understand the foggiest about car control.

Cheers and thanks for any suggestions as to where I should start the search...

Corolla or a Golf fits the bill for you best. Of course try get the newer ones, mid 2000s and onwards for both. I'd personally say Corolla if it'll be almost always driven in city, and golf if she'll be driving it on the highways often enough to justify the extra handling and stability so to speak.

However, if you're putting a larger emphasis on safety features to make up for lack of driver interest (no offense to your daughter, many are like her), then a Volvo would be your port of call. Volvo's and safety aren't just stereotypes, they basically build private tanks. Not as efficient as the other two and you might be hard pressed to find a manual volvo, but if you're willing to compromise those to requirements modern Volvo's are the safest things you can buy.

[josh1990]

Originally Posted by Qwerty321

Corolla or a Golf fits the bill for you best. Of course try get the newer ones, mid 2000s and onwards for both. I'd personally say Corolla if it'll be almost always driven in city, and golf if she'll be driving it on the highways often enough to justify the extra handling and stability so to speak.

However, if you're putting a larger emphasis on safety features to make up for lack of driver interest (no offense to your daughter, many are like her), then a Volvo would be your port of call. Volvo's and safety aren't just stereotypes, they basically build private tanks. Not as efficient as the other two and you might be hard pressed to find a manual volvo, but if you're willing to compromise those to requirements modern Volvo's are the safest things you can buy.

Mrs has a 2004 corolla and her mother a 2008 corolla. Don't waste your money, biggest **** heaps with problems. Neither have many Kay's (both under 130k) and mostly same niggling problems. Just replaced the shocks in the '04, it slid out on wet corners whilst driving to the conditions. CD players stop working, central locking problems, poor seats.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by josh1990

Mrs has a 2004 corolla and her mother a 2008 corolla. Don't waste your money, biggest **** heaps with problems. Neither have many Kay's (both under 130k) and mostly same niggling problems. Just replaced the shocks in the '04, it slid out on wet corners whilst driving to the conditions. CD players stop working, central locking problems, poor seats.

I somewhat agree. 18 months ago my mother in law bought a 2007 corolla with 70k on the clock and since then she has had to have the coil packs rewired and the fuel pump replaced.towings not cheap. On top of that due to a sub standard prior smash repair the rear end does horrible things to tyres because it cant be aligned properly. Toyota dealers fail to tell buyers that fact because the car has "great paint for its age".... hmmmm. The smart thing my uncle did when my cousin wanted to get her first car was to cave and get the one she had her heart set on. A 1.3l 92 civic was the slowest car in the universe but my cousin kept it in cotton wool and was even paranoid about where to park it.. paranoia is a good way to teach defensive driving. Hell I did my l's in a modified wb kingswood ute with a tickled efi motor from a 96 clubsport up front. My paranoia was the fear of death because the thing was slippery in the dry and a major handfull in the wet. It was slower than a modern taxi but the old rts suspension is dinosaur compared to these days and was the major problem. What about a focus ztech? 2l airbags, cheap to run, safe enough? One of my apprentices has one and he rates it. Just my 2c

[.:4:.]

Double post..my bad..

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by asagaai

So, I taught my daughter to drive in a manual Camry V6, our 3rd car, and she refused to let me teach her car control, sliding in wet, and lock up braking etc.

Refused to even consider letting me teach her these things, saying "Dad I am not interested in your racing and hooning" and rolled her eyes and moaned to my wife that I was guilty of child abuse for trying to teach her such antisocial irresponsible behaviours..... She went and got her license first go, drove real slow and instructor said she was ok but slow. I felt like saying that she cannot drive-she is unsafe etc etc. Anyways, I had my reservations....

Anyway, 10 months later, today in Newcastle, wet, she has totalled the Camry. In a rush for work, missed a turn hit the anchors, locked up tyres, and got into a slide, another car took out her total passenger side, and immediately thereafter another car took out the rear.....

Nobody hurt thank goodness.

So, what car should I look at that is cheap, reasonably efficient, and one that has abs for a person who cannot drive. Been a very long time since I bought a second hand car and I am out of the loop as to what are good things for cheap good value. Most important thing -one that is safe for drivers who do not understand the foggiest about car control.

Cheers and thanks for any suggestions as to where I should start the search...

Just ease up on her for a minute, you are channelling your years of driving experience onto her with the expectation that she will drive to your skill level. It sounds like in this instance she suffered from inattention, if you have followed any car with P plates, its clear the drivers head is in 3 different places. We have all suffered the same while getting experienced.
5-7 k buys a lot of car nowadays, Corolla, Mazda 3, Lancer, Elantra, Camry, Magna, Civic, are all your friends.

[The Yeti]

Sounds like you and your daughter are at loggerheads on the driving ��

As others have said an advanced driving course might be a better way of her learning as it's clear she has issues with your methods, you can force her all you like with you as an instructor but she won't listen.

Perhaps use this incident as 'motivation' to learn these skills (fear can be a good motivator)

As for the car, Scoobydoos are a good car go for ever reasonable to maintain don't drink to much and are well appointed by way of safety features corolla's and Mazda 3's are all good cars aswell

[rjk74]

My missus has a lv Focus manual 2010 been pretty reliable would'nt touch an auto, they've got abs,stability control,6 airbags.