Your child just got that coveted drivers licence and you are thinking about a new car which is best suited for a teen. Moreover, you are scared about the future. Your teen is the best kid a parent can hope for but a teen is still a teen and they can be a little unpredictable to say the least. You need to choose a car but you want to make sure it is safe, economical and will not get your teen into trouble.
If your teen is anything like an average kid, he or she has already started to look for a convertible muscle car and is paying attention to the screen like never before while browsing car dealership websites. As a parent, you aren’t sure what to do. That’s where a Chillicothe Toyota dealer can help you as they see this quite frequently. Let’s delve into this picture in bite-size chunks.
Safety Of The Vehicle
What is important when selecting a new car for your teen starts with the safety of your teen. You can replace everything in time but not a life lost. Hence, it should be your utmost concern while making this decision.
Gadgets In The Car
Teens are notorious for being preoccupied with unimportant things, like tuning the radio or searching the mp3 player while sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The more gadgets the car will have, the more distracted your teen will get and the less safe he or she will be. On the other hand, if you buy a totally stripped-down car, your kid will be ridiculed by close friends. So, as a parent, you need to strike the right balance on that.
Advanced Safety Features
At the end of the day, your teen will be a teen and at one time, will make a mistake. An advanced feature, which started to find its way into even the cheapest of vehicles, i.e., adaptive braking technology, is a must-have on top of your list when you are shopping for a vehicle for your teen.
Another example of this is the tire air pressure gauges reflecting on the car’s dashboard. You can not expect your teen to walk around the car, every time he or she is going somewhere but a flashing like on the dashboard, telling your tire pressure is low could be a good reminder. Again, less but useful gadgets are what a parent should aim for.
Crash Safety Ratings
Another concern for a parent is the other drivers. Your teen might be the most careful driver a teen can be but unfortunately, not all other drivers are expected to be as careful. So, the car you are going to get for your teen must have a high crash safety rating. NHTSA or, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, assigns star ratings to every car and model sold in the US. Your target should be a five-star rated vehicle to have peace of mind.
Driver’s Visibility
Sometimes parents do not realize how taller they are than their children or vice versa. A car that would look like it has good visibility to you, may not be so for your teen. It is best to take the car out to a test drive and as your ten drives the car, watch if he/she struggles to see the surroundings or feel uncomfortable. Make sure the car has very good visibility for your teen.
Insurance Concerns
Ah, the joys of having a young driver at home. When you mention this to your young driver insurance agent, you did not like the number coming out of his mouth most probably. Unfortunately, the percentage of accidents caused by younger drivers is undeniable and insurance companies are aware of this situation. For the next few years, get ready to pay sky-high insurance premiums. Talk to your insurance agent and see what makes the most sense for you to buy for your teen so that the insurance rates are as low as possible.
Cost Efficiency
The minute you walk into your dealership, your teen will make a beeline to the sportiest, fastest-looking car on the lot. But as a responsible parent, you will steer your teen to more sensible cars. Sharper the car looks higher the price sticker will get, along with the risk of an accident, hence the insurance premiums as well. Even though your teen will most probably hate you for a while, your purpose should be buying a car, which makes the most sense for safety and price-wise.
But this does not mean going to the cheapest car on the lot. Consider the resale value along with the safety equipment. And sometimes these extra features may come in a package deal, making the price very attractive for what you are getting, at the same time, making your teen happy as well. So, you should not overlook these factors.
Also, always keep in mind that the car you are about to buy will need maintenance. When you buy a car that has low maintenance requirements, your return on your investment will be higher in the end.
At The End Of The Day, Which Car Makes the Most Sense
There are several candidates on the market for your teen, but for the experts and car enthusiasts alike, the choice boils down to a Toyota Corolla. Why you might ask.
Well, first of all, Toyota quality is known worldwide. Multiple research studies have shown that Toyota models, including the Corolla, come on the top of the durability list. Close second to that, the price. Although it may not be the cheapest car around, the bang for your buck is at its highest level with this model. It has all the safety features you want for your teen and if you choose a moderate trim package, it doesn’t come with too many bells and whistles to distract your teen driver.
And for your teen, 2020 and 2021 year model Corollas are extremely eye-pleasing. Their performance, in teen speak, doesn’t suck. And they have one of the lowest maintenance costs in their class. As long as you take the car to routine checkups and change the oil every 5000 miles, you can expect this car to last many many years. Visit a Chillicothe Toyota dealer with your teen and let your teen take it for a test drive. I’m sure both of you will be pleasantly surprised.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Speak Your Mind