Help with choosing a car for a 16 year-old.

[aardvark]

Go for the car that you know the best. If your mom's car was well-taken care of, has not been in accidents, and gets regular maintainance then it is a no-brainer.

[Mr Pink]

I wouldn't pick mom's with 89,000 miles on the clock... even if it has been taken care of that bad boys on its way out!

[dusto2k3]

Option #1

1. Repairs on a manual tranny are cheaper.
2. The kid probably does not need the extra power of the v6
3. Repairs and maintenance on a v6 are higher.
4. A Honda Accord with 89000 miles is in its infancy. I have a 93 with 89000 miles and is running STRONG
5. That Honda will last till 189,000 (all these people who say its on its way out dont know to maintain a vehicle)
6. If you get the coupe, take out the speakers
7. Good Luck

[IntoTheEther]

if you were smart you would get a single cab, manual tranny, truck. trucks sit higher so in case of an accident your in better shape. manual tranny keeps the teen more focused on driving. single cab allows one or two passengers. less passengers equals less distraction. last, but not least, the insurance is cheaper.

The thing about trucks, though, especially for new drivers, is that if you take a turn too hard or too fast, the thing can flip, and if you're not wearing your seatbelt as 16-year-olds can be wont to do, it can kill you.

As long as you're a safe driver, though, you should be fine, and the manual would help with taking turns easier, because you can downshift in the turns.

[RamblerGambler]

manual all the way. Honestly, mine almost acts as a child safety lock for the majority of my friends. Anytime one of my buddies wants to go somewhere but needs to "borrow a car" I just toss them my keys then ask if they know how to drive stick. 9 times out of 10 they immediatly hand them back to me.

Now, about the milage. Relax. It's Japanese. It lasts FOREVER. I'm driving a '95 nissan with over 160,000 on the odometer and it still runs like a dream. A bit of upkeep every so often, but nothing that breaks the bank.

[Nissan_420sx]

it's a honda...miles don't matter..lol

If your gonna go with the manual...Take the car to a mechanics shop and have them do a once over on the car to look for problems or potential problems..I'm assuming you'd know the history of your moms car...just remember...all cars break..sometimes out of the blue...so make sure you have money set aside to take care of anything that pops up

[the j0ker]

I wouldn't pick mom's with 89,000 miles on the clock... even if it has been taken care of that bad boys on its way out!

bullshit dude it is only a 2002 and it is a honda it is nowhere near on it's way out most japaneese cars will last a while my buddy has a 92 accord coupe with 237,000 miles on it and it is still running strong and it is dependable and his mom's car has more miles than 89,000 you got ur shit backwards lol

8 grand is a little steep if you have 8,000 to drop on it go with it it has a smaller engine and a manual it will save way more gas than a v-6 and auto and the way prices are that is important plus insurance costs will be less and so will maintenence allthough i personally think it is better to do mechanical work yourself i would go with the civic if it were me but it's up to you man

[Spoken Word]

ahhh your lucky..
I wanted that car... most importantly that generation of accord..

the V6 has power bro.. i'd get that

[aeonblue11]

its an ironic situation.

the stickshift coupe lacks the power of the V6.

the V6 sedan lacks the extra control of the stickshift to use it to its full potential.

[Nightstar]

Don't forget to check the CV axle boots and listen for any clicking noise when turning... Ask about service records for things like the timing belt/tune ups etc.. get a Carfax report if you can...

on the stick shift model - find out if its the original clutch or if its been changed.

on the v6 auto - feel how it shifts on normal driving if it shifts hard or a little late beware.

other then that if the v6 comes up clean I would get the v6..