Car for teenager dilemma

EDIT: Got 2017 Camry SE, update in post 37.

So my son got his license, has a job and started community college. He uses one of our cars for now, four days a week. I told him that as long as he’s going to school and, or working, I’m willing to buy a car that will be mine, but he can use. Ok, it’s pretty much gonna be his, but I didn’t tell him that I’ve been looking for a month and it seems that every time I go to check one out, it gets sold right before I get there.

I’m currently have two cars in mind and looking for input, or opinions from others, especially those who have already been through this with their kids.

2013 Camry Hybrid XLE (cloth seats )
92000 miles.
Carfax shows fender bender.
One owner
All service and oil changes done on time
Insurance increase $367
$11,995



2014 Lexus IS 250 AWD
105,000 miles
Carfax shows couple fender benders
4 owners
Most services done on time, including differential drain and fill
Insurance increase $533
$12,999


Car would be used in NJ, so snow, rain, etc. AWD would be nice, but FWD is doable. Lexus definitely has nicer interior and looks way cooler. I test drove one last week and it’s pretty slow, so I’m not worried about that. In fact, Camry Hybrid is slightly faster 0-60, according to automotive publications.

I haven’t seen either car in person yet.
Insurance is $166 more for the Lexus, so not significant enough for me to say no based just on that.

Both cars have good safety ratings.

Obviously Camry blows IS 250 out of the water when it comes to MPG

OTD price would be almost identical, $200-$300 difference. So what do you all say?

P.S.
I’m only really looking at Camrys, IS 250s, and Accords, before anyone suggests anything else.
There is also possibly that I’ll find something on marketplace for less, that’s older, but in good shape.

Thanks.

 

Estimated miles per week?

 

200-250

 

I know.. but how about a Matrix XRS AWD? Basically a Corolla but with the hatchback.

But I would guess that a "wagon" is a no go for a teen. lol

 

Lucky kid and cool parent! For who sounds like a responsible teenager with the right focus on things... Lexus. For the sassy, free spirited, not a care in the world teen... Camry. Not sure there is a wrong answer.

(If you aren't open to an additional recommendation, stop here)

Honda CR-V:
If you are already also looking at an Accord, and if you don't care about styling, you might want to consider adding the Honda CR-V to the mix. The 2010'ish body style literally don't rust. It's pretty wild. That, and they are still a basic vehicle that are cheap and easy to maintain while being "what Honda used to be" reliable. Pricing is between $3500-8500 up in the outskirts of Boston.

Sharing because I'm about to buy my mother's for when our daughter turns 16. Having driven it myself for the last few months, I have to admit, it reminds me of the build quality of my '98 4Runner, and even with 188k miles on it, it is absolutely impeccable underneath and the powertrain is good for 300+k while still getting 25mpg. Good value and one I can only assume exists because of that horrible styling.

 

That probably leans the pointer toward the hybrid especially if most of those miles are in the urban/ suburban areas. I would be concerned about the hybrid battery. Is there a reliable way to test the battery condition?

 

I just went though this looking for a reliable car for our son. He gets his permit this summer. We found a 2016 4Runner SR5, 1 owner, 71K miles.

Anyway, the Camry would be the better choice in my opinion. He could use the money saved in gas to put towards a newer vehicle down the road.

 

I’ll toss some related thoughts out too. I wanted my son to learn the financial side of vehicle ownership, so my wife and I decided he would have his own ins policy once he graduated high school. This necessitates him owning the vehicle since the owner is liable in many situations and my son shouldn’t need to insure to same limits I do because he has no assets beyond his vehicle.

I transferred his vehicle into his name and placed a lien on it to protect it from anyone else doing that. Then we shopped his insurance at slightly above the state minimums so he saw that process. He’s responsible for registration and his insurance. He is diligent about shopping every renewal. I still handle the maintenance costs with him assisting with labor (safety first…).

So far he has had one at fault fender bender which drove his rates up. He has become a better driver for it. Also, he has a bill he has to make every month in addition to rent. It’s been a good balance for him I think (life, but with training wheels).

 

Does he care which one?

It seems like this generation doesn't care about the type of car they drive or even want to drive at all. Camery would be the sensible choice, but I personally would of loved to have gotten a 1998 Lexus.

 

That Lexus plus this would be my choice....

https://www.rr-racing.com/RR-Racing-Supercharger-Kit-for-Lexus-IS250-RWD-p/is2scr2002.htm


I would personally vote FWD for rain/snow/ice. AWD can give you a false sense of security really quick. Normally taking off isn't the big problem as much as its going to be stopping.

Spoken from my younger self who put his AWD Talon in the ditch one winter.

 

We went through this in 2022 when our son started driving. We went with a 2020 Camry specifically for the driver aid/safety features because of the traffic/driver habits in our area. Same deal… it was MY car, that he had the privilege of driving.

Sold the Camry last year because I had no need for a Camry. Ended up about $5000 per year cost of ownership.

Gave our old car to the boy after he had some driving experience and bought a Tundra because we had more need for a truck.

My recommendation is either help him buy a suitable car for himself, or gift one of your current vehicles and get something you want.

Putting the ownership of decisions on the kid is a far better experience for everyone involved. Plus, he’s a grown ass man that doesn’t need to be driving his daddy’s car.

 

This isn’t legal advice - but anyone considering doing this should research the applicability of the “family purpose doctrine” in their state. We’ve had cases where the parents were on the hook for liability because of the level of assistance/control they provided/exerted with their adult child.

 

Went through this 10 years ago for my daughter and 8 years ago for my son.
He's still driving the same 2005 Scion TC he found with 100K on it. Almost 200K now and still runs like a Timex. Normal maintenance items. Still on the original clutch.
I think the 2nd gen was available until 2015 or '16. Same engine as the Camry and a lot more fun to drive, especially if you teach him to drive a 6 speed.

Barring that option:
Camry.

 

Camry. I think the IS might give him the false impression that its somewhat of a sports car and might be enticed to race his friends. Not a fan of older hybrids because of repair costs but I think it would be the better choice of those two. Personally, I would go with a Corolla or non-hybrid 4cyl camry.

 

I would stay away from the IS250. They are known for oil consumption issues. The 350 variety of lexus is much better. GS350, IS350. I bought my son a 2013 honda accord v6 with 36k miles last July for 14k, and even that had an oil leak from the oil pump, which has since been fixed. Great car so far. One car I would have also considered is a Mazda 3 from 2014 and up. They are made in Japan and I've heard nothing but good things about them. They are also better priced than Toyota and Honda.

 

My vote would be for the Camry because it's better on gas and lower insurance costs. If he wants something cool, he can save up his money until he can afford it.

I've never had an issue with my FWD cars in winter but they all had/have winter tires.

 

He does like hatchbacks and wagons, however, I would feel better if he had more car between him and both bumpers.

 

I like those, but I feel like it's a "mom car" (my mom has one lol)

 

So anyway, after my OP, I went to the dealer to check out the Camry. I called them and was there an hour after and a half after that. They fcuking sold it! When I asked about it, the guy said "We just sold it, it just drove away 5 minutes ago" They had it on the lot 109 days.

 

I was going to pitch the CRV also but I already pitched one not on OP's list.
I found a low mile 2014 CRV AWD for my daughter last fall. She loves it.

It, like my wife's RAV4, is the "universal" SUV, kinda boring, but doesn't do anything wrong. Good build quality and will last forever if you take care of it.

 

Good luck with the search.

 

I wish my dad still had his Matrix. If I was smarter, I would have bought it from him.

 

Get a beater and make the kid learn to maintain it. It’ll be incentive to work harder for better.
Life lessons

 

Make the kid buy his own beater. I rode the bus to my first summer job and saved my pennies so I could buy a Civic the next summer.

 

2005 AWD XR for over 12 years. That thing, while slow, was absolutely fantastic in every scenario you put it in (except merging onto the highway). Way safer than they look and the AWD system is ridiculously good on that little roller skate of a platform. The exhaust droned so badly, though. lol

 

My dad's was a 2003 FWD.

He used it to haul everything he needed to build a sleep shack out to our lake lot except the plywood. Concrete blocks, lumber, pails full of nails, all his hand tools. 150 miles on the highway with the fenders rubbing on the tires.

 

I second Cpl Punishment's thoughts: it would have done me better to be forced to save up and buy my own car, whatever that was. Americans are far too soft.....in general, the harder the training (youth) the easier the mission (adulthood).

Now.....

Which one is a manual shift?

Sad but those are hard to find now!

Hybrids are bad used buys as the battery begins to wear out around 100K and is EXPENSIVE to replace. I would not buy a used hybrid unless it's really new.

Prices must be crazy now! I am about to buy a used dump truck that could haul about 3 cars and it's not $11K!

Before buying anything used I'd test drive it over to a garage and have them run a check on the computer for codes and get it up on a lift and check it out. Make arrangements with the garage of choice beforehand. Tip the owner if they refuse payment.

 

Get him a Civic, specifically 8th gen Civic.

It's a reliable car, it's cheap, it's durable, good in winter, you don't cry/get angry if he bang into something, cause he WILL bang into something, and it's easy enough that you can get him to help with oil change and make him learn.

Once he's ready for something nicer, then he can appreciate the nicer things, that's how I got my kid to drive, now he wants manual car since both me and the wife still have manual cars.

 

Whatever costs $1000 and is barely functional, and then buy the shit to fix it but he has to figure out what's wrong and do all the installation.

We bought a 1980s VW Cabriolet for $1000 last year, I think that'd be like the pinnacle of a teenager vehicle. Cool and fun little ride, cheap and easy to maintain, absolutely dog shit slow

 

6th gen is nicer but probably pretty clapped out by now.