Teen Driving
The online survey involved 1,338 parents and 1,200 youths. Responding parents had a child aged 16 to 22 years old and either were recently involved in the acquisition of a new or used vehicle for the youth or planned to be involved in one soon. Responding youths were aged 16 to 22 and either had recently acquired a new or used vehicle or planned to soon. Parents and young adults were drawn from national panels, while youngsters aged 16 to 17 were household members of parents on the panel. For this analysis we chose to focus on the buyers and intended buyers of used cars.
WHERE THEY AGREE AND DISAGREE
Favoring practical, inexpensive, and fuel-efficient transportation, 55 percent of parents and 41 percent of the youths opted for a small car over any other vehicle. Family sedans were the second most popular, with all other body types trailing well behind. Perhaps reflecting current gasoline prices, large SUVs came in last. However, 13 percent of young people said they wanted a sports car, about double the number of parents choosing one for them.
Both groups also saw eye to eye on their preferred brands, with Ford and Chevrolet the number one and two choices, respectively, followed by Honda and Toyota.
There was less agreement on such things as comfort, style, engine power, and accessories. All were coveted items with the younger group who tended to place greater importance on features, such as sunroofs, heated seats, electronics, and sound systems. A feature that nearly everybody agreed on was air conditioning: 87 percent of parents and 86 percent of youngsters ranked it first.
As you might expect, the young respondents desired a large roster of entertainment features, such as MP3-compatible audio systems and subwoofer speakers. While such features may be hard to find in used cars, they are commonly available as aftermarket add-ons. So young drivers may want to budget their money so they can personalize the vehicle down the road.
Safety was a leading concern for both groups. While parents ranked safety as their number two concern, their children listed it fifth, behind reliability (also number one for parents), cost, overall performance, and gas mileage. Parents were slightly more concerned with having up-to-date safety features such as antilock brakes (85 percent) and side air bags (68 percent).
Looking at the preferred safety equipment, such as traction control, side air bags, and active head restraints, it may be hard to find some high-ranked gear in the median vehicle age and price ranges. More than 60 percent of the vehicles bought or sought after are from the 2000 or earlier model year—before many advanced safety features were commonly available. Further, the approximately $6,500 that both parents and youth cited, on average, as their desired price is not likely to buy a vehicle with the latest safety equipment. (Get price and reliability information with a Consumer Reports Used Car Price Report.)
CR'S RECOMMENDATIONS
Choosing a car for a young person will usually involve compromises between budget and desirable features. The best bet is to buy the newest, most reliable model with the most safety equipment you can afford. (You can compare used cars and get the best price with the Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Kit.) If your budget can handle a newer car with multistage advanced front air bags, side and head-protection air bags, antilock brakes, and electronic stability control, so much the better. The assistance these systems can provide in an emergency situation can be especially beneficial to an inexperienced driver. Tremendous advances in crash protection have been made in the past 10 years. Check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web sites to see crash results for models you are considering. Both sites post results that go back to the 1990s.
Consumer Reports maintains reliability Ratings (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers) on our Web site going back eight model years. Check the Ratings for any car you're considering, but also keep in mind that every used car gets treated differently. The older a car gets, the more its care and maintenance history will affect its overall performance and reliability.
As with any used car, we recommend having it thoroughly inspected by a qualified mechanic before you buy.
In the market for a used car? Check out the best and worst used cars, the best used vehicles for under $20,000, and Consumer Reports' recommended cars for teenage drivers, at ConsumerReports.org. Find out how to subscribe today.
