The best first car is whatever he can affort to buy and insure on his own. I remember high school where the kids thoroughly trashed the cars their parents bought them. The ones that bought thier own seemed to take better care of them. I also bought my own. My first: a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville for the whopping sum of $150. I thank my parents to this day for making me buy my own car. I learned and appreciated the responsibilities that went with it.

Me being me, since you already have the Honda, I'd tell them both that it is either that or nothing. Or he could opt for that nice cherry Yugo in Autotrader.