First car for 16 year old daughter - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rbn3 · #1 01-15-2003, 05:38 PM

Having failed in my attempt to get the driving age increased to 35, I have to face this. My daughter has her permit and her hours and will be 16 in 60 days.

I want her to drive my '91 300te - its a total tank, not quick, and is very reliable. Gas mileage is awful (it's a 4-matic), but we live close to her school and mall. She wants an SUV (qx4 is her current pick - she found a 99 on the net for about 17.5k). I'd like to go 5 k less, but 15ish is possible. I suggested a Saturn Vue - but they are "lame" I am informed.

All the SUV roll over stuff concerns me. My daughter is not the reckless type, but there definitely is a long learning curve for operating a motor vehicle.

rbn3 · #2 01-15-2003, 05:55 PM

If she knows a Texan thinks a 300te is cool, her attitude might change. The 300TE has 75K miles and I had the transmission rebuilt at 55K. With it's 4 Nokian all seasons, I have driven around Jeeps and Explorers stuck in snow drifts.

#3 01-15-2003, 06:23 PM

Tell her TE stands for teenager! Really I can't think of a better kid car or for anybody really. Let her take it to school when she starts driving, the kids will love and so will she.

Ashman · #4 01-15-2003, 06:50 PM

I dunno. if it were me giving a car to my kid, I'd give her two choices.

1. Drive the car I give you to drive, enjoy it and don't complain.

2. if you don't like the car I'm giving you, you are more than welcome to buy your own with your own money.

Now she does know a Qx4 is just a pathfinder. so why not get a pathfinder for cheaper, throw on some infinity and qx4 badging and be done with it. if she really wants the qx4.

I was given a handme down from my older brother as my first car, but I loved it, even tthough it was a v8 running on 6 cylynders, used tons of oil, and got horrible gas mileage, it was mine.

Its all fine and good to give your child what they want, but for me, my kid will be driving whatever car I choose to give them, be it a 25 year old benz, or a brand spanking new car, its going to be my choice. if my kid wanted something other than what was offered as choices, then my kind can go get a job and pay for their own car and insurance and gas. But I dont have kids yet, but thats what I would do.

You should also check insurance rates for your daughter driving the 300te vs a Qx4.

Alon

BenzOnline · #5 01-15-2003, 07:04 PM

Ya its not a bad car but too bad its a wagon.

Ford Escape in my eyes is an ugly piece of garbage and would take a Liberty or CRV over that ugly thing.

#6 01-15-2003, 07:06 PM

Get her a Volvo 740 sedan, and say "If you want something spiffier than this, earn the money and buy it. This was reasonably priced and inexpensive to insure you on, and safe."

That'll be my attitude towards kids wanting nearly new cars, even though I'm barely in my 20's.

Or, you could just tell her to drive the MB and like it. Does she truly "need" an SUV?

-Sam

Don HO · #7 01-15-2003, 08:14 PM

I got a ´72 280 SE

the ignition system was horrable and the car left me stranded atleast once a week

but 5 cars later i still wouldn't want anything else but a MB.

Kuan · #8 01-15-2003, 10:09 PM

Man have her drive the TE. She'll appreciate the money not spent when she's in college and finds that she just spent her last $62 on dollar draws for her whole house!

I had to purchase my first car. And second, and third...

Kuan

#9 01-15-2003, 10:47 PM

.....I don't know what car you get a 16yr
old...but if it was my kid...there would be NO BACK SEAT....& the passenger seat would be removed..Think back when you were 16.?????Good.luck..gramps!

MBZ'ER

Cap'n Carageous · #10 01-15-2003, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TXBill
[B][COLOR=darkblue]SUVs are passe, doesn't she already know this? People are leaving SUV owners nasty notes on windshields, breaking windshields, and confronting them angrily at fuel stations, calling their drivers 'baby killers'.

And I was feeling guilty about just hating to get behind one because I can't see over it!!!

#11 01-15-2003, 11:36 PM

I'd have her drive the Benz. She'll fall in love with it and her friends will love it too! For the record, my first car (also given to me) was an '83 Ford Escort. First thing I did was save up my money to upgrade to a radio that offered FM.

Take the money you'll save by not buying a new Infiniti and have her put in into an interest bearing savings account/other. She'll appreciate that cool thing called "compounded interest" when she graduates from college.

Piotr · #12 01-16-2003, 01:02 AM

Well, personally I think an SUV is a horrible first car. I think post a reply to this on the tech forum. SUV give handling problems to experienced drivers, never mind 16yrs old.
As to the 300TE, remember when you were 16. I'm 38, and given a choice between 300T and 190D I chose 190, because 300 made me feel OLD. I'm still happy about it. You do not want her to hate her first car. I partially agree with Ashman (

), but only up to a point. BTW 17.5K is way too much for the first car. $4000-$7000 would be more appropriate and I would make her either to earn it or partially to pay for it, otherwise she will not appreciate it.

Talk to her and give her 5-6 choices of cars YOU selected. She will feel more empowered while choosing a car YOU feel more comfortable with. My suggestions will be (all used!!!):
Any Subaru (except WRX-can't handle it)
Lancer
RAV4 (cute-girls love it)
Civic
3.8 mustang (slower than a Camel, but feels very sporty)
any small MB diesel or gas

Avoid "Daddy" or "Grampa" cars. I know 300 is way better than 190, but ask her and see what she says! Oh, and I would insist she learns manual. It will make her a better driver of automatics.

jsmith · #13 01-16-2003, 08:01 AM

my sister gave my niece a Blazer when she went away to college in upstate NY. she thought it would be a good safe vehicle for her daughter, specially with the snow up there. after the holidays one year, on her way back to campus, a deer jumped right in front of the SUV and she had to execute one of those "avoidance maneuvers". her then boyfriend, who is now her husband, was driving behind her in his own can and told me how he watched in horror as the Blazer rolled several times down an embankment. luckily, there was no collision and my niece was wearing her seatbelt. she survived the accident with very minor injuries but she was traumatized by the experience. the Blazer was totalled and she drove a regular car from then on.

please keep these 16 yr old / first car posts coming. i only have a year to go before i am faced with the problem

#14 01-16-2003, 11:36 AM

My first car was an '88 420SEL. I'm 18 yrs old now, and I wish I still had that car. I worked to buy wheels, stereo, that kind of stuff and EVERYONE who knew anything about cars loved my car becuase of it's personality. An older Mercedes has much more personality, and expresses much more induviduality than any new car. My suggestion is to give her the benz, or, if she really doesn't want to drive the wagon, offer to buy her a W126 in good condition. My 420 had 120k miles, near perfect paint nad interior and cost us $12,000. The W126 makes a great first car.

Piotr · #15 01-16-2003, 12:15 PM

Ok, I stand corrected. Ask HER what would be her favorite car sans SUV and then make up a list.
BTW I forgot about Accord.