Safest Used Cars Under $10,000 for Teens - Consumer Reports

emphasis is on safety but interesting round up of cheapish cars for those needing a car on arrival without breaking the bank.

No Mazda 2, that is what we drive. See the Mazda 3 made the list though.


If these are the kinds of cars teens get these day's, they don't know how nice they have it....

My first car was like 19 years old....

Those prices seem incredibly optimistic. If I could find a Ford Focus for $6k I'd snap it up. Or at least look very suspiciously at it.

Do those prices include the tax?

I'm in agreement with Anian, I think their prices are too low. I looked at a Rav4 2010 on kellys blue book and it was well over $10K. And I don't think they included tax because each state has different sales tax percentages.

Right....and (I think) different Destination Fee charges, as well

They dont' say how many miles they'd have on them.

Some of those cars like the Focus or the Hyundai could be possible but would likely be in the 80-100K miles and be a scrap heap waiting.

The Golf, would be a monster to insure.

I'll be looking for one soon for a 6’4" teen with clown feet.

My son actually thinks we're going to buy him a car

You could see the look of dissapointment on 'The Dude's' face when there wasn't one with a bow on top on his 16th

Saying that how many kids round your way are 'given' cars - his High School car park is full of kids with trucks and cars - where are they getting money?

Their parents, clearly. Mine didn't get given a car. My old car is available but my name is on the title. And the insurance was like woweee expensive


And yes those prices are optimistic, particularly the Rav4

My kids haven't got cars and they're not particularly interested in learning to drive. I'm pushing the 18yr old to get it sorted though because I'd quite like her to drive herself around the place. Their friends don't have their own cars from what I can see, they get to drive the parent's cars.

Mine will be 17 this year and will continue to wait . He will have his learning permit soon thigh from school.

I don't really know how many kids round our way have their own car though. I know some do but I don't know if they were given or saved up for.

In our particular case it is a third car that we make available to our kids for going to school. My son used it for his junior and senior years and my daughter will do the same. Without knowing this though you would have assumed that it is their car as it's in the school parking lot everyday.

The prices do seem a bit optimistic but there are bargains to be had if you look.

My son needed a car for an internship that he starts this summer. Using some money he had from a custodial account and some extra from us we were able to get a 2008 Honda Civic with less that 60k miles for $8.5k. Private seller. It needed some servicing but should keep him going for a few years.