A teen’s first car is among one of his or her first adult responsibilities. It’s also typically a major family expenditure. It may be tempting to make that first ride as cheap and basic as possible, but investing in a better vehicle at the beginning can save you a lot of money and worry down the line. nowadays investing in a car insurance is also considered essential when you are owning a car, read more info about car insurance at Conviction Insure’s website. Here’s what you need to think about before you sign that lease for your teen’s first car.
New Skills
Most teens don’t get the chance to practice driving a variety of cars before earning their licenses, so it’s important to remember that there might be a learning curve if their first car is different than the car they drove while still learning the ropes. This doesn’t mean you have to get the same model as their learning vehicle, but the more differences there are between the learning car and the new car, the more new skills the teen is going to have to learn. This includes everything from maneuvering a vehicle of different dimensions, getting used to different brake sensitivity, and even using different on-board technology. They will also have to be familiarized with the basic tools and how to use them. Teens should be capable of doing these simple repairs themselves. Troubleshooting brake rotors or checking head gaskets are not necessarily skills one should learn at first but getting around the concept will surely pay off in the long run.
Tech Tutorials
Modern car technology in mind, there are a lot of handy features that can be great for new drivers, while others may be distracting and dangerous. Safety features like rear fender detection and backup assistance will save the new driver from a lot of dents and scratches. Some fancy on-board tech may encourage too much fiddling around, though. Even if you find a great deal on a car with an advanced media system, skip it. The last thing a teen driver needs is a flashy touch screen for music.
Know Your Specs
If you aren’t especially conversant about technical car specifications, it’s a good idea to learn before you purchase a car for your teen. For example, a car with the common V6 engine is probably more machine than you’ll want for your teen, as this can allow for higher top speeds and faster acceleration. Instead, an inline 4-cylinder engine will be more more manageable for new drivers.. It’s also worthwhile to get to know terminology like torque, curb height and even different tire specs so you can make the safest choice for the roads in your area.
New vs. Used
New cars can’t be beaten in terms of modern safety features, as federal law requires cars manufactured after a certain date to have a full complement of airbags and other elements that were considered extras in earlier models. The newest cars also have special smart features for teen drivers like programmable keys that limit the car’s top speed, as well as new sensors and cameras to make crashes less likely. This all comes at a premium, though. New cars are naturally more expensive than used cars for sale, plus insurance premiums for teens can be higher in new cars than in used cars. If you are sure your teen is going to be driving a large truck in the future, then consider getting the best commercial truck insurance you can find to keep them covered.
Price is definitely the big plus for going the used route. It’s also not impossible to find used cars that still have great safety features, if not the most modern bells and whistles. Check to make sure all airbags, brake lights, signals and emergency lights are intact. It’s also well worth your time to examine the car for necessary repairs including clutch repair. Picking up a used vehicle for a $500 may seem like a dream, but there could be thousands of dollars in repairs waiting under the hood.
Vehicle Size
Mid-size cars are ideal for teen drivers, my kid was interested in a Hyundai so we decided to look for more information about the Hyundai Palisade. Large vehicles like trucks, vans and SUVs are often too bulky and difficult to handle for new drivers, plus they also tend to have more powerful engines. Similarly, very small cars aren’t a good idea, either. They usually don’t fare very well in crash ratings compared to mid-size cars and they can have sensitive handling that can be dangerous for less experienced drivers.
A teen’s first car should be a positive experience for everyone. That means balancing cost, safety and easy handling. With a little research, an understanding of modern car technology and an eye for good deals, your teen’s first car will be good for you, for them and for everyone else on the road with them.