Buying a teen’s first car can be a slightly traumatic experience for most parents. It seems like you just got done buying them their first pair of shoes and now they have a driver’s license; and are chomping at the bit to get on the road. But the stress of buying a teen’s first car goes beyond just making you feel old, although that’s bad enough.
There’s also the worry. Teenagers are, well, teenagers and therefore not the most responsible of creatures. When they move into having their own car, there is going to be a great deal of stress about what they are doing and whether or not they are being safe. These are genuine fears, but they can be at least somewhat alleviated by making the choices when buying a teen’s first car.
The first thing you need to consider, obviously, is safety. You want to buy the safest car possible for your teen and this means buying a car with the habits of a teenager in mind. So when buying a teen’s first car, look for a car that has an adequate but not too powerful engine. You don’t want them in a car that will go from 0 to 60 in four seconds, because that’s just too much temptation.
Don’t be fooled by things that seem safe but actually aren’t. An SUV may make you feel safer, but study after study has shown that they are nowhere near as safe as smaller cars. Another benefit of having a small car is that they use less fuel, which will keep your teen from constantly hitting you up for gas money.
When buying a teen’s first car, let them have some say in what they buy. A car that a teen helps pick out is a car that the teen is going to have a personal investment in. This means that they will be more responsible in the care and use of the car. The key here is the phrase ‘some say’; you don’t want the teen to make the entire decision.
You should also involve your teen in the buying process, even if they aren’t paying for the car themselves. They need to understand the ins and outs of negotiating for a good deal and it will be great for them to take part. This too increases their sense of ownership, which leads to a better first car experience.
When buying a first car for your teenager, you also need to keep insurance in mind. Insurance for teens is sky high, and this is another reason for buying a smaller cheaper car. Actually, given how expensive insurance is and how hard teens are on cars, it might be a good idea to get your teen a small, safe used car with minimal insurance.
Buying a teen’s first car doesn’t have to be a stressful experience or at least it doesn’t have to be as stressful. You just need to go in knowing exactly what you want out of the car and what you’re prepared to pay; and you’ll be fine.
By: Shane Smith. If you are looking for landscape or backyard lights then check out: http://makevoltz.com
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