Weekend Garage

Q: My daughter is turning 16 this year and I plan to buy her a used car. I would like to keep the cost to $10,000 to $11,000. My wife and I would like her to use this car through college. Are any particular models best for a young driver? - Jeff O., Minneapolis

A: Every family, every person, has particular makes and models that have performed well and earned loyalty and trust. I'll provide some considerations that might affect your decision and then mention a few models that have served the people in my family well over the years.

First and foremost, I would determine what makes your daughter most comfortable. I'm not talking about socially comfortable - some "hot" models her peer group may be interested in. I mean what makes her feel most comfortable at the controls as a driver.

Depending on how protective you are, your first impulse may be to surround her with as much steel as possible. Does that make her comfortable? You've listed Minneapolis as your home. If that means the city itself, your daughter will be making her way along crowded city streets and parallel parking. The larger the vehicle you buy her, the greater the challenge it will be for her to maneuver and park.

Another comfort issue is visibility. I've been driving almost 30 years, but if I'm in a new car, such as a rental that has poor rearward visibility, I never like that. Tight maneuvers on a street, in a driveway or garage, or in a parking ramp are always more demanding and stressful if you have to guess at the vehicle's outer dimensions. I like to be able to see vehicles, pets and obstructions behind me as well as possible. Many design attributes affect outward visibility - it's not just the size of the windows. Their placement, as well as seat height and mirror size and location, are also important. Have your daughter drive each car you consider. Don't just go in an easy loop. Have her do a three-point turn where it's safe to do so, maybe on a quiet residential street, and also try parallel parking.

Vehicle size is important for another reason. Think of your daughter's hobbies and social habits. Is she a golfer, a backpacker, a skier? Does she play the upright bass or Sousaphone? Is she likely to need room for instruments, bicycles, golf clubs, hockey equipment or other bulky items? Do you have dogs that she will want to take to the park? Is she the center of her social group, the one who often coordinates activities with her friends and usually provides (or you provide) transportation? The sorts of transportation you have provided for her and her friends in the past is a decent reflection of what she will need to provide for herself with this vehicle. If you buy her something suited to one purpose, and her lifestyle is better suited to a vehicle of another type ... guess what? She will often ask to borrow one of your family's other vehicles.

What about gas mileage? Will she be able to earn enough to cover her fuel costs? If not, do you and your wife want to be contributing gas money until she's self-supporting? She will need twice the money to run a vehicle making 12 miles per gallon as one that makes 24 mpg. Call your insurance company, too, and make sure there isn't a shocking premium difference among the vehicles you're considering.

My own family members have had excellent luck with hatchbacks and sedans from Volkswagen (Golf, GTi) and Toyota (Corolla, Camry). These vehicles make good gas mileage, hold a decent amount of cargo, generally have good visibility and handling and have been inexpensive to maintain. I mention them because I have prolonged experience with them. Modern vehicles are for the most part quite dependable and there are dozens of models from many manufacturers that would serve your daughter well. Pick a few based on your selection criteria, have her drive them and express her comfort level and have any vehicle you're thinking about buying checked out for wear, hidden damage and impending maintenance by a trusted mechanic.