[Captain Blood]

Yes! Another "what car should I buy" thread!! But I am looking for ideas for something reliable for each of my younger twins for a HS graduation gift.
Twin M really wants a 2015 A3 convertible or a Tacoma or an F150, Twin G doesn't seem to care. $15k is our spending limit for each.

Any ideas are appreciated, I have looked at rav4's, crosstreks, Q3's, Mazda cx-5's. Anything to support or steer me away from those cars is also appreciated.

[rcracin]

Tacoma so you can borrow it when you need a pickup

[plutnicki]

I don't know how they run in your neck of the woods, but trucks near me... 15k will get you a fairly beaten, high mileage Tacoma, maybe... Or really any truck honestly. They just hold their value too well.

I'm looking at 2016 - 2019 Honda Civics for my son. 15k will get you a nice one with next to no mileage. Highly reliable, great gas mileage, low maintenance costs, cheap to insure... He wants a red one, that's as fancy as it gets, and he wants a sedan or coupe (not the hatch, doesn't want an SUV). Only bummer is the CVT (and it's not that bad) but you can get a manual if you look hard enough.

Not exciting, but for a kid, keeping it cheap and reliable is the way to go IMHO.

[Burrcold]

A3 Convertible or a truck? Seems like a strange range but whatever. Truck for the practicality (for yourself if you don't have access to one already)...you can get a decently specd/condition F150 for $15k. Or like others have said, a newer Civic or Corolla (hold their value, reliable, and safe).

[Our03z4]

None, make them work for their own. And before you say, but they're good kids, worked hard, idc. I bought my own car, same with my wife, and we both agree that we appreciated our vehicles more.

I see my sister in law who got things handed to her "because shes worked hard in school and was a good kid". Well now she expects things to be handed to her. It was unbelievable hearing her complain that her sister (30s) got a new laptop from her parents recently and she didn't. Blows my mind considering she's married with 3 kids and is in her late 20s.

Parents paid for her 6 figure college degree too, only for her to literally never work. All 2 sisters did the same.

Of course all kids are different and it's your money. I would get twin M the Toyota and twin G a Toyota or Honda. Heck get them the exact same car down to the color so they can't complain or fault you. As some one who has had multiple Vw and Audi's I would steer clear. Seems like its always a 2k repair for this or that. I have multiple f150s currently. They are decent trucks but rust quickly, if that's of concern. The Toyota will get better gas mileage I would assume and is better looking truck. My 150s get about 16-20mpg with the small engines.

[Unknown_Car]

Originally Posted by rcracin

Tacoma so you can borrow it when you need a pickup

And what would you tow with that? Tacoma barely pulls itself. My friend has a landscaping company and he bought a tundra and what a weak truck, he had it sold the next year and got a RAM.

[Torgus]

A $5k econobox is more than enough and more than I started with. Or spoil them and throw away your money.

[Alfisti]

IMHO the car should come with strings attached and ideally re-paid, they are old enough to drive then thy are old enough to work.

Kid needs input into what they are driving, sensible option is a 3 year old Camry or something but that will not go down well.

[rcracin]

Originally Posted by Roma_335i

And what would you tow with that? Tacoma barely pulls itself. My friend has a landscaping company and he bought a tundra and what a weak truck, he had it sold the next year and got a RAM.

Sheesh, tough crowd. Just the bed for random shit. Most regular folks can use a bed. They’re usually not towing 6k+ lbs or running a landscaping business.


The tacoma isn’t too fast, very useful, and probably safe enough.

[rcracin]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

None, make them work for their own. And before you say, but they're good kids, worked hard, idc. I bought my own car, same with my wife, and we both agree that we appreciated our vehicles more.

I see my sister in law who got things handed to her "because shes worked hard in school and was a good kid". Well now she expects things to be handed to her. It was unbelievable hearing her complain that her sister (30s) got a new laptop from her parents recently and she didn't. Blows my mind considering she's married with 3 kids and is in her late 20s.

Parents paid for her 6 figure college degree too, only for her to literally never work. All 2 sisters did the same.

Of course all kids are different and it's your money. I would get twin M the Toyota and twin G a Toyota or Honda. Heck get them the exact same car down to the color so they can't complain or fault you. As some one who has had multiple Vw and Audi's I would steer clear. Seems like its always a 2k repair for this or that. I have multiple f150s currently. They are decent trucks but rust quickly, if that's of concern. The Toyota will get better gas mileage I would assume and is better looking truck. My 150s get about 16-20mpg with the small engines.

I see no correlation between buying a kid a regular car and how they turn out. At 17+ they’re probably already who they are in terms of being spoiled or lazy.

[Captain Blood]

A good pick up truck with under 75,000 miles exceeds our budget. Those always seem to run over $20,000.

[Mintsopoulos]

I think your best bed would be something in toyota/honda lineup. Something that isnt going to break the bank if repairs are needed. You could probably get something really nice in either of those car lineups for 15k.

[vtown]

Originally Posted by Captain Blood

A good pick up truck with under 75,000 miles exceeds our budget. Those always seem to run over $20,000.

If you were look at a Tacoma, whether it has 75k or 125K it's the same truck. No worse. Might as well buy the one with more miles and save your money. These regularly run up and well over 300K with basic maintenance.

Bought my 09 Taco new. All these years later and at 120K it runs and drives the same. Test drove the new 3rd gen thinking about a upgrade....I prefer the old one. I Put in new Bluetooth stereo with Carplay and it's way better than the new one.

[chassis]

For $15k price and reliable requirements I recommend against Audi, MB and BMW.

Look at:
VW Tiguan
(higher mileage) gasoline VW Touareg
Honda CR-V

[9M71]

Are they going away for college? My first car after HS was a small SUV and it definitely came in super handy being to haul things to/back from school along with some friends. Came in clutch.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Roma_335i

And what would you tow with that? Tacoma barely pulls itself. My friend has a landscaping company and he bought a tundra and what a weak truck, he had it sold the next year and got a RAM.

The OP is not in the US. A Tacoma is a big truck where he is.

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by 9M4N71U

Are they going away for college? My first car after HS was a small SUV and it definitely came in super handy being to haul things to/back from school along with some friends. Came in clutch.

One is going to Texas A&M, about a 3 Hour Dr., the other one is going to Texas tech, about a 5 Hour Drive. Yeah, the one that wants the Audi, is making the long drive.

[pikkagtr]

Toyota Corolla
Heard you beat
40mpg highway
Safe
And as reliable as a wood burning stove

[R N M]

V6 Mustang from 2015-2016

Honda Civic / Accord

Subaru WRX / Legacy / Crosstrek / Outback

[SYT_Shadow]

I say a manual car and make it a car not a truck/suv/crossover

A manual keeps people from being stupid. You can't drive it when intoxicated. Your jackass friends can't drive it either because they don't know how to. You can't eat pizza or do your makeup while driving a stick shift either

A car also helps avoid people from doing stupid things. In a car you have a better feel for your mortality when 18 wheelers pass you by.

There are plenty of cars with manuals in your price range, Mini Coopers, Civics, etc

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I say a manual car and make it a car not a truck/suv/crossover

A manual keeps people from being stupid. You can't drive it when intoxicated. Your jackass friends can't drive it either because they don't know how to. You can't eat pizza or do your makeup while driving a stick shift either

A car also helps avoid people from doing stupid things. In a car you have a better feel for your mortality when 18 wheelers pass you by.

There are plenty of cars with manuals in your price range, Mini Coopers, Civics, etc

I tried that approach with my older twins. The clutch. Did not work as planned.

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by R N M

V6 Mustang from 2015-2016

Honda Civic / Accord

Subaru WRX / Legacy / Crosstrek / Outback

The Mustang V6 is a great idea!