There is no reason for kids to have a fancy car unless they can pay for it themselves. I grew up with money but there was noooo way my mom was gonna buy my sister and I brand new cars, we both got 3-year-old Subaru’s that were lease-returns (far nicer than what most kids get!). My sister had 6 accidents her first year…

The OnStar/similar safety systems are absolutely worth it. When I was 14 we got into an accident in my fam’s 3 week old MB ML350 on remote Vermont roads... with no cell service... during a blizzard. Went 20ft down an embankment and hit a tree head on. Thankfully we were all about to get out and the car automatically…

Easy, Subaru Crosstrek. Compact car size, SUV ground clearance, luxury car ride quality, modern safety features, good MPG. I had one as a loaner and was able to fit my 6'3" friends behind myself at 6'. Cargo space is totally usable. Doesn’t handle like crap and isn’t dangerously slow if you step up to the larger 2.5…

I live in a town where it’s not uncommon for kids to have new cars or lightly used cars. So many of them drive a Compass or Patriot because dealers are so willing to give good deals on them.