[Zx12-iowa]

When my oldest got his permit, I wanted a reliable easy to drive and relatively cheap to operate car. After looking at used, found a deal on a new base Lx for $19k +ttl. Taught him how to drive on the accord which proved to be easy to learn on since everything is intuitive letting him focus on driving. He passed his test last week and now has the accord to use when he needs as well as when we need him to run errands. Ha.

So far after 5k miles, the accord oil is still at 60%, lifetime mpg is in the 30s and its performed flawlessly. Very happy with the decision and he is thrilled (what 16 yr old wouldn't be right). The car will make its rounds for the two younger kids so has to last 8 more years and if any car can take teen drivers it would be this one....

 

[TN9thSi]

Great decision on car for your kids' first vehicle! Sounds like it is working out well. Are you also teaching him about the basics of care care and maintenance? Things like checking oil at every fill-up, tire pressure, etc? So many people today have no clue interest in driving cars, let alone properly maintaining them. It's kinda sad really.

 

[jeb]

I remember when I was 15 my Dad made a deal with me that if I saved up half the money for my first car, he'd pay the other half. I worked 50 hours a week and saved up $5000 in a summer and bought my 95 integra GSR. For about $9000 at the time. My god I loved that car. You never forget your first car.

Your son will be happy with that car, and probably a Honda man for life... Well if he knows what's good for him!

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I can sort-of relate. My Accord is the first car I bought with cash. It's an excellent first car - reliable, efficient, extremely safe, and very practical. After almost 3 years of driving my Accord, I still can't get over the appalling turning radius and how hard it is to park in parking lots. I am sure I am not the only one that has same issues with parking our cars. My old 1998 Acura 3.5RL could whip in and out of parking spots with relative ease.

 

[14v6]

Does the LX have sensing, that's what I would want for a teen driver, an extra set of helping eyes and hands to help out. My daughter goes for her road test a week from Wednesday and I am in no hurry. She has an 09 CRV LX waiting for her but as a parent, I find all of this difficult.

 

[Bond-007]

I remember when I was 15 my Dad made a deal with me that if I saved up half the money for my first car, he'd pay the other half. I worked 50 hours a week and saved up $5000 in a summer and bought my 95 integra GSR. For about $9000 at the time. My god I loved that car. You never forget your first car.

Your son will be happy with that car, and probably a Honda man for life... Well if he knows what's good for him!

Both our dads are smart men. My father did the same thing with me for my first car. I worked my butt off to get a certain amount and he matched it. I took good care of that car.

It was only a few years later when that car needed a new trans (early 90s subaru which were notorious for trans failures at 100K miles) that my father bought me a new car and co signed the loan for me to build my credit. By then I had proved to him that I was willing to work hard and was responsible with my property.

 

[Zx12-iowa]

Does the LX have sensing, that's what I would want for a teen driver, an extra set of helping eyes and hands to help out. My daughter goes for her road test a week from Wednesday and I am in no hurry. She has an 09 CRV LX waiting for her but as a parent, I find all of this difficult.

No sensing. That started with the '16 and I was already above what I wanted to spend on a 16 yr olds car. Wayyy more spoiled than I was. And another reason for the lx is bigger sidewall and less chance for scraped wheels when parking.

And yes he is learning how to check oil, air pressure, etc. nice thing is these "checks" are easy on this car.

He is already a honda guy. We have had 2 odysseys, and grandma had a new pilot, honda mower, etc.

 

[f1snob]

LOL. My dad paid $100 for a '65 Falcon station wagon station for us kids. My sister had it first and then it was my turn. Not the most impressive car in the high school lot but the day I blew away one kid bragging about his hopped up Torino, the laughing stopped. Certainly far from a fast car, it had a V8 and didn't weigh a whole lot. It could smoke one back tire all day long. I was sure thankful my dad provided that for us.

In regards to safety, yes the Accords are great for kids. It's a wonder we survived in the things we drove and the lack of any safety features. But that's how it was.

 

[waarce]

My first car was a yellow 1975 Datsun B210 Sedan with MT and American Racing rims.

 

[Blackheart]

Mine was a 54 Ford F-150, with the engine in big wire baskets in the bed. Had to rebuilt and assemble that engine. Almost no floorboards, broken frame. Paid 161.50 for it. Took almost a year to get it running. I was 15 when I bought it, and would sit out in the cab when it was raining (after I fashioned a new floorboard out of airplane aluminum, and when I had the seat taken out to be re-upholstered), and rebuild the master cylinders and wheel cylinders. Almost crushed my chest when I was under it and removed the gearbox off of it's spindle...the first thought I had was: I am sure glad my head wasn't under that thing. The second thought was: How am I ever going to be able to get it back on once it is rebuilt?

I bought my son a used Honda Civic for his first car, and made sure he was knew how to work on it. He's now 31, and on this third Civic: a 2016. Hard to argue with his choices....

 

[Blackheart]

It could smoke one back tire all day long.

In regards to safety....It's a wonder we survived in the things we drove and the lack of any safety features.

That first statement is funny!

The harsh fact is: many didn't survive specifically due to not having better safety features. I'm amazed I have survived this long.

 

[dfarr67]

I shared half the cost with Dad, I would also want no power for my kid. Just a cheap car for him to exercise bad judgment on.

 

[Flyboy]

What a nice dad! My first car was a used 1959 Vauxhall Victor which I got when I went to college in 1965. The car was the biggest piece of junk ever made. It was a pre Yugo, Yugo. It had a small four cylinder engine with a three on the tree transmission. It looked like a shrunk up 1958 Chevrolet four door Sedan. My dad junked it when it wouldn't pass the State Inspection. The clutch master cylinder leaked, the electrical system was a Lucas nightmare, it burned oil and it leaked antifreeze. Of course it was very cheap.

 

[RickBlaine]

You know what my dad got me? Carton of cigarettes. Smoke up, Johnny! - Breakfast Club

 

[sirthanh]

My first car that I purchase when I was 18 was a 2009 Accord LX. Now 8 years later, I'm in a 2016 Accord Touring. I've traded in quite a few times, but I ended back to where I started and couldn't be happier.

 

[Agent6er]

IMO, the perfect first car for a teen is inexpensive and crashes well(energy absorbing safety structures and airbags have been around long enough this is a reality now, thank goodness).

But I won't complain you put your kid in a safe new car. Makes me and everyone else safer too!

 

[1accord]

I can sort-of relate. My Accord is the first car I bought with cash. It's an excellent first car - reliable, efficient, extremely safe, and very practical. After almost 3 years of driving my Accord, I still can't get over the appalling turning radius and how hard it is to park in parking lots.

Yeah the turning radius and for some reason I still misjudge parking lot spaces which after a few weeks with the car I am starting to blame myself. I should "know" my car by now, but it still shocks me when I misjudge the turns.

 

[GreenandGold831]

My first car was a 15 year old 83' **** brown Honda Civic :grin

 

[Offbeat Oddity]

My first car was a 1998 Dodge Neon, and despite the horror stories I heard about them, it was a damn good car for the 6 years I had it. My grandma's currently driving it now.

 

[lokerola]

In 5 more years my Sport will be my son's first car.