Kars for Kids - Page 4

Alan · 08-17-2022, 12:40 PM

The Kia K5 has AWD and looks really nice. I did a quick search at least by me and they have them in stock and the price is around $30k.

Also you really can't go wrong with the Jetta either and the base price is really good.

Maybe go test drive both with your daughter and see which one she prefers.

FC · 08-18-2022, 08:58 AM

I was going to mention that a was given a vanilla MK7 Golf as a loaner a while back and it was surprisingly nice car. Even the automatic, which was programmed to be terrible, but quite good in sport mode. Have not checked but maybe those prices are reasonable.

But if she doesn’t like a GTI she won’t like a base Golf and it’s still a used German car.

JST · 08-18-2022, 10:46 AM

Yeah and the Golfs are also stupid expensive.

And by “stupid” I mean that cars that are a year old with 20K+ miles are going for the same or more money than new ones.

wdc330i · 08-18-2022, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

Yeah and the Golfs are also stupid expensive.

And by “stupid” I mean that cars that are a year old with 20K+ miles are going for the same or more money than new ones.

They really are. I scoured around for them, and the prices are crazy. Just not competitive with the Mazdas of the world.

Theo · 08-18-2022, 03:34 PM

Not sure these were mentioned??

https://www.cars.com/shopping/result...=&mileage_max=

Josh (PA) · 08-18-2022, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theo

Not sure these were mentioned??

https://www.cars.com/shopping/result...=&mileage_max=

good call.

robg · 08-28-2022, 01:16 PM

I've noticed that Acura seems to be running a lease special on the new Integra with the A-spec package. That might mean that demand isn't want they'd hoped. Might be worth looking into (even if you plan to buy not lease). Could be easier to get ahold of one than the Civic.

A base Jetta sedan might be worth checking out. Didn't realize you can still get one with a manual and cloth seats! Roomy, safe, and bland looking all seem like good attributes for a kid car. Even manages to avoid all the touchscreen/haptic button madness of more recent VW interiors.

JST · 08-31-2022, 09:31 PM

Used cars are never going to be perfect, but I think this one was owned by The Deep.

zach · 09-01-2022, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

Used cars are never going to be perfect, but I think this one was owned by The Deep.

eww

JST · 09-08-2022, 12:17 AM

OK, as I mentioned in the other thread, we landed on a new Jetta--a 2022 Sport 1.5T with a 6 speed manual. Other than that, it's pretty basic, but it's actually a lot of car for the money; sticker is 22.4.

A few observations: The entry level market for cars is still nuts. Try poking around on Carmax for cars under 20K and see what you come up with; the answer is that almost everything is 5+ years old and has minimum 40K miles. See: https://www.carmax.com/cars/manual-6...ed?price=20000

There are some exceptions, but just generally you aren't going to find much in the "couple year old" category for that kind of money, unless it has silly miles. And while Carmax is on the high side, price-wise, other places are asking pretty similar amounts.

We fairly quickly decided that Jettas were in a sweet spot, in terms of price, practicality, and availability. Golfs tend to go for several thousand more, as do Civics. Focuses trade around the same price but are harder to find in a manual, at least in this area. Minis were another thought, though you're talking about 2015 at that point and probably 70K miles.

But even used Jettas were generally in the upper teens, for anything under 10 years old or with less than a hundred K. I drove probably half-a-dozen 2016/2017 Jettas, and most hovered around 17; mileage was variable, but I saw nothing less than 45K and 60-80 was more typical.

At one point, I drove a 2021 Jetta that was a lemon law buyback and the dealer wanted about 1000 less than a new one...which tells you something about the market.

None of the cars i drove were perfect. Some where better than others; the one I posted above that had stained seats and had been in a wreck and a hailstorm at a dealer in Maryland was the worst, but all of them had little issues to think about. A much nicer copy in Dulles was mostly fine except probably would need a clutch soon and had 77K miles. Both of those cars were 17K.

In the end, it came down to *another* 2017 Jetta, this one with 45K miles on it and some recent maintenance, versus a brand new one. The used one was (again) 17K, though the dealer was trying to charge a number of fees on top of that. The other dealer gave me some money off MSRP on the new one, bringing the delta down to about $4500 (assuming no fees at the used car dealer).

For that difference, it really felt like a no-brainer. The new ones have the 1.5 liter turbo from the Taos, which isn't a lot more powerful on the spec sheet but feels gutsier, along with a 6 speed replacing the older generation's 5 speed. The old ones have a classic look and are slightly smaller, but the new ones are a whole lot more refined, and of course have warranties and more safety features and no miles and everything else.

From a driving standpoint, it feels like a modern VW. Slower than a GTI (of course), and without the crisp handling, but smooth, comfortable, and sure footed--and speed is not a feature I'm looking for here, anyway.

So, we'll see. Hopefully it turns out to be the right move...

08-18-2022, 08:58 AM	#32
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,275	I was going to mention that a was given a vanilla MK7 Golf as a loaner a while back and it was surprisingly nice car. Even the automatic, which was programmed to be terrible, but quite good in sport mode. Have not checked but maybe those prices are reasonable. But if she doesn’t like a GTI she won’t like a base Golf and it’s still a used German car. Last edited by FC; 08-18-2022 at 09:24 AM.

08-18-2022, 03:34 PM	#35
Theo Crazy Old Man Join Date: Dec 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M2C Stick Posts: 6,021	Not sure these were mentioned?? https://www.cars.com/shopping/result...=&mileage_max= __________________ Searching

08-28-2022, 01:16 PM	#37
robg Carmudgeon Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,252	I've noticed that Acura seems to be running a lease special on the new Integra with the A-spec package. That might mean that demand isn't want they'd hoped. Might be worth looking into (even if you plan to buy not lease). Could be easier to get ahold of one than the Civic. A base Jetta sedan might be worth checking out. Didn't realize you can still get one with a manual and cloth seats! Roomy, safe, and bland looking all seem like good attributes for a kid car. Even manages to avoid all the touchscreen/haptic button madness of more recent VW interiors. Last edited by robg; 08-28-2022 at 01:27 PM.

08-31-2022, 09:31 PM	#38
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,631	Used cars are never going to be perfect, but I think this one was owned by The Deep. Attached Thumbnails

08-17-2022, 12:40 PM	#31
Alan Carmudgeon Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4,677	The Kia K5 has AWD and looks really nice. I did a quick search at least by me and they have them in stock and the price is around $30k. Also you really can't go wrong with the Jetta either and the base price is really good. Maybe go test drive both with your daughter and see which one she prefers.

08-18-2022, 10:46 AM	#33
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,631	Yeah and the Golfs are also stupid expensive. And by “stupid” I mean that cars that are a year old with 20K+ miles are going for the same or more money than new ones.

09-08-2022, 12:17 AM	#40
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,631	OK, as I mentioned in the other thread, we landed on a new Jetta--a 2022 Sport 1.5T with a 6 speed manual. Other than that, it's pretty basic, but it's actually a lot of car for the money; sticker is 22.4. A few observations: The entry level market for cars is still nuts. Try poking around on Carmax for cars under 20K and see what you come up with; the answer is that almost everything is 5+ years old and has minimum 40K miles. See: https://www.carmax.com/cars/manual-6...ed?price=20000 There are some exceptions, but just generally you aren't going to find much in the "couple year old" category for that kind of money, unless it has silly miles. And while Carmax is on the high side, price-wise, other places are asking pretty similar amounts. We fairly quickly decided that Jettas were in a sweet spot, in terms of price, practicality, and availability. Golfs tend to go for several thousand more, as do Civics. Focuses trade around the same price but are harder to find in a manual, at least in this area. Minis were another thought, though you're talking about 2015 at that point and probably 70K miles. But even used Jettas were generally in the upper teens, for anything under 10 years old or with less than a hundred K. I drove probably half-a-dozen 2016/2017 Jettas, and most hovered around 17; mileage was variable, but I saw nothing less than 45K and 60-80 was more typical. At one point, I drove a 2021 Jetta that was a lemon law buyback and the dealer wanted about 1000 less than a new one...which tells you something about the market. None of the cars i drove were perfect. Some where better than others; the one I posted above that had stained seats and had been in a wreck and a hailstorm at a dealer in Maryland was the worst, but all of them had little issues to think about. A much nicer copy in Dulles was mostly fine except probably would need a clutch soon and had 77K miles. Both of those cars were 17K. In the end, it came down to another 2017 Jetta, this one with 45K miles on it and some recent maintenance, versus a brand new one. The used one was (again) 17K, though the dealer was trying to charge a number of fees on top of that. The other dealer gave me some money off MSRP on the new one, bringing the delta down to about $4500 (assuming no fees at the used car dealer). For that difference, it really felt like a no-brainer. The new ones have the 1.5 liter turbo from the Taos, which isn't a lot more powerful on the spec sheet but feels gutsier, along with a 6 speed replacing the older generation's 5 speed. The old ones have a classic look and are slightly smaller, but the new ones are a whole lot more refined, and of course have warranties and more safety features and no miles and everything else. From a driving standpoint, it feels like a modern VW. Slower than a GTI (of course), and without the crisp handling, but smooth, comfortable, and sure footed--and speed is not a feature I'm looking for here, anyway. So, we'll see. Hopefully it turns out to be the right move...