Boys first vehicle…..

[ewade07]

This is very true. The first post from the OP says a “$10k beater”. There’s a ton of vehicles in the $7-10k range that I wouldn’t consider beaters. I paid $13k for my wife’s car and $15k for my truck and they are both the nicest, newest vehicles we have ever owned. For my kid, I would probably be shopping in that $5k range. It would be good for him to learn how to fix minor stuff and build some character.

Just search “4x4” on marketplace and filter to manual transmission. Theres some sweet older vehicles out there.

10k beater? Hell, if 10k is a considered a beater, I’m driving around 2 beaters

 

[ewade07]

I let my daughter drive my 02 Tundra. No cameras, no anti-lock brakes, with canopy, kinda big for a 15yo. She drove it for 4 years until I sold it, then she bought my wife’s old Highlander which she still drives.

Letting her learn in an older, less complicated truck has made a huge difference in her skill as a driver.

And she’s already looking forward to going back to truck in the future.

Funny. I drive an 04 DC Tunda and an 03 Highlander.

 

[Jon Boy]

I’m curious to hear on what legislation is out there that makes it hard for 15 y/0 + to get jobs? I had my first first full time job at 15 and a menagerie of other w2 jobs through out high school in Washington state and it was never an issue. That was 15 years ago now. I’m always surprised by the handful of early 20s people that never had a job until they graduated high school, and it shows so dang much. As to the OP, I came from a well off family and had to buy my own vehicles and learn to work on them. I don’t work on my vehicles anymore as it’s not a great use of my time. But it was a great life skill in more ways than one.

 

[wpeach1912]

I’m a big fan of having my money not lose money. Older cheaper vehicles can still be reliable and you don’t take as big of a depreciation hit. If you want to spend 30k on a kids car, they’d be better off with a 10k vehicle and the other 20k put into a Roth IRA or 529

 

[K9kodi]

2001 Tacoma 4cyl

 

[rootacres]

Im not a father but I feel I was extremely fortunate with what my parents did for me. I also think there is a balance between getting him something too nice, and buying something that ultimately gives you issues. Best case, all you're throwing at it is oil changes and fuel.

My first vehicle was a hand down from my dad. It was a 1/2 ton GMC with ~180k miles. That got me through high school. Closer to graduation I got into something fuel efficient before college. I think a full frame, 4 wd vehicle for a new driver is a great idea.

Id be looking at pickups with a few miles on them and older 4 runners.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Both my boys started on Ford ranger 2wd’s I picked up from old guys who couldn’t drive anymore with low miles. One is working and has switched up to a half ton 4x4 that came along he couldn’t pass up, the other one wrapping up high school so still rolling the ranger. Hearty simple little trucks. Happy with my strategy. They’ve been solid and any issues simple fixes not costly. Added backup cams and modern head units with CarPlay Bluetooth etc and dash cams for the little buggers when I bought em.

 

[kcm2]

Low miles and high years will work. My newest rig is a 2003 Lexus, with two 4x4's at 2001 and 1999 vintages. All are well-maintained and all could go to West Virginia and back tomorrow without any concerns. And they are much easier to work on that modern computerized stuff. Maybe your son is mechanically inclined and could change an alternator, for example.

YMMV.