If you've had multiple cars in your
life, it's really interesting to look back and see how the vehicle you owned
reflected the type of life you were living. If you had just had a child, you
might have switched from a Jeep Wrangler to some sort of sedan; if you were
living in the mountains or woods, you might have gone for a
Rocky
Ridge truck or something equally as rugged. When you're buying your first
car – or buying someone their first car – there's a lot to think about. Your
first car can't just be any car; there are a lot of factors that come into
play.
Safety
Safety is obviously a factor when
purchasing a car for anyone, but for new drivers, it's extremely important. The
lack of experience can make a person more prone to accidents, and it's always better
safe than sorry. Every car is issued a safety rating based on crash tests and
number of airbags, so this is always something to look into before giving a car
to a new driver.
Environment
It's important to consider where
the car will be driven. Is there frequent ice/snow? Is their rough terrain?
Will the driver be doing a lot of highway driving? These factors contribute to
whether you'll prefer power over fuel economy, how much of a lift you will
need, et cetera. Smaller cars are better for more highway driving whereas a
Rocky Ridge might be better for someone who lives in the woods, does outdoor
activities often, or simply drives on rough terrain frequently.
Price
Be aware that it's easy to get a
solid car for a low price and that buying new doesn't necessarily mean the car
will be better than a used one. Face it – you never know how responsible a new
driver will be with a car until they get some experience under their belt. Set
a reasonable budget and stick to it; buying them any car is still spoiling
them, and they can invest in a brand new car once they are more comfortable
with driving and have a better idea of what they want or need.