Get another Camry. Both of my kids started out in our Camry. It's a great vehicle.

I am biased as I own one, but Mazda 6 for me.

• Big enough (safety)
• Can be had in manual (no texting and driving / safety / raise 'em right!)
• Simple enough mechanically (low cost of ownership)
• Slightly higher depreciation than Honda/Toyota (cheaper acquisition)

Honestly I'd try to find something Japanese with a manual transmission for a first vehicle. Something like a civic would be perfect, that's what I learned on. I personally wouldn't want a teenager having a huge vehicle where they can cram a bunch of their friends in. I also think that in addition to manual transmissions being a good thing to know how to operate that it's a hell of a lot harder for a kid to try to look at their phone when driving. You have to pay more attention to operate one and can't exactly text if one hand is on the wheel and the other is on the stick. You can drive an automatic with one arm and one leg, a manual requires the use of all four limbs.

Texker said:

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Remember when you could buy a 4-5 year old Mazda with 65k miles for less than 15k out the door? I remember.

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https://news.yahoo.com/autos/mitsubishi-mirage-last-truly-sub-160000292.html

I remember when $20,000 was the line for really nice vehicles.

I think I paid something like $8500 for a new 1994 Ford Ranger.

Just bought my 16 yo old daughter a 2018 CX5. No complaints so far. Found it on Facebook MarketPlace right outside of College Station. Another family had it for their daughter, no wrecks or issues.

My son will probably get my 5th gen 4Runner in a few years. Good luck accelerating, chap.

Well we ended up with a 2018 RAV4. Drove it home from SA to dripping springs. Solid so far

That's what we're targeting this week and it was frustrating. Many were rentals and had some damage. We thought we had one and drove thru austin at rush hour only to crank up the AC and smell the Marlboro package. Sounds like you found a gem

water turkey said:

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Camry is always the answer for a teen driver….

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I used to say this but now I recommend the Rav4. Solid vehicle, lots of room for their stuff when they go to college, and at least as safe as the Camry. Up higher, better view and FEELS safer. Gets on the highway easily, though it isn't a highway vehicle, but neither, really, is a 4 cylinder Camry. The only caveat here is that it will hold more people easier (in the back, if they put a person or two back there) so there would have to be an element of trust. But other than that, the Rav4 wins just about every other category.

Dill-Ag13 said:

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I am biased as I own one, but Mazda 6 for me.

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Forgive me for being one of those people but this is a pet peeve of mine. Owning a Mazda doesn't make you biased for recommending them. OWNING Mazda (or a significant share of it), or perhaps working for Mazda -- in some way having a financial or other interest in someone buying one -- would make you biased for recommending it.

Sorry. Carry on.

91AggieLawyer said:

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water turkey said:

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Camry is always the answer for a teen driver….

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I used to say this but now I recommend the Rav4. Solid vehicle, lots of room for their stuff when they go to college, and at least as safe as the Camry. Up higher, better view and FEELS safer. Gets on the highway easily, though it isn't a highway vehicle, but neither, really, is a 4 cylinder Camry. The only caveat here is that it will hold more people easier (in the back, if they put a person or two back there) so there would have to be an element of trust. But other than that, the Rav4 wins just about every other category.

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Well, we have one of these too. Same thing, great vehicles!

91AggieLawyer said:

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Dill-Ag13 said:

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I am biased as I own one, but Mazda 6 for me.

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Forgive me for being one of those people but this is a pet peeve of mine. Owning a Mazda doesn't make you biased for recommending them. OWNING Mazda (or a significant share of it), or perhaps working for Mazda -- in some way having a financial or other interest in someone buying one -- would make you biased for recommending it.

Sorry. Carry on.

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Duly noted

DSAg99 said:

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Well we ended up with a 2018 RAV4. Drove it home from SA to dripping springs. Solid so far

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Well done, that thing will get them through high school, through college, and into their first few years of life as an adult.

If you had been quicker you could have saved me from selling mine to a t-sip.