My 1st car was a turd 65 Gallaxie 240ci straight 6 $150 beater
I was talked into buying it {paid it myself} by my real father
{sperm donor
he's not really a car guy, he's cheap too}
it was straight as an arrow, no dents, clean old ladies car...
I wish I could have bought something better too...
I regretted that purchase still to this day...
BUT;
I never wrecked it, never even got a dent either...
I only had it when I had my permit too, but had my older sister as a adult...
I also drove a 61 Renault RE RWD my step dad made into a dune buggy
before that, I got caught driving it on the street "before I was legal"
my step dad put an end to that, he cut the car in like 4 pieces
& hauled it to scrapyard...
My 1st real car my own car, I bought pad for & maintained,
fueled, insured etc. all with my own $$$
when I could drive without an adult present/supervision was
a 68 Charger R/T 440ci 375 HP "tire fryer" {just like many here had}
Yes, I was young & stupid, but it was my baby !!
I didn't want to wreck it, I took very good care of it too...
I had a lot of pride in that car, I wasn't gonna' do something stupid
or wreck it, not because of my fault anyway...
You know him far better than we all do,
you should be able to assess the deal better than US,
know his type & personality etc.
Getting him something he can work on & learn in is a decent idea
who's paying for it ? him or his parents ?
who's paying for the insurance ? him or his parents ?
if it's him teach him the economics part & maintenance costs etc.
of buying a car, insurance is a big part of the cost, so is fuel...
I like the truck suggestion,
a Used Dakota or Ram could easily be had
for the price range mentioned,
not so great on gas but insurance is cheaper
I wouldn't suggest a Foreign car, I just don't like them
Albeit, I have had a few Toyotas PU's in my life
& VW's too they were all decent cars/trucks...
Among other foreign cars much later in life...
I still prefer American made...
That's just me...
If the kid is buying it (?), with his own $$$ (?)
& he has the $$$ for fuel, insurance & maintenance
let him get what he wants, make sure he knows the costs...
IMO I say teach him properly, make sure he buckles up 1st
teach him to respect the car & power, teach him defensive driving
"let alone responsibility" of driving a car, is a lethal weapon
no matter how much power it does or doesn't have
there's other people on the road & to
"not be an asshole, driving in around in a shithole",
because he wasn't paying attention, texting, grab *** teenage BS
or talking on a phone etc.
you can be just as dead in a weak *** shitty little
junk rice-rocket, toaster on wheels, $1500 POS
as in a nice new muscle car or truck,
the truck may be a bit safer, if it has airbags & shoulder seatbelts...
Just because it's not powerful doesn't mean they are safer,
I drove my dad's 73 Pinto like a wild man,
probably much crazier than I ever did my own cars...
of the 3 listed he likes, if he can even afford any of them {?}
I'd buy a Challenger 1st a Camaro next, than the Mustang last
you maybe can find an older 2008-2010 higher mileage like 50k+
for his/your/his parents budget range of $14k-ish, especially in a V6
I know I wish I could have had my parents help me buy my cars too
or one of my uncles, but me paying for it I had far more respect for
what it took, to earn that $$$, to buy it & take care of it...
I sure as hell didn't want to be an asshole & wreck it...
Remember you were a teen once, you learn from mistakes
you can't put a bubble around him constantly, sooner or later
you need to trust your nephew {I assume},
he's gonna' make mistakes...
That's OK we all did too, let him be a kid, just teach him right form wrong...
OK off my soap box now...
good luck with the choices
