Third Coast Auto Group Official Blog
New drivers don’t need several hundred-horsepower
By Product Expert | Posted in Safety, Tips and Tricks on Thursday, December 10th, 2020 at 12:37 pm
How do I pick out a car for a new driver?
There are few more exciting milestones for a person to reach than getting their driver’s license. Once those new drivers have their license to drive, they will need something to drive. Third Coast Auto Group product experts get asked, ‘How do I pick out a car for a new driver,’ quite a lot. On any given day there are several pairs of nervous parents and excited teenage drivers looking around our showrooms. Buying a brand new, high-performance vehicle for a new driver is not only not practical, but it’s wholly inadvisable, according to traffic safety experts. Over the years our team has learned what does and does not make a good first vehicle. Let’s take a look at a few things you might need to know.
READ MORE: Why should I buy a sedan?
Required Traits for a First-Time Driver’s First Vehicle
Bigger isn’t better — There is more to learn about driving than what is covered in driver’s ed classes. The only way for people to become good drivers is to gain experience. According to several safety experts, midsize sedans are great choices for new drivers. They are nimble enough to be easy to drive and large enough to provide plenty of protection in case the worst happens.
Limited power — High-performance sports cars look great on posters adorning a bedroom wall and that’s where they should stay for a while. Big V-8 engines are just too much for most new drivers to handle, even something with a V-6 could be too much temptation when it comes to putting the peddle to the metal. A modest four-cylinder power plant will be plenty for daily driving and the gas savings will be welcome to teens.
Features are important — Modern vehicles are safer than ever before. The government has required vehicles be equipped with dual front airbags since 1998. Electronic stability control systems and anti-lock brakes have been the required standard since 2012. These are must-have features for new drivers.
Make an appointment with a Third Coast Auto Group product expert today to see what we have available that will be good for new drivers.
