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My first car was an 83 Camaro--incidentally also my grandfather's car. It was totaled four years later when another car turned left in front of me. It wasn't my fault, but both cars were wrecked in a nearly head-on collision. My four-week-old baby and I were unharmed, despite the front end's being completely squashed, but the other driver had injuries. I'll concede that it's important to think of a car's safety rating and general sturdiness, because sometimes it's the other guy's fault.
True, safety is a key factor for a person finding their first car.
all cars have blinds spots- My teens and I have blind spot mirrors and they are great- pick them up at an auto parts store-
I am sure that the compass is a safe car and will be fine. if it's a gift- let him drive it and see how he does- that is what my nephew will be getting from his father as a hand me down next year. My son was hit in his 4 runner Friday-it's at the shop as we speak getting fixed -his friend is paying for it- he hit him.
This is something that can't be corrected with blind spot mirrors. I drove one of these vehicles and the blind spots are HORRIBLE. The supports on either side of the windshield are double what they are in a normal sedan so you can't see if someone is at a corner of an intersection starting to walk across the street, the side and back windows are very small and since you sit so high up, you can't see smaller cars in the lane next to you. You have to take longer than normal to check these things as a result so you are taking your eyes off the road longer than you should. This is NOT a good car for a new driver--heck, I have been driving for over 30 years and I did not like it at all.
True, safety is a key factor for a person finding their first car.
Nah not in my books.
I think we somehow assign too much safety to the car.
If we go down that path we would all be driving Volvos.
To me a first car should be cheap.
To me safety comes from attitude and experience. Now the kid does not have experience but they sure have attitude (or is that 'toood?). Having the right attitude I think is the best safety. Are they driving sensibly? Are they looking for other drivers, kids on bikes, little old ladies with shopping trolleys. Do they have the presence of personality to not show off in front of their mates.
At some stage I think they will make mistakes, have an accident. Hopefully not too serious but actually I hope that they do have a close call or two so that they get some reinforcement that the things us oldies tell them are actually true.
This is something that can't be corrected with blind spot mirrors. I drove one of these vehicles and the blind spots are HORRIBLE. The supports on either side of the windshield are double what they are in a normal sedan so you can't see if someone is at a corner of an intersection starting to walk across the street, the side and back windows are very small and since you sit so high up, you can't see smaller cars in the lane next to you. You have to take longer than normal to check these things as a result so you are taking your eyes off the road longer than you should. This is NOT a good car for a new driver--heck, I have been driving for over 30 years and I did not like it at all.
I have to agree with you about the blind spots, worst I have ever experienced. I am curious to know what she decided to do about her dilemma with this vehicle.
When I was a teenager in the 90's, most kids my age had jobs and bought whatever $1K POS they could get their hands on as a first car. I had friends with cars with windows duct-taped up, and door locks that didn't work, and so on. ABS and traction control were just starting to come standard on new cars..let alone the 10 year old junk we got.
Now in 2017, a 16 year old kid getting a car without automatic headlights is a bad thing?
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