On the fence - first vehicle for a teenager

[Daemoch]

Man, lots of good discussion and perspective in this thread!

Re phone use, second screen, etc: The Slate uses a phone App too. The phone IS the issue, not the car. Almost every modern car has an app or app interface, or can. Even aftermarket stereos have them. Your not likely to get away from that issue. Thats a lesson to be taught, not something to simply be avoided by side stepping it.

First cars should ALWAYS be junkers/cheap. Most kids beat them up or straight up wreck them, either through abuse, neglect, or lack of experience (bad weather accidents for example). And even if YOUR kid is one of the few exceptions, their friend that they let drive it "just this once" cause its new and cool .....isnt.

Dont buy kids new cars unless youre made of money!

 

[Johnologue]

Re phone use, second screen, etc: The Slate uses a phone App too. The phone IS the issue, not the car. Almost every modern car has an app or app interface, or can. Even aftermarket stereos have them. Your not likely to get away from that issue. Thats a lesson to be taught, not something to simply be avoided by side stepping it.

Should be noted, the truck should be fully functional without the phone. It has extra info/functions and music/nav, but IIRC it fully works without it.

As exciting as it is to recommend a Slate, the advice to not buy a new car for a kid is probably the most sound, even if it would be good for future trade work or something. Maybe the second car, if the first one dies or you sell it? I'm just thinking aloud, don't take my advice as backed by any credibility here...

 

[AeroWolf]

Force him through motorcycle school at local community college.

Riding Motorcycles is a big teacher in driver awareness and defensive riding and driving.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

I'll be teaching my niece how to drive next year, and I intend to give her the civic I've been driving. A real basic car that has cheap parts means that it'll be easy to fix when it inevitably gets smashed into curbs and such.

 

[FlyHappy]

Im just as likely to yell you off my lawn as the next slateforum member, and I also had to work barefoot, earning 12 cents/hour as a teen for the privilege of owning my first car, with its manual choke and leaded gas glory.

I wanted just as much to provide a simple and character building auto experience for my children.... but ya know, when push comes to shove, do I really want them getting maimed or killed b/c the old cars that I love have shit for crumple zones, rollover protection, no curtain airbags, maybe no functioning airbags? Just because I got tossed in the backs of station wagons and shoulder belts were a curiosity doesnt mean I know better.

Your son is riding public transportation now. He is already and innately going to be appreciative. He has interest in trade work; can there be a better fit?. I say if you can financially justify a Slate for your young man, then hell yeah - do it, and earn my 5 star parent of the year seal of approval.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

At 15k on a used Miata, you break into the low end of the market for the ND and mid grade NC and most of the others easily. IF you can find one. The ND Miata is an awesome car.
Wanna adopt a fat old Miata lovin guy?

All of my offspring have signed an agreement that they will care for me when I’m in my 90’s in exchange for monetary concessions now. You mighty not qualify

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Should be noted, the truck should be fully functional without the phone. It has extra info/functions and music/nav, but IIRC it fully works without it.

As exciting as it is to recommend a Slate, the advice to not buy a new car for a kid is probably the most sound, even if it would be good for future trade work or something. Maybe the second car, if the first one dies or you sell it? I'm just thinking aloud, don't take my advice as backed by any credibility here...

How about a 1 year old slate that has been covered in a garage and has its own dedicated sub-panel and driven never more than 100 miles at a time? Does that qualify?

 

[SparkYellow]

OP's inquiry is about whether Bolt or Slate is better for this teen, with safety (distracted driving) being the primary concern. This has more to do with the teen than the car. If the teen listens and understands well, parents can lay down the rules and be fine with either vehicle. If the teen is easily distracted, then advanced driver-assist features are more important than a 5 ft long safety buffer in the back.

Every morning during my busy commute, I see Teslas flying by with the drivers looking away from the road ahead. It is a new way of driving. I am thankful that technology is helping these drivers stay in their lanes. 😅

 

[d.h.]

I think the Slate sounds like a good choice for 1st vehicle. It's a lot safer than my 1st car, no seatbelts, not even a padded dash. Something simple that he actually has to pay attention and drive seems the way to go. Besides maybe his friends will think it's cool.(Do they still say cool?)

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I think the Slate sounds like a good choice for 1st vehicle. It's a lot safer than my 1st car, no seatbelts, not even a padded dash. Something simple that he actually has to pay attention and drive seems the way to go. Besides maybe his friends will think it's cool.(Do they still say cool?)

Sick? Dope? Fire? Gas? I am constantly 9-24 months behind the correct vernacular.

 

[Rocks]

Sporty Driving in a roadster builds character.

And prevents grandchildren.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

And prevents grandchildren.

(he said the quiet part aloud)

 

[atx_ev]

As the title states I am on the fence with getting the slate. We know we want an electric vehicle as a first car for our teen (much less maintenance, no missed oil changes, driving without oil and blowing up the engine, and all the other mechanical things that go along with ICE). We really like the customizations and DIY aspect of the Slate. However we keep getting feedback that he may be better off with a vehicle that has a screen and power windows to lessen picking up the phone and distractions. Looking at what is out there in this price range leads us to the Bolt or the Leaf (but nearby the cheapest is $37K). So at this point our deadline to put the extra $250 to keep our delivery date (which works perfectly) is coming up but we are still debating the Bolt vs Slate. Anyone in a similar situation and any thoughts? The Slate is a two seater so that would also prevent a whole bunch of teens in the car causing distractions but may limit car pooling.

bought my daughter a 2 year old 2023 bolt euv for 15K. Amazing deal for a practically new car. She loves it and I love it too. She is 18 and off to college in the fall and Ill be driving her bolt instead of my tundra until I can buy a slate. In a year they will probably be closer to 10K. I personally would buy the bolt for my child for 10k in a heartbeat.

My middle will be driving in 2 years so he will likely get the slate and my oldest will take her bolt to college for her junior year.

I personally would never buy my child a new car as they do crash them and it just hurts too much on a brand new car. As an example my daughter hit a curb in a parking lot (she assures me she wasnt going fast) with the bolt and caused 2300 in damage. Detached the wheel from the axle and other damage. While she was driving my tundra she backed into a tree and broke the rear taillight. She smashed in the edge of the roof by scraping a low branch. The repair shop said the roof would likely not be worth fixing because they would have to cut it, repair it, then reweld it.

In texas you cant legally carry more than 1 unrelated passenger until you are 18. My daughter did of course, with the slate there is no chance of that.

 

[Rocks]

In texas you cant legally carry more than 1 unrelated passenger until you are 18. My daughter did of course, with the slate there is no chance of that.

Nobody tell him.

 

[atx_ev]

Nobody tell him.

Yes Im aware that they could carry kids in the bed.