First Car?
#1
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From: McAllen, Texas
2017 E400 CAB 2007 BMW 650i CONV
First Car?
My Daughter is 15 yrs old now and its starting to ask for a car .. I would of course like to get her a MB ... what do you guys think C32 and buy her some lap time at the only track close to me ..
btw
shes only driven my 4X4 trucks and loves them and we are in South Texas where trucks rule the roads
btw
shes only driven my 4X4 trucks and loves them and we are in South Texas where trucks rule the roads
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From: Nuevo México
2005 C230K Sport Sedan, 6 speed manual
Quinceañera present? You didn't mention how much you wanted to spend.
Any AMG car is very high performance. This means it will be very expensive to insure and maintain for a teenage driver. Does she really need this level of performance? Perhaps a C230k or C320 sport sedan would give the sports car experience with a bit lower risk. The track time is an excellent idea, and will help her explore the dynamics of the car in a safer environment.
Any AMG car is very high performance. This means it will be very expensive to insure and maintain for a teenage driver. Does she really need this level of performance? Perhaps a C230k or C320 sport sedan would give the sports car experience with a bit lower risk. The track time is an excellent idea, and will help her explore the dynamics of the car in a safer environment.
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From: McAllen, Texas
2017 E400 CAB 2007 BMW 650i CONV
Quinceañera present? You didn't mention how much you wanted to spend.
Any AMG car is very high performance. This means it will be very expensive to insure and maintain for a teenage driver. Does she really need this level of performance? Perhaps a C230k or C320 sport sedan would give the sports car experience with a bit lower risk. The track time is an excellent idea, and will help her explore the dynamics of the car in a safer environment.
Any AMG car is very high performance. This means it will be very expensive to insure and maintain for a teenage driver. Does she really need this level of performance? Perhaps a C230k or C320 sport sedan would give the sports car experience with a bit lower risk. The track time is an excellent idea, and will help her explore the dynamics of the car in a safer environment.
I want to spend somewhere in the 20's 25K maybe .. I have reconsidered the AMG for a tamer version maybe an Acura TL or something in that ball park, now I could always get her a typical South texas Vehicle
2500HD 4X4 with a 6" lift and a tumba burros on the front ..
the track time is a must .. just waiting for the track to open in march again
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From: Scripps Ranch, San Diego, CA
'05 C55 AMG '15 Jeep SRT '11 G37S
I'd lean towards a C230K or 3-series. They have plenty of zip for a first time driver. If she proves to be a smart, safe driver, then I'd raise the performance bar a bit.
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From: Arizona
BMW FTW
Also another car worth taking a look at is an audi A4 with quatro, very safe car and has a lot of control, you can lease a new one for a few thousand less than a BMW.
My last bit of advice dont give a kid a car with more than 250hp, I still remember all the kids back in high school and how many accidents happened because of kids not being able to control their car. Even with driver training you will crash, in fact I went to bonderant teen driving course and another kid from my high school was in my class. His last year in highschool he was making a left turn a little to fast in his pickup and ended up sliding the back end out and spiing around crashing into a curb and a bush he was lucky he didnt hit the light pole.
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From: Arizona
BMW FTW
Or the ML is a great first time car, you really cant do anything wront driving it. Its really a fool proof car, under very hard driving it exhibits just a tad of under-steer but getting to that point wold scare the crap out of most drivers. Let me tell you all the girls loved that car, after I got an ML way back just about every teen in my neighborhood got one, fantastic first car for the spoiled teen.
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Cee Fiddy Five
If I could rechoose my first car, it still would be the ML.
It's very safe, as I learned through experience. My ML got hit in the back by a hyundai and the complete front of that car was destroyed, yet all I needed was a new back bumper. Then a year later, a honda hit me at a slower speed. The whole front of his hood was dented in...my hitch cover fell off (if only I had the tow hitch!). It's a tank.
It's very safe, as I learned through experience. My ML got hit in the back by a hyundai and the complete front of that car was destroyed, yet all I needed was a new back bumper. Then a year later, a honda hit me at a slower speed. The whole front of his hood was dented in...my hitch cover fell off (if only I had the tow hitch!). It's a tank.
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From: Northern Virginia
05 CLK500; 07 Volvo XC90
for a 15 yrs old, i would get her maybe a scion tc or something low-key. i wouldn't want her to attract the wrong boys.
she is after all only 15, she has a life time ahead of her to truely enjoy a mercedes... like your quote says "too much of anything is good for nothing..."
she is after all only 15, she has a life time ahead of her to truely enjoy a mercedes... like your quote says "too much of anything is good for nothing..."
Last edited by thegeneraltso; 01-22-2007 at 11:29 AM.
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From: NY/NJ
2012 W212 E350 Bluetec
If I could rechoose my first car, it still would be the ML.
It's very safe, as I learned through experience. My ML got hit in the back by a hyundai and the complete front of that car was destroyed, yet all I needed was a new back bumper. Then a year later, a honda hit me at a slower speed. The whole front of his hood was dented in...my hitch cover fell off (if only I had the tow hitch!). It's a tank.
It's very safe, as I learned through experience. My ML got hit in the back by a hyundai and the complete front of that car was destroyed, yet all I needed was a new back bumper. Then a year later, a honda hit me at a slower speed. The whole front of his hood was dented in...my hitch cover fell off (if only I had the tow hitch!). It's a tank.
A presumably smaller and lighter car (like the Hyundai in your example) will, all else being equal, sustain more damage than your heavier ML.
Take a MB C-class and replicate that accident with a Hummer, Escalade or LX/Landcruiser. That C-class will probably look a lot like that Hyundai that crashed into you.
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From: NY/NJ
2012 W212 E350 Bluetec
Or Accord V6 w/ 6-speed stick?
Could also consider:
Mini Cooper S (optional JCW package)
Golf GTI/Jetta GLI
Honda Civic Si
Mazda Miata
MazdaSpeed 3
E36 3-series
Subaru Forester XT (tamer version of WRX)
Etc...
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From: Chicago
Cee Fiddy Five
1985MB380SE- Yea, it's all relative to weight, etc. Conservation of momentum/impluse. Doesn't mean that the ML isn't a safe SOB
The C is also pretty strongly built...it's heavier than the comparable jap-sized car.
The C is also pretty strongly built...it's heavier than the comparable jap-sized car.
Last edited by MercedesFTW; 01-23-2007 at 07:01 PM.
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From: McAllen, Texas
2017 E400 CAB 2007 BMW 650i CONV
Im starting to lean towards a 3 Series Bimmer ... why not afterall I liked those little bimmers when I was young , maybe I should ask her what she would like to own and go from there ...
she does love big trucks, maybe the fact that we are in Texas has something to do with it ...
she does love big trucks, maybe the fact that we are in Texas has something to do with it ...
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From: North Jersey
2007 C230 Sport manual
http://www.wnbc.com/news/10727172/detail.html
I am not sure this thread will work...but I would caution against getting a teen any sort of high performance car. If a MB is in order, I would get a nice and pokey used C 240 with AWD. No manual. My son is now 15 and he too is asking for a car.....I think it will be an H3 Hummer, since he is 6'4'' already.
I am not sure this thread will work...but I would caution against getting a teen any sort of high performance car. If a MB is in order, I would get a nice and pokey used C 240 with AWD. No manual. My son is now 15 and he too is asking for a car.....I think it will be an H3 Hummer, since he is 6'4'' already.
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From: NY/NJ
2012 W212 E350 Bluetec
http://www.wnbc.com/news/10727172/detail.html
I am not sure this thread will work...but I would caution against getting a teen any sort of high performance car. If a MB is in order, I would get a nice and pokey used C 240 with AWD.
I am not sure this thread will work...but I would caution against getting a teen any sort of high performance car. If a MB is in order, I would get a nice and pokey used C 240 with AWD.
This I don't understand. If the young driver is willing, why not get something manual? It will mean a lifetime of freedom (to drive either transmission).
Why take away those options at such an early stage?
If you're going that route, you could also consider their new line of crossover SUVs (GMC Acadia, forgot what the Saturn and Buick versions are called)...supposed to be built on a better platform.
All else being equal, crossovers will probably be safer than truck-based SUVs because they're built on car platforms, have a lower center of gravity and will be less prone to roll over.
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From: So Cal
2010 RRS ; BMW K1200R; 14 E350 ; 14 RRS on order
I bought my own car when I was 16. It was a 1972 coupe deville (back in the early 90s). The thing was a damned boat and weighted like a million tons. I don't really understand the mindset of parents that spend a lot of cash on their kid's first car but far be it from me to judge ..
With that said, I would really really really consider the C240 idea if I were you. Here's why:
You can get one for song these days still under warranty
Its a great looking car
It's extremely safe
Insurance is about as low as they get
And its not a rocket like the C32 so she'l stay out of trouble
She'll still be the envy of all the kids at her school cause her daddy bought her a benz
Just make damn sure you buy the extended warranty cause now matter how well she drives, teens just have a way of destroying cars that's beyond me.
Good luck and make her work for it
With that said, I would really really really consider the C240 idea if I were you. Here's why:
You can get one for song these days still under warranty
Its a great looking car
It's extremely safe
Insurance is about as low as they get
And its not a rocket like the C32 so she'l stay out of trouble
She'll still be the envy of all the kids at her school cause her daddy bought her a benz
Just make damn sure you buy the extended warranty cause now matter how well she drives, teens just have a way of destroying cars that's beyond me.
Good luck and make her work for it
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Cee Fiddy Five
A girl at my school drives a G500...we're all scared of her! It's not that she tries to be a bad driver, somehow she ends up on the sidewalk half the time she tries to turn...
Get her a X3? It's a hate/love design, but I think it's fitting for a 15/16 year old girl.
Get her a X3? It's a hate/love design, but I think it's fitting for a 15/16 year old girl.
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But they're in Texas, where trucks "rule the road." And the G500 is the king of street-legal 4x4. I understand what you're saying though, except girls in my school ride around in RRs and other SUVs which could also do a fair amount of damage. X3/X5 isn't a bad idea either. My friend just picked one up and she loves it.
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From: Seattle, WA
S430
But they're in Texas, where trucks "rule the road." And the G500 is the king of street-legal 4x4. I understand what you're saying though, except girls in my school ride around in RRs and other SUVs which could also do a fair amount of damage. X3/X5 isn't a bad idea either. My friend just picked one up and she loves it.