Daughter wants a fun car, dad wants something more practical.

[Half Fast]

Ducati 959 Panigale.

Sporty, fun, easy to park, good in traffic (if you lane split), good fuel economy, decent resale.

 

[SoonerAviator]

Or a Subaru... Fun, safe and reliable

Local Subaru lol

 

[Racerx]

Something fun for under 20k...

 

[kmacht]

Define practical and fun. Does it need to seat more than 2 people? Does it need to be 4wd? Is gas mileage a concern? Do you work on the cars yourself or do you bring it to a mechanic for everything?

A used civic Si or Type R would be fun to drive, practical and mostly reliable. On the slightly more practical side a Mazda Cx-3 or Cx-5 are SUV like but handle much better and are fun to drive. If you can do basic maintenance yourself a mini cooper might be an option. The early models were a maintenance nightmare but the newer ones are much more reliable. On the more fun side a Miata or 3 series BMW with a 5 speed and 6 cylinder motor might work.

 

[Half Fast]

If you can do basic maintenance yourself a mini cooper might be an option. The early models were a maintenance nightmare but the newer ones are much more reliable.

I had a 2009 MINI S. I will never own another BMW product. That thing began self destructing at about 80k and every repair was $1000 minimum. It finally broke the timing chain and punched a valve and I sold it for scrap.

Avoid MINIs unless you plan to unload it around 72,000 miles.

 

[SFDukie]

As stated above, fun is driver dependent.

I’m w/Dr Chien. A Miata is hard to beat.
In the right hands, a 14ish year old S2000. Mine is coming up on 24 years, 125k thousand miles. Replaced the clutch twice, but that’s it (steep hills in SF) for mechanical repairs.

WRX another good choice.

 

[DavidWhite]

If you can do basic maintenance yourself a mini cooper might be an option. The early models were a maintenance nightmare but the newer ones are much more reliable. On the more fun side a Miata or 3 series BMW with a 5 speed and 6 cylinder motor might work.

My mom had a Mini Cooper S that she bought new in 2010 and it was a maintenance nightmare after a year or so. She ended up selling it, and they bought a Miata for a fun car that they still have over a decade later.

 

[FORANE]

I wouldn't want to get in a wreck in a Miata. I feel like a muffin top riding in one.

 

[SFDukie]

I wouldn't want to get in a wreck in a Miata. I feel like a muffin top riding in one.

Totally get your point.
They’re safer than average for their size category. And far less likely to roll over than most cars.

 

[Baked Potato]

Totally get your point.
They’re safer than average for their size category. And far less likely to roll over than most cars.

Agility and stopping distance also have value. Those overlooked factors are partially responsible for people generally overestimating the safety of huge vehicles and underestimating the safety of smaller ones.

 

[2-Bit Speed]

Just remember:

Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer

 

[Morgan3820]

Make her happy. 6 year old Miata.
She's only young once....

I actually had one at her age, 2001 IIRC, loads of fun to be sure. The Father in me says, are you outa your mind!!! It is a skateboard with an engine.

 

[Morgan3820]

Mazda sedan of any variety. Reliable, efficient and “zoom zoom” fun to drive. I bought a 10 year old 3 for my daughter with 60k miles for just under 10k. It will easily get through the college years and a while afterwards.

Edit: the six is bigger and up market from the three but still reasonable in price in my opinion. I would look at the Mazda six.

I completely agree with you. My daily driver is a 2017 Mazda 3 with 6 Spd. MT. Purchased new. I love driving it. One of my best purchases, I will never part with it willingly. Wish I could get another but the MT is no longer available in the base trim. Mazda makes a great car for the money. The handling and interior trim is way above its price point.

 

[Brad W]

I've been for a while now that I kinda want to buy a miata (or whatever the new name of them is) for my 15 year old daughter when the time comes...so I can borrow it.\

That said, I'm not so sure about putting my little girl in something so small and so low to the ground (from a safety perspective)

That said, I needed to get something for my son back in the days of covid when nothing was on the lots. Found a little barebones Kia Rio sedan. took what we could get! Looking today MSRP starting at $16,750 brand new.... It's not really a cool car by any stretch, & not what I wanted for him really but he didn't care. Just Happy to have a car!
and I have to say it's a pretty good little car...economical, roomy, large trunk...well at least relative to the size of the car..and it drives nice. and I like the small little tires because they'll be cheap to replace. Not sporty exactly, but not a total slog either. I've been with him on a couple college tour trips 2 and 3 hours each way, and I was really pleasantly surprised. Has apple car play, a decent radio.... I just wish I'd have been able to get the next package up that I think has a little more in terms of adaptive cruise control type stuff....
He's driving it at college now and is still happy enough with it. In fact my wife threw a hint that we might be willing to get him something more "suitable" and use his car for his little sister instead, but he's not in a hurry to offload it so that says something.

 

[SkyChaser]

Agility and stopping distance also have value. Those overlooked factors are partially responsible for people generally overestimating the safety of huge vehicles and underestimating the safety of smaller ones.

This. I have avoided two wrecks that would have been nasty while driving our Miata that would have been unavoidable in just about any other car - on stopping distance alone. The first time (both were the same place, same situation), @2-Bit Speed and I were on the highway at speed, heading home, and a pick-up truck pulled out in front of me from the interstate exit ramp when he really should not have. I really thought I was going to t-bone him but I shoved both feet to the floor...and did the fastest controlled deceleration that I'd ever experienced in my life. We were both really bracing for the impact and were very surprised when it didn't come. Keep the brakes in good shape, and you can basically go from 65 to 0 in less time than you can blink. If she is at all a competent driver, the Miata should not be that scary for her to have as a daily driver.

 

[2-Bit Speed]

This. I have avoided two wrecks that would have been nasty while driving our Miata that would have been unavoidable in just about any other car - on stopping distance alone. The first time (both were the same place, same situation), @2-Bit Speed and I were on the highway at speed, heading home, and a pick-up truck pulled out in front of me from the interstate exit ramp when he really should not have. I really thought I was going to t-bone him but I shoved both feet to the floor...and did the fastest controlled deceleration that I'd ever experienced in my life. We were both really bracing for the impact and were very surprised when it didn't come. Keep the brakes in good shape, and you can basically go from 65 to 0 in less time than you can blink. If she is at all a competent driver, the Miata should not be that scary for her to have as a daily driver.

I remember that. I remember taking the entire rest of the drive to process that a wreck DIDN'T happen. My head was still thinking that I needed to call insurance.

 

[Half Fast]

If she is at all a competent driver, the Miata should not be that scary for her to have as a daily driver.

And if she's not, convince her to enter a few autocrosses and she soon will be.

 

[Half Fast]

I completely agree with you. My daily driver is a 2017 Mazda 3 with 6 Spd. MT. Purchased new. I love driving it. One of my best purchases, I will never part with it willingly. Wish I could get another but the MT is no longer available in the base trim. Mazda makes a great car for the money. The handling and interior trim is way above its price point.

Time to man up, act like a real dad, and give her your Mazda. Then go out and buy the new 'vette you've been lusting after.

 

[asicer]

I will never own another BMW product. That thing began self destructing at about 80k and every repair was $1000 minimum.

So, only about 1 order of magnitude better than owning an airplane?

 

[Half Fast]

So, only about 1 order of magnitude better than owning an airplane?

Right. But so far my plane hasn't stranded me on a cloud. And the MINI didn't have the advantage of flight.

 

[Bill]

Agility and stopping distance also have value. Those overlooked factors are partially responsible for people generally overestimating the safety of huge vehicles and underestimating the safety of smaller ones.

I get that, I had a long line of small sporty cars in my youth. Acura Integra, GTI, Sentra SE-R, 300ZX Turbo, BMW Z3, etc. But back then, more people were in cars and cars were a lot lighter. Now, everyone is in a 5000#+ SUV or truck.

Yeah, a Miata is nimble, but if you can’t get out of the way, you’re done.

 

[Ted]

If she doesn't need a ton of space, get a Ford Mustang. Plenty of those available used under $20K, with manual trans (if desired), and the EB 4-banger is no slouch with over 300HP. No reason one wouldnt last for 200K with proper maintenance.

Good suggestion.

Taurus (1992)

Are you sure you’re @Half Fast ’s son?

1992 Ford Taurus: have you blown a head gasket lately?

 

[Half Fast]

Are you sure you’re @Half Fast ’s son?

1992 Ford Taurus: have you blown a head gasket lately?

I believe that was part of a dowry.....

(IIRC, the Taurus might have replaced an Escort. See https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/n-a-cfit.129029/#post-2998400 )

 

[2-Bit Speed]

Are you sure you’re @Half Fast ’s son? 1992 Ford Taurus: have you blown a head gasket lately?

It blew just about everything but the head gasket...

 

[Ghery]

Our step-granddaughter needed a car last year (2022). She had reached the age where she could drive. I offered our 1999 Jeep Wrangler and our son rejected it. He wanted to get her a car with all the safety features. I laughed. The Jeep has all the safety features you could want - it's built like a tank and has won two arguments with cars. Oh well...

 

[Ventucky Red]

Local Subaru lol

That is a win-win for the OP, he'll know his daughter is safe from the scallywags that roam the earth...

 

[szwinger]

If you can find a Ford Focus SVT that hasn't been all modified into a street racer they are fun, practical and economical (relatively).

AutoBlog Focus SVT

 

[Morgan3820]

Time to man up, act like a real dad, and give her your Mazda. Then go out and buy the new 'vette you've been lusting after.

Honestly, I would be OK with that except she doesn't like how it looks. Says It looks like a shoe. She is a very picky person. I am actually thinking Ford Maverick. Tows up to 4000 pounds. All wheel drive. Has 5 seat belts. Gets 29 MPG but amazingly has 250 hp, 277 ft-lbs torque. 8 speed tranny. Well Under $30K. And I still have x-plan pricing.
As for the 'Vette, I don't think that I would fit in them and I am told that they are a bit$h to work on.

 

[FormerHangie]

Just remember:

Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer

Provided you don’t want to carry anything.

 

[Half Fast]

As for the 'Vette, I don't think that I would fit in them and I am told that they are a bit$h to work on.

Hmmmm... You might consider a Challenger Hellcat while there are still a few available.

If she doesn’t like the look of your Mazda, are you sure she’d like the Maverick?

 

[Daleandee]

Just remember:

Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer

I family member told me that Miata = me outta bought a bigger car.

I'd like to have one myself but I'm trying to thin the herd as it is ...

 

[SkyChaser]

I believe that was part of a dowry.....

(IIRC, the Taurus might have replaced an Escort. See https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/n-a-cfit.129029/#post-2998400 )

I replaced the Escort with a 97 Toyota Avalon, which, ironically, did blow a gasket and some other things about three weeks after the wedding...though I did drive a loaner Taurus while I was searching for the Escort's replacement.

Provided you don’t want to carry anything.

I mean, we took the Miata on our honeymoon and packed a week's worth of stuff in it, and I used to use it for my weekly grocery shop. It holds more than you'd expect but it is small for sure.

 

[Half Fast]

I replaced the Escort with a 97 Toyota Avalon, which, ironically, did blow a gasket and some other things about three weeks after the wedding...though I did drive a loaner Taurus while I was searching for the Escort's replacement.

Oh. My memory is slipping. Your hubbie did have a Taurus for a while. I think it was mercifully totaled.

 

[2-Bit Speed]

Oh. My memory is slipping. Your hubbie did have a Taurus for a while. I think it was mercifully totaled.

Yep. And insurance paid double the purchase price. I didn't mention that to them...

 

[2-Bit Speed]

Honestly, I would be OK with that except she doesn't like how it looks.

Then problem solved. She gets your old Mazda and you get a nice Porsche. Or maybe a Hellcat? Honestly not sure what your taste in cars is...

 

[Racerx]

If I could ever find a Pontiac Solstice GXP coupe in my area I'd be har pressed to pass it up. Being 15 years old it doesn't have a lot of those creature comforts tho

 

[Bill]

I family member told me that Miata = me outta bought a bigger car.

I'd like to have one myself but I'm trying to thin the herd as it is ...

I have a friend with a really nice NC hardtop, he’s upgraded the suspension with nice coil overs and aftermarket wheels and tires. He’s thinking of upgrading to a Vette, and I have first right of refusal on the Miata. I hope he does, he takes great care of his vehicles, it would be a peach.

 

[Ted]

I have a friend with a really nice NC hardtop, he’s upgraded the suspension with nice coil overs and aftermarket wheels and tires. He’s thinking of upgrading to a Vette, and I have first right of refusal on the Miata. I hope he does, he takes great care of his vehicles, it would be a peach.

I've almost bought a Miata a few times. Need pulled the trigger for various reasons - not the least of which is my tendency towards bigger vehicles and engines (and my general dislike of I4s, although that's been shifting some).

 

[Morgan3820]

Hmmmm... You might consider a Challenger Hellcat while there are still a few available.

If she doesn’t like the look of your Mazda, are you sure she’d like the Maverick?

She rejected that as ugly also. Which it is

 

[Bill]

I've almost bought a Miata a few times.

Rob, who owns the Miata, is a lot like you. Anytime he buys a vehicle he immediately begins improving it for better performance and handling, and maintains them to an exceedingly high level.

I’d buy any car or motorcycle he’s selling, no questions asked.