Jeep for my daughter??

Lusus_Naturae · Feb 7, 2013

Insurance is low, accident survival is good, the JK's will have more safety features than a TJ or YJ but it's going to come down to driver knowledge and skills. If she is smart and can learn to drive it and learn her vehicle and how it behaves, she can drive anything. If she is going to get hung up on the cool factor and goof off and not care about it besides going from point A to B, it won't matter what she drives. My kids started learning to drive when they were 12, my daughter drove VW buggies when she was 13 on lake trails. I wouldn't want them driving my vehicle - it's a pet perve of mine - but I wouldn't have an issue with them driving in general. We take my son out to an abandoned parking lot and have him practice once a week, he's 13, and the police will come out and say hi to us and use the lot to write their daily logs.

You know your daughter the best, you also have the most experience in vehicles and you can figure out if the specific car or Jeep she wants is right. There are a lot of threads on here showing what a Jeep can withstand in an accident, they do well. The resale value holds well too, so if she changes her mind later you can recoup a lot of the cost. Insurance is low, compared to others. I would look for something stock, just because it can be easier to maintain and you don't have to wonder about what someone put together on it, but a Jeep with all the records would be good too - lifted or not.

My first vehicle - and the one I learned to drive on was a 1972 Dodge Challenger T/A. I bought it myself as a 80% restored project car, and loved it until I sold it to a collector. I would have loved seeing your Z28, that was my second car.

jklarry · Feb 7, 2013

when my daughter comes comes home, her choices are my wrangler and my wife's grand ch. she picks the wrangler every time. safest vehicle I have.

jp2611 · Feb 7, 2013

A little biased...but maybe a little more down to earth....I have driven my '04 TJ since '04. I was rear-ended by a Dodge ram....totaled the Ram. $1500 repair for the TJ. Had a guy pull out in front of me in full size GMC van. Hit the driver's side just in front of his rear axle. Pushed it OVER/ OFF the axle his van totaled Wrangler $3000. front bumper lights fenders touch up the hood and grill.

My '04 has only needed wear items replaced, tires, brakes, clutch, waterpump, power steering line leak, blower motor. IT has 160+ miles.

A TJ may be more "affordable" and not as much power as a JK and will probably have a good chance of getting at least 70-80% back when resold as the majority of the depreciation is already gone. I would however buy as close to stock as possible,,and keep it that way for the most part. No big lift or big tires for a while.

My kids all want my Jeep...I take them wheeling sometimes!!

nobndry · Feb 7, 2013

3JKs1H1 said:
I think the JKU is probably the best platform of the wrangler family, it's wider and longer than 2 doors or prior models. I think that translates into better, more predictable handling.

Just make sure you get some good tires for it.

By the way the 2 door is only .2 inches wider and I can sling mine into corners really well. I would say that my Jeep is just as stable as my dad's Porsche Boxter S that i occasionally get to drive. If you add good tires like my BFG KM2 tires (wider than the Porsche's) it becomes a handling machine. If you leave the suspension stock it is pretty stiff and handles well, but if you choose to lift it make sure you choose something relatively thick because it will keep the handling like it was when it was stock. But thats just my two cents. My JK 2 door is my first car and I love it, it is almost too fun to drive haha.

Jackster3 · Feb 7, 2013

Well im 20 and ordered my 13 wrangler and got it in later august when i was 19. I pay the insurance and paid for the jeep but it wasnt my first car. I started with a 2004 cavalier and still use it to save on gas when im driving to school. If I were youd and from a "kids" standpoint I would look at two things. First how responsible your daughter is and how much you are willing to spend. A jk IMO is alot more safe than a tj or yj but youll spend more on a jk. The JK has better stance and construction. Hell when i was 16 i wanted my parents to buy me a camaro but i learned real quick it was up to me and im glad thats how they made it.

Honestly man i hate to crush your daughters dreams but if it were my daughter she'd be in a nice 4wd escape.

Hope this somewhat helps

kappaknight · Feb 7, 2013

I had a few cars in my life time... and while I can't speak for teens, I honestly have never even came close to speeding in the Jeep like I have with other vehicles. For me, having a Jeep meant driving slower, enjoying the view, the attention, and the waves.

If your girl really wants one, and is the type that babies her things, then maybe she'll be mature enough to own one. I'd certainly be less worried if my daughter had a Jeep vs. a coupe but luckily, I don't have to worry about this for another 15 years.

connorcrush · Feb 7, 2013

This is coming from an 18 year old who learned to drive on an 04 TJ that was beat to hell by the time I got it. I now have a '12 JK...
I think this is only something you can answer. You know your daughter, you know how she does or doesn't take care of her things, how responsible she is.
Cons:
People say they don't speed in their jeep, and while that's true, teenagers (me included when I had my TJ) feel like their almost invincible because, well, it's a Jeep, and everyone knows jeeps can do everything. Because of that mentality I got myself in a few situations that I probably shouldn't have.
Also, I noticed that when I drove my beat up TJ around, especially with friends in the car, I was a cop magnet. There were multiple occasions where I had police officers follow me closely for a bit and even had some pull me over to see what was going on (nothing ever was) but it did happen. Maybe that wouldn't be the case if its a girl driving, or maybe I'm just very unlucky.
Another thing as you mentioned is money. Jeeps are money pits and everyone on this forum will agree with me on that. You are going to want to spend money on it. That's part of owning a jeep, plus gas. Wranglers aren't exactly practical when you have to drive a lot, I know I don't like driving long distances in mine because it costs a lot to fill up. I work full time and still have trouble paying my car payment, insurance, and for gas.

Pros:
It's a jeep and who doesn't love jeeps? They're fun, I get looks and compliments everywhere I go, people know me by my jeep.
It gives me a hobby. In my spare time I work on my jeep, most of my money goes into my jeep. Everyone else my age is out partying and spending their money on things they probably shouldn't be. I don't have that option, it helps to keep me out of trouble when I'm bored.
Finally, about a year ago I was driving down a windy road in the rain, a woman pulled out in front of me without stoping and I didn't have enough room to stop. I slammed into her. I totaled both my TJ and her GMC Yukon. I was told by multiple people, and know myself that if I was in something other than my Jeep, I would have gotten severely injured. It held up like a champ and kept me safe.

I do apologize for such a long post but I want you to hear from a teenager who has first hand experience with TJ's and JK's. I hope I helped and good luck.

Con Artist · Feb 7, 2013

rfortune said:
Most Jeeps don't go offroad. Who cares about the perception of being a "poser"? Hate to say it, but I would bet a vast majority of people buy their vehicle for form over function. They are all a bit of a fashion/personality statement, no? If not they'd all be square and white.

Teach her to driver properly, defensively, and safely. No matter what vehicle she starts out in, she will likely push its capabilities. That's the nature of being a kid and learning.

Jeep insurance is cheap, way lower than most other vehicles in my own personal experience. My rates dropped about 20% when I went from a 3 year old full size pickup to my Wrangler. Shouldn't be a factor in your decision.

Do you think girl/woman really cares if "King Offroader" thinks she's a "poser?" Most women couldn't care less what people think about their vehicle, that's a "man thing." 95% of girls/women could probably give less than a damn about offroading, they're more interested in "looking cute" as they're driving down the road or "sunbathing on the run."

IMO, there's no such thing as a fool-proof vehicle. It's not going to make a difference what you're driving if a semi runs a red and t-bones you; the outcome isn't gonna be good. Any vehicle could be dangerous, depending on how it's driven, but from a "not your fault" accident point of view, there are worse vehicles out there than Jeeps.

bloodfart · Feb 7, 2013

Lou Bunn said:
Hi, I'm new here and I really think ya'll have a great forum. So, I thought I'd ask your expert opinions on this. First, I'm 53, married, 2 kids (oldest in college - Go Wolfpack!), it's my youngest daughter that's had the Jeep on her wish list for 3 years now. I work for a big corp, but on the weekends i detail cars/trucks for extra money (college expenses) and about 3 years ago I did a black Wrangler, 4.0, automatic, softtop. Well, she loved it, and rode with me to return to the owner - a friend that flips cars, he fixes the mechanical/body, I detail it and he sells them. I thought it was a phase, but she'll be 15 soon and if you have kids, you know time do fly! Anyway, I'm concerned because:
1. I see her as thinking it's cool, like the poser's on Harleys - and not ever going off-road, so it's a fashion thing.
2. Handling - it's NOT a car nor does it handle like one, heck, I learned to drive on a Farmall Super A - at age 11 - on the road, working on my uncles farm. Kids these days don't have that opportunity - heh heh! My first car was a 1972 Z-28, 4 speed, 4:10's, air shocks. fat rear tires - almost killed myself within a month! So, I'd rather she start with something she could handle.
3. Price, I work 2 jobs and still barely break even, I'm a few months away from having my oldest get through the 3 years of hell on car insurance and it'll start all over again. 16 year old girl in Jeep - I wonder how MUCH that will be.

Honestly, I know it sounds like I'm against the idea and the more thought that I put into it, the more convinced I become that this is a bad idea. I wonder, does anybody rent these like a Hertz or Enterprise?
Anyway - fire away, I appreciate your comments.

I think if anyone wants to learn how to drive, and i mean drive well and have a passion for it, then the first car must be something relatively small and nimble. The jk isn't the smoothest, and all the electronic aids can lead to bad habbits and the expectation that the computer will sort everything out. For a girl i think it's not a bad choice if you can afford it, but if you're already working two jobs, maybe she should settle for something simple to beat on for a couple years, and you can help her with the downpayment when she's ready to pay the payments herself

whitelespaul · Feb 7, 2013

I restored a '76 Scout II for my daughter after she wrecked her first car, a Chevy Cavalier, and my Ford Focus a few months later. The Scout was truly a tank. She ran it dry of oil and seized the rebuilt engine

. Kids.

I had let my son drive around on our property since he was 12 in my Mitsubishi 4WD mighty max that was converted to a steel flat bed with a stout "headache bar". Its a good thing because he did a barrel roll in it in the mud with no injury to him. He just pounded out the roof and kept driving. He didn't even tell us about his rollover until 2 years later when he turned 17 since he knew what we'd have done after he saw what his older sister went through.

The key to affordability is to get an older model Jeep and the insurance won't be as high. Most of the premium goes to liability but it doesn't hurt to have a lower cost vehicle with a higher deductible for the collision part.

BManz · Feb 7, 2013

I'd recommend a JK as it comes with more safety features than the older models. As far as insurance costs, it isn't the value of the vehicle that drives the cost, it's the medical claims history for the type of vehicle along with where you live, driving history and many other factors. I use a JK as my daily work vehicle and bought it with the intentions of it being a third vehicle available for my teenager to drive when transportation is needed. FWIW my insurance on the 1yr old JK is less than my Harley and less than what a Hyundai Elantra (which I shopped initially but it's a POS) would have cost.

DaK · Feb 7, 2013

One thing that has not been addressed here is all the leg humpers that will come out of the woodwork when she pulls up to school in a Jeep and for the rest of her life.

That my friend is your biggest risk of getting your daughter a JEEP.

Best JK commercial Jeep has ever made:

Jeep Wrangler Commercial - YouTube

And this should be your biggest fear:

Jeep Wrangler TJ Commercial "Jenny" - YouTube

Boys are your biggest risk, not the insurance, not the off roading, BOYS!

Good luck.

KittyPrawn · Feb 7, 2013

DaK said:
One thing that has not been addressed here is all the leg humpers that will come out of the woodwork when she pulls up to school in a Jeep and for the rest of her life.

That my friend is your biggest risk of getting your daughter a JEEP.

Best JK commercial Jeep has ever made:

Jeep Wrangler Commercial - YouTube

And this should be your biggest fear:

Jeep Wrangler TJ Commercial "Jenny" - YouTube

Boys are your biggest risk, not the insurance, not the off roading, BOYS!

Good luck.

Was this something that was a problem you or your daughter ran in to?

I mean, maybe it was me, but I didn't have any extra guy problems when I was driving my first Jeep.

kappaknight · Feb 7, 2013

Hrmm... most of the Jeep owners I've met (guy or girl) do not look like those models in the commercials. Maybe I need to move to Cali.

Also, I'm pretty sure there was no off-road scene in the movie Clueless though I'm sure many wanted a Wrangler after watching it even though it was stock.

Lou Bunn · Feb 7, 2013

Wow, lots of great replies, I swear, if ya'll ever get out to Youngsville NC, I'll gladly buy you the best BBQ lunch you've ever tasted. I have a detailing customer that owns a BBQ biz.
Lots of valid points and I need to get home and read them again when I'm not trying to work too. I'm very glad to hear that they hold up well in a crash. I told my wife when our oldest daughter got her car and started driving to school, that when - not if, but when she has her first bump up, not to freak out. Ya'll know how that went, "she's NOT going to do that...." 1 week to the day she started driving to school, I get the call. It turns out what she did was not back out of the parking space far enough and the kids behind her got her nervous so she turned too sharp and wiped about a 2"x2" patch of her paint off and unto an old beater in the space next to her. Other car owner didn't care, I paid a buddy out of pocket to repaint the bumper. She learned from her mistake, and has been a safe driver ever since.

The other thing, like my idol (Phil from Duck Dynasty) says, kids these days don't get out, they're on their iPhones texting and facebooking and everything but actually getting together! I wonder if my generation would have done that if that stuff had been around? I use to work my butt off on the farm to buy 53 cents a gallon gas to feed that 9mpg Z-28. Crazy!

Lou Bunn · Feb 7, 2013

Oh - forgot, that whole "boy" issue, see above, oldest is nearly 19 and has gone on 1, yes 1 date. It's not that she's ugly, or doesn't have guy friends or doesn't know how to get along, it's just that their generation doesn't put alot into getting in a relationship. She says, "dad, I'm too busy trying to make A's in college to worry about some guy" I know in my day, it was ladies first and school second, expains why I'm working 2 jobs! My Jeep girl is pretty shy, but she's coming out of her shell, I am looking forward to teaching her how to drive. Hey, survived it once already, second time I'm better prepared!

Con Artist · Feb 7, 2013

Lou Bunn said:
Oh - forgot, that whole "boy" issue, see above, oldest is nearly 19 and has gone on 1, yes 1 date. It's not that she's ugly, or doesn't have guy friends or doesn't know how to get along, it's just that their generation doesn't put alot into getting in a relationship. She says, "dad, I'm too busy trying to make A's in college to worry about some guy" I know in my day, it was ladies first and school second, expains why I'm working 2 jobs! My Jeep girl is pretty shy, but she's coming out of her shell, I am looking forward to teaching her how to drive. Hey, survived it once already, second time I'm better prepared!

Yeah, I guess chicks shoulda taken the back seat for me, too. I was more worried about chasing tail chicks than schoolwork. Unfortunately, I should have considered majoring in something other than chasing chicks. :facepalm:

Had I put as much effort into my schoolwork as I did into chasing the ladies, I'd have been retired by the time I was 29. :nonono:

RaiderRUBICON · Feb 7, 2013

I wouldn't get a teenager a convertable under any circumstances. They may be mature,but their friends might not be.

The worst jeep accidents I have ever seen are the ones where people came flying out of the vehicle.

I don't trust the judgement of teenagers. Buy her a hard top vehicle, I'm sure she can find something she likes.

Sorry, no converts for the teenagers.

cocky grin · Feb 7, 2013

My first car was a 2010 Mazda 3. My dad and I originally were looking at a tj for me but he wanted me to get something safer so we got the Mazda. A year later I was hit nothing to bad but it caused my insurance to go crazy so we had to get rid of the Mazda. We went out looking again at jeeps and found my jk. He agreed to get it because I was more experienced at driving and it would be a good way for me to learn to work on a car. Oh btw I'm 19 now if it matters for the story.

Jeep for my daughter??

Lusus_Naturae

jklarry

jp2611

nobndry

Jackster3

kappaknight

connorcrush

Con Artist

bloodfart

whitelespaul

BManz

DaK

KittyPrawn

kappaknight

Lou Bunn

Lou Bunn

Con Artist

RaiderRUBICON

cocky grin

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