Son's first car

[venenoindy]

My son is 15 and getting ahead of the game I was able to buy a 2001 Mercury Grand marquis in excellent shape, it just needs a few maintenance things done and other than that it is one of the cleanest I have seen. He won't be able to drive until next year but with the price of used cars I couldn't pass the chance to get him a very solid first car, the only thing is that been a V8 I don't know if 18 MPG is the best thing for a first car. Should I sell it and try to find a 4 cylinder car or stick to this?

 

[Frosty]

The 18 mpg will teach him the value of a dollar the cars looks like somebody took good care of it, I’d let him drive it.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Well, on the bright side, if he's going to be paying for his own gas, you won't have to worry about him running around too much...

 

[mom45]

Much safer first car than a little economy car too!

 

[BigRed]

Much safer first car than a little economy car too!

This....particularly for a new driver.

 

[Michigan Slim]

Much safer first car than a little economy car too!

Oh, Mom, really? LoL
This was my first love. 18 mpg would have been good!

 

[mom45]

My first car was a 1974 Olds cutlass.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

My first car was a 1974 Olds cutlass.

Mine was a 1960 Olds 98. Followed by a 1970 Ford Country Sedan station wagon. Gas mileage never factored in.

 

[BigRed]

Oh, Mom, really? LoL
This was my first love. 18 mpg would have been good! View attachment 204158

Yeah....but the back seat is small.

 

[jake blue]

Beyond gas mileage, the safety factor and abundance of available parts are important factors.

 

[HCRMPD1]

The 18 mpg will teach him the value of a dollar the cars looks like somebody took good care of it, I’d let him drive it.

Frosty has a goodpoint, the 18 mpg will teach him the value of a dollar. Also, that car does LOOK like someone took very good care of it. Safe car too, I'd let him drive it.

 

[Michigan Slim]

Back to the OPs original post. That car will be fine. Expect it to get dented up before he realizes it doesn't have to be at full throttle. His first tank of gas will (should) teach him to keep his foot out of it. The mileage he CAN get is surprisingly good.
I had to buy my first car if I wanted one in school. Hence the Camaro. If I would have waited I would have gotten my dad's company car, such as the above.
My oldest sister got a Plymouth Fury.
My oldest brother got a big Buick something.
My next brother bought a 69 Camaro. Silver, black top. I scored for the first time using his car so I had to buy my own! No way was I going to wait!

 

[bwframe]

Haven't you been listening? You MUST buy him a EV!

 

[KittySlayer]

Please teach him how to change a tire (*) and parallel park.

(*) and when was the last time all you guys checked the pressure on your spare?

 

[Brad69]

Great 1st car very safe reliable and cheap to fix!

You did great! 18 MPG who cares he‘s not a traveling salesman. IMO a body on frame car is much safer.

 

[venenoindy]

The next best gift, tinted windows

 

[Frosty]

Mine was a 1960 Olds 98. Followed by a 1970 Ford Country Sedan station wagon. Gas mileage never factored in.

1985 F-250 with the straight 6. I got busted going 74 in a 55, dad’s first words were “you must have had it on the floor for five miles to get that thing to 74! His second words were “give me your license idiot” it took a 1/4 tank to go from Greencastle to terre haute on 70, luckily gas was pretty cheap!

 

[DoggyDaddy]

1985 F-250 with the straight 6. I got busted going 74 in a 55, dad’s first words were “you must have had it on the floor for five miles to get that thing to 74! His second words were “give me your license idiot” it took a 1/4 tank to go from Greencastle to terre haute on 70, luckily gas was pretty cheap!

Not one of my first, but at one point when I was living in Lafayette, I bought a '69 Plymouth Valiant for $30.00. And yes that's thirty dollars. I had a great time at the BMV when I went to transfer the title.

It was an old smoker, and quickly lost reverse (no problem, I can pull forward into parking spots). Then it refused to get past 2nd gear (automatic). I drove it back and forth from Lafayette to Indy a couple times like that.

 

[venenoindy]

Please teach him how to change a tire (*) and parallel park.

(*) and when was the last time all you guys checked the pressure on your spare?

We are working on that, I grew up in a family of gear heads and I do have experience working in this type of car. I will pass on the DIY maintenance and mods, etc. much of my youth I spend around cars, I can only hope that he likes it as much as I did.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

We are working on that, I grew up in a family of gear heads and I do have experience working in this type of car. I will pass on the DIY maintenance and mods, etc. much of my youth I spend around cars, I can only hope that he likes it as much as I did.

I had a flat tire just this past Friday. First one ever in this car, and it was a brand new tire. I was pulled over getting ready to take the tire off when a young lady (I'm guessing in her 30's) pulled up behind me and asked if I wanted to use her air compressor. I did, and I just put in enough to get home (about a mile) since it was so slow. While we were waiting, she told me that her dad taught her to change a tire before she could even drive. That's good parenting!