Today it appears that it is quite a sensible idea to buy a second hand car. There is no reason that they should not be reliable if you buy them from a trusted source or do your homework on the car before you commit to buying. It also makes excellent financial sense because as soon as a new car is driven off the forecourt it starts to lose money, whereas a second-hand car has already made this loss.

When you take the plunge and buy used you can usually afford to select a more upmarket model than if you were buying new.

However maybe a disadvantage to buying a used car would be that financing is often more expensive although this could be offset by cheaper insurance rates. If however you prefer to lease a car then a used car is not a viable option. You could also be missing out on the very latest gadgets and safety devices and I suppose there is nothing better than the feeling that you are the first owner of a brand spanking new car!

Let’s face it a lot of the first time buyers of cars are youngsters who cannot really afford the expense of a new car.

One of the most popular cars for teens is the Honda Civic.The Civic is one of the top small sporty cars around and is quite reasonably priced. This car is really fuel efficient and is very safety orientated with antilock brakes, front seat side airbags and side curtain airbags which are standard on all models. It also has a body shell which is designed to withstand an impact with a much larger vehicle. There is the choice of a lively coupe or a more sensible sedan.

The Mazda 3 has got a reputation for being economical and fun to drive. It has plenty of power, great looks and top notch handling.

Another favourite is the Ford Focus, they are relatively cheap plus they have a system which allows the use of ipods and cell phones with voice commands which mean the driver can keep their eyes fixed firmly on the road.The 2 door Focus coupe is very popular as it offers the same amount of back seat and trunk space as the four door version.

The vehicle that the teen driver will probably be best suited to must surely be the safest and also the most economical to drive.