These are the 15 best used cars for first-time drivers

For most young people and their parents, buying a first car is a major step.Buying a new car is tempting. But another great option is to look at used cars, which can often be had for a fraction of the cost of brand-new versions.We came up with 15 used cars we think are the best for the young car buyer on a budget.To make our list, we focused on cars that are available on the market right now for under $15,000. We looked for ones that are reliable, fun to drive, comfortable, attractive, economical, practical, and most of all, safe.For safety, we checked out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) moderate front overlap crash test ratingsfor the cars we selected. Prices are based on current prices on Autotrader.com and reflect the lowest price we think a decent example may cost.2001-present Honda CivicStarting price: $5,000 and upIIHS crash test rating: GoodWhy buy it: The Honda Civic is bulletproof. If properly maintained, the car can go for well over 250,000 miles without any issues. As one of the most popular cars in the world, spares are easy to come by and repairs are relatively affordable.Being popular means that there is large aftermarket support for the car, so kids can customize a Civic to their liking for not much money. Also, the sporty and practical Si hatchback from the early 2000s is now available for under $10,000. And since it was only available with a manual gearbox, it teaches a good lesson.1999-2006 Toyota CelicaStarting price: $5,500 and upIIHS crash test rating: GoodWhy buy it:The Toyota Celica sub-compact sports car is quick, fun to drive, reliable, and offers a surprising level of utility. Powered by either a 140 or 180 horsepower four-cylinder engine, the Celica's spirited performance does not diminish is high fuel economy ratings.As a sports car, beware of copies that have been abused by boy racers or have had low-quality after market modifications, as they may diminish the long-term durability of the car.1998-2004 Toyota Tacoma Starting price: $5,900 and upIIHS crash test rating:AcceptableWhy buy it:Toyota's Tacoma pickup makes our list as the only representative of the pickup segment. The Tacoma offers rugged off-road capability in addition to Toyota's strong build quality.The truck's available four -and six-cylinder powerplants offer good performance, but some may find them to be a bid thirsty when it comes to fuel.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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