(November 29, 2000) — “Please! Mom, you gotta! I really need a car….” The cries for cars are fairly common to many parents’ ears. Most of the time, the parents aren’t worried about cars and their children driving them; the typical problem that prevents many teens from driving is the high insurance cost, cost of car maintenance, the cost of the car itself and in many cases, a driver’s license. A typical used car can range from a mere $5,000 for a used Honda to a whopping $25,000 for a used Mercedes Benz. Senior David Gedelikyan said, “Teens, in general, do not need fast and expensive cars. A decent car that provides a mean of transportation from point A to point B is typically sufficient for a high school or college student.” If a student plans on purchasing a used car, some general things to look for are cost, mileage on the engine and the condition of the car. When buying a car, whether it is new or used, sources highly recommend that the buyer compare the suggested price with the value of the car according to the automobile Blue Book. The Blue Book has listings of all the cars and determines the value based on the car’s year, model, features and engine mileage. The Blue Book is also used by insurance agencies to determine the value of the car and then set their insurance prices. “But Dad, the car isn’t expensive at all and I can get a discount for being a good student,” some might say. Believe it or not, you can get a discount for auto insurance so long as you have good grades and have the school write you a recommendation letter to give to your auto insurance agent. Car prices vary depending on the location of the car manufacturer. Typically, Japanese or Korean cars — cars such as Honda, Toyota, Daewoo or Hyundai — are not expensive at all. Most new cars can be purchased for less than $15,000. If you had some more money in your bank, an American car such as Ford, Chevrolet, Lincoln or Cadillac may be purchased for about $15,000-$30,000, depending on the car and model. If you were wealthy and have a stable job, a European car would fit your budget with prices ranging from $30,000 to as much as $100,000 for a brand new BMW M5. Some general factors that make up the value of a car — other than the name — include the size of the engine, the number of cylinders, transmission, type of engine and the condition of the car itself. A larger engine generally means a higher cost of the car. If the engine is huge, then its horsepower would be great, but the economy would be poor. If the fuel economy of the engine is poor, that would mean that the engine wastes a lot of gas and gives a lower gas mileage ratio than that of a car with a smaller engine. Smaller engines are typically cheaper to manufacture, go longer distances per gallon, but the horsepower is less, contributing to a weaker engine. Daewoo, Hyundai or a car with a V4 would be a candidate for a weak engine, while a Ford Mustang Saleen, an SUV or any other car with a V8 or higher would be considered a powerful car with a strong motor and high horsepower. Honda and Toyota manufacture some of the most common cars that students often drive. The Honda Civic and Toyota Camry are probably best suited for students because of their great fuel economy and low cost. Cars manufactured by Honda and Toyota often last longer too. The simplicity behind the engineering makes Hondas and Toyotas affordable and easy to maintain, which is why they are so popular among teens. If you’re another teen complaining continuously to your parent(s) for a car, compromise and think of a car that’s affordable. But most importantly, when looking for a car, make sure the car suits your needs.