Toyota or Honda for teen's first car

Did you mean Mazda3? The 5 is more of a compact minivan. I don’t think anyone would ever consider it very sporty.

The 5 is just a 3 with more space inside, which is an important consideration for the OP :)

The 5 uses the exact same suspension as the 3, so yes, it can definitely be sporty, and it was even available with a manual transmission too.
 
Cr-V and rav4 are good vehicles. Reliable,
Slow, good enough fuel economy.

And fold the seats down you have plenty of space for her to move stuff from Dorm to dorm, dorm to apartment, etc
 
Powertrain is common Honda. Most other parts are available from GM dealers, or if not, junkyards.
Junkyards? Been a while, but I think around here, cars go in and after 2-3 months, or whatever, off they go to the crusher. I'm not sure, as I haven't been to a junkyard in years.

Plus whatever I need, is likely just as rusty on the one in the junkyard... or worse, if I go down south and buy a rustfree one, whatever will be closer to home for spares might be in worse shape!

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Hrm. Honda V6 with an automatic? How did the Saturn version escape the notorious Honda V6 automatic woes?
 
Hrm. Honda V6 with an automatic? How did the Saturn version escape the notorious Honda V6 automatic woes?
Honda make substantial changes/improvements by 2005 with the ATs in their V6 models. Are they flawless ? No, but there's sooooo many of them out there, it can seem like they're bad. Part of that is also because "the internet never forgets" and too many people talk about "I heard..." stories. Local Honda/Acura specialist told me those transmissions are very reliable.
 
Honda make substantial changes/improvements by 2005 with the ATs in their V6 models. Are they flawless ? No, but there's sooooo many of them out there, it can seem like they're bad. Part of that is also because "the internet never forgets" and too many people talk about "I heard..." stories. Local Honda/Acura specialist told me those transmissions are very reliable.
But Saturn started using V6's in 2003. That might have been a GM V6... but in '04 it switched to Honda. Which is before the 2005 fix. So do the 03-05 models have an automatic transmission problem? or was it a GM automatic transmission? It looks like it could be either Aisin or Honda.

Wiki link.
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If I follow the H5 link, it would seem like it's the weaker one?
1675193541176.jpg
 
No idea.... I presumed it was using the Honda engine and transmission.
 
Based on what? Most studies show the opposite - just google. Modern SUV's / CUV's are much safer overall. They sit higher - putting the occupants further out of reach of larger vehicles. Modern SUV's / CUV's are no longer tippy like those in the past. They are often heavier, although not always. Heavier is better in a crash - absorbs more force with less shock transfered to the occupants. Better site lines may prevent an accident to begin with.
I was an independent insurance adjuster for State Farm. I wanted a break from being a tech. That’s a myth that trucks and SUV’s are safer. body on frame vehicle, driver and passengers absorb the impact. unibody has crunple zones and are designed to cage the driver and passengers leaving them safety. Also, the higher the vehicle, the center of gravity changes causing a rollover. SUV and trucks flip over easy. Heavier is not better, it puts more impact on your body.
 
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The 5 is just a 3 with more space inside, which is an important consideration for the OP :)

The 5 uses the exact same suspension as the 3, so yes, it can definitely be sporty, and it was even available with a manual transmission too.
The 5 is just a 3 with more space inside, which is an important consideration for the OP :)

The 5 uses the exact same suspension as the 3, so yes, it can definitely be sporty, and it was even available with a manual transmission too.
I went and looked at a Mazda5 today while I was out running errands. Neat little car! Like a mini-minivan.
 
It’s just that they don’t make them anymore.
It was a black day on the forum when they were discontinued.

Just for fun, we should bump some old threads from the salad days when a Crown Victoria was the recommendation to everyone, no matter what category of vehicle was being asked about. Ford would have never discontinued the car if they'd read the forums here!
 
I was an independent insurance adjuster for State Farm. I wanted a break from being a tech. That’s a myth that trucks and SUV’s are safer. body on frame vehicle, driver and passengers absorb the impact. unibody has crunple zones and are designed to cage the driver and passengers leaving them safety. Also, the higher the vehicle, the center of gravity changes causing a rollover. SUV and trucks flip over easy. Heavier is not better, it puts more impact on your body.
I think all the suggested SUV / CUV's listed here are unibody. I am not even sure how many body on frame SUV's exist anymore - 4 runner, Tahoe, wrangler? Most are unibody.

Roll overs are an extremely small percentage of accidents. Roll overs are definitely dangerous when they do happen, but modern CUV's are pretty stable, especially with stability control algorithms.

F=MxA. In a collision with another vehicle A is equal. If you have more mass, the force part on your vehicle is less. Algebra.

Every study I have read said all things being equal, higher and heavier cars are safer. I realize if you compare a 1971 F100 with a 2022 Camry there are other factors.
 
I think all the suggested SUV / CUV's listed here are unibody. I am not even sure how many body on frame SUV's exist anymore - 4 runner, Tahoe, wrangler? Most are unibody.

Roll overs are an extremely small percentage of accidents. Roll overs are definitely dangerous when they do happen, but modern CUV's are pretty stable, especially with stability control algorithms.

F=MxA. In a collision with another vehicle A is equal. If you have more mass, the force part on your vehicle is less. Algebra.

Every study I have read said all things being equal, higher and heavier cars are safer. I realize if you compare a 1971 F100 with a 2022 Camry there are other factors.
 
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