Shoot, this was my first car, a green 1974 Plymouth Duster with a slant 6, paid a grand for it as a Junior in HS (same color as the one in the pic below): Second car was a 1971 Dodge Demon 340 which cost me $1,800 (same color as the one in the pic below): Third car out of high school was a burgandy 1968 Pontiac GTO, paid $1,500 for it (same color as the one in the pic below): The way I see it, if the parents want to help their child buy their first car - or buy it for them - that's their call to make, not public opinion. I wouldn't buy a Smart Car due to the maintenance costs - I own a German car so I speak from experience - but would look at a Civic, they run forever and I miss my '00 EM1.