i can get a used a4 for the same price. The vw's really hold their value, while the a4's drop dramatically. a 2000 a4 1.8 with auto and 134000k, asking price $12500 vs a 2000 golf gls with 110000k asking 10,900 !! Seems consistent with all the ones i looked at on trader. I think the a4 might be safer than the golf.

to the older design of the B5which dates back to the early/mid 90's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8pU_-KhG1M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QgFpfmiMc4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDUoEUT3XFA

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Note the deformation of the A pillar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRx9yBkg86Q

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IMHO get him a stickshift Golf and let him do his own wrenching. It's fairly simple and there is no turbo for him to mess with. With a stick he won't have much chance to use a cell phone;-)

his father however would be in jail or dead

there is a ton of f350', dodge rams, etc screaming through this town. I fear a t-bone the most these days here in calgary

plus do not forget when he will smash it, it will be so much cheaper to fix!!!

as for safety:
Golf is lighter, shorter, stop faster.
plus 2000 golf is newer then 2000 A4, i think.

on the side of the seat seam.

jk

My friend started his autocrossing hobby with a 2.slow Jetta and did quite well with it. Taught him to use what power he had effectively.

Also has none of the brand issues you might have with young people driving luxury cars - this is of course very subjective and rather hypocritical of me to say.

And I could be off base with this, but isn't there less to go wrong with these choices? My B5 was a handful...actually, it was a bit of a nightmare.

And, while this may be an unpopular idea in this forum - perhaps a 2002 or so Subaru Legacy GT or even an Impreza?

My friend had a Legacy GT - very safe, great AWD system, great handler, subtle looks. Great value for money IMO and it's been very reliable.

to replace an saturn sl (5 speed)they had been driving for the past couple of years. Seems to be a nice car so far and not so quick that they won't get in trouble with it.

If my daughter hadn't complained about her foot hurting when driving the saturn home in rush hour traffic I would have tried to find one with a 5 speed....

118,000 kms - asking $16000 and change. With the state of gas prices this might be the right choice.