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Cato: Our teenager at home is steaming towards driving age, which means we're having a horrible conversation at home: Do we get a car for the kid to drive, or just leave him to his bicycle and public transit?
Vaughan: Let him take transit or ride the bike. The bike is better for his health, transit is cheap and reliable. Once you get a car, you've also got insurance which is now outrageously expensive for teenagers. And maintenance and all the rest.
Cato: I have my good reasons for thinking about a car for the kid. One has to do with sleep. He plans to keep rowing for the next I don't know how many years and that means 5 a.m. starts on the water. Five days a week in the spring and summer. If there is a car for him to drive, I get to sleep.
Vaughan: At your age you don't need so much sleep. You're probably up a couple of times in the night, in fact.
Cato: Oh, I like my sleep and I sleep just fine. In any case, Consumer Reports says that the Hyundai Tucson is a "best pick" for teenagers — very reliable, excellent crash test scores and a solid ride overall. I agree on all counts.
Vaughan: Cato, the Power Information Network says the average selling price of a 2008 Tucson is almost $27,000. I like your boy well enough, but he's not worth a $27,000 car.
Cato: Well, one-fifth of Tucson buyers are 16-34 years of age. I am not alone in this teenage car thing. But I have news for you. I can get a Tucson for well below $27,000.
Vaughan: Ah, you're getting to the deal part, and away from family dynamics. Thankfully.
Cato: Oh, yes, there's a deal, alright. Hyundai Canada has a $4,000 factory-to-dealer incentive. It is called 25th Anniversary Pricing, celebrating Hyundai in Canada for 25 years.
Vaughan: Twenty-five years. It's been that long since we saw the Pony, the little $4,995 Hyundai that got it all started for Hyundai. Sold a bunch of them, and most of them rusted like mad.
Cato: The Tucson won't rust like that at all. Its quality is among the best in the class.
Now I want to point out that the $4,000 is not "stackable." That is, if you want that money, you cannot also combine it — stack it — with the 0.0 per cent financing deal Hyundai is offering over four years.
But it is stackable with Hyundai's $500 graduate bonus. All in all, there is a lot of money to be had if you want a Tuscon. Up to $4,500 in cash.
Vaughan: Let me see now. That means a $24,295 Tucson GL, with automatic transmission and a load of standard features, can be had for $19,975.
Cato: Less, even, if your dealer is willing to move further on price. As they say, dealers may sell for less.
Vaughan: Well, $20,000 is more than anyone would spend on the best bicycle short of Lance Armstrong, but it's a good price for a teenager's car. Not that I'd spend the money.
Cato: Of course not. We know how frugal you are. But I'm thinking about it.
Vaughan: Spoiling 'em as usual.
2008 Hyundai Tucson
Buyer's Age Range:
- 16-34 years: 20.6%
- 35-54 years: 49.2%
- 55+ years: 30.2%
Gender ratio:
- Female: 51.7%
- Male: 48.3%
Type of sale:
- Cash/non-dealer financing: 15.8%
- Finance: 46.6%
- Lease: 37.6%
Most popular colours
- Black
- Blue
- Silver
- Grey
Vehicle price: $26,889 (does not include taxes, license or title fees)
Days to turn: 41
Trade ins: 40.6% (does not include lease returns)
Top three trade ins:
- Hyundai Elantra
- Honda Civic
- Hyundai Accent
Average monthly payments: (includes PST & GST)
- Lease (60 month term): $419
- Finance (60 month term): $517
Source: Power Information Network
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