I’m getting my oldest kid his first car and I’m thinking about a 2015 A4. Is this a good idea? What years, options, or models should I avoid? I’m looking for something nice enough and modern enough to have newer safety features like collision avoidance. It should be a 4-door sedan with a manual transmission and something fun enough to inspire a love for driving but not too fun. Ideally, it should be less than $20k, preferably under $15k. I’ve also looked at Jettas, Mazda 3s, and the 4-cylinder 3 Series models, but he has no interest in a Subaru.
For background, I drive an X5 M50i and do the maintenance and repairs myself now that it’s out of warranty. I can handle almost any mechanical work on a car. I asked him if he wants a more reliable car that won’t need as much work and maintenance (like a Japanese car) or a nicer, more fun car that we have to stay on top of (German). He chose the latter, which I’m excited about. I’d love for him to learn how to wrench, although he hasn’t shown much interest so far.
I’m leaning towards the A4 since they are cheaper and more plentiful than a comparable 3 Series. Is this a good idea? Are there any specific models or generations I should look out for? The 2016-2017 models are a new generation but are currently out of my price range.