How to choose the best car for teens, without spending P Diddy money

Turning 16 years old is a major milestone in a teenager's life, and it is the age when most kids learn how to drive. Some teens have to borrow the family car, but others are fortunate enough to get their own set of wheels with a used car or inexpensive new car. Rap mogul Sean "P Diddy" Combs spared no expense when he celebrated his son's sweet 16 this past weekend by giving him a $360,000 Maybach for his birthday. (He also gave him $10,000, which the son donated to a Haiti relief charity).

The Maybach 57 sedan is a flashy, luxurious car that comes with everything you can imagine in a vehicle, and then some. The ultra-premium sedan claims a 0-60 mph sprint in 5 seconds and has a top speed of 172 mph. While it has the top-of-the-line features and safety systems, it's not the best choice for a young person's first set of wheels. Some news reports say the young Diddy will have a chauffer, but there is no doubt he will be itching to jump in the driver's seat.

Obviously, very few parents spend more than $300,000 on a teen's first car and even if you could, it's not the best investment for a novice driver. Teens have a high likelihood of unfortunate incidents, from minor scrapes to accidents and moving violations. Rest assured, a fender-bender in a Maybach would cost more than in a five-year-old midsized sedan. In fact, the Maybach damage alone would probably cost more than an entire brand-new midsized sedan. In this case, reports suggest that a chauffer would pilot the land yacht, and there is something to be said for having a professional driver behind the wheel, rather than a young teenager.

When selecting a car for a teenager, it is best to remember they are inexperienced drivers. Car crashes are the number one killer of teens, and the risk is much higher for 16 year olds than older, more mature teens. There are a number of reasons for these statistics, such as driving inexperience and speeding, but the key takeaway is that parents should seek the safest, most reliable vehicle they can reasonably afford. A teen needs a vehicle that is easy to operate, handles well, and has good active and passive safety features. It need not be an expensive vehicle, just well considered.

For instance, large pickups and SUVs are not recommended for young drivers because their high centers of gravity make them more prone to roll over than other vehicles. Sports cars are also a bad choice as they beg to be driven too fast and have a higher rate of accidents than other cars. Plus the insurance for a teen can be astronomical for those very reasons.

Often the best cars for teens are the current family car, or similar. A midsized sedan of recent vintage, equipped with anti-lock brakes, curtain air bags, and stability control is a great choice. Although it may make for a tough discussion, or even negotiation, in the end, safety should trump style for the first car. And it is useful to consider reliability and operation costs. Money and time are precious commodities to most teens. As the teen transitions to college, or otherwise leaves the nest, reliability will be important as the youngster moves away from family support and DIY know-how.

A good, first vehicle can be found for far less than $360,000. In fact, a Consumer Reports-recommended car for $10,000, or even less, could serve a teen well for years to come. And making a well-considered family decision on this significant purchase can impart valuable life lessons than can serve the youth for a lifetime.

See our list of best cars for young drivers.