Tips on Buying Cars: Car for teen son, insurance institute for highway safety, student council president

Question
I'm wondering what are the safest and best cars for teenage boys. Would like decent fuel economy, but safety is #1. Price is a minor concern.

Answer
A Sherman tank outfitted with a lawn mower motor!

Seriously, you want a car with good safety ratings and a not-so-powerful engine.  That covers a lot of ground, so I'd check with the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) to see all their crash ratings.  As for power, most kids today want a Subaru WRX or a Mitsubishi Eclipse or EVO, and those are EXACTLY the cars you want to avoid.  4-cylinder/ automatic makes the most sense, and will help prevent a lot of stupid antics behind the wheel.  I don't care if your kid is an honor student that can do no wrong, because there WILL be a time when he wants to show off for friends.  It's as inevitable as death and taxes.  I was an honor student AND Student Council President, and I cringe when I think back at the stupid things I did with Dad's Fiat 124!