As a youth’s mind deliberated over the concept of purchasing a new car, thoughts of what do I want for a car and what can I afford passed through the individual’s mind.

“I’d like to have a flashy sports car. Maybe a truck, or maybe a jeep? What should I buy?”

Between the ages of 16 and 24, an individual may find himself or herself pondering these thoughts of purchasing a new car. Whether the individual is fresh out of college, still attending college, or in high school, thoughts of a new car are often reflected upon.

But what would someone between the ages of 16 and 24 purchase in the 1990s if one was to turn these thoughts into reality? Would they buy a new or used car? Would they buy an economical car? Four local car dealers offered answers and insight to these questions.

“Our Honda Civic is real popular,” said Jim Prescott, general manager of Darling’s Honda Nissan. “When you’re getting over 50 miles per gallon in a car, your operating expense goes down dramatically.”

Over at Bean & Conquest Chevrolet-Geo, Jack Quirk said, “Chevrolet has what we call entry-level cars, cars and trucks that people usually buy new the first time around.

“Those type of cars would be our Geos; the Geo Metro, Geo Storm, and Geo Tracker. We also have our Chevrolet Cavalier Z-24 and our S10 pickup trucks, which are pretty popular with the young people,” he said.

Phillip McFarland, president of Bangor Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge, said, “It would probably be an inexpensive car like the Dodge Colt and Dodge Shadow. Some people in that age group will look at something like a Dodge Daytona or Laser, but those would be more expensive than most of them could afford.”

Joe Simpson of Down East Toyota-Buick, said, “In our line, we had a Paseo come out this year, and we have done very well with that car. It competes with the Geo Storm and definitely targets that age group.”

Why do these cars attract this age group? As for the Toyota Paseo, Simpson said, “It’s a two-door sports car. It offers Toyota reliability at an inexpensive price in today’s market.”

McFarland said, “I think you would find that the younger people would buy more two-door cars versus four-door cars because they are sportier.”

According to Quirk, the Chevrolet Geo attracts this age group because of “styling, performance. It makes them look good, it comes with an airbag, a good stereo system, and good colors.”

Prescott said the Civic is popular because “it’s a lot of car for the money. It’s very dependable, very economical, and we get people who have had dozens of them.”

All four dealers believe that purchases of new cars are done by more people closer to ages 22 and 24. One reason is that college graduates can get special rebates at some car dealers.

Quirk said Chevrolet GMAC has a college-graduate program that provides $400 to apply towards the downpayment if the individual has a guarantee of a job.

Simpson said Toyota also offers a College Grad program. “It isn’t a rebate per se,” Simpson said. “But typically a person out of college has never financed a car, and if the individual does not have derogatory credit and proof of a job, they (Toyota) will finance them.”

Between the ages of 16 and 20, more used cars being purchased, and more parents are contributing to the purchase due to high insurance rates.

“You can’t buy a car under 18 years of age. You have to have your parents permission (co-sign),” Prescott said. “Parents do help out, but the insurance is the killer, so what they do is they sign them on as an extra.”

Quirk agrees. “Between the ages of 18 and 20, you are going to find them with a parent helping them out because insurance is a great problem.”

Another attraction for the younger buyers is the aspect of high durability, performance, and excellent gas mileage. Simpson said he “definitely” agrees that the wave of the future is in cars that have high dependability, high gas mileage, and high durability.

Marc Rancourt is a free-lance writer who lives in Bangor.