Bye-Bye Old Yellow School Bus

Three out of four parents buy their student children vehicles and 82% of those are used, according to a survey by AutoExtra.com.

The national telephone survey of 500 adults who have children, ages 16-22, enrolled in school also found that:

Major factors parents say are important when buying a car for their child include safety and reliability (90%), price (79%), fuel efficiency (68%) and car age and mileage (67%). Last on the list is car color (13%).

Major factors that parents think are important to their children when buying a car include style/coolness (66%), safety/reliability (61%), age/mileage (53%) and make/model (53%).

Most of the cars were purchased directly from a dealership (58%), followed by private seller (36%) and online auctions (2%).

In no particular order here are AutoExtra.com's 10 best used cars under $10,000 for student drivers (and comments from “Car Coach” consultant Lauren Fix):

2000 Chevy Blazer

For those parents who want their child in a full-sized SUV, the Blazer is a good mix of safety, fair mpg (for a full-sized SUV) and insurance costs. “If they ‘go in the snow’ and haul around a ton of gear, this is a good choice for kids.”

2001 Honda Civic DX

Comfortable entry-level car that is fuel efficient, low maintenance, a good resell and small but safe. “Insurance costs tend to be lower for cars where cheap replacement parts are available, and with the Civic, parts are everywhere.”

2002 Toyota Corolla CE

All the benefits of the Civic, but in a little larger vehicle. “The newer the car, the more standard features — like driver and passenger airbags in this case.”

2001 Nissan Altima XE

A comfortable car for five and a large trunk for hauling sports gear and dirty laundry back and forth from school. “Even the 4-cyl. model has a lot of pep.”

2003 Hyundia Elantra GLS

Korean manufacturing has combined quality with affordability. “The Elantra gives you the most powerful engine in its class for 2003 and fantastic J.D. Power crash ratings.”

2003 Ford Ranger (Half Bed)

Perfect solution for the child who has lots of stuff to transport. “Ford Rangers are the best bet of the U.S. manufacturers and this one comes with driver and passenger airbags.” Word of caution: Inspect the bed carefully for signs of rust.

2003 Suzuki Aerio S

The least expensive all-wheel drive vehicle on the market, according to Suzuki, which makes it a good choice for snow-prone schools. “Some might think the small size is a problem, but for students attending a big-city school, it's a great car to squeeze into small spaces.”

1998 Toyota 4Runner

A top-seller, which translates into better resell and lower-cost maintenance. With a larger wheelbase, it is less prone to roll over. “SUVs are just a more expensive vehicle so you'll need to get an older model and factor in gas costs. The 4Runner is a good bet even from 1998, but be very selective.”

2001 Mercury Cougar

It has a distinctive look and plenty of standard features like power windows, four bucket seats, power-heated mirrors and a detachable audio panel. “This is a great car…Lots of storage in the back, and the back seats have great leg room.”

2003 Ford Taurus LX

It has low-maintenance costs, standard V-6 engine and is loaded with options. “This is the car for kids going off to remote schools, because Taurus parts are everywhere, and it has plenty of trunk and interior space to haul gear. Plus every '03 Taurus includes dual-stage airbags for added safety.”