20 of the Worst and Most Dangerous Cars for Beginner Drivers

2. Dodge Ram SRT-10

A rugged pickup is a good proposition for a first car, but not the Ram SRT-10. Dodge offered it from 2004 to 2006. And the Dodge Ram SRT-10 is one of the craziest, most powerful and fastest pickups they ever produced. That itself is a hard thing to say since Dodge always had wild special versions of their trucks.

But, just look at the specs. It has the 8.2-liter V10 engine that pumps out over 500 HP. To get from 0 to 60 takes fewer than five seconds and the fuel economy is in single digits.

3. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Every young car enthusiast wants to drive a Corvette. The faster the better. But don’t let your young driver near the new ZR1. They recently released this version of the C7 Corvette. It features an improved Z06 chassis, suspension, and drivetrain.

But more importantly, it has an absolute beast of an engine. The 6.2-liter heavily supercharged LT4 engine delivers 755 HP and 527 lb-ft of torque. And it sends all that power to the rear wheels through an automatic or manual gearbox.

4. McLaren 720S

One of the best modern supercars is the sublime McLaren 720S. But what makes this car particularly dangerous for young drivers is its ability to go fast without breaking a sweat. The effortless performance and triple-digit speeds in a matter of a few seconds are practically lethal in inexperienced hands.

5. Shelby Cobra

It is hard to imagine any novice driver will get the chance to drive a real Cobra, but the replicas are plentiful and basically the same thing. In fact, some replicas are even powered by bigger engines, so they can go faster than the original thing.

However, the biggest concern with the Cobra replicas is the amount of power they put in such a lightweight body. The car is brutal, untamed and dangerous, even for the most experienced drivers.

6. Porsche 930 Turbo

The 930 Turbo gets 260 HP from its 3.0-liter flat six, along with its signature air cooling, big rear wing and wider rear track. However, it is notorious for its ill-handling capabilities. But, it delivered an exhilarating performance in a time when performance cars were almost banned.

Also, the 930 Turbo launched a legendary breed of lighting fast Porsches. Yes, it’s an iconic car for sure, but do you want it in the hands of a novice driver? That would be scary.

7. Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

If getting 707 HP from the Hellcat package is not enough and you want the ultimate modern muscle car, as well as the most powerful street Hemi engine they ever made, the Demon package is for you. With standard fuel, it will deliver an insane 808 HP.

But if you use the high octane stuff, it will pump out almost 840 HP. Imagine somebody who just got their driver’s license getting behind the wheel of an 840 HP monster muscle car. This is a catastrophe just waiting to happen.

8. Toyota MR2 Turbo

The original, naturally aspirated MR2 was a fine affordable sports car with a mid-mounted engine and great handling. It could be the first car for a sports car enthusiast, but you should avoid the turbo version at all costs. The reason is the tricky handling and bad manners.

Apparently, the MR2 Turbo torque is too much for the delicately balanced chassis. So, during hard driving, the rear end has a tendency to oversteer without any warning. And that is something the inexperienced driver doesn’t know how to control, so crashing is almost inevitable.

9. Dodge Viper ACR

As you already know, ACR Vipers were always a purist’s dream. Specially prepared road and track cars, they came with immense possibilities, sublime handling, and performance. The 2016 version were all that and then some. They featured a unique aerodynamic package that delivered tons of downforce.

And that allowed the Viper ACR to break several records for production cars including the one on the famous Nürburgring track. In magazine testing, the ACR Viper beat almost all Ferraris, Porsches or Lamborghinis. Most car enthusiasts claim this was the ultimate American performance car. It goes without saying, but such a precise driving machine is not for junior drivers.

10. Porsche Carrera GT

The Porsche Carrera GT is one of the last old school supercars. Ridiculously expensive with a glorious V10 in the back, the Carrera GT looks like something more suited to Le Mans race than to the street.

However, the racing technology they installed in this car has its downsides. The Carrera GT is hard to drive and has nervous handling. In fact, the Fast and Furious star, Paul Walker, died in a Carrera GT crash in 2013.

11. Hummer H1

If you watched MTV back in the late ‘90s, you are probably familiar with the Hummer H1. It’s a civilian version of the battle-proven military vehicle. The power comes from a 6.2-liter diesel V8 with just 165 HP, but loads of torque. Basically, the only real difference between the military and civilian Hummer was the interior.

The street-legal model had a plusher interior with air conditioning, leather upholstery, and a premium audio system. The Hummer H1 is expensive and terrible to drive. In fact, it’s totally impractical and as big as a house. Imagine a new driver trying to park this beast.

12. BMW M4

The BMW M4 is a magnificent street racer with sublime handling, turbocharged 3.0-liter six cylinder and 460 HP. It has brutal performance and it is made for that perfect mountain road and breaking lap records.

As such, it is not for novice drivers, and not only because it is fast and powerful. The M4 has tricky handling and requires trained reflexes and natural talent to drive properly.

13. Chevrolet Aveo

So far you are probably thinking that young drivers should drive slow, boring and affordable cars and you are somewhat right. However, the Chevrolet Aveo as a small, inexpensive and slow car is not the answer. The reasons are simple.

The Chevrolet Aveo is too slow, so it is dangerous. It is also poorly equipped, terribly put together and doesn’t handle that well. So, if you going to put your young driver into an economy car, make it a good one at least.

14. Ariel Atom

This may be the craziest car for sale today you can put license plates on. The Ariel Atom 500 V8 weighs 1,200 pounds and has 500 HP from a V8 engine they mounted directly behind the driver. The car is basically a go-kart with a spoiler.

It has space for two people, but no trunk, body panels or fenders. It’s just a naked chassis with a screaming V8 behind you. With 500 angry horses that want to run free in full power and a seven-speed sequential gearbox, it is far too fast for new drivers.

15. Daewoo Leganza

Lots of people think that putting young drivers in big, heavy sedans is the right way to go. After all, the kids can’t go fast and the sheer size of the car will act as protection. But this is the wrong opinion and the Daewoo Leganza is the perfect example of why.

It is slow, badly constructed and lacks important features in terms of safety or stability. The only thing that the Leganza has going in its favor is the affordable price, and nothing else.

16. Shelby GT500

The swan song of the SVT’s supercharged Mustangs is the 2013 Shelby GT 500. This glorious muscle car had a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 which pumped out 662 HP and 631 lb-ft of torque. At the time, this was the most powerful American-made V8 engine and a proper beast of an engine.

Ford installed it in RWD, with a live axle platform, so it was famous as a tire smoke generator. But besides its burnout and show potential, it was also a serious performance machine. Every Shelby is bad for beginner drivers, and the GT500 with 662 HP is extremely problematic.

17. Jeep Wrangler

For decades the Jeep Wrangler has been the perfect off-road vehicle for any use. A direct descendant of the famous original Jeep Willys, the Wrangler is the evolution of the idea of a small, compact, extremely capable and everyday usable all-terrain vehicle.

The Wrangler is one of the models that endured the market changes, yet it never compromised the characteristics that made it legendary. Despite the necessary improvements in design, safety and fuel efficiency, the Wrangler is still the rugged and dependable Jeep it has always been.

So what is the problem, then? The problem is that the Wrangler is too good. Young drivers could get the impression they can go literary anywhere, which could lead to some seriously bad judgment.

18. Porsche Cayman

For over 20 years, the Porsche Boxster/Cayman has been one of the best, most affordable cars. The mid-positioned flat-six engine, rear wheel drive, signature Porsche quality, and perfect handling made any Boxster or Cayman a favorite for twisty roads. It basically offers you 90 percent of the Porsche 911 driving feel for 60 percent of the 911 price, which is a great deal by any means.

The Cayman/Boxster combo is a great entry level sports car. However, it can be tricky driving the speed limit with its snap oversteer. And that means inexperienced drivers are bound to have problems.

19. Dodge Caliber SRT4

One of the most inexpensive ways to get a 300 HP car is to buy a second hand Dodge Caliber SRT4. All that power in an affordable package may be tempting for younger buyers, but it is strongly suggested you avoid this model. The Caliber SRT4 wasn’t an especially good vehicle in terms of quality, handling, and interior materials. Although it is fast, it doesn’t handle well, so it leaves a lot to be desired.

20. Ford Mustang GT

The Mustang is obvious since it is popular among the younger crowd. Also, it is affordable and plentiful. The Ford Mustang comes with lots of power, rear-wheel drive and great handling. But all that requires more than just fast reflexes, but experience as well, to tame the car.

You can get a 300 HP V8-powered Mustang for several thousand dollars, and your teenage son or daughter will be delighted with it. But, you shouldn’t do it since 300 HP and a lack of driving experience could end up badly.

These are the 20 worst and most dangerous cars for beginner drivers. Although most of these cars go fast and pack a lot of power, inexperienced drivers may have trouble controlling them. Also, the temptation to go too fast would probably be too much for them. So in this case, look for a slow yet rugged vehicle instead.