Consumer reports lists the 2000-2003 E46 323i and 325i on their best list of more affordable cars for teens:

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/car...ernatives.html

I can't think of a better excuse for the wife!

By the way, it's really sad that the number one cause of death for teenagers in the US is car crashes. I wonder which country has the safest record for teens and how they do it.