Well, you're posting to a Ford truck website so I'm guessing most of your potential votes for the "old beat up black ford pickup" will be from Ford guys and girls. Either way the most important thing for your first vehicle is something that is reliable, safe and economical to drive. Learning on a standard transmission is a great way to start driving, and it's a life skill that very few young drivers have nowadays.

Out of curiosity what year is the truck?

 

reliable, condition and gas mileage !

 

I vote for gas mileage, reliability and ease of maintenance as well as one you like more and is cheaper to insure.

 

I insisted that both of my daughters had to learn how to drive a stick just in case they ever needed to. After that, they both preferred it so much much they both picked a manual car as their first.

 

My daughter wanted a 98 Jetta 5 spd but she was afraid cuz it was a stick. Taught her to drive it in about 2 days. Couple hours here and there. She loves it now. Thinks she's Mario Andretti. The Buick is probably a LeSabre with a 3.8, Maybe a 3.1. Pretty popular motors and cars as well. Reliability all depends on previous maintenance. I would go with the truck myself. Being your fist vehicle it's probably a good thing to get something that's not so pretty. Save that for after you're a bit more experienced.