Is it a good thing to be saving up for a car when I'm 2 years away from driving?

I'm 14 years old and I've been having a mindset to get "all the good stuff" like an iPadbut I realize I can wait and that I should save up for a car since it's only a couple years away. I partly want to save up so I don't have to bus everywhere and have the comfort of my own vehicle. Also what type of ca should I save up for? I'm looking at Honda civic, Volkswagen beetle or golf, and my main car I want is MINI Cooper. I personally believe it is a smart idea to start saving since my parents aren't putting any money to it but I like having the independence of buying a car on my own. In other words I just want more opinions.

$3000 should get a decent car. Not great, but decent. Meaning it will have some problems here and there, but over all SHOULD be a safe and reliable car to drive.

Depending on how much money you save up, you could buy the "good stuff" AND a car. It's really up to you. I knew some people who would get their butts working part time when they're 16 to save up a few Gs for a car. Really not that hard to buy "a car".

I can go on craigslist or around town right now and look at cheap decent $2000-3000 cars.

A good unmolested Civic, Beetle/Golf, will run about $7-8000. Mini are slightly more.

You are for sure doing the smart thing. You will need around $5,000 to get a decent Civic, Golf, or Beetle. I would advise you not to get the Beetle. Just not that dependable and not a safe car. Other good cars are the Mazda 6, Mazda 3, Mustang V6, Honda Accord, and Ford Focus.

I agree with LP - out of your short list the one that has the best reputation for reliability, durability, and cost of ownership is the Civic, hands down. Toyota/Scion products are good cars also.