Kids First Car?

[om21braz]

Growing up we were just happy to have wheels... no one gave us a car unless you had an old aunt or uncle.

Things change and today the kids of people I work with are very particular with first cars... it is either a new Civic or Corolla if not a family car... no real in between... especially for girls... safety really sells and so do warranties...

My nephew loves his 96 F150 and makes me happy to have helped.

My 17 year old niece is a very good girl... works hard, respectful and really has little free time outside school, sports and work.

Her father and mother mentioned they were considering getting another family car... I heard of a 2 owner RX330, garaged kept with 70k miles... no rust in California.

They came to look at it and her father said it was only taking a look... they drove it and liked it... parents offered to match the 3k she had saved... owner wanted a lot more... I asked my niece if she liked the car and she said she loved it... her parents and the seller were stuck $1000 apart... I asked her again and she said Dad said not to get her hopes up...

So speaking out of turn... I said they could split the difference and I was willing to kick in the $500... everything went silent... for the longest time.

Sort story is they made the deal... and it did my heart good... she was beaming when Dad said OK...

I did have an ace in the hole... I have an old 66 Mustang she has asked about fixing up... and the mere mention of this has her parents in a tizzy...

A good uncle is hard to find. Based upon your description of your niece, I am sure she greatly appreciates it. The 66 Mustang can wait until driving skills are improved. Thanks from the other side of country!

 

[Wakey]

It was a perfect first vehicle and I think his approach was pretty good. What he bought me wasn't an unreliable rusty bucket of bolts. It was a solid truck. But it was also a nutless, gutless embarrassment to drive. It's humbling to pull up to a friend's party and park your dinosaur next to everyone else's nice shiny rides, and get out with your chest stuck out like you're somebody. And you can't even say to the other kids "wow, nice ride, how much did your daddy pay for that?" - because your daddy bought yours, too. It left me wanting more, and I used that truck to get to work, save up my money, first to get the A/C fixed, and then about a year later I bought my own, much nicer truck.

In my opinion, there's no shame in paying for your kids' first vehicle. But it should be outside their comfort zone. If you get them something that elevates their status, then they have no incentive to work towards improvement.

Wow, I feel the same way but you put it so succinctly. I've always said a kid needs to learn to earn his own way but put your way, it might actually make a kid think something other than my dad's a jerk.

I told her I would drive one of my other cars to work the next day... which was my mint 62 Corvette...

Well that also got noticed... in passing... she asked if I was driving the White and Red Corvette... thinking all would be good... but it wasn't... one of the Doctor partners commented she was paying me too much if I could afford such a car...

Sometimes you simply can't win for losing... and I still have both cars today...

:laughing:

 

[4570Man]

Wow, I feel the same way but you put it so succinctly. I've always said a kid needs to learn to earn his own way but put your way, it might actually make a kid think something other than my dad's a jerk.




:laughing:

My dad didn’t buy my first vehicle and I didn’t think he was jerk. I knew he wasn’t going to since I was like 12 and his parents didn’t buy his vehicle either.

 

[ultrarunner]

No one in my family had a car ever bought for them... I did inherit my Great Aunts Rambler as I had been taking care of it for many years... she actually left it to me in her will.

Good points about status and such... never really thought about it as I was looking for the best deal or value for the money... and just happened to come across this.

Dad was not 100% sure and maybe his being reluctant to go up on price was his way of saying no???

They could always sell it and not be out anything.

Have been a little surprised at some responses because we are talking about at 13 year old Used Car...

When I bought my 1972 Plymouth Valiant it was only 7 years old and cost $800 and gave me 20 years of more than dependable service...

A little off topic... friends asked if I had a new car... I mentioned I was with my niece looking at cars... the reaction was do you really want her to have such an old car... what if it breaks down... there is no warranty... new cars are so much safer... yada yada...

So opinions are there on both sides.

 

[CobyRupert]

So the kid's first car is a Lexus. Must be a liberal, and votes Democrat. 'Has expectations that future employment opportunities will accept her requirements for vegan latte frappes and contributions to animal rights foundations.

Get a grip, make them buy their own "first car".

YOU piss me off!

^ Triggered snowflake?

Parents buy hardworking, respectful, busy daughter a 3rd hand used car!! Oh the horror!!

 

[mark02tj]

You are a good uncle, Ultrarunner!!


My oldest was handed down my '97 Ranger (had about 220k on the odo at the time) when she got her license in 2007. The only reason she got it was because I had just bought my Wrangler as my daily driver. She drove that truck all through college and then some! Had about 260k on it when we donated it a couple of years ago to a local nonprofit, urban farm. As far as I know, they are still using it as a work truck.

My youngest bought a 1990 Jeep Cherokee for $500 (she named it "Rufus" which was appropriate!), drove it for a few years and then I helped her sell it to one of my Jeeping buddies for $500 when she inherited an Explorer from her mom.

 

[ultrarunner]

Since she could speak... she has always came up with the names for the family cars... Bentley, Chitty-Bang-Bang, Lonely and Zippy... Lonely was Daddy's 1968 Mustang that sat covered up in the garage for years...

I will have to ask if she has named the latest addition.

One thing we have here and I'm guessing is somewhat unique to California is emission testing required starting with year model 1976... so it goes back 42 years and counting!

I see a lot of cars cheap... some look good and some drive well... the kicker is they can't be registered without a clean smog inspection...

Unsuspecting, usually younger drivers, buy a $1500 to $3000 car from a for sale sign or Craigslist only to find it will not pass or requires very expensive repairs in "Hopes" of passing... this has greatly eliminated low cost cars...

Also the State has a vehicle retirement program where the State will pay $1000 for older cars to crush them so they are permanently removed from the road and the parts cannot be used again... the only parts that can be resold last I checked is Battery, Radio and Tires...

Lots of peril buying used with unknown history or curbstone sellers... unless no cash is exchanged before smog check AND registration status verified.

The 1996 F150 I have written about was a one owner who bought it as a retirement present to himself... he had a stroke and the truck sat for 3 years in his carport... the California DMV collected $1400 in penalties, fees and back registration... which could have been avoided had he paid $18 to register it Non-Op prior to reg expiration...

I felt bad for the guy... not only did he have a stroke but the lapse cost him $1400 for nothing... as I deducted the $1400 from what I paid him...

Car buying has plenty of pitfalls... especially used in California!

 

[4570Man]

Anyone want to buy my Pontiac Grand Prix? I got it for a tow bill. The owner needed it moved and then the city wanted me to get rid of it, so rather than dealing with it they gave me the title.

 

[ultrarunner]

Like a 1969 Model J

 

[Jstpssng]

There's nothing wrong with helping somebody who is trying to help themselves. Besides, what you do with your money is your business. The OP has been a lot more polite to the haters than I would have been.