Kids First Car?

[2LaneCruzer]

We had many VW buses, a bug, and a Karmann Ghia. One of the buses, I think a mid-year early 70's had an "experimental" engine in it, so the mechanics told my dad. It had dual two-barrels. If you launched it, and started timing pumping the gas pedal with the bounce, you could get it to start hopping the front tires about a foot off the ground over and over. :laughing:

Very clever, these German engineers! :laughing:

 

[Steppenwolfe]

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!

deleted

 

[Alan W.]

My parents gave my son some money toward a vehicle. He bought a 05 150 extended cab with 200,000 miles on it. Did all his own work on it, which has been a lot. I helped him buy the parts he needed. What he was proudest of was that he took his drivers test in his truck and not a borrowed sub compact like all his pickup owning buddies did.
He is driving it to college and work now.
Helping your kids won稚 cause them to be spoiled bums, expect more or become unappreciative. They will be how you raised them growing up.

 

[4570Man]

My parents gave my son some money toward a vehicle. He bought a 05 150 extended cab with 200,000 miles on it. Did all his own work on it, which has been a lot. I helped him buy the parts he needed. What he was proudest of was that he took his drivers test in his truck and not a borrowed sub compact like all his pickup owning buddies did.
He is driving it to college and work now.
Helping your kids won稚 cause them to be spoiled bums, expect more or become unappreciative. They will be how you raised them growing up.

I’ve probably drove a less than “full size” vehicle less than 500 miles. The drivers license test is a joke. If you can’t pass that in your regular vehicle than you don’t need a vehicle at all.

 

[MossRoad]

I’ve probably drove a less than “full size” vehicle less than 500 miles. The drivers license test is a joke. If you can’t pass that in your regular vehicle than you don’t need a vehicle at all.

The road portion of the driving test around here kinda depends on who you get at the DMV, what kind of mood they're in, how polite you are, and really, a large portion of it is if the examiner feels you're comfortable and confident driving.

For example, my oldest rolled a crosswalk at a stop sign, changed lanes while going through an intersection, and bumped the curb parallel parking. The examiner just told her to make better stops even if no people are around, don't change lanes while going through an intersection, and "nobody parallel parks very often anyway." And passed her.

Our friend's daughter did something like failed to use a turn signal and failed instantly.

The only differences between the two girls is my daughter is a pretty confident driver and the friend's daughter was extremely nervous and timid. I felt comfortable driving with my oldest daughter right off the bat. Our second child.... yikes! :laughing:

 

[4570Man]

Around here you have to drive around the block and make a few lane changes. The only parking is back at the DMV which has a huge parking lot.

 

[MossRoad]

Around here you have to drive around the block and make a few lane changes. The only parking is back at the DMV which has a huge parking lot.

Both my kid's rides were about 20 minutes around, across and through downtown in mid-afternoon. Lot's of traffic on multi-lane one-way streets with left and right turns. Then parallel parking on side streets. Then back to the DMV.

I was sitting there actually wondering what was taking them so long.

I'll have to say that in the past 10 years, the Indiana DMV has really stepped up. The last time I was there this spring, I got in at 4:45, had 6 people in front of me, got waited on, did a title transfer and got plates for 2 vehicles and a trailer and was out at 4:58! :shocked: 13 minutes!! :shocked:

 

[ultrarunner]

I just dropped something off for my nieces... asked where is the RX and they said Mom and Dad drove to a wedding in Monterey and are spending the night...

Maybe it is too nice... if she will have to complete with Mom and Dad!!!

 

[4570Man]

I had to renew my license recently. It took about 45 minutes to have my picture taken and print a disposable license. I still haven’t got the hard copy. We deal with plates and titles at the courthouse where things are run much better.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

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...

Both our son and daughter went for pick up trucks and still have them. Son's 2002 Dodge Ram is a gas hog but he still uses it to haul and tow stuff but took my 2006 Ford FiveHundred car to drive to college to save money after I got the 2010 Subaru Forester which is mainly parked as I debug the 2010 Ford F150 with 209K miles I got to haul the tractors to tractor shows. I will go back to the Subaru (I think) before winter. I have never had a car or truck ride and handle like this high mileage F150.