My parents bought me a car

madameladauphine · November 2010

When I was 16. It was a cheap ($500) old (1982 - this was in 1994) hunk of junk, but I loved that thing. I took super good care of it, I cleaned it every weekend, I used my own money to fix it, and I drove it into the ground.

I don't see anything wrong with buying your child their first car if they appreciate it and care for it.

FerreraRochermmm · November 2010

My brother and I were given cars as well. I had a Ford Aspire. Even though it was a purple egg on wheels I still loved it. I don't see anything wrong with it either. I do see a problem with parents buying their kids extremely fast cars like Subaru WRXs.

Edited for explanation: I see a problem with most of the parents buying novice drivers cars that are made for more experienced drivers unless the kid has had some extensive driving lessons and can handle it (which is very few of them).

jenna0627 · November 2010

madameladauphine:

When I was 16. It was a cheap ($500) old (1982 - this was in 1994) hunk of junk, but I loved that thing. I took super good care of it, I cleaned it every weekend, I used my own money to fix it, and I drove it into the ground.

I don't see anything wrong with buying your child their first car if they appreciate it and care for it.

This is why I won't buy one. I'm sure there are some kids that would take awesome care of a car etc. However of all my friends that got cars, they beat the crap out them, didn't appreciate them and expected the parents to fix them, buy gas etc. I paid for half my car and it lasted me until I was 23 and I was heartbroken that my first "big purchase" was going to the junkyard. I am sure a lot of that was the parenting though in the case of my friends.

TarzansWife · November 2010

Me too although I had a step brother that was 10 years younger than me and my parents figured if they bought me a car, I could take him to soccer, tball, etc..So, I became the family taxi. :-)

dandi799 · November 2010

It's probably based on my experience. My friends that had cars given to them were uppity and didn't appreciate them. A majority of them got into accidents within a year. Granted, these were brand new cars. My parents helped me purchase my first car, which was a piece of junk that I loved. So, I guess I'm more inclined to do what my parents did. It makes sense that you would be more inclined to do what your parents did. I make no judgment on it. I base my opinion off of my own personal experience, and I think that is probably what a lot of folks do.

alicia023 · November 2010

My parents bought me my first car too..but my grandparents own a body shop, so my first car was wrecked. When I walked into the garage to see it the whole front was off of the car So I finally got to drive it a couple weeks/month after my birthday. And I too loved that car. That is also how my sisters got their first vehicles too.

I don't see anything wrong with parents buying their kids cars to an extent.

smilelari · November 2010

jenna0627:
madameladauphine:

When I was 16. It was a cheap ($500) old (1982 - this was in 1994) hunk of junk, but I loved that thing. I took super good care of it, I cleaned it every weekend, I used my own money to fix it, and I drove it into the ground.

I don't see anything wrong with buying your child their first car if they appreciate it and care for it.

This is why I won't buy one. I'm sure there are some kids that would take awesome care of a car etc. However of all my friends that got cars, they beat the crap out them, didn't appreciate them and expected the parents to fix them, buy gas etc. I paid for half my car and it lasted me until I was 23 and I was heartbroken that my first "big purchase" was going to the junkyard. I am sure a lot of that was the parenting though in the case of my friends.

That's a symptom of a problem bigger than simply buying them a car

jenna0627 · November 2010

smilelari:
jenna0627:
madameladauphine:

When I was 16. It was a cheap ($500) old (1982 - this was in 1994) hunk of junk, but I loved that thing. I took super good care of it, I cleaned it every weekend, I used my own money to fix it, and I drove it into the ground.

I don't see anything wrong with buying your child their first car if they appreciate it and care for it.

This is why I won't buy one. I'm sure there are some kids that would take awesome care of a car etc. However of all my friends that got cars, they beat the crap out them, didn't appreciate them and expected the parents to fix them, buy gas etc. I paid for half my car and it lasted me until I was 23 and I was heartbroken that my first "big purchase" was going to the junkyard. I am sure a lot of that was the parenting though in the case of my friends.

That's a symptom of a problem bigger than simply buying them a car

I agree. I guess I just feel like somethings are greater appreciated when kids are part of the purchasing/saving process. Cars being one of them.

mrs.larry · November 2010

my parents didn't buy me a car but oohhhh how I wanted them to!! my friends whose parents did get them cars seemed to appreciate them and take care of them. and my bff drove hers until it was about to die, but then felt the same sense of accomplishment buying her first car for herself as I did even though it wasn't her *first* car.

I don't see anything wrong with it, but I'm sure it depends on the kid and the situation. I have no idea whether we'll end up being able to afford buying our kids cars or whether we'll feel that they're mature enough for them or what. I am opting to never say never.

JoLiz · November 2010

My Mom got a new car on my 16th birthday... I got her old one... a 1990 Saab 900. - OH I loved that car! Still holds a special place in my heart. I had to have a job, I had to be on honer roll and I had to chauffeur my sister around, to and from school, sports activities, babysitting gigs... They alos paid my car insurance and my gas money - to and from school any extra driving I had to pay for. I was VERY appreciative. Still am!

katypresson · November 2010

I agree. My dad gave me his old car for my 16th birthday. I learned how to drive on that car and didn't know it was going to be mine on my birthday. Great surprise! It was a 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage - maroon color. I also drove that car into the ground. Never paid any money to have it fixed though. But I worked and paid for my own gas, insurance, oil changes, etc.

As long as my kid works I won't mind buying them their first vehicle - it will NOT be new though.

BlairWaldorf · November 2010

My parents gave me a car for my birthday. It was a hand-me-down (my father's old car - he got a new one)

& then they gave me a brand new car for Christmas my freshman year in college.

I took excellent care of that car & still to this day thank them profusely for it.

madameladauphine · November 2010

smilelari:
jenna0627:
madameladauphine:

When I was 16. It was a cheap ($500) old (1982 - this was in 1994) hunk of junk, but I loved that thing. I took super good care of it, I cleaned it every weekend, I used my own money to fix it, and I drove it into the ground.

I don't see anything wrong with buying your child their first car if they appreciate it and care for it.

This is why I won't buy one. I'm sure there are some kids that would take awesome care of a car etc. However of all my friends that got cars, they beat the crap out them, didn't appreciate them and expected the parents to fix them, buy gas etc. I paid for half my car and it lasted me until I was 23 and I was heartbroken that my first "big purchase" was going to the junkyard. I am sure a lot of that was the parenting though in the case of my friends.

That's a symptom of a problem bigger than simply buying them a car

Exactly.

hersheykiss · November 2010

TarzansWife:
Me too although I had a step brother that was 10 years younger than me and my parents figured if they bought me a car, I could take him to soccer, tball, etc..So, I became the family taxi. :-)

This exactly, except I had 2 sisters and it was school, dance class, piano, etc. My car was a new VW Jetta because my mom didn't want to worry with a used car at the time.

sarrahs · November 2010

I bought my first car when I was 16 - it was a '73 Ford Maverick that only had 70,000 miles on it. I started saving when I was 13 (my mom made me put 1/2 of everything I earned working at her company), and had enough for the car and insurance when I got my license. I am really thankful that I had the experience of learning that responsibilty. Of course, I would have loved it if my parents bought me a car, but they didn't have the money to do that. My husband and I are both leaning toward our kids earning the money to buy their first cars as well since we feel it's a valuable life lesson. I certainly don't judge parents who do buy their kids cars - to each his own.

chelseymat · November 2010

My mom bought me a new car when I was 17 for HS graduation. (I know new is a little much but still) and I still drive it almost 10 years later. It has 140k miles on it and I plan to drive it until it won't run anymore. I have taken care of it myself, paid all my own insurance and obv. love and appreciate it since I still have it. I see nothing wrong with it as well.

MamaKayTee · November 2010

madameladauphine:

I don't see anything wrong with buying your child their first car if they appreciate it and care for it.

Agreed. My parents bought me my first car (1985 Honda hatchback). If there were ever an inkling that I didn't appreciate or take care of the car, you better beleive I would have been riding the bus to school.

I see the value in having your kid contribute to major purchases like this, but I expect to help DS get his 1st car, whether we give him a hand-me-down, buy it for him or otherwise help financially. I have similar feelings re: college expenses.

Sage Mommy · November 2010

ITA I received a new car for my 16th also. I was a good student and didn't get into any major trouble. I took care of the car and was responsible about curfews and driving rules etc. We will have the same type of stips with our kids.

flutenewt · November 2010

TarzansWife:
Me too although I had a step brother that was 10 years younger than me and my parents figured if they bought me a car, I could take him to soccer, tball, etc..So, I became the family taxi. :-)

This was me at 16, except I had two younger siblings, an older sister who couldn't drive, and an older brother who refused to help out, so I got to be the family taxi for all of them. Oh, and my mom was a recently-divorced single parent with a full time job.

My sister paid me in Taco Bell chalupas or crab rangoon from the grocery store Chinese buffet every time I took her to work. My little brother gave me nothing for driving him 15 minutes each way and waiting 30 minutes while he gave trumpet lessons and earned $10, even if I had to stop and put gas in the car on the way home. I was supposed to share the car and driving responsibilities with my older brother, but he was happy to have me drop him off at his friend's houses and pick him up hours later in order to get out of the responsibility part of the deal. I still think of that car as a ball and chain

mavilabride4evah · November 2010

My mom surprised me with a car too. It was $800. I was in college at the time. I paid for insurance/gas/everything else. She just wanted to look out for me and it was much appreciated. I drove that car for 6 years before it died (literally died on the highway lol)

AfterAll · November 2010

In my area it is pretty common for kids to get cars when they begin driving. That being said, my parents got a new car, that I picked out, and mostly drove, but they were pretty clear that it is not my car, it was theirs, that they let me drive.

I live in an area where you cannot really walk anywhere, so with all of my extra curricular activities, it was easier for my parents to get that car for me than to drive me everywhere. We will likely do the same for DS, but only time will tell.

kennifer7 · November 2010

My first car was given to me by my parents, but it was 1997 and the car was a 1982 Delta 88. it was a tank and the one time i got into an accident in it (i rear ended someone) i had no damage to my car yet they back of theirs was smashed in. I am not sure if we will buy/help DD get a car, but i guarantee you that even i win the lottery, its going to be an old car and not anything brand new. one of my good friends got a brand new toyota celica for her 16 birthday and two weeks later totaled it.

MattysGirl81 · November 2010

I agree. I went to a private school which was 30 minutes away. My parents got really tired of picking me up after sports (I played year round). There were a few older students who I carpooled with sometimes, but that didn't always work out.

My parents bought me a Volvo because their top priority is safety. It was about 5 years old and in good condition. I didn't have a job until college because doing well in school was extremely important and my parents didn't think it was worth making me get a job (I routinely didn't get home until 6:15pm because of sports, so my evening consisted of dinner, homework, bed.)

I see nothing wrong with getting DS his first car if necessary, and it won't be a piece of junk. I'm certainly not saying it will be a fancy car, but it will be safe. If he's irresponsible and we don't think he can handle it, he won't get one. It's not a right, it's a privilege.

ryry1977 · November 2010

My parents bought me and my 2 sisters cars. They were new, but the cheapest ones they could buy pretty much. I don't think that it was bad at all. I would love to do so for my kids when they are old enough, if we can.

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