Do we buy DD a car?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2006
Do we buy DD a car?
29
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 11:30am

How do you decide whether or not to buy your new driver a car? We are trying to figure this out as DD approaches 17 and gets her DL within 2 weeks.


We are considering buying or leasing

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2006
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 11:38am

Just another thought to add.....


We have always said that we are against handing a car over to a kid just because they turn 17. Now that we are here, we feel a bit differently about it.


DD works and has a social life and I would love to get out of all the driving around that I do for her. When I was a kid I bought a piece of junk for $350 that was probably very unsafe - something I don't want my DD to get involved in. So, now getting a car for her doesn't seem so bad.


We now feel that she can have a car as long has she has some sort of financial responsibility and that she follows the rules we set.


We are still trying to figure out who gets the "new" car though.....


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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 12:06pm

We're going through this right now. We have $3,000 that each of my children received several years ago from my dh's wealthy aunt which we have saved for him. He will be allowed to use this money to purchase a car - however, I do want some input on the type of car he buys. Mr. Lead Foot would like a "cool Mustang" like the 60's ones, which obviously do not come with air bags and are not very safe. I thought I would prefer a truck (one where only 2 passengers fit at a time) for him, but heard that teens are prone to rolling those over plus there is the gas issue now. I don't imagine there is any 100% safe car when a teen is behind the wheel...

IMHO, but I would never allow my teen to have a nicer car than mine! I don't think that sends a good message...

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-03-2004
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 12:23pm
We just went through this!! I felt like I was reading my own mind...lol. I also wanted to get a brand new car and give DD my own. DH and I went back and forth on this for months. We looked at so many cars that I became even more confused than ever. Finally, after weighing the cost of a brand new car, taxes and insurance we decided to keep my car for myself and get DD a used car - it was just more economical for us to do it that way. The deal was that DD had to pay for half of it which she did so she only had a total budget of $4,000. That was easier said than done. It seems the cars that we would've paid $500 way back when now go for $3,500. I just couldn't see paying that much money for a car in such bad shape. And DD was getting a bit picky because she was putting $2,000 of her own money into this car and that is a lot especially for a teen and she didn't want to drive around in a beat up rust bucket or an old ladies car. My brother-in-law pointed out that kids today are too spoiled and that they should be happy with what they get!! I agree but I still wanted her to like her car. We ended up buying her car off of ebay for 1/2 the price it would've cost around our area. We did a lot of research on the car and the dealership but we were still very nervous about it. We were lucky though, the car is in excellent condition and runs great. It's a little sporty honda prelude and she loves it. And now I look at it this way, since DD didn't get my car when I am ready for a new one I can trade mine in and still get quite a bit for it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 12:39pm

Just curious, how much did you pay for the Honda Prelude and what year? This is the kind of car I'd like ds to get...

Avatar for mjaye2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 12:44pm

When my older one got his license (here they get them at 16), he got a junker pick up that he helped his Dad rebuild. (His dad's a mechanic by trade, so if the thing broke down, we could fix it fairly cheaply!) Now, ds15 is on the verge of getting his license, and he will get either his step-mom's hand-me-down or his grandfather's hand-me-down. Both boys simply knew a new vehicle was simply not in the works. The other side of that is that neither boy will have to pay for the vehicle, so they are in no condition to whine! It's either this vehicle is yours, or you walk. Your choice. LOL Besides, in my experience watching my kids and all their cohorts learn to drive, I've come to the conclusion that practically each of them had some kind of fender-bender that 1st year or so, so I certainly don't want to fork out the dough to buy a new car just to have it dented. :) (Don't flame me here, I know there are thousands upon thousands of teens that *never* have any kind of wreck. I'm simply speaking of the kiddos I personally know.) At the same time, I certainly want them to have a vehicle that is safe and reliable.

I agree with the other poster that said no way is my kid going to drive a car that is better than what I drive! :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-03-2004
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 12:53pm
It's a 96 - fully loaded and with air bags which was a huge plus for us - it was $4,000 on ebay. We looked at some around New England and they ranged about $7,500. The Kelly blue book also lists them at about $7,500. Hard to believe that a 10 year old car would be that much isn't it?? Ridiculous. However, my DH was set on a honda and this car had very good ratings across the board. Now I sound like a commercial!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-31-2003
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 1:00pm

Oh, how I feel your pain! We just went thru this! Living in a small town outside a larger community I got tired of driving DS everywhere. We weighed the newer car option (safer, less breakdowns, etc) to an older model car option and decided on the latter. Namely because:

1. I NEVER had a newer car when I was his age and drove older cars all my life until about a year ago when I finally got a new car at AGE 42!
2. Insurance is WAY cheaper on an older car.
3. Son is not paying for a penny of it therefore has no say - more for my sanity and his job hunt than anything else
4. The way MOST kids are nowadays (not all) they dont look after things and expect more than they deserve. I would go mental if son got a nicer car and then didnt look after it. I'd be on his ars constantly about it.

So just last weekend after a month long search and believe me it was a process, we bought him a 1992 2 door Grand Am for $1800. Has about 90,000 miles on it and in not bad shape. We have it in to a mechanic friend today to get it fixed up so its safe etc. so I guess the cost of that will tell the story - still waiting on that verdict.

I dont regret my decision. This way if he doesnt look after it, keeps it dirty or gets in a collision heaven forbid, I wont be crying over the thousands of dollars we spent on it. To be honest, he was just thrilled to have wheels after the long search - probably also because he wasnt paying for it. He is responsible for gas now and insurance after 3 months (I paid for the first three which really wasnt an unreasonable amount surprisingly enough).

Last night was the first time he took it out with a friend on his own. I was panicked believe me but they have to grow up sometime. Now all he needs is a job. Dont even get me started on that! But I'm hoping that when the car is sitting because the Bank of Mom is no longer open, he'll step up to the plate.

Avatar for mjaye2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 1:06pm
Yes. Yes, Yes, Yes on ALL accounts. :) ITA!
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-29-2005
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 2:15pm
IMO no kid should drive a better car than his/her parent. You will send her the WRONG message and I predict it will be the start of the gimmies for that kid to last through college. No guilt for you Mama, she can take it or leave it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 4:26pm
Your SUV is only four years old -- it's not like you'd be handing over a beater POS. Maybe you can offer to help with gas costs to soften the blow a bit.

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