|
|
Post by cannmom on Jul 6, 2016 1:14:41 GMT
Just purchased a car for DS today and he had zero input. We bought something that we knew would be a good practical vehicle for him. My parents bought cars for me when I was still living at home and I had no vote in what they got. My DH never had anyone buy a car for him. Every car he's ever had he purchased himself.
|
|
|
|
Post by scrapaddict702 on Jul 6, 2016 1:20:29 GMT
If said child was contributing the purchase, some. If not, they better be grateful we were willing to make the purchase. We are years off from this decision, but my kids are spoiled enough already...we don't care to cement it with them choosing their first car (unless, like me, they bought it 100% on their own...although I didn't get my license until almost 20 and didn't buy my car until at least a year later).
|
|
|
|
Post by txdancermom on Jul 6, 2016 1:21:17 GMT
we didn't purchase a car for our teens, dh got a new car about a year before ds got his license and we knew the car was safe and in good shape so we changed the insurance to liability only and let both kids learn on it and drive it before they went to college. if they wanted to drive, this is what they drove.
we also had a mechanic who understood the value of the "kid crap" car - do only what needed to be done to keep it running and safe, and do it at a bargain.
When they went to college and needed cars, they did get some input
|
|
|
|
Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 6, 2016 1:24:05 GMT
We're closing in on this as well. I love Kerri W husband's idea, but our plan was always to buy a new fun car for me and let the kids drive the small SUV I currently drive. It's only a few years old, and has all the safety bells and whistles. It's frankly a way nicer car than I would probably go out and buy them, so I doubt they'll complain. |
|
|
|
Post by bothmykidsrbrats on Jul 6, 2016 1:31:28 GMT
My DS was given a budget and chose his own vehicle.
|
|
theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,411 
|
Post by theshyone on Jul 6, 2016 1:35:47 GMT
My daughters 15 a couple weeks away from being 16 and getting her drivers. We aren't in a position financially to get her one, or her brother in a couple years. It makes me sad.
I bought my own all on my own at 20. And I foresee them having to as well.
|
|
YooHoot
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,417
|
Post by YooHoot on Jul 6, 2016 1:37:37 GMT
Same shit applies...you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Jul 6, 2016 1:42:20 GMT
We're right in the middle of this too. He knows the budget, and we're going to give him the reins in choosing but with veto power. He won't be allowed to buy something that will negatively affect insurance rates (more than he already has) or that doesn't have good safety and reliability ratings. My youngest says his next vehicle will be a Tesla. He wants a self driving car. Yeah, we will see how those insurance rates look. |
|
|
|
Post by my2apps2 on Jul 6, 2016 1:49:50 GMT
Our daughter actually found her car, and got an amazing deal on it. She has always planned on saving up to buy her own car, but this deal was too good to pass up so we bought it and she is paying us back.
I never really worried about her choice in cars, she has a pretty good head on her shoulders. I did require it to be safe and easy on our insurance, and she delivered on both fronts.
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Jul 6, 2016 2:02:00 GMT
My daughters 15 a couple weeks away from being 16 and getting her drivers. We aren't in a position financially to get her one, or her brother in a couple years. It makes me sad. I bought my own all on my own at 20. And I foresee them having to as well. I'll be honest here, when my oldest got his license at 18, we weren't in a position to buy him a car either. He drove our truck until he has saved enough to buy his own (cash - 1978 Ford F-150 - which he loves). I do feel sad and a bit guilty that we weren't able to do for him what we did for his sister - they are almost 10 years apart so it's been 8 years since he got his license and our financial situation has improved quite a bit since then and we were able to buy a truck for her (2001 Ford Ranger - also cash) and I imagine we will probably be able to do so for the little one also in 6-7 years when she gets her license (another big age gap - almost 7 years). Sadly the older one got the shaft in several ways because our financial situation when he was 18/20 was much worse than it is today (the economy then was still bad, DH was only working a 32hr wk - now the economy has improved, he's moved to salary and the company is giving bonuses again) On the other hand, my oldest is very financially secure at almost 25 and I think having to buy his own car and pay for his own college (AA) has played a role in that |
|
kelly8875
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,391
Location: Lost in my supplies...
|
Post by kelly8875 on Jul 6, 2016 2:18:43 GMT
For DS when he turned 15 he got his school permit to drive from home to school. He had no say in his vehicle. I was trading up, so he got to use our Equinox. All wheel drive, good mileage, and paid for. Now DD is going to be driving this as she just got her school permit too. So now, another vehicle is needed for DS, and he will get some say in what he wants, but has to pay for 1/3 of it himself. We may trade the Equinox in as our parent portion of the payment and find DD a little car instead. We're thinking of leasing a new vehicle for her, for small monthly payments.
|
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Jul 6, 2016 2:22:46 GMT
DD was adamant that she did not feel comfortable driving such a big truck in the relatively narrow streets and small parking lots of the area where she attends school. Okay, in this case, I think your DD has a point. She isn't being obstinate because of looks or brand of car, but rather a legitimate, thoughtful reason. |
|
The Birdhouse Lady
Drama Llama
Moose. It's what's for dinner.
Posts: 7,175
Location: Alaska -The Last Frontier
Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
|
Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Jul 6, 2016 2:23:25 GMT
We recently bought our daughter a car. She didn't really have any input but we didn't want to buy her a grandma car.
I drive a 4 door Honda Accord that she learned how to drive on.
My husband found a really clean 2 door Honda Accord coup (same year as mine) that looks a bit sporty. She is in love with it! The interior is identical to mine except I have leather seats but it just like driving mine.
|
|
blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,986
|
Post by blue tulip on Jul 6, 2016 2:23:31 GMT
I side with you and your daughter. we have a truck, and no matter how good you are at driving it, there are situations in which you can't park it. there are lots in our downtown that the spaces are not deep enough. there are roads that are too narrow to allow you to pull or even back in.
for a first car? if she really wants a truck, get a smaller, single cab one like a ranger or Dakota size. that will allow her to be ensconced in steel, not have room for a ton of distracting passengers, and be hardly any bigger than a car. they handle like cars in my experience, too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 6, 2016 2:34:42 GMT
I completely disagree with your husband on this one. Trucks handle like crap, I'm sorry there is just no other way to say it. A truck would be way, way down on my list of vehicles I would encourage my kid to drive. Now granted, we're in snow country which exacerbates the crappy rear traction which I know you don't have to deal with in Texas - but this isn't inherently an issue of a snotty kid being ungrateful. She MAY become more comfortable over time in a truck, but in general they are NOT at the top of any safety lists, so I wouldn't be buying it on some misguided notion that bigger is better. If my kid REALLY wanted a truck, maybe - if we had a truck that they could drive - probably - but to actually go out and buy my kid a truck as their first car, because it's safer - no freaking way.
|
|
sweetpeasmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,592
|
Post by sweetpeasmom on Jul 6, 2016 2:47:05 GMT
They will have some input. DS (14) and dh look at cars all the time on Craigslist. He has several types he goes between wanting. DH being a car guy, that has some influence on DS. DD (12) has said she wants a farm truck (just an old beat up truck). We'll see when it comes time.
|
|
|
|
Post by jenjie on Jul 6, 2016 3:07:47 GMT
My daughters 15 a couple weeks away from being 16 and getting her drivers. We aren't in a position financially to get her one, or her brother in a couple years. It makes me sad. I bought my own all on my own at 20. And I foresee them having to as well. That's where we would be if things were different. Now ds17 is getting his dad's truck. Dd feels she should have something comparable. Because of insurance we are able to do a bit more for them. For my sake she needs to have something trustworthy. Both kids were told I will contribute x amount and you will need to pay me back the difference. Because I DON'T want them thinking they are entitled. Dd recently got her permit. She feels my Honda Pilot is too big. Dh's Ford F-150 is too much vehicle for me. I don't feel comfortable in it. |
|
mlana
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,523
|
Post by mlana on Jul 6, 2016 7:08:41 GMT
We listened to DD's opinions - she wanted a pickup truck and didn't like the Dodge style (too bulky) - but DH bought the actual vehicle without her knowledge/input since it'll be our name until she's 18 (she's newly 16) - she ended up with a 2001 Ford Ranger. We have a truck and DS's truck is here also but they are both full size trucks and DD is on the petite side - she's been learning on our truck but DH felt a smaller truck would be a better fit for her and it seems to be. We considered extended cab/crew cabs but ultimately went for a 2-seat standard cab - we think as a new driver, having a max of 1 passenger will be less distracting and if she needs to drive more (like me and her sister) she can drive our van I had to laugh when I saw that she got a small truck because she is petite. My DD is 4' 91/2" on a good day. Her first car was a hand me down Saturn Ion coupe, which was a great fir for her size but not her style. Her first job while she was in college was in the office of a construction company. One of her daily duties was to go to the PO and check the mail. She was offered a company vehicle to drive and, being she had to pay for her own gas, she accepted. The company vehicle was a huge 4 door dually diesel. The step to get into is was almost at her waist level. She said the office folks came outside the first time she went to drive it and were joking with her that they were taking bets on whether she could drive it. She could drive it. LOL She'd driven several vehicles belonging to family members who worked in jobs requiring big trucks. She loved driving that truck, which really surprised me. Marcy |
|
|
|
Post by miominmio on Jul 6, 2016 7:30:04 GMT
DD got my old car when she turned 16, no choice. That's what's going to happen in the mio household, too. DS will get my old Skoda Fabia, IF he ever gets his liscense. He just doesn't have much interest in driving. |
|
|
|
Post by miominmio on Jul 6, 2016 7:32:59 GMT
We're right in the middle of this too. He knows the budget, and we're going to give him the reins in choosing but with veto power. He won't be allowed to buy something that will negatively affect insurance rates (more than he already has) or that doesn't have good safety and reliability ratings. My youngest says his next vehicle will be a Tesla. He wants a self driving car. Yeah, we will see how those insurance rates look. Just make sure he understands that "self driving" doesn't mean that he should watch a movie while driving. Someone did that a couple of weeks ago, and got killed in an accident. |
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Jul 6, 2016 10:42:34 GMT
My daughters 15 a couple weeks away from being 16 and getting her drivers. We aren't in a position financially to get her one, or her brother in a couple years. It makes me sad. I bought my own all on my own at 20. And I foresee them having to as well. Why would you be sad?? I didn't own my own car until I was 21. Kids don't NEED their own cars in my opinion. My brothers and I never ever expected our parents to buy us a car when we got our licenses. |
|
momto4kiddos
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,151
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:15 GMT
|
Post by momto4kiddos on Jul 6, 2016 10:47:06 GMT
Mine haven't gotten much input, well they can give some input, but my first question is what is the safety rating? So unless it meets my strict safety rating guideline it isn't even a consideration.
ds is 24 and still could give you a good story about how I pretty much ruined his 16 yo life when he couldn't get the suv in his price range because it had a high rollover rating.
Mine all learned to drive on a suburban, bigger isn't necessarily a bad thing. They all are fairly comfortable navigating a large vehicle, which is a good thing no matter what they drive regularly.
|
|
janeinbama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,174
Location: Alabama
|
Post by janeinbama on Jul 6, 2016 12:57:14 GMT
DDs got our hand me down cars at 16. They were reliable cars and safe. They were involved in minor fender benders within months of driving.  During their Senior year in HS they got newer cars. |
|
|
|
Post by nicole2112 on Jul 6, 2016 13:23:09 GMT
My daughter wanted a CRV. She liked the way it looked so we shopped around for one for her. We didn't want to spend more than 5k on a vehicle we didnt know the history about so after a few weeks of looking we ended up getting me a new Prius (0% financing made that decision a lot easier) and she took my old Prius. She's been driving it for about 3 years now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Jul 6, 2016 13:47:29 GMT
I had to laugh when I saw that she got a small truck because she is petite. DH thinks that she'll be fine with a full-size truck when she's more comfortable behind the wheel but for a first vehicle - the smaller truck is a better fit for her |
|
|
|
Post by mommaho on Jul 6, 2016 14:44:27 GMT
Our girls had no choice in the matter! We bought what we could afford that was safe for them.
|
|
|
|
Post by genny on Jul 6, 2016 15:17:53 GMT
It was kind of a joint decision. The whole thing was a process that was very important to DH. He wanted to teach them how to shop for a car. They sat down and went over everything from budget, to milage, to what makes it a good value, etc. They came back to him with a list of cars they were interested in. He then made them look up safety ratings and call insurance companies to check on insurance rates. They narrowed the lists down to 2-3 cars and would send him links to what they were interested in. He took them for the test drives, then coached them through the negotiating. DD1 ended up with a VW Jetta which wasn't anywhere on her radar but she thought was the best value. DD2 found a VW Beetle which was exactly what she wanted. DS1 decided to go the "project" route after he assured DH he had the additional money set aside to do the projects that would need to be done and bought a Jeep Wrangler. I was given an old awful embarrassing to drive grandma car that I really hated. DH was allowed to get whatever he wanted. I would have been completely fine telling them they would be happy with whatever we chose to give them, but it was important to DH to get them what they wanted. I drove my grandmas car too -- and it was awful. Anyway, looks like your driveway looks a lot like mine. DD has a VW Beetle, DS has a project '65 beetle and drive an older Jeep Wrangler also while the beetle is being worked on. We took our kids 'wants' into consideration. They knew the budget we needed to keep in for their cars and had to tamp down their desires a little (NO I am not buying you a brand new mustang kiddo. Wouldn't do it if I'd won the lottery for a new driver). So we looked at cars together. We knew what they liked and then WE looked for one of those models that fit OUR parameters. Everyone is happy so far…DD isn't even driving yet. She gets her license next month so hers is parked most of the time unless we have her out practicing. |
|
Tuttle
Junior Member
Posts: 85
|
Post by Tuttle on Jul 6, 2016 15:50:08 GMT
Mine all learned to drive on a suburban, bigger isn't necessarily a bad thing. They all are fairly comfortable navigating a large vehicle, which is a good thing no matter what they drive regularly. My kids will also learn to drive in my Suburban. If they can drive that behemoth, they'll be able to drive anything. SaveSave |
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Jul 6, 2016 16:10:18 GMT
My daughters 15 a couple weeks away from being 16 and getting her drivers. We aren't in a position financially to get her one, or her brother in a couple years. It makes me sad. I bought my own all on my own at 20. And I foresee them having to as well. Why would you be sad?? I didn't own my own car until I was 21. Kids don't NEED their own cars in my opinion. My brothers and I never ever expected our parents to buy us a car when we got our licenses. I would be sad astory well. Getting a car at 16 is huge around here. We live in a small town and to get anywhere is a 20 min drive at 65 MPhil, so walking isn't an option. His friends aren't allowed to have passengers for 6 months and my Ds is the last to get his license anyway. My parents pretty much gifted me a car on my 16th. It cost 1200. I worked and paid insurance, Ds plays sports year round so we haven't figured that one out yet. |
|
|
|
Post by mellowyellow on Jul 6, 2016 16:34:26 GMT
With both of our kids, they told us what they wanted and we got them pretty much exactly that. DS has a dually truck that is about 12 years old and DD has a 4wd crew cab truck that is 10 years old. My DH is really good at researching and finding great deals. Our only requirements were that the vehicles were reliable and we could pay cash for them.
|
|
During their Senior year in HS they got newer cars. 
