Sponsored

Buying a car for a family member when they get old enough to drive

Are you going to buy a car for a family member when they are old enough to drive? Please explain.


  • Total voters
    61

Jefe1018

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2020
Threads
38
Messages
2,433
Reaction score
3,937
Location
NV
Vehicle(s)
21 JT Rubi Ecodiesel
Build Thread
Link
1) I resent the decades apart. (Hahahaha!!)

2) If I had the means. Yes. Sounds like she has her head on straight. She’ll also repay the favor by changing your diaper when you’re old, like me! ;)
Hahaha, that was a rude comment huh - no harm no foul meant.
Sponsored

 

Jefe1018

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2020
Threads
38
Messages
2,433
Reaction score
3,937
Location
NV
Vehicle(s)
21 JT Rubi Ecodiesel
Build Thread
Link
Many are of the opinion that by not buying a vehicle for them will make their children more successful. Successful at what? Self reliance?
Values? Why draw the line at vehicles, did you buy your own bicycle,
shoes?
Is hardship the way to teach life lessons? Does making your child pay for their own vehicle make them a better person?
Its the 'I struggled so you struggle just as much' mentality - kind of toxic if you ask me. My folks gave me what they could and I am appreciative.

My parents crawled so I could walk and I am walking so that my children can one day sprint!
 

WILDHOBO

Well-Known Member
First Name
Dan
Joined
Sep 24, 2021
Threads
40
Messages
5,374
Reaction score
7,314
Location
Colorado
Vehicle(s)
2021 Gladiator Rubicon
Occupation
Network Engineer
Vehicle Showcase
1
I had the use of an old junker, so my parents didn’t need to take me places, but it wasn’t mine to do with as I pleased. When I purchased my first vehicle, I think it was far more satisfying to take care of and maintain it.
 

ScottBeach

Well-Known Member
First Name
Scott
Joined
Mar 29, 2021
Threads
14
Messages
285
Reaction score
438
Location
Fl
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator sport s
Occupation
Engineer
My father sold me my first car at a discount. About 2/3 what it was worth. I worked saved for what i paid. Skin in the game. A well worn old corrolla. For the kids. New signed the loans had them pay for first 18 months so they had skin in the game then paid them off. Each of the 4 took different options. Sentra new. Wrx 3 years old. A 4 year old rav4 and the last a prius. 4 years old. They got what they wanted based on 50% match on their down payment and being able to pay the loan on 36 months. Once they paid 18 months i paid it off. Each still has their first car know the value but didnt bear the entire cost.
 

Sponsored

1996XJ

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2021
Threads
26
Messages
483
Reaction score
617
Location
So Cal
Vehicle(s)
96 Cherokee , 2021 JTMojave (punjabi), 22 gobiator
Occupation
Hot Dog proprietor
Its the 'I struggled so you struggle just as much' mentality - kind of toxic if you ask me. My folks gave me what they could and I am appreciative.

My parents crawled so I could walk and I am walking so that my children can one day sprint!
I agree with you. Some people seem to forget they decided to lay down together and create a life. Then they act like the kids need to be working their ass off and doing this or that at a young age. If you decide to create a life, there is nothing wrong with providing for them. Im not saying spoil them but they didnt ask to be born.

I was promised by my grandpa when i turned 16, if i graduated highschool (at times it looked like i wouldnt) and didnt get in trouble he would make sure i got something to drive to work (he damn sure wasnt going to let me drive his car that he loved). When i did graduate, him and my uncle got me a wrecked 1996 XJ for like a thousand bucks and fixed it up and gave it to me in 2004. Im still driving that beast to work today. That is not socialism that is family.
 
Last edited:

PDiddy

Well-Known Member
First Name
Paul
Joined
Aug 17, 2020
Threads
14
Messages
811
Reaction score
1,964
Location
Roseville
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
Occupation
Architectural Illustrator
My parents bought me a $500 car in 1992. I had to pay them back, which I did.

For our two daughters, 11 and 14, they have to save up and what ever they save up we will match. My 14 started saving last year and plans on saving up 10k. She would like a used bronco sport.
 

Cliff89

Member
First Name
Clifford
Joined
Sep 29, 2020
Threads
1
Messages
17
Reaction score
3
Location
United States
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Gladiator (JT)
No facts just observations since I was in high school. A couple of kids were given cars [mostly new ones!] when they turned 16. Not one guy acted responsibly or showed any gratitude. Just spoiled pricks who thought their shit didn't stink because they had a car and the rest of us didn't---or we had to buy our own beater. There definitely some Eddie Haskells amongst them. Most of the girls were exactly the same--though I can remember two from high school that didn't act that way.

In college it was the same, those with the new and fancy cars were almost always pricks and the girls were just as bad---but much more subtle about it.

Spent parts of 2018 - 2020 with my girlfriend in Coronado CA---you wouldn't believe what those high schoolers are driving. BMWs, Mercedes, Lexus RC 300s, Jag F types. Hell I'm jealous of them.

My old man was a plastic surgeon and obviously could afford to buy us kids a car when we turned 16. He was a total car guy so he definitely understood how important driving was to a young guy or girl. Until he went soft all his cars had manual transmissions and big engines if they were offered to include his Jaguar XKE, '68 Pontiac GTO, '73 Pontiac Grand Am. Then he went soft and had fancy cars with automatic transmissions, a '75 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible and a '78 Caddy Eldorado Biarritz. In the early 80's he added a Series IV Excaliber to his two Caddys.

But he taught us the value of things and of ourselves. No free lunches and absolutely no free cars.

He started us as 5 year olds with our own bank account through simple index cards. Birthday money, allowance if we earned it, money from jobs that weren't part of our daily chores. If we wanted to keep the money and not give it to him he didn't care--but he paid 5% interest every month and we quickly learned that was free money! If we wanted to empty our account to buy a toy he would explain we could do whatever we wanted but it was always smart to keep some money in savings. When the next new thing came and we invariably had an empty bank account he just say go play with the thing you bought last month---which had zero interest as it wasn't new.

No one in my family was allowed to buy a car until they were 17. The girls didn't want to but my brother and I certainly did. As a gear head I was able to buy a car as soon as I turned 17 in the spring of '77.

I'd saved up half the money I needed and he lent me the other half at 1% ABOVE the going car loan rate, "Because no on except me is stupid enough to loan you money." At least he said it with a smile. I had a monthly payment and if i missed one the car got parked [thank God that didn't happen].

Anyway, long explanation on why I'm interested in why people give cars to kids.

I'm convinced that the reason we have so many idiots voting for the politicians who promise them free shit [which they're too stupid to realize never is] is due to not being taught the value of things. Add in the dumbing down to mediocrity and the they are "special" and deserve a trophy whether they win or not---it's no wonder that for most their quality of life is going to be much less than their parents.
I did not get a car till I was 19 years and my father had bought the car for me as a gift, but my parents instilled the value of gratitude and financial aptitude while growing up just like yourself I started learning about money from my parents at the age of 10. I'm glad my parents taught me those lessons and I wouldn't mind buying a car for my son or daughter some day
 

Hootbro

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2019
Threads
32
Messages
6,221
Reaction score
10,311
Location
Delaware
Vehicle(s)
2022 Gladiator Rubicon
Came of driving age growing up in rural Arkansas in the mid 1980's. In some shape or form, you had to have wheels if you wanted to get work and/or have any social life.

A few of the"rich" girls all got Fiero's and a few guys got either IROC Z28 Camaro or new Chevy Silverado trucks. Every single one that got a brand new vehicle had it wreck to some degree within a year it seemed.

I had a clapped out 300K+ mile Ford F100 to drive that was bare everything except for a 3 speed automatic. I was given the F100 under the conditions I could only have it for a year and in that time it was up to me to use it to make the money that I would use to buy my own vehicle.
 

jac04

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jeff
Joined
Apr 20, 2021
Threads
25
Messages
1,224
Reaction score
1,736
Location
CT
Vehicle(s)
2021 Mojave, 2014 JKRX SWB
My father gave me his old car when I turned 14. That was just shy of 40 years ago. I still have it.

I look back and think "wtf was my father thinking giving me this car?". But, by the time I actually started driving, I had spent hundreds of hours and a bunch of my hard-earned money fixing it up. I had too much time & $ invested in it to do anything stupid with it.

Now that I think about it, it was my father that 'signed me up' for my first 3 jobs: bait guy on a lobster boat at 13, grounds keeping at a trailer park at 14, then roofing & siding at 15 & 16. Lots of actual work.

Camaro front.jpg
 
Last edited:

Sponsored

OP
OP
KX L

KX L

Well-Known Member
First Name
KX
Joined
May 1, 2019
Threads
16
Messages
419
Reaction score
488
Location
Lake St Louis MO
Vehicle(s)
2017 CVO Street Glide; 2022 JT Mojave with 6MT
Occupation
Retired
I agree with you. Some people seem to forget they decided to lay down together and create a life. Then they act like the kids need to be working their ass off and doing this or that at a young age. If you decide to create a life, there is nothing wrong with providing for them. Im not saying spoil them but they didnt ask to be born.

I was promised by my grandpa when i turned 16, if i graduated highschool (at times it looked like i wouldnt) and didnt get in trouble he would make sure i got something to drive to work (he damn sure wasnt going to let me drive his car that he loved). When i did graduate, him and my uncle got me a wrecked 1996 XJ for like a thousand bucks and fixed it up and gave it to me in 2004. Im still driving that beast to work today. That is not socialism that is family.
Also @Jefe1018
Totally agree with you that family is so different than socialism. What I thought I was making clear is the difference between getting a car without any requirements. I've liked every single thread that has a parent saying they plan on getting their kid a car---but in every write up the author has made clear there are requirements.

In my mind when two people decide to have children they are just doing what's been bred into our DNA--to produce offspring to replace us.

That also means, in my opinion, they accept the "contract" with society that they raise the children to become good citizens and have values that aren't strictly tribal [family, race, religion, political leaning, etc etc].

I've put up with enough crime and corruption in garden spots like Somalia, all through the middle east, and Afghanistan to name just a few. Seeing the tribalism that's happening here in America is downright depressing.

Re having kids work [which really means contribute]. Every study you read that looks at including the kid in family responsibilities has shown better adjusted adults.

Insisting a kid do work that means nothing but makes the kid miserable is just child abuse in my opinion.

Great story about a year ago on NPR. A reporter was in Mexico and was amazed to see happy kids [4 and up] running to the fields at 5 AM and then running home for breakfast about 6 AM before going to school.

After studying the difference between the Mexican kids and American kids she determined it was the American parents fault. Invariably, the American parents got impatient with the speed of the chore getting done and all the mistakes---we want it perfect and accomplished quickly so it's just easier to do it ourself. Kids brought up our way are the first to whine and complain when they're finally told at 6 or 7 they have to do chores.

The Mexican parents had the long view in mind and built little brooms and buckets etc because ALL kids 2 and up want to help. They knew the kids wouldn't get the job done like they would but they wanted to make sure each kid knew he/she was an integral part of the family and everyone had to contribute.
 

foo.c

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2017
Threads
6
Messages
271
Reaction score
370
Location
127.0.0.1
Vehicle(s)
2021 JTR, 2021 Corvette
I bought my first vehicle, but it was from my grandfather so way under what it actually cost. 1971 Ford Bronco Sport, loved it.

One of my sons will get a handmedown vehicle, 2001 Lexus LX470.

I'm building this with my other son.

Jeep Gladiator Buying a car for a family member when they get old enough to drive mc11


I gave kid #1 the same option but he opted for the LX.
 

Sazabi19

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2020
Threads
18
Messages
889
Reaction score
1,069
Location
USA
Vehicle(s)
2014 Kia Cadenza, 2020 Jeep Gladiator JT Sport S
I bought my first vehicle, but it was from my grandfather so way under what it actually cost. 1971 Ford Bronco Sport, loved it.

One of my sons will get a handmedown vehicle, 2001 Lexus LX470.

I'm building this with my other son.

Jeep Gladiator Buying a car for a family member when they get old enough to drive mc11


I gave kid #1 the same option but he opted for the LX.
Kid 1 sounds like a dud, good thing you had a spare.
Sponsored

 
 



Top