would you let your 18 year old have a Jeep

[629]

Warning: I got my first jeep (CJ5) at 17. This has cost me lots of money over the years….buying jeeps and jeep parts…I think I’m on Jeep #15 and I currently own 3….lol

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[LoneWolfUSMC]

At 18 I enlisted in the Marine Corps. My parents ceased to have any say in what I did. I accepted their counsel, then made my own decisions.

I currently have an 22 year old and an 18 year old. The 18 year old lives with us while he is going to college and drives the oldest car I own. If he decided to buy a jeep, it’s on him. It would be a stupid decision to give up a free car with a warranty to drive a gas guzzler and I would tell him that. But it would be his decision.

I guess I just have a hard time wrapping my head around “letting” another adult do something.

As far as a 16 year old, no. We didn’t buy cars for our kids. We allowed them to drive when it was best for the family and because I have a car supplied by my work we always had an “extra” vehicle. They got to drive the “extra” car until we replaced one. Then they usually got the hand-me-down car. This worked well for us. May not work well for others. It all depends on the maturity level of the teenager.

 

[Salty Dave]

At 18 they are adults and should make their own decisions.

 

[Ramboy]

At 18 they are adults and should make their own decisions.

I’m a firm believer in providing advice and suggestions based on my experience and facts (I’m of the baby boomer vintage). Other than that, yes I agree they are adults and can make their own decisions but I’ve seen how sending young adults into the world armed with nothing but their own wits, wants and desires many times doesn’t turn out well. Lack of guidance is to a large extent what is wrong with so much of the younger generation these days and that is on the parents. Yes, outside influences many times take over but as a parent we should be there to help them if they fall, even if it’s just a simple “see, I told you so”, that’s a lesson learned. Re: Jeeps, with my own bias invoked I’d say “heck yes, get a Jeep son or daughter”!

 

[MaximusTX]

My brother's first vehicle was a CJ5 and then when I turned 16 I couldn't afford a Jeep so I bought the next best thing a Suzuki Samurai.

 

[Roadmanscooter]

I bought my very first Vehicle when I was 19. A 1983 CJ7 renegade that had 8 miles on it. I miss that jeep. So yes, I would let them have one.

 

[Svenable]

When our girls started to drive we bought a 2003 TJ Rubicon for them to drive to school and back. This was in 2003, so a while back. Manual transmission and I took the rear seat out. When they occasionally drove over a curb I did not have big repair bills. Nobody else drove it but the girls because their friends could not drive a manual. It did not go crazy fast and allowed only one passenger. My girls learned a life skill, how to drive a manual, which they have put to use their entire lives. They drove the TJ through college, my niece came and stayed with us through nursing school and also drove the TJ. It was a great Jeep.

 

[Ferd]

Manual trans. Both kids drive 6spd JK 2doors. Once you learn, you never forget.

 

[vacaedzzr1200]

Hell yeah!!! That over a motorcycle any time but let me qualify that with the fact that I had a Kawasaki ZZR1200 that topped out over 160 mph, and yes, I did go that fast. Put over one hundred thirty thousand miles on, mostly in the People's Republik of Kahleefornya. Seen too many wipeouts. Jeep a much safer option IMHO.

 

[JmattNYC]

1000% yes. How else will we pass along this love for Jeeps? I plan to give mines to my son in a few years.
Prob will buy another 1 or 2 used ones for me to build up. All will have to be with pre-AI invaison of privacy BS. Safety they say smh.
I think after this generation of Jeep if we don't spoke up and vote with our wallets nothing else will be worth buying.

 

[Mad Mac]

It all depends
on the maturity of the person.

Originally, I was going
to hand down my Jeep TJ
to my oldest grandchild
but decided I would not be able
to live with myself if anything happened.
I also did not want to cause strife
between the parents and children
about control and permission.

Accordingly, it has become my custom
and good fortune
to give my son or daughter
the maximum non-taxable gift of cash
on the 16th birthday
of their son or daughter
to use as they see fit.

This helped the parents
select the timing
and afford a newer and better vehicle
than the gift alone could provide
should they so choose.

For number one grandson,
my number one son promptly bought
a salvaged 2011 lifted JK
with manual transmission
which they worked on together.

Here on the property,
that same son, age 46, at the wheel,
within minutes
crashed into a creek bottom.
Before I could get to the tractor,
he was able to back out.
Age is no assurance of good judgment.

His son later on totaled that JK
and was able to walk away.
He then totaled my wife's GMC Yukon.
At age 24 he is on his third
hand me down vehicle,
his little brother's Ford F-150
which I also contributed to.

Little brother is doing much better
and advanced to a Toyota Tundra.

My daughter's daughter
is driving her mother's
2016 Rubicon Hardrock
that belonged to a cousin.
Keeping it in the family.
I cautioned her not to accept a dare
from anyone about wheeling.
You know, hold my beer and watch this.
So far, so good.

My youngest grandson, 14,
has little interest in driving
but wheels my '98 TJ
around the property responsibly.

When I soloed at 16,
the adage was
"There are bold pilots
and there are old pilots
but there are no old, bold pilots."
The same is true of vehicle drivers.

Or like I told one young man
complaining about the handling of his car,
even jet pilots have to
"stay within the performance envelope."

Judgment is a state of mind
refined over time,
if you live long enough.
At 78, I'm still working on it.

Keep the rubber side down.

 

[ATXNelson]

Got my son a 4 door JK, 2" lift with 35" tires when he turned 16. Responsible kid and he did fine. The wider 35x12.50 tires worked great because when he would hit or rub another car - tires took most of the impact. Better yet, got him a truck for college and I kept the JK.

 

[Ssober]

my daughter got her jk at 15

 

[Shibbyjeep]

I bought my first car, an 88 YJ the day I turned 15. So yes any Jeep.

 

[Josh00333]

18 yo me laughs at you "let" me statement.

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