First new car

[K.C.]

I know there are alot of parents on the site, but this question is for those who don't have children as well.

What would you buy your son or daughter for their first car?

[XP715]

Nothing. They can learn the value of a dollar and get a job and buy their own damn car. Driving is a privelege, not a right. Can't tell you how many nice vehicle I've seen smashed up and fixed or replaced (multiple times, even!) on mommy and daddy's dollar. Give it to them and they take it for granted.

[SuperSport623]

Nothing. They can learn the value of a dollar and get a job and buy their own damn car. Driving is a privelege, not a right. Can't tell you how many nice vehicle I've seen smashed up and fixed or replaced (multiple times, even!) on mommy and daddy's dollar. Give it to them and they take it for granted.

i totally agree... im 17, and it kinda bothers me that everyone my age is not only handed a car, they expect it..... it bothers me cause i busted my ass for a long time to buy my nova, and these other kids my age do absolutley nothing..... ill give my kid a bus pass and the classifieds and when he's ready to buy a car with HIS (or her) money, reccomend a GM car

[trinacriabob]

While I may not have gotten a new car, I DID get hand-me downs....two Cutlass Supremes to be exact. I think it's a bit much to give a kid a NEW car, especially an expensive one, unless they paid for at least part of it. I don't have so much of a problem with a nicely depreciated 5- or 6-year old car that might have low miles and/or a lot of life left in it.

[loki]

i "recieved" a 83 regal wagon, surely some people know that by now... got my license in '99. i can totally see someone giving their child a "starter car" , kinda old, mostly reliable, nothing too exciting, only for them to really get alot of experience behind the wheel at.

but if i lived someplace remotely like NY with lots of walkers/masstransit, i'd prolly agree XP and SS

[bobo]

A Scion. They're not too powerful and have the requisite safety features, should be reliable, and aren't too dorky for a teenager.

[Dsuupr]

Having 2 girls I feel different about the earned part. My concern is their saftey over anything else. I'm kinda sexist in that way. The way I figure it; a 16 year old girl broken down on the side of the road has a much higher chance of something happening to her vs a 16 year old boy.

With that said, my first choice would be the HHR. They recently asked me to trade in the HHR for a Solstice so that they could have it when they get old enough.

What ever we decide to get them when they turn 16, it will have OnStar.

[FAPTurbo]

I got the truck by hand-me-down, but I have to do my Dad's bidding when he needs work done on one of his properties.

However, I'd never buy a new car for a kid. Like people have mentioned before, I have seen brand new cars get smashed up by new drivers. One guy at my old high-school got a new Infinity G35, and within months it needed thousands of dollars in repairs.

Plus, other people I know who got cars for reaching an age don't do too much. Most don't take a full course load at school, and don't have jobs. Coincidence?

[SuperSport623]

Anyone watch That 70's Show? the first episode when Eric is totally excited when he gets the vista cruiser..... who needs electronic safety equipment when you surround yourself with 2 tons of steel.

ill give my kids a bigass vintage wagon....

mmmmmm wagon.....

sorry... i slid off topic for a sec!

Edited September 3, 2007 by SuperSport623

[pow]

9-3 sedan

[AxelTheRed]

I'd probably do what my parents did and give my kid an old hand-me-down beater.

Besides my old war wagon of an Oldsmobile lasted up until 150,000 miles beforei t broke totally down.

Edited September 3, 2007 by AxelTheRed

[Flybrian]

Nothing foreign.

[NOS2006]

Anyone watch That 70's Show? the first episode when Eric is totally excited when he gets the vista cruiser..... who needs electronic safety equipment when you surround yourself with 2 tons of steel.

ill give my kids a bigass vintage wagon....

mmmmmm wagon.....

sorry... i slid off topic for a sec!

hahah I love that show!

[NOS2006]

I would buy the first car, but I'd find a cheap, reliable one. It's hard enough for a kid to find a job these days, ask BV. And for a kid to have a job, with their parents' busy lifestyles of today, the kids usually don't really have a ride to work to make money to pay for the car.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? If the chicken were the car and the egg were the money, the money would have to come first. But, without a coop (coupe? haha, play on words), the egg would've never been laid, or had.

[Intrepidation]

XP and NOS make good points. I paid for my Driver's Ed, and road test. For a while I drove a beater until I had the money to buy my first car.

If you have to buy the child a first car, buy them a cheap beater. If they want something better they can earn it.

[Northstar]

I don't agree with those saying that kids that are just given cars don't appreciate it or are abusive to the cars. If I was given a beater, I wouldn't have given a $h! about it and drove the hell out of it. Never would have cared for it, etc. I was given a 3 year old Alero that my sister has driven, which I feel is a pretty good first car for someone. I washed it pretty regularly and cleaned it out when it was starting to get dirty. If I was given, say, a 1990 Cavalier, I never would have washed it or cleaned out the inside.

Get something that is:

-reliable

-safe

-not overly powerful

-something they will appreciate, ie not a beater that they'll never care to wash or clean, something that is decent but not great that they'll at least want to keep looking as good as possible

[ocnblu]

Something safe, small, easy to drive, affordable, not overly powerful, and made by GM. Cobalt, G5 or Astra.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Nothing foreign.

Does that include the Equinox and Torrent, that are rated 5 stars in side and frontal crash test, and is built in Canada and has a Chinese engine? I hate to use a Clintonism, but it all depends on what foreign (is), is!

Edited September 3, 2007 by Pontiac Custom-S

[staceface]

When my daughter started to drive, she couldn't drive my dealership demos. We took over an incredible lease on a Canyon, (yes, i have inside info - LOL) split the monthly payment, and she'll drive that until the lease is up. When that's done she's decided to purchase a good used car that she'll take to college. I promised to match her dollar for dollar, so she'll get something decent, but still feel like she bought it herself.

[CARBIZ]

When my daughter started to drive, she couldn't drive my dealership demos. We took over an incredible lease on a Canyon, (yes, i have inside info - LOL) split the monthly payment, and she'll drive that until the lease is up. When that's done she's decided to purchase a good used car that she'll take to college. I promised to match her dollar for dollar, so she'll get something decent, but still feel like she bought it herself.

That's a good plan. I've seen parents do that: lease a Cobalt for the spawn while they are in college, with the promise that if the marks are good, the folks will pay it out and 'give' it to them; if the marks are bad, then they are walking after college. Same thing if they get a lot of tickets or infractions: walking.

I had to drive my mother's (11 year old) '67 Newport in yellow when I got my license. More Tremclad rust paint then original paint left. Even had duct tape on it! That was an embarassment on wheels!

[K.C.]

Great discussion here. The reason I asked is because I bought my son his first new car on the premise that he worked part time and kept a 3.0 average in school. I bought him an 01 Grand Prix GT and he paid for the insurance, gas, maintenance, and kept his grades up. If he totalled the car then it would be up to him to replace it and pay his deductible. My daughter will be turning 16 in a few years and I plan on buying her a Saturn Astra under the same premise.

[NOS2006]

Nothing foreign.

Dude, if your kid went and bought a Toyota, I think you'd have a heart attack...

[K.C.]

Or disowned

[NOS2006]

Or disowned

That may be true, but his Aurora would probably end up once again being OWNED by that Toy-ota.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

My first car was a '73 Camaro Z28/RS. (Yep, the one I've since restored--- I've had it almost 10 years and am just now getting the interior finished up)

Of course; I had to pay my parents every penny back.

My town is roughy 20,000 people and I had the only red with black racing stripes split bumper Camaro. I couldn't get away with anything because people always knew me by my car. I got pulled over for speeding one day and the State Trooper knew me and my dad very well. (Dad was the fire chief at the time) He didn't write me a ticket, but he did scare the hell out of me and tell me: "You'd better go straight home and tell your dad, because I'll be calling him soon." Dad, of course, thought it was funny as hell (After he and mom gave me a rather serious talk) and then had fun laughing at my expense when the State Trooper did indeed call and brag about how he had scared the hell out of me. (My parents had told me that 1 ticket = selling the Camaro, and they would've too had Chris given me the ticket)

Anyway, I got a lot of $h! for being only 16 and owning a car like that. People would constantly say: "You don't deserve a car like that" and "That's a coffin on wheels, are your parents crazy?" (A quote specifically from an in town insurance provider)

I would highly reccommend something like my current car, a 2001 Focus ZX3. It's a lot of fun to drive, cheap to feed and pretty cool to look at. Not to mention the hatch actually holds A LOT of crap (Useful for moving to college if you're going to be bouncing in and out of dorm rooms) The only thing I would advise to do is take a look at quality rankings and get 'one of the good years' I knew I was kinda sorta taking a chance with my 2001, but I'm also a shade tree mechanic and I'm well prepared to defend myself if I break down in a sketchy part of town. However, so far I've put almost 50,000 miles on my 2001 (For a total of 89-90,000) and it has been absolutely trouble free.

Edited September 4, 2007 by FUTURE_OF_GM

[SuperSport623]

Anybody notice when people get cool cars that they dont understand?

a girl at my school last year asked me to take a look at her new truck her dad just bought her... she explained that no matter what she did, the car would whine when she gave it gas... so before knowing what kinda truck it was, i was thinking belts squeaking or something... i go out to the parking lot, and when she points out her truck... i laugh.... it was a top of the line Land Rover, and the "whine" was the factory supercharger

Edited September 4, 2007 by SuperSport623

[Cory Wolfe]

The chances of myself having a kid is very slight, so this isn't really applicable to me.

With that said, if it came to be, probably something safe above all else. Beyond that, whatever my supposed kid would want. If you teach them how to drive properly and to be responsible and such, you shouldn't have to worry too much. It's not the kids, it's the parents. Relying on the kid to figure things out on their own isn't the smartest thing to do.

[Flybrian]

That may be true, but his Aurora would probably end up once again being OWNED by that Toy-ota.

You all suck.

[K.C.]

The chances of myself having a kid is very slight, so this isn't really applicable to me.

With that said, if it came to be, probably something safe above all else. Beyond that, whatever my supposed kid would want. If you teach them how to drive properly and to be responsible and such, you shouldn't have to worry too much. It's not the kids, it's the parents. Relying on the kid to figure things out on their own isn't the smartest thing to do.

BV, you never know about the kid thing bud. You could hook up with some hot gay dad and become a dad yourself. It happened to my former partner, so it could happen to you. There's lots of gay dad's out there.

[Cory Wolfe]

BV, you never know about the kid thing bud. You could hook up with some hot gay dad and become a dad yourself. It happened to my former partner, so it could happen to you. There's lots of gay dad's out there.

In that way, true, but I'm talking more or less about one of my own blood.

[Camino LS6]

If I had a kid, we would build one together starting about a year or two before the big 16 hit. That way, some knowledge and a real feel for the machine would be handed over along with the keys. If you put your own blood,sweat, tears, and money into something you tend to respect it more. No freebies, no disposable mentality if I'm calling the shots. Plus, it would be a great way to spend time together.

Moot point though as I neither have, nor want kids.

Oh well.

[vonVeezelsnider]

If I had a kid, we would build one together starting about a year or two before the big 16 hit. That way, some knowledge and a real feel for the machine would be handed over along with the keys. If you put your own blood,sweat, tears, and money into something you tend to respect it more. No freebies, no disposable mentality if I'm calling the shots. Plus, it would be a great way to spend time together.

Moot point though as I neither have, nor want kids.

Oh well.

I'd like to do that with a B-Body Roadmaster or Fleetwood, or maybe an Aurora if I have a kid... Too bad I've got no mechanical knowledge whatsoever...

[Camino LS6]

I'd like to do that with a B-Body Roadmaster or Fleetwood, or maybe an Aurora if I have a kid... Too bad I've got no mechanical knowledge whatsoever...

Then you can learn together.

[K.C.]

Camino, thats great quality time and I know you don't want kids, but if you were a dad, I think you'd be a great one. The quality time I spent with my father talking about cars, and changing the oil in cars, was something that I would not trade for the world.

Edited September 5, 2007 by K.C.

[Camino LS6]

Camino, thats great quality time and I know you don't want kids, but if you were a dad, I think you'd be a great one. The quality time I spent with my father talking about cars, and changing the oil in cars, was something that I would not trade for the world.

Thanks.

I've taught a few kids to know their way around a car and I've enjoyed it. But I was glad that I could send them home when the job was done. :AH-HA_wink:

[SuperSport623]

If I had a kid, we would build one together starting about a year or two before the big 16 hit. That way, some knowledge and a real feel for the machine would be handed over along with the keys. If you put your own blood,sweat, tears, and money into something you tend to respect it more. No freebies, no disposable mentality if I'm calling the shots. Plus, it would be a great way to spend time together.

Moot point though as I neither have, nor want kids.

Oh well.

TOTALLY! honestly, some of the greatest memories i have with my dad were either working on his tractor trailers, or our family cars.... when i was 15 me and him starting rebuilding his old pickup as a project between us.... he died a few months after we started working on it, and it was too much work for me to handle alone.... bt i cant wait to work on a car with my kid (which is a long long way off)

[vonVeezelsnider]

Then you can learn together.

I'm game as long as I don't end up torching my house .

[daves87rs]

It kinda depends for me...they do have to put money in it though...

If your kid ends up a car nut, getting them something cheaper but enjoyable might not be a bad idea...a co-worker's daughter is getting a v6 Mustang....and she is quite crazy about hot rods...and her and her dad plan to mod this 08 stang'

together...she's even picked up an 89 Escort as a winter beater....

If a car is the last thing they worry about, the a slightly used Focus, Cavalier, Neon, Cobalt, S-series (and so on) would be a good choice...

[NOS2006]

Actually, I'd say the perfect first car would be a Toyota Prius. With 65 MPG* fuel efficiency and styling second to none, you can't go wrong! Save your kid some money, and buy them the most reliable, fuel efficient, stylish car ever!

*Estimate only. May be flawed by about 20-30 MPG, find out at your own discretion.

[K.C.]

Actually, I'd say the perfect first car would be a Toyota Prius. With 65 MPG* fuel efficiency and styling second to none, you can't go wrong! Save your kid some money, and buy them the most reliable, fuel efficient, stylish car ever!

*Estimate only. May be flawed by about 20-30 MPG, find out at your own discretion.

I sure hope this is sarcasm.

[NOS2006]

I sure hope this is sarcasm.

Oh, of course not. What's sarcasm? :AH-HA_wink:

[K.C.]

Dont make me come over there boy!

[NOS2006]

Nah, I ****ing hate that car with a passion. If there's one vehicle out there that I flip out about when I see it, it's that.