What car would you buy for your kid?

[Dennis H]

Kids can buy their own car. Like I did. Then they can get what they want and pay for it. Like I did. Buying the "kids a car is baloney. It is a symptom of what is wrong here now.

 

[67CoronetR/T]

My parents gave me their 95 Olds Cutlass Cierra until I proved to them I was responsible. After 9 months of driving, they were convinced and let me buy a 94 Mustang.

 

[FU64RY]

You guys have it ALL wrong.................. We opted to have ZERO kids ZERO problems and lots of money to spend on ourselves. Yah! I have heard it before I WOULDN'T TRADE MY KIDS FOR THE WORLD. But many times you wanted to KILL them. Opt out of Children and buy another Mopar. I know you think I'm selfish but you know it's a good argument.

 

[Ron 73]

I did what my dad did, I would buy there first but they had to pay me back, pay there own insurance the first of the insurance we covered for them to give them a good start.. My dad wouldn't just buy me any car, he bought one that i liked though considering the choices i had (66 Impala 2 door HT) and told me when i payed him off, i could get whatever car i wanted, I did and then i did but i always appreciated how he helped me, not just giving me one but making it easier for me. I know there's a few more that had the same experience and sure everyone else would say its the best way.. Today's world is a lot different, the prices of fuel and available cars that go with the prices, I don't know what i would buy a kid now that is easier on the wallet with gas.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I bought my step daughter a 76 Feather Duster with a toasted 904. It was with the proviso that she helped repair the car. She never showed interest. I sold it. I GAVE my step son a good running Ford Aerostar van. He blew a radiator hose, ran it hot and kept driving it until it melted the aluminum heater hose fittings out of the intake manifold. It ran so hot it cracked the block and both heads, the rings finally collapsed and it died. He left it on the side of the road like ten years ago. I gave my son an S/10 truck and because of his behavior and failing grades, I took it back and sold it. Looking back, my parents never gave me a car. I had 4 cars when I was 16. All bought and paid for and insured by me. I think sometimes the more you give, the less it is appreciated.

 

[Pugly]

I have purchased all three a car to drive. One isn't driving yet, but He is coming up on it fast. I gave the first two the "talk", One failed to meet the criteria of the talk so he lost his car. The middle child learned from his brother and he still has his. They have both moved out and are own their own now. The oldest still doesn't have a car. I purchased my youngest the vehicle he wanted... a 56 Studebaker Pickup. It's almost in the same condition my first truck was in, barely runs and needs a ton of work. We are doing it as a father-son project.

As far as kids go, they are all different. Some appreciate things more than others and take care of their things different than the other ones, even in the same household. Buying my oldest his first car was a mistake, he was the one who needs to physically work for everything. He is 21 and still doesn't have a car. The middle one appreciated the efforts of others and took very good care of his car. He still had to get a part time job as school wasn't his top priority. The third understands well that his full time job is school, he works hard for the things he gets at home.

 

[Budnicks]

My son is almost 13 and he already wants to start working on his own car (which we do not have). I will match what he has for a car and help him fix what it needs. He is already saving money for a car, always asking if there is anything he can do to earn some money. His grades are very good plus I never have to tell him to get his homework done before doing anything else. If it stays this way I will do a lot more for his first car. I am lucky as he likes the old cars plus he wants to work on it himself as a challenge.

It sounds like your raising a great son & doing a fine job teaching him, that hard work will pay off in the long run... keep it up, we need more like him, to pass on our love for these old cars...

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As far as kids go, they are all different. Some appreciate things more than others and take care of their things different than the other ones, even in the same household. Buying my oldest his first car was a mistake, he was the one who needs to physically work for everything. He is 21 and still doesn't have a car. The middle one appreciated the efforts of others and took very good care of his car. He still had to get a part time job as school wasn't his top priority. The third understands well that his full time job is school, he works hard for the things he gets at home.

you got that 100% right, they do all have "their own distinctive personalities", no 2 are the same, even with twins I can vogue for that fact, also their friends/piers, that they hang out with, can really determine what type of teenager/adolescent or young adult your child will ultimately end up to be...

 

[pabster]

Yeah, "the talk" will be a major part of me helping out getting my kids cars. If they screw up, the car will be taken away. I don't think my father gave me a talk, I just knew that taking care of my car was the thing to do. Never mind it meant freedom, it meant dating, it meant road trips, it meant the world to me. I had my CRX for 8 years, beat the hell outta it but maintained it well... sold it to a friend and it got flooded by El Nino within a month. It was not meant to be driven by anyone but me.

If one of my kids took a car for granted, I would be blown away.

 

[Budnicks]

my parents used my cars/trucks/motorcycles even my bicycles, mini-bikes or go-cart's, even the horse when I younger, like a bait/ransom over my head, so I was good boy "usually", stayed out of trouble, I got decent grades, mostly A's & B's, thru-out school, if I got worse than that, I got different privileges taken away, but it made me a better student too, so I didn't get my driving/riding, even visiting or having friends over type privileges taken away, that was like total torture to me...

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I'm glad they did it now

 

[Propwash]

Yeah, "the talk" will be a major part of me helping out getting my kids cars. If they screw up, the car will be taken away. I don't think my father gave me a talk, I just knew that taking care of my car was the thing to do. Never mind it meant freedom, it meant dating, it meant road trips, it meant the world to me. I had my CRX for 8 years, beat the hell outta it but maintained it well... sold it to a friend and it got flooded by El Nino within a month. It was not meant to be driven by anyone but me.

If one of my kids took a car for granted, I would be blown away.

Sounds like you have a good dad...If it doesn't require any action or reminding to keep you in line back then, he did a good job of being a parent and teaching the rights/wrongs in the world.

 

[Flys-Lo]

I had one of those Volvo's (to OP) and it was a tank - EASY to work on if I had ever needed to. Some may be surprised but there are turbo versions that those crazy europeans race (do a youtube search for "turbo Volvo 240"). Some are sub-11 second cars. The NA cars hold records for high mileage.

I have involved my kids in wrenching on various cars over the years (see my 67 Satellite Barn Find thread) and it's good for them. We bought a GTI that was supposed to be for my oldest. He was 10 and we got it fixed up and sold it for a tidy profit. Put that money towards a Mustang GT. He and I got it running by the time he was 11 - sold it too. Maybe I'll look for him a nice classic Mopar, or who knows. I've got a few years until he's "road legal".

Here's the Mustang after we finished it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGQV8q8-AQM

 

[jbearden]

Slant 6 A body column shift auto.Decent milage,not fast enough to get killed in and some strong enough metal to survive an impact.My first car was a 73 Scamp with a warmed over small block.I got into a bunch of trouble in that thing!

 

[HawkRod]

I gave my son my 1973 Road Runner two and a half years ago. It was my first car I ever owned; met my wife through that car. I have TONS of memories and stories through that car.

My son "earned" it through great grades and being a good kid.

My wife was really scared to give a teen a souped up hot rod that handled poorly and didn't have ABS or air bags. So far, it has turned out to be a really cool story. He respects it because of its history and its "coolness factor", and actually drives way more carefully than he would if he had some lame, old Honda Accord with 300,000 miles on it and rusty quarter panels. On top of that, my son and I have gone together to a high performance driving school with it so he could really learn to handle it well. Once my 70 is on the road, he has challenged me to a drag race at the local strip. Fun stuff!

So far so good. Passing the car down to its next caretaker has worked out well so far. It is getting a few dings and wear in it since it is driven every day, but I consider those "love marks" created while he is bonding with the car...

First picture is me and my son at a car show in 1997. Next one shows him driving it a year ago.

 

[daredevil]

I wouldnt feel right sending my daughter anywhere in Houston without a very dependable car. If it broke down and something happened to her I couldnt live with myself. I drive a raggedy 96 s-10 everyday so that I could afford new for her. I,m prouder of taking care of my kids than I would be driving a new truck. My parents never gave me a damn thing and kicked me to the curb at 16. My kids will never be treated like I was.They dont (expect) it but as long as I can I will give it to them. Sorry if you dont agree but lifes hard enough on kids today.

 

[MikeyT]

I actually have thought about this some. I am going to look for a small bock A body for him to learn car ownership on, so he can learn the basics.

Mike

 

[tallhair]

You guys have it ALL wrong.................. We opted to have ZERO kids ZERO problems and lots of money to spend on ourselves. Yah! I have heard it before I WOULDN'T TRADE MY KIDS FOR THE WORLD. But many times you wanted to KILL them. Opt out of Children and buy another Mopar. I know you think I'm selfish but you know it's a good argument.

NEVER or anything close to it. I'm a firm believer in kids turn out how they are raised and your post really is unwarranted. Sorry for that but why would you post that in a public place where everyone's experiences are different? I love MOPARs like the rest of the folks here but i cannot understand why anyone would think that "I know you think I'm selfish but you know it's a good argument." would get a lot of love. If that's your deal fine but really?

 

[Dennis H]

No one owes you a car. Where did this come from? Entitlement mentality. I bought mine. Worked at the car wash etc. Whatever it took. i PAID for it. Good grades don't entitle you to a car. Period. You are not helping them, you are hampering them. Skin the game.

 

[Pops1967GTX]

First thing, 3 kids driving. 2 girls 1 Boy & now 3 accident later. My Insurance is off the Hook....
An old car is perfectly fine, as long as it’s safe, it gets a kid from Point A to Point B. And it's cheaper for insurance....

"Do you owe your Children a car".........I don't think so........

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

When I was in high school in the late 80's, my parents made my brother and I save up 6 months of car insurance $$ ahead of time BEFORE we could even get our driver's license. I was a little slower in saving up and didn't get my license until I was 17. I can say that this one thing taught me about responsibility and about working hard for something you want.

I also agree that a running older car not worth too much is probably best as many of us in their first year of driving inevitably have some form of minor accident. I know I did and I thought that I was a safe driver. I can't understand those parents that want to spoil their kids with a first car bought for them that is brand new or the kid's "dream car". What a waste. The kids don't know any better and once they start driving and see that most of their friends aren't driving nice new cars either, then they'll learn. They should be grateful if the parents help them get a car at all. Many families can't afford to buy even 1 extra used clunker, let alone a nice new one or a fixed up hot rod.

After I saved 6 months of insurance $ and got my own insurance policy, my dad was kind enough to loan me and my brother the use of my mom's '78 Datsun 200SX automatic. Ugly as crap and even slower, but good on gas. He also had us help him work on his daily driver '67 Impala 4-speed. Then after a year, he let us each drive the Impala for a year, with the condition that we maintain it and keep it running. He would help with advice and wrenching on it with us if we couldn't figure it out. I loved that he taught us responsibility, but also was right there to lend a hand if we asked. He HELPED us, but didn't do all the fixing himself.

My brother and I both put ourselves through college since my parents didn't have much money, so after he got himself a new truck, my dad ended up giving me the Impala a year and a half after high school graduation. He helped my brother buy a '72 Camaro by pitching in half of the $4K price tag. Pretty cool to have 2 classic cars in the household, but only after several years of driving under our belt.

There should be balance in everything. If you try to do EVERYTHING for your kids, they'll never learn how to take care of themselves without your help.

 

[daredevil]

No one owes you a car. Where did this come from? Entitlement mentality. I bought mine. Worked at the car wash etc. Whatever it took. i PAID for it. Good grades don't entitle you to a car. Period. You are not helping them, you are hampering them. Skin the game.

Dont and not going to agree with you. Fine you did your own but while my daughters in college i,ll do without to help her. I dont think i,m hampering her. Just giving her the chance I never got. Why did yall have kids if you dont want to give them anything or spoil them?