Teens should always get used cars, not new ones

lazy23 · 12-29-2007, 03:08 AM

My uncle is thinking of buying my cousin a car when she turns 17. Their family can afford a new car. They are thinking something sensible like a Camry or Accord... but I suggested that it might be better to start her off with an old car.

Yes older cars might take a bit more TLC but all that maintenance knowledge is valuable! I sincerely believe that owning a used car is a great experience for a tennager to go through.

A 4-5 year old Camry or Accord is still very safe. Besides, to get handed something brand new as your first car seems to send them a wrong message in my opinion.

katlady · 12-29-2007, 03:10 AM

Safety is probably your uncle's biggest concern. On the other hand, 99% of my friends all got used cars as their first rides and we all turned out ok.

Another cost to consider is insurance. Teens + New Car = crazy premium!

hollyvangogh · 12-31-2007, 07:14 PM

Getting any car handed to you seems silly to me. If teens want their own car they should get a job and pay for it themselves. It'll teach them to earn what they want. I used the family car when I was a teen and I turned out just fine.

rodaniel · 01-01-2008, 02:27 AM

I've always said the same, "No kid needs a new car." But I'm starting to rethink that notion and maybe now it needs to be, "No kid needs a new car with more than 4 cylinders." The only thing that's making me waffle are the vastly improved safety features that a new car offers over one that's even 4-5 years old. Wishful thinking won't make wrecks not occur - plan for the eventuality and say your prayers that the safety features are never put to the test.

But I still maintain that whatever car you're going to give - and I agree with Holly that it shouldn't just be a handout - should be utterly practical and incapable of anything remotely close to "hotrodding." To give a kid a car that's capable of going fast is to give a kid a car that's capable of killing him/her (and likely several others in the process) quickly. Sure, there are some exceptions, but most kids will abuse whatever horsepower they're given and that's just a tragedy waiting for an opportunity.

Whatever the ride is, there needs to be some maintenance responsibilities that accompany it. Your teen needs to understand that routine upkeep tasks are what will ensure that the car will continue to run - and how to do them. Rather than having that explained to me, I learned that lesson the hard way!

Rob

Sophie · 01-01-2008, 02:40 AM

Wow - parents are considering buying a 17 year old a car and the debate is about new vs used?! Please pardon me, but this is unheard of around here. I can't think of any of my contemporaries that received a car at any stage, let alone so young. Maybe I've been sheltered, but buying a car seems very extravagant to me. Hell, my parents were reluctant to give me even bus fare money once I started working in my last two years of high school.

rodaniel · 01-01-2008, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophie

Wow - parents are considering buying a 17 year old a car and the debate is about new vs used?! Please pardon me, but this is unheard of around here. I can't think of any of my contemporaries that received a car at any stage, let alone so young. Maybe I've been sheltered, but buying a car seems very extravagant to me. Hell, my parents were reluctant to give me even bus fare money once I started working in my last two years of high school.

I think it may be a generational thing, Sophie. I was given an old beater when I was 17, but it was so I'd have a way to get to work. And I scratched and scrimped like crazy to put gas in the car and keep it running. Some of my pals had cooler, newer cars and sure, I was jealous, but the lessons learned are still ones that serve me well more than 20 years later.

New or used, kids need to value and take great care of what they have - and they need to learn the hard way what happens when they don't. But if you've waited until they're old enough to drive to start teaching your child this lesson, you may be in for a very bumpy ride...

Rob

Livingalmostlarge · 01-01-2008, 12:46 PM

I didn't even get a car until I bought one after college. I'd have been happy to get any car at 17. I was jealous of people in college who had cars that were beaters because they even got something from their parents. I got bupkiss.

arcadian · 01-01-2008, 03:35 PM

does your cousin know you are trying to get her a downgrade?

anitra · 01-02-2008, 01:53 PM

A used car should be ANYONE's first car, regardless of their age. Whether the parents buy it for their teenager or make them fund some/all of it is up to the family. Everyone who drives should know how to do basic maintenance on their car (oil change, tire change, check fluids), and a used car will prompt this a bit more than a new one will.

Personally, I got free use of my parents' minivan whilst in college, and my father bought me my first car when I was about to enter the workforce. It was ten years old and cost a measly $2000, but all my extra money was going to pay for my two remaining college classes. I was really appreciative of it, even though I grew to hate the car itself pretty quickly. It kept me from going into (more) debt or buying more car than I could handle.

12-29-2007, 03:08 AM	#1
lazy23 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (15)	Teens should always get used cars, not new ones My uncle is thinking of buying my cousin a car when she turns 17. Their family can afford a new car. They are thinking something sensible like a Camry or Accord... but I suggested that it might be better to start her off with an old car. Yes older cars might take a bit more TLC but all that maintenance knowledge is valuable! I sincerely believe that owning a used car is a great experience for a tennager to go through. A 4-5 year old Camry or Accord is still very safe. Besides, to get handed something brand new as your first car seems to send them a wrong message in my opinion.

01-01-2008, 02:27 AM	#4
rodaniel Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Odessa, Texas Posts: 48 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I've always said the same, "No kid needs a new car." But I'm starting to rethink that notion and maybe now it needs to be, "No kid needs a new car with more than 4 cylinders." The only thing that's making me waffle are the vastly improved safety features that a new car offers over one that's even 4-5 years old. Wishful thinking won't make wrecks not occur - plan for the eventuality and say your prayers that the safety features are never put to the test. But I still maintain that whatever car you're going to give - and I agree with Holly that it shouldn't just be a handout - should be utterly practical and incapable of anything remotely close to "hotrodding." To give a kid a car that's capable of going fast is to give a kid a car that's capable of killing him/her (and likely several others in the process) quickly. Sure, there are some exceptions, but most kids will abuse whatever horsepower they're given and that's just a tragedy waiting for an opportunity. Whatever the ride is, there needs to be some maintenance responsibilities that accompany it. Your teen needs to understand that routine upkeep tasks are what will ensure that the car will continue to run - and how to do them. Rather than having that explained to me, I learned that lesson the hard way! Rob __________________ Life's a beach! \| http://www.2Dolphins.com/ Liam is finally home! \| Rob & Dede's Russian Adoption Journal

01-01-2008, 12:46 PM	#7
Livingalmostlarge Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I didn't even get a car until I bought one after college. I'd have been happy to get any car at 17. I was jealous of people in college who had cars that were beaters because they even got something from their parents. I got bupkiss. __________________ LivingAlmostLarge Blog

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12-29-2007, 03:10 AM	#2
katlady Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (11)	Safety is probably your uncle's biggest concern. On the other hand, 99% of my friends all got used cars as their first rides and we all turned out ok. Another cost to consider is insurance. Teens + New Car = crazy premium!

12-31-2007, 07:14 PM	#3
hollyvangogh Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Getting any car handed to you seems silly to me. If teens want their own car they should get a job and pay for it themselves. It'll teach them to earn what they want. I used the family car when I was a teen and I turned out just fine.

01-01-2008, 02:40 AM	#5
Sophie Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sydney, Oz Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Wow - parents are considering buying a 17 year old a car and the debate is about new vs used?! Please pardon me, but this is unheard of around here. I can't think of any of my contemporaries that received a car at any stage, let alone so young. Maybe I've been sheltered, but buying a car seems very extravagant to me. Hell, my parents were reluctant to give me even bus fare money once I started working in my last two years of high school.

01-01-2008, 03:35 PM	#8
arcadian Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (11)	does your cousin know you are trying to get her a downgrade?

01-02-2008, 01:53 PM	#9
anitra Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 27 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (15)	A used car should be ANYONE's first car, regardless of their age. Whether the parents buy it for their teenager or make them fund some/all of it is up to the family. Everyone who drives should know how to do basic maintenance on their car (oil change, tire change, check fluids), and a used car will prompt this a bit more than a new one will. Personally, I got free use of my parents' minivan whilst in college, and my father bought me my first car when I was about to enter the workforce. It was ten years old and cost a measly $2000, but all my extra money was going to pay for my two remaining college classes. I was really appreciative of it, even though I grew to hate the car itself pretty quickly. It kept me from going into (more) debt or buying more car than I could handle.