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Updated Thursday, August 27, 2009 10:56 AM
I know why parents don't buy cars for their kids
I remember this conversation like it was yesterday. Dad, can I have a car?
"No. You don't need one."
My father had one other stock answer. "Yes, when you buy one with your own money."
Either way, Dad knew I wasn't getting a car. He didn't really want me to have one either. Years later he told me that when kids get cars, they start worrying more about their cars than they do about their school work and activities, and he didn't want me to do that.
One of my not-so-favorite high school memories is that every time I got to borrow the car, a 1971 Buick Electra 225 Limited, it never seemed to have any gas in it, which left me footing the bill for $1.38 a gallon gasoline -- a hefty price back in the early 1980s.
So I got my first car when I was 22 years old and in my last semester in college, a 1965 Plymouth Belvedere. It was okay, I could have slept through my classes and still graduated. I needed hours.
Though I feel like I've been chained to them ever since by gas prices, insurance premiums, parking fees, tolls, repairs, payments. It's almost a liberating experience to go to a city with an extensive public transportation network, so you can thumb your nose at the automobile for at least one day.
Now, I'm a parent, and I get to hear the same questions from my daughter.
And it's a bit eerie how much I sound like my own father, although we will teach her to drive, and she will get her license when she's old enough.
After the first week of school though, I did start to think about how much easier life would be if my daughter had her own car and she could drive herself here and there for school functions, etc.
Naaah. I think my dad was right. A car is one less thing to worry about when you've got all that drama that is high school to go through. Besides, I've got to see how she's going to pay for gas for my car.
 Comments ... 4 found!
Cars For Teens : 9/2/2009
My brother bought his daughter a car that is three years old. He has put it in the body shop twice because of wrecks, one was her fault. I feel that she was texting that caused the last rear-end collision. Thank God no one was hurt. She will not admit that she was texting. She is about to start college, I hope the last wreck has taught her a lesson. The insurance is going up, she can't afford another wreck.
The Aunt
: 8/31/2009
My niece is so very spoiled that just before she turned 21 her Grandpa bought her a brand new car. He pays all the payments and the insurance on the car too. All she has to do it stay in college. Well she stayed in but her grades are really lousy but he didn't ask for good grades. I would never do that for my child no matter. I might get her a car but it sure wouldn't be brand new and at that age she would have to help with all the payments and insurance.
Not so proud Aunt
: 8/29/2009
What I did was buy my daughter a not so nice used car. It doesn't look so great but it drives fine and is in good running order. The car is a plus for her and me. However, there are rules. Just because she has a car of her own doesn't mean she can just do what she wants. She still has to tell me who she's going to be with and where they are going and when she will be back etc. It works. She has really good grades and is now a senior in high school and a freshman in college so the car hasn't been a distraction at all. In many ways it has been a blessing! Also, since I would have to put gas in my car to run her places I just put the gas in her car and spend way less on gas for my car.
Not so mean parent
cars for teens : 8/29/2009
I whole heartedly agree with this. My son just turned 16 and is wanting to go to work so that he can save for a car. But even that can be a distraction to his school work. He can get a job so that he can save for a car, but he will quit if it interfers with his schooling. I am more concerned about how my kid learns than I am in what their buddies think of them. Kids have enough trouble now days...they sure don't need their parents enabling those problems. How do you feel about cell phones for kids? Mine doesn't have one of those either.
a meany parent
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