Finding a decent used car for a kid

[908/930]

G35 for a young person, probably a bad idea unless you pull two spark plugs out, we had a 2004 very fast car, I remember smoking the back tires up at 20mph. They are over 300hp.

[Sooner or later]

Numb nuts

[Tobra]

I would pull some timing on that G35 if I could so it will drive a bit more doggy

[Cajundaddy]

Been there, done that, got the hat and the T-shirt.

When my youngest turned 17 she was playing Water Polo at a fairly high level and colleges were courting. WE needed a car so WE would not have to drive her to practice 5 days/wk, school etc. We found a 98 VW Passat in good shape and it was a really fun car to drive. We paid the bills, she kept up her grades and continued to work towards HS All American athletics.

She drove well and never crunched the car but didn't bother checking things like fluids or gauges as she was trained to do. One day she had a coolant hose fail, wondered why all that steam was coming out, ignored the pegged temp gauge, and terminally overheated the motor. Eeesh! We had the motor rebuilt and sold the car in good running condition.

She needed a more bulletproof ride so we found a 1990 Honda DX hatchback strippy. Auto trans, A/C, barren interior. She never liked the car because it was boring to drive and boring to look at. We encouraged her to buy whatever car she wants with her own $$ and we would sell this one and keep the cash. She didn't follow instructions, killed the really fun Passat and now we are down to cheap and reliable with zero charisma. She drove it all through college and bought a clean used Avalon when she graduated from UCSD. She checks fluids and tires every week and watches her gauges.

Lessons learned all around.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Instrument 41

I am not enabling. He is 22 but going on 14.

+1

You did smack him a bit with the car shuffle.

You can have a fist-full of righteousness or keep the big plan on track. I defer to the latter.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Numb nuts

lol

Good call to give the more powerful car to the more responsible kid!

[mattdavis11]

Glad you went that direction and the problem is resolved.

Two months ago I was thrown a curve. My 2000 Camry with 362K is down, transmission, Momma totals her MDX, the following week our son gets rear ended, and that one was totaled.

We got momma another 2009 MDX pretty quick, I drove the totaled, but driveable, 2002 Accord, and he Ubered. Insurance picked up the uber rides for him. A week after we bought her MDX, I bought a 2004 Acura TL. Nice car 150K for $4000. I bought the accord salvage as well for $540 and still drive it. Problem solved, 3 cars for $13540.

He's doing well in school, checks the oil, etc.. However, he knows one car has to go when I get mine going again. We better not see any tickets, dings or D's or the TL is mine and he'll get whichever I decide.

Stressful to deal with, but it will always work out.

[DonDavis]

Your 22 yr old “lied, lied, lied”... so you bought your older son an Infiniti, then gave the other son another car, and you pay insurance for both?

I’m fully aware it’s none of my business what you do with your family...but you asked on a public forum.

You may need to revisit the definition of “enabling”.

And please report back when the 22, er, I mean 14 yr old trashes yet another car on your dime.

Or worse yet, does something really immature that’s reportable on your insurance.
Get an umbrella policy to cover your assets, asafp.

But please know, I truly hope for the best. Seriously, I do.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

...
And please report back when the 22, er, I mean 14 yr old trashes yet another car on your dime.

.....

I wrote the check for my older sister's last vehicle ....dad replaced the engine when she ran it completely out of oil a few years ago...

Saw my ex gf's kid do the same (almost intentionally it seemed) on his Honda...

Decades apart....both going on 14

No skin in the game...

Grades don't mean squat if yer gifted....college is to prepare you for life...lessons.

You did ask on a public forum...

Best to you all....and I love to be wrong sonetimes

[jcommin]

All you need is one bad experience and it changes you forever. My oldest got his license when he was 18 and I swear he drove a car as if he was in grand theft auto. He totalled a car and runied 2 vehicles. He had no less than 4 moving violations within a 12 month period and his license was suspended. It was a real tuff period for me as I was going thru a very ugly divorce. My car insurance went from $500 semi annually to $500/month and I couldn't get him off my policy even with his suspension. The reasoning: his was living with me. The only way I could get him off my policy was he either moved or got his own insurance. Things got worse and I finally threw him out of the house when he turned 19. I was depressed for several months. A few years later, he told me it was the best thing I ever did for him.

I have a younger son and there was no way I would buy him a car or place him on my insurance policy. He is on his own. He is 25 today - he has a different midset.

[VincentVega]

Its funny how we all think we have the answer to this kind of stuff. I dont have kids but like to read the opinions, if only because its interesting. When I was a kid I remember talking to my dad about a car. He made it pretty clear it was up to me. Somehow I made it work. He helped me out and used to let me borrow his pickup to mow lawns that were too far away to push to. Now, he asks me about cars. My answer, its up to you.

[Rusty Heap]

I was raised to work hard, play hard.


Made my parents very proud when I bought my first car (VW bug) at 16 with my own money of $2500.



"Kid are really cute and fun, but I don't want to own any" - Ellen Degeneress

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Your 22 yr old “lied, lied, lied”...

My kid ran a 2002 Corolla out of oil and told me the truth.

So I rebuilt the engine for him and had the new oil ring lands drilled oversize for less oil burn.

He has wrecked several cars, including my 911 due to an addiction problem. There's a list of life errors and my enabling (picking up pieces) that I'll spare you.

He is my son. I got only one. Not kicking him to the curb.

However, he is a wonderful man when clean and sober which he is today.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Lots of used Toyota engines out there.

Dad may be able to provide one generous weekend to watch him source a used engine.
(cost would be added to the taxi service tab.)
And another weekend to watch him put it in, from a heated lawn chair.

The lying part would be a debt to be paid off over many years.
Mistakes happen. Lies can be fatal.

[aschen]

Man turns his back on his family aint no friend of mine


My neighborhood classifiedes always has decent cars in the 3-5k range. I think its much better than the conventional channels because it is a relatively affluent area and people arnt really profit maximizing. Im sure there is something similar in most areas

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I like that. Best wishes for continuance. Chemistry is a strange phenomenon, not well understood and a battle at least.

You're a good man, Bob Kontak.

That is a nice thing to say. Thank you.

I think the OP made a well thought through decision. Other parents struggle with the same issues. Maybe not exactly the same but helping pull your kid's butt out of a ditch that he put himself into is not a dishonorable thing.