Kids who get new cars for their 16th birthday

[Anonymous]

I still remember the classmate who got the brand new red sports car for her 16th birthday, and this was 30+ years ago.

She was a fantastic, responsible student, so perhaps it was a reward of sorts for that, but as a parent, I confess to not understanding the mindset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Belated Quincearea present.

Common in many Hispanic cultures.

I'm biracial- my Mexican mom took me to Europe when I turned 15 and my white dad gave me his old car the next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids in my high school who got a new car ended up wrecking it. One guy I know got a brand new Mustangs and flipped it within a few weeks of his 16th birthday. How dumb do you have to be as parents?

+1

People who buy 16-year-olds expensive new cars are idiots. Especially if they buy an SUV or a sports car that a brand-new driver doesn't really have the experience, skills, or judgment to handle.

I went to a HS with a fair number of wealthy kids. They mostly did not get new cars -- they got their parents' old sedan instead. The kids who did get new cars were the people you'd expect, and they unsurprisingly ended up with a bunch of speeding tickets and accidents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids in my high school who got a new car ended up wrecking it. One guy I know got a brand new Mustangs and flipped it within a few weeks of his 16th birthday. How dumb do you have to be as parents?

My favorites in high school were the ones who wrecked the brand new ridiculous expensive car for their 16th birthday and the parents turn around and buy them another new one immediately. One kid in my class wrecked 3 brand new cars within months of turning 16. Parents have more money than sense.

[Anonymous]

I was a Freshman at Whitman when this crash occurred and it still colors my views on teen driving.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1994/09/07/weeks-after-getting-license-teen-crashes-killing-2-injuring-2/f54ea36c-07a8-4b19-be9d-c340aa0bc09b/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids in my high school who got a new car ended up wrecking it. One guy I know got a brand new Mustangs and flipped it within a few weeks of his 16th birthday. How dumb do you have to be as parents?

Same. And one kid who got a Porche wrapped it around a tree and died. Not something I would ever aspire to as a parent

It's because the cars were new, it's because they were high performance cars--that's the idiocy. Buy a safe (and not powerful) car. There are many lists of them out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids in my high school who got a new car ended up wrecking it. One guy I know got a brand new Mustangs and flipped it within a few weeks of his 16th birthday. How dumb do you have to be as parents?

Same. And one kid who got a Porche wrapped it around a tree and died. Not something I would ever aspire to as a parent

It's because the cars were new, it's because they were high performance cars--that's the idiocy. Buy a safe (and not powerful) car. There are many lists of them out there.

Edit, it's NOT because they were new. Kind of an important word to leave out.

[Anonymous]

When my older sister turned 16, she got my dad's hand me down, which was only a couple of years old and was pretty nice. but it also came with chauffeur responsibilities for me. When I got my license, I got my grandma's very old car. My parents paid the insurance and maintenance, but it was understood, for both my sister and me, that the cars came with responsibilities and expectations. We both very responsible, earned good grades, had extra curricular activities, and worked. I'm glad I had the opportunity to experience car ownership and the responsibilities that came with it while still under my parents' umbrella.

We have talked about plans for our kids, and while our oldest is only 12, we will likely give her our minivan to drive when she's ready.

[Anonymous]

I don't think I know anyone who's gotten a new car on their 16th birthday. My kids grew up pretty wealthy (Biglaw partner) and went to top public schools in the DMV. They didn't get new cars on their 16th birthdays -- or any cars, ever -- and neither did any of their friends. The notion of somebody getting a car on their birthday never came up.

Is this a private school thing? Maybe it happens because parents are happy not to have to drive the kids to school anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I know anyone who's gotten a new car on their 16th birthday. My kids grew up pretty wealthy (Biglaw partner) and went to top public schools in the DMV. They didn't get new cars on their 16th birthdays -- or any cars, ever -- and neither did any of their friends. The notion of somebody getting a car on their birthday never came up.

Is this a private school thing? Maybe it happens because parents are happy not to have to drive the kids to school anymore?

It was pretty common in Southern California, where I grew up in the mid 90s. Huge car culture. I went to a very middle class public school with lots of 1st generation Americans and it was a massive point of pride to give your kid a new car. 1st gen Asian kids got new Acuras, plus a smattering of BMWs and Mercedes if their parents were particularly successful. UMC white kids got new Jettas, Mustangs, Jeeps, and pick-up trucks.

Kids from more modest means often got restored classic cars for their 16th or 17th birthday. Usually dad + kid would work on restoring it for a year or two. I had tons of friends with restored Chevy's, VW Beetles & Busses, and Fords from the 1960s and 70s.

It seems that people are more modest in the DC area, even if they can afford nice things. I know that in wealthy suburbs of NJ and NY lots of kids are getting Tesla 3s, Jeeps, and BMW 3-series based on friends' social media. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids in my high school who got a new car ended up wrecking it. One guy I know got a brand new Mustangs and flipped it within a few weeks of his 16th birthday. How dumb do you have to be as parents?

Same. And one kid who got a Porche wrapped it around a tree and died. Not something I would ever aspire to as a parent

It's because the cars were new, it's because they were high performance cars--that's the idiocy. Buy a safe (and not powerful) car. There are many lists of them out there.

Edit, it's NOT because they were new. Kind of an important word to leave out.

Yes absolutely that kid had no business driving a Porche. It just seems like part of the continuum of car worship...the extreme part of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And their mom posts the photo of the car with a big bow on Instagram. I find it gross. And of course I’m jealous that I can’t do this for my kid. Although I’m not sure I would if I could. My kid now has to go to school with other kids who have brand new cars. Ugh.

Oh no! Really? This really shouldn't be tolerated. I can't imagine having to learn in such conditions. Can we all attend the next BOE meeting to see if a resolution can be reached? I can't believe, in 2021, this is allowed to continue.

Thoughts and Prayers, OP.

[Anonymous]

I’d never let a 16 year old drive without a lot of restrictions; better to wait until age 18. Ex trauma nurse, way too many critical motor vehicles accidents when youngsters are given more freedom without the needed experience and mature judgement. Can’t imagine setting a kid up for problems/injury by doing this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And their mom posts the photo of the car with a big bow on Instagram. I find it gross. And of course I’m jealous that I can’t do this for my kid. Although I’m not sure I would if I could. My kid now has to go to school with other kids who have brand new cars. Ugh.

It's a good lesson in life.

Some kids get new cars.
Some kids get new cars when they wreck their first new car.
Some kids get used cars.
Some kids get grandmas' cars.
Some kids just get to share with you.
Some kids get nothing.

It's easy to teach gratitude for most every level here. It's how every aspect of life works.

This

[Anonymous]

My favorite my coworker had a really rich Dad. I mean like a mansion. In 12 grade out of own money he bought a beat up 1968 Cougar Convertible. Dad chipped in nothing.

Dad was on a business trip and ordered a brand new fully loaded Pontiac Firebird TransAm before he left. Told dealer put deliver it to his garage.

My coworker could not resist took it out fir a spin way way to much power a 17 year old and totaled car immediately into tree with 7 miles I’m odometer.

Dad gets home. And he is tough does not say a word. Dead silence. In morning son walks out to driveway to drive to school and all four wheels off his car. Oh oh.

Goes back in and Goes to Dad what is with my car? He goes you mean my car. You owe me a car.

He says I decided your punishment. I will drive your car to work rest of year. I will stay till school bus leaves and you walk to and from school every day. You are never to catch a ride. You can walk to work too. If you adhere. I pay for college and you get car back. If not I throw you out of house and take car.

Are we clear? He even made local newspaper.

His Dad was loaded. But new money he earned