What Car Would You Buy for Your College Age Driver?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college kid has a Ford Focus. I think you may have marital issues rather than car issues.

+1 The issue ain't the car, OP.

yup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college kid has a Ford Focus. I think you may have marital issues rather than car issues.

+1 The issue ain't the car, OP.

Yeah, but other than continue to say no, what else do I do? Everyone who says a Honda, Toyota, etc. I absolutely agree. Y'all are preachin' to the choir. The Volvo I bought used in 2015 for $14K and it was for me and DD to share. DW could took around in whatever fancy car she wanted. Frankly, I just want to keep the Volvo until she graduates or even for myself. Get her a Hyundai with a 5 year warranty. I just cannot stand the conflict and drama DW is creating over this and there must be some sort of mental blockage for her not to budge or even consider actual logic, providing IIHS lists, etc. Nope. Nope. Nope. She wants the MB!

What is this about? To her, me not listening to her! Not listening to her and not apologizing for not listening to her b/c 3 years ago I bought the Volvo rather than a MB GLK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college kid has a Ford Focus. I think you may have marital issues rather than car issues.

+1 The issue ain't the car, OP.

Yeah, but other than continue to say no, what else do I do? Everyone who says a Honda, Toyota, etc. I absolutely agree. Y'all are preachin' to the choir. The Volvo I bought used in 2015 for $14K and it was for me and DD to share. DW could took around in whatever fancy car she wanted. Frankly, I just want to keep the Volvo until she graduates or even for myself. Get her a Hyundai with a 5 year warranty. I just cannot stand the conflict and drama DW is creating over this and there must be some sort of mental blockage for her not to budge or even consider actual logic, providing IIHS lists, etc. Nope. Nope. Nope. She wants the MB!

What is this about? To her, me not listening to her! Not listening to her and not apologizing for not listening to her b/c 3 years ago I bought the Volvo rather than a MB GLK.

Seriously, WHY does your DW want the MB? Just the name?

She clearly knows nothing about car performance based on her pick of car for your daughter--that isn't even a fun MB to drive, and you're looking at a lot of reliability issues sooner rather than later. And she's not choosing the safest car in the event of a crash or bad weather driving or anything like that, either.

[Anonymous]

A PP is right on. Set a budget and some requirements for gas mileage, safety ratings, etc, and then let your DD help select her car. Maybe she’ll opt for an older luxury car or a new Toyota. Either way, she should have some input within your parameters. It would also help put an end to the power struggle your DW seems intent upon.

[Anonymous]

Therapy might not fix the fact that you married a moron, but you could tell your dim wife that you’ll cave on the Mercedes if you go to couples therapy and she takes financial management classes of some kind.

[Anonymous]

Toyota or Honda. New car that will last for a long time with proper care.

[Anonymous]

My mechanic tells me that the newer German cars like Mercedes are a pain in the ass to fix b/c everything is so computerized. The mechanics all had to get new equipment to deal with them, but I digress. She's in college. I've seen tons of kids get everything handed to them including luxury cars. What do they have left to shoot for if parents finance everything?

Your wife sounds very impractical. Give her the used Volvo.

Signed, a mom who never plans on letting her kids go to college with expensive cars.

[Anonymous]

Tell your DW none of the other kids are at college are going to be driving luxury cars and having a MB might make your DD a crime target. Play up the safety angle. Volvos are safer cars, period, and they are not as obviously-luxury as a MB.

I think DW needs her head examined also. Was she always this rigid/grudgy about cars and other purchases, or is this a new thing? Suggest some therapy pronto. Maybe tell her no car decisions/purchases until you've discussed with a therapist where you can both feel heard and understood.

If that fails, do you have any friends who DW respects and who are willing to tell her the MB idea is bonkers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college kid has a Ford Focus. I think you may have marital issues rather than car issues.

+1 The issue ain't the car, OP.

+2! The Volvo is fine. It is probably still better than what your daughter will be able to afford on her own. However, you and your wife need to spend some working on your relationship. Are you guys empty-nesters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college kid has a Ford Focus. I think you may have marital issues rather than car issues.

+1 The issue ain't the car, OP.

+2! The Volvo is fine. It is probably still better than what your daughter will be able to afford on her own. However, you and your wife need to spend some working on your relationship. Are you guys empty-nesters?

Yes. But we have basically had a fundamental divergence on consumer preferences. She prefers names brands and bling. I could care less. However, she wasn't this way until she started working and making pretty good salary! She will always make digs like "oh I know you think it is somehow embarrassing to be rich." Or complaining after we visit a friends house or the Big Law partner's house why we don't have a nice "big house like that." I think it comes from her growing up poor - and I mean really poor. She is embarrassed by it and I think wants to somehow show to the world that she has gotten away from the miserable poverty of her childhood. Understanding that does not help me solve the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell your DW none of the other kids are at college are going to be driving luxury cars and having a MB might make your DD a crime target. Play up the safety angle. Volvos are safer cars, period, and they are not as obviously-luxury as a MB.

I think DW needs her head examined also. Was she always this rigid/grudgy about cars and other purchases, or is this a new thing? Suggest some therapy pronto. Maybe tell her no car decisions/purchases until you've discussed with a therapist where you can both feel heard and understood.

If that fails, do you have any friends who DW respects and who are willing to tell her the MB idea is bonkers?

She doesn't have friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college kid has a Ford Focus. I think you may have marital issues rather than car issues.

+1 The issue ain't the car, OP.

+2! The Volvo is fine. It is probably still better than what your daughter will be able to afford on her own. However, you and your wife need to spend some working on your relationship. Are you guys empty-nesters?

+3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My college kid has a Ford Focus. I think you may have marital issues rather than car issues.

Boom. This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell your DW none of the other kids are at college are going to be driving luxury cars and having a MB might make your DD a crime target. Play up the safety angle. Volvos are safer cars, period, and they are not as obviously-luxury as a MB.

I think DW needs her head examined also. Was she always this rigid/grudgy about cars and other purchases, or is this a new thing? Suggest some therapy pronto. Maybe tell her no car decisions/purchases until you've discussed with a therapist where you can both feel heard and understood.

If that fails, do you have any friends who DW respects and who are willing to tell her the MB idea is bonkers?

I think this is a really good point. Something your DW may take to heart.

[Anonymous]

What does your daughter want and can you compromise with a new lesser brand car? I'd get new with all the safety features but you don't want a small compact car if she gets hit by a truck or SUV.