Anonymous wrote:In my family, teens get the hand me down cars.

THIS...or used cars.

Kids bang cars up at that age. Can't see spending a mint on one.

No f'in way.

Anonymous wrote:It's a safe car and the x3 is a smaller more affordable car, a great entry level bmw. Keep the car under 40k for a kids car.

An entry level BMW.

An entry level BMW.

An entry level BMW.

Nope, I've typed it three times now, and it still doesn't make sense.

I'm hoping my 2004 Acura MDX holds out long enough to give it to my eldest when he turns 16 -- at which point the MDX will also be 16 years old. Then I'll buy myself a convertible. If that doesn't happen, then he can have a cheap used Honda or Volvo to get him and his brother to and from school and activities. Not anything new, and certainly not a BMW.

Take a look at this guidance for vehicles for teens from the insurance institute for highway safety:

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicles-for-teens


Big, Ugly, and Slow

My mother started with a new car when my brother was 16 and he has had an entitlement attitude all his life. She is no longer living but essentially subsidized his lifestyle with fancy cars, homes, clothes, etc. It was a dysfunctional relationship and has made me give pause to buying my child a fancy car at such a young age. I just hope I don't have to do battle with my husband when the time comes. They have to learn the value of hard work and that things in life don't come easy. I did not get a new car until I was in law school and that was to get me to class and work. I shudder at the thought of my kids turning into the monster my brother became.

Spoiled brat.

Anonymous wrote:In my family, teens get the hand me down cars.

In that case, my kid will be driving a 300HP AWD sedan.

No matter how much money we have laying around, buying a car for our kids is never going to happen. They can use our cars whenever they need to. And they can buy their own car whenever they can afford it. I do a lot for my kids and raising them to appreciate money and the work that goes into making it is one of them. Learning that you need to work for large expenses is extremely important and there is no reason a teenager NEEDS his/her own car.

This is what you should get her.

My kids are both getting either our hand-me-downs (which will be luxury cars but 8+ years old) or some safe and non-sexy mid-range car. I hope that they have luxury cars one day (or at least have the option to buy them) but I want them to have the satisfaction of having earned it on their own. Unless you have the kind of money to subsidize their lives forever, I wouldn't start them out with something this nice. And even if they have trusts and will be able to afford whatever they want, it's good for them to experience being a little normalcy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you want to keep her as an entitled spoiled brat. If she wants nice things, it's time for her to learn that hard work is required.

In the meantime, donate that $40K to the people of Nepal or something.

Not their responsibility to donate to the people of Nepal. If they can afford it, that is their choice. It doesn't make her a spoiled brat.

It's their choice, sure.

But she's certainly a spoiled brat.

Having nice things does make a kid a brat. Sounds like you are jealous. I had a new car at 17 and did not wreck it or get "dings".

Does NOT make a kid a brat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you want to keep her as an entitled spoiled brat. If she wants nice things, it's time for her to learn that hard work is required.

In the meantime, donate that $40K to the people of Nepal or something.

Not their responsibility to donate to the people of Nepal. If they can afford it, that is their choice. It doesn't make her a spoiled brat.

It's their choice, sure.

But she's certainly a spoiled brat.

Having nice things does make a kid a brat. Sounds like you are jealous. I had a new car at 17 and did not wreck it or get "dings".

X3. For a juvenile. BMW calls it a luxury small SUV . List price close to $40k. 27 mpg city with 93 octane.

OP Parents -- what could you afford (not what did you want) when you were 10 years into your career?

And are you willing to subsidize wants when your kids are in their 30s?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you want to keep her as an entitled spoiled brat. If she wants nice things, it's time for her to learn that hard work is required.

In the meantime, donate that $40K to the people of Nepal or something.

Not their responsibility to donate to the people of Nepal. If they can afford it, that is their choice. It doesn't make her a spoiled brat.

It's their choice, sure.

But she's certainly a spoiled brat.