Boys first vehicle…..

[CorbLand]

I don’t think your wife has looked at car prices these days either… I was shocked when I did.

She totaled my pickup last year and got a crash course in how expensive they are. We have been wanting to replace her car in the next year or two and that’s probably not going to happen.

Honestly, when it comes to this stuff, all of it really comes down to parenting, period. I have an uncle that is a multi millionaire. All of his kids have bombed around in his old hand me downs. They have unlimited access to dirt bikes, sleds, RZRs, a boat, trailers and pickups to pull them. Spoiled they are and they are still good, respectful kids.

My in laws went the “kids can buy their own stuff” route. I cannot say the same thing about all of their kids. Honestly, outside of my wife, the other four are kind of **** ups.

I grew up in farm country and most of the kids I went to high school with drove their dads old diesel, many only a couple years old. Some were assholes, some were nice, most were just typical teenagers.

 

[OKHunter84]

My first truck was an 82' Chevy Silverado long bed two tone brown, had the 305 V8, ugly as sin. Dad helped me buy it for $1750. I sold it a year later and bought a 78' Chevy short bed with a 350 V8 4 bolt main, shift kit, rims, Edelbrock 600 carburetor (against my dad's advice). I maybe got 8 mpg and almost killed myself a couple times, had oil leaks, on cold mornings I would have to have my cousin spray ether in the air breather and start it real quick so we could get to school.
I sold that and ended up with a 98' Honda civic. Much better ride, maybe not as many cool points, but lasted 200k miles through the end of high school and college.

I've seen either philosophy turn out: Kids bought new vehicles turn out not spoiled and kids bought junkers not appreciate anything and visa versa. I think there's more to the equation of them being well rounded then only what their first car is. That being said, it does seem silly seeing a 16 year old driving a brand new fancy rig.

 

[aMurderOfCrows]

I bought a new Toyota corolla as a daily driver when my son was 9 or 10. When he started driving I gave it him. He’s not a truck guy at all but if it was I’d be stoked to get an f150 as a first vehicle.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I’m not sure that’s realistic… my son’s insurance is 2300 a year, and that’s after shopping around and finding every bundle and deal I could. Hell, USAA was another grand higher. They already have the first accident baked in. It’s crazy how expensive insurance is. He makes money, but doesn’t have a steady job because we want him to focus on school.

That full coverage or just liability?

 

[TheCougar]

That full coverage or just liability?

Full coverage, 1000 deductible. Nothing crazy.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Full coverage, 1000 deductible. Nothing crazy.

But why? FIrst car or two is going to get stacked up. Might as well be a POS with the cheapest liability insurance you can round up.

 

[omicron1792]

But why? FIrst car or two is going to get stacked up. Might as well be a POS with the cheapest liability insurance you can round up.

The idea your kid will automatically “total” their first car is ludicrous.

Maybe instead of being cheap on your kids car you should invest the savings into driving lessons.

 

[TheCougar]

But why? FIrst car or two is going to get stacked up. Might as well be a POS with the cheapest liability insurance you can round up.

I looked at going this way for a while, but he drives two of our three cars, so liability only doesn’t really save us all that much. The insurance company views him as driving all our cars - I can’t just limit him to a single car. So going liability only on a single car didn’t really do a whole lot. I added that Corolla to the policy and it added $600 a year. I added him to the policy and it added 2300. If I went liability only on the Corolla, it might have saved a couple hundred bucks overall. I hope I’m explaining it clearly… the cost has little to do with the car and much more to do with the driver.

 

[TheCougar]

The idea your kid will automatically “total” their first car is ludicrous.

Maybe instead of being cheap on your kids car you should invest the savings into driving lessons.

FWIW, I go to work and most of the time I’m paired up with a guy 10 years my senior. A new guy every week… anecdotally, over several months the average is about 50% of their kids have wrecked cars within the first 2 years.

 

[P Carter]

Good thread, I’ll be facing this soon enough. I drove fine, but cheap, cars forever.

Bought the only vehicle I’ve ever really wanted—silver midsized pickup, 2017 Chevy Colorado—used in 2019 with 30k miles.

My son is going on 14, and I can’t decide whether to buy a reasonable but inexpensive sedan or gift him my truck and get myself something nice. Good things to think through.

 

[McCrapper]

I didn't know a portion of our members were so sanctimonious regarding 1st cars for their children.

 

[svivian]

I just hope decent 5 speed manuals are still around by the time my kid can drive....

 

[go_deep]

I just hope decent 5 speed manuals are still around by the time my kid can drive....

Not impossible, but getting harder to find everyday

 

[Billinsd]

My 16 year old son doesn't want me to buy him a new car now, because he will be going to college in 2 years, and be gone


for 4 or more years. I'm retiring soon, and he can drive my civic when I'm gone hunting. When I'm home I could drive my truck.

 

[Eliteman26]

Congrats!

 

[K9kodi]

Which way op go?

 

[jackrabbitfan]

I mean if money is of no concern then yeah get whatever. Everyone parents differently. I have four kids one that just graduated last year, I gave him an old 2005 Ram 1500 I had laying around. A buddy of mine gave his son same age a 2019 GMC Sierra 3500 with like 20,000 miles. I will say the school parking lots have changed dramatically since when I was in high school in the 90's.

 

[K9kodi]

My fist truck was a Nissan pathfinder se-v6. 2 door 4x4. Wish I never sold it. It was what, 15-16 years old when I got it and 170k miles. I miss the hell out of that thing and would buy another if I found a like model and year.

 

[bipock]

I had to buy my first car when I was 19 - Chevy Cavalier. This was 31 years ago. My wife got a car when she turned 16 - a Chevy Beretta. Lasted her 9 years.

We made the decision to provide a vehicle for both of our kids. When my daughter was 10, she decided she wanted a 4-door Jeep Wrangler, white with a tan top. I was looking for a new vehicle and found what she wanted and bought it. It's always been "her" Jeep since the day I got it. Since she turned 15 in December and started driving, she spent a lot of time with my wife driving her vehicle, a GMC Acadia. Daughter's decided that the Acadia is a much nicer vehicle in every sense, except being able to go off road. So, now I have a Jeep sitting around in my driveway.

My son, on the other hand, has always wanted my truck. Doesn't matter what I'm driving but he wants my truck. I've tried talking him into the Jeep, but that's a no go for him. He really liked my Ram I had last year before having to have it bought back. I replaced it in November with a diesel GMC Sierra 1500. In his mind, that's going to be his truck when he turns 16. I had him pump fuel into it this week and watch the cost. I reminded him that we cover the vehicle and insurance - he covers fuel. $100 in fuel made him reconsider his decision. But we'll see.

 

[IdahoElk]

My son is 15 so I am looking for a truck for him. I found a great deal on a 4 year old F150 xl with stx package with 81k miles. My wife thinks it’s too nice. She thinks he should have a less than $10k beater. That’s what she had as a first vehicle. And it was always broken down and her dad was having to work on it. I am not mechanically inclined so I or my son would be paying someone, and then we would be back to driving him to all his stuff. I would rather spend a little more and get something reliable that can get him though college and then it’s on him to replace it when he wants to. Lots of kids at his school are given brand fancy new trucks and cars so to me an 4 yo XL is not spoiling him. I’m curious what your thoughts are. If it matters I will be paying cash.

A 4yr old truck for a first vehicle is a fancy new truck where grew up.