Boys first vehicle…..

[Ice-kub]

Make him pay for some of it. He'd probably be less inclined to beat it when dads not around if he has a financial interest in it.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Been a while since you were 16 hasnt it?

 

[Sabot]

I heard 2 rich guys debating this on a podcast once. One guy bought his kids beaters to not spoil them. The other guy bought newer cars because of the bandwidth of having to break flow to fix a car and worrying about your kid on the side of the road. Our kids got decent Toyotas for first 2 years of driving and then all 3 got lightly used newish cars.

 

[ODB]

I let my daughter drive my 02 Tundra. No cameras, no anti-lock brakes, with canopy, kinda big for a 15yo. She drove it for 4 years until I sold it, then she bought my wife’s old Highlander which she still drives.

Letting her learn in an older, less complicated truck has made a huge difference in her skill as a driver.

And she’s already looking forward to going back to truck in the future.

 

[K9kodi]

To me these new vehicles are on auto pilot. There’s something to be said for learning how to drive vs going from point a to point b.

I don’t think buying a new car for a kid is gonna make them spoiled, conversely I don’t think buying an old truck for a kid will keep them from being spoiled.

Their personality and behavior should be mostly shaped by that point anyhow.

I’d say buy practical and reliable and something that won’t cause a heart attack when damaged.

 

[LostArra]

I'm curious what job a 15 yr old has that allows them to pay for a driveable vehicle, insurance and fuel at 16.

(My youngest is 40 so I've been out of the kid job loop for a while)

 

[Steve300xcw]

I'm curious what job a 15 yr old has that allows them to pay for a driveable vehicle, insurance and fuel at 16.

(My youngest is 40 so I've been out of the kid job loop for a while)

Did you never have a summer job, or something after school? Never run an animal through the fair?


You can get a driveable rig for 5k. It wont be fancy but who cares? Cheap liablility insurance. That'll get the kid rolling.

 

[go_deep]

I'm curious what job a 15 yr old has that allows them to pay for a driveable vehicle, insurance and fuel at 16.

(My youngest is 40 so I've been out of the kid job loop for a while)

My son started mowing lawns at 12, he had about $9k in his savings account when he got his license. He got a $1,700 Jeep Cherokee at that time. 2 years later and a lot more working, he just sold it for $3,500, and bought a 2011 crew cab frontier cash, and still has about the same amount on his savings after that.

Teach them how to manage money and respect it.

 

[KurtR]

Kids still driving the 02 2500 chevy i gave him when he was 16. He is about to graduate tech school with a really good job. He said he is keeping that truck and the way he figures it if he has to replace engine or tranny its still cheaper than a new pick up payment. He is way more responsible than me at 20 with his money

 

[Steve300xcw]

He said he is keeping that truck and the way he figures it if he has to replace engine or tranny its still cheaper than a new pick up payment.

He's not wrong. Lotta guys doing that these days.

 

[LostArra]

Did you never have a summer job, or something after school? Never run an animal through the fair?


You can get a driveable rig for 5k. It wont be fancy but who cares? Cheap liablility insurance. That'll get the kid rolling.

Summer job yes. $1.65/hr Min wage was $1.50 so I was flush with cash. My car cost $615 and fuel was under $0.20 gal.

After school No. Sports practice which was a better investment at the time. Paid for 4 years of college.

All of my kids worked when they could but the cost of a "cheap" vehicle and insurance has risen much faster than child labor wages. Not every kid has the opportunity to even get to a job before they can drive or be a lawn mowing Warren Buffet at 12. I actually dragged a lawnmower behind my bike one summer but it does limit your prospective job area.

My point was a beater vehicle, insurance and fuel will start at around $7k. That's a nice summer job for a 15 yo.

 

[omicron1792]

My boys play sports year round and make straight A’s. That is their job right now and I’m happy to buy them a reliable car when the time comes for it.

 

[Luked]

I'm 48 so my first was quite a bit older.
My first vehicle was a 1973 International Scout 2. Will lived in the country and a 4 wheel drive vehicle was a must.
I drove the wheels off that thing. Played with it. worked out of it. and worked on it.
My dada wasn't the most mechanically inclined fella either but he could do some minor stuff.
The old Scout got me from point A to B a lot. It broke some. Then I learned to fix it.
My first vehicle I bought on my own was a 1976 Ford F100 2 wheel drive short bed step side. 302 4 speed with straight pipes. Was loud as hell. But same thing I drove it and it broke and I fixed it.
I didn't get a "nice" vehicle until I was well in my 20s and it was a 4x4 S10. I put almost 50k on that thing. it was a tank and never had much for issues.


My kids are different, and its a different time.
My son just turned 18. When he was 16 I got my dads old S10 from my mom, 4x4 auto, decent shape. He had no interest in it at all, or in driving. I gave him a year, Told him I would give him the truck but he had to get his license. A year later he never did. I gave him an ultimatum. Get your license in 3 months or I'm selling the truck. He never did and I sold the truck.
Now he just turned 18 and still has no license and so far hasn't shown he even wants it.
Blame his introverted style on his mother (my X).

My daughter who just turned 13 is the complete opposite. She already wants her license, already wants a job. etc. Already have a truck lined up for her that my mom now has that I found and bought for her but she hardly drives any more. When it comes time that she quits driving, which is almost here. My daughter will get that truck. But i know she will have her license, a job pay her own way etc.

As far as what to get for a kid starting out. Me personally I think they should learn on something that doesn't cost a ton, They are going to beat it up one way or the other. I personally would rather spend a little to get started and let them build up on their own.
I have family who go out and buy, or have bought their kids brand new vehicles when they first start out. The kids done give two shits about it cause mommy and daddy will fix it or replace it when it breaks.

Make them earn something. it makes them appreciate it a lot more in the long run.
Just my thoughts

 

[Cubby]

I bought my daughter a 2019 Ford Ecosport for her first car at 16 years old, she's a straight A kid and never gets in trouble. She used that car for college and now has a 24 Ford Escape that I bought her last year and my wife and I still drive our old stuff but as others have said I could afford and am happy to help her out.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Summer job yes. $1.65/hr Min wage was $1.50 so I was flush with cash. My car cost $615 and fuel was under $0.20 gal.

All of my kids worked when they could but the cost of a "cheap" vehicle and insurance has risen much faster than child labor wages.

$1.65/hour was a long time ago. I also wont say that parents dont chip in a few bucks here an there.

Not every kid has the opportunity to even get to a job before they can drive or be a lawn mowing Warren Buffet at 12. I actually dragged a lawnmower behind my bike one summer but it does limit your prospective job area.

Yup, the worlds not fair, might as well figure that out right outta the gate. Just the same, a kid that wants it will find a way to make some money. Lotta folks out there willing to pay a kid to do stuff that they could/would do themselves.

My point was a beater vehicle, insurance and fuel will start at around $7k. That's a nice summer job for a 15 yo.

You're a bit high on the prices, or maybe the standards are a bit high for a first rig. Either way, learning how to save money isnt a bad thing...