To think that it's ridiculous, to buy a 17 year old a brand new car?

[ILiveAtTheBeach]

That's exactly what my DD's best friends parents have done. A brand spanking new car, for her 17th birthday. A 65 plate. She can't even drive yet (obvs). She is still at school, so I guess when she does pass, that all costs associated with the car (fuel/insurance/road tax) will be paid for by the parents??!!

Thank goodness, my DD also thinks it's crazy. But I'm sure some parents in the friendship group, will now feel slightly pressured to buy their kids a car.

I mean, I could maybe understand getting your kids a car for say £1-2k, but I think even that would be extremely generous.

I had to buy my own first car and pay for all costs that went with that. It was old and cheap. And I was working FT.

They are not particularly well off (if their house is anything to go buy).

[DamnBamboo]

Why do you give a shit?
Some new cars are dead cheap and if they can afford it, of if that's how they choose to spend their money, then why not?

You sound ridiculous quite frankly.

[KeepOnMoving1]

I had to buy my own first car and pay for all costs that went with that. It was old and cheap. And I was working FT.

And? What does that have to do with them?

[Daisysbear]

YANBU. But DamnBamboo is definitely very rude.

[SoupDragon]

I bet you do things that others think are ridiculous too.

[Hulababy]

Maybe it works out better for m to have the new small car than having her on their own insurance, or that they simply can't have her in their car j aura de for various reasons?

Isn't there a low deal on something like an Aygo at the moment? With a really low monthly repayment?

[DamnBamboo]

Not rude at all.
This constant judgement of what other people buy their children, is very very tiresome and really rather quite ignorant.

[GruntledOne]

But running costs for a new car will be much cheaper - no MOT for three years, and with any luck minimal servicing.

[Lostcat2]

Each to own.

You do what you think right for your kid. Noones business.

[ILiveAtTheBeach]

I don't think it's teaching her the value of things, if it's all handed on a plate. It seems very indulgent. DamnBamboo, thanks, you're lovely

[laffymeal]

I suppose if they want to shell out all that money on their DD it's their business.

I disagree that other parents will feel pressurised, "slightly" or not...they're adults and know their own budgets and preferences for spending on their offspring.

It's certainly not something I would do (mainly because it's completely out of our budget) but it's their choice.

[MaxPepsi]

I know of quite a few people who have done that for their kids.

I also had several friends who got bought new cars for passing their tests when we were 17 so over 20 years ago.

Suppose it depends on what kind of car it is and what the repayments are. Who knows, it could be god parents, grand parents and other family members who are helping to pay?

[DamnBamboo]

Yes and so do you.
Gossiping about how ridiculous the parents of your DDs best friends are. Lovely!

How do you know what she does and doesn't understand about the value of things and who are you to judge!

Honestly, read your first post.

You sound a bit bitter because you had to buy your own first car and pay for all of it etc etc.

[BrandNewAndImproved]

It is ridiculous op not sure what the glue the poster above has been sniffing to say otherwise.

When I first started driving I bumped in posts in carparks, had a tiny bump with another car on the school run, wacked my mirror off a few times and have had it wacked back off a few times. Imagine how expensive things like that would be for a new car especially one that has to be returned in 3 years as good as new from the hire purchase deal

[Daisysbear]

People are perfectly entitled to have views on what other people buy their children; particularly parents who often come under huge pressure because their children can't understand why they can't have the same things. There's nothing ignorant about it, unless you say something rude to the parents themselves.

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

I'm planning to do this for my DD's. I think with deals and the long warranty you can get, it makes sense. Plus I've bought a few cars second hand and they've always gone wrong. My 'new' car ran beautifully and was the most reliable.

[DamnBamboo]

And your comment about their house too!

[FirstWeTakeManhattan]

They are not particularly well off (if their house is anything to go buy)

Nice.

YABU. I honestly don't worry about what other parents buy as gifts for their children.

Seems like a nice thing to do if they can afford it.

[Daisysbear]

Well, we're all entitled to our views but I think it's good for kids to save up themselves if they want a new car.

[Helenluvsrob]

I dunno. If my 17yr old was going to be driving independently and I could afford it I would buy them a brand new car - it would have all the safety bells and whistles I could get . I would expect them to crash- the stats are huge , and I would do everything I could possibly do to make sure they got out alive.

For instance I've been looking at the new ford C max brochure. That has a function where you can activate ( for a cost of course) a host of safety feature eg automatic breaking if the get too close to the car in front and alerts to things in the blind spot of the mirrors.

My 17yr old would not be driving if all they have available was a clapped out 10yr old fiesta. They at least need decent brakes and as many air bags as we can get ( and insurance that depended on a black box, so they weren't driving mates at 2am etc too)

[Libitina]

I don't think that DamnBamboo was being rude.

[lastqueenofscotland]

Yes. I got a brand new BMW 1 series for my 17th birthday nearly ten years ago!! Wrote it off within 5 months...

Just daft. No dc but mine will be getting bangers!!

[DamnBamboo]

Of course they are entitled to have their views.
And anybody else is entitled to have their views about this, myself included.

[SoupDragon]

Gossiping about how ridiculous the parents of your DDs best friends are. Lovely!

On a big social media site, along with a snippy comment about their house.

Now that is ridiculous.

[Daisysbear]

I do Libitina