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).

I agree with ourblanche.

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

This is pocket change to some people.
I wouldn't buy my kids a cheap car if I didn't have to.

Personally, I think the DC would get better value out of that money being saved and them getting a lump sum towards a house deposit. It'll depreciate less.

I do think that it's harder for teenagers to appreciate the value of things if they're handed to them, especially as at 17 they are rapidly approaching adulthood with all the responsibilities that brings. And on a more practical level, the majority of shunts happen in your first year of driving so it could end up being quite an expensive venture!

So, did your parents buy you a car when you were 17, DamnBamboo?

Going by the tone of your posts I'd guess they did

Bamboo, your tone and language were unnecessarily aggressive.

Also, I think it's good for kids to learn that cars don't have to be top of the range, super duper ones. I can't stand hearing young people turning their noses up and sneering at people driving old cars.

Each to their own really. I see plenty of deals around for no/low-fee new small cars and I think Vauxhall are/were doing a "£2,000 quid for whatever you trade in" deal - so that new car may be costing less than you think.

My DC will get our ancient, slow Merc or nothing when the time comes - I think the priority for first cars is 1) safe 2) slow 3) reliable.

We wouldn't buy ourselves a brand new car either though - the depreciation puts me right off.

But why do you think she will write the car off?

You do know that MOST people don't write cars off, yes?

I agree, I think everything is so expensive so I would help out with buying a car but definitely not a brand new one.

By the way, this is coming from a girl who received a brand new car for her 17th birthday, it did not teach me the value of money at all and looking back to how I grew up, I feel very strongly about £10 a week pocket money for my kids and them working part time as soon as they are able to.

Jealousy is really unattractive.

I have no vendetta at all.
It's just utterly pathetic... the judgment on here of children whose parents can afford things. As if money somehow equals bad attitudes and disrespect etc.

And ourblance I could name several examples that are completely different to yours with regards to those who were bought cars, what of it?

My nephews were bought a new car, with strong expectations placed upon them for it's use. They are very very careful.

exactly. Did they even consider the depreciation

Daisy let it go love!
I'm not even talking to you.
What are you? Defender of the OP?

I'll say what I like thanks.

but damnban
this is an anonymous site. for people to air their grievances and what not.
no doubt on the street corner the amount of people criticising the buying of a new car for a 17 year old will be 90%

We bought a hatchback last October for £4.5K, DD then passed her test (aged 17) and DH got made redundant and bought a van he'd wanted for ages with some of his severance.

As a result DD now has a 4 year old car that't worth considerably more than the type of car we'd have got for her if our financial circumstances hadn't changed so drastically.

She rarely drives it as we live in a busy town with a great bus service and she's out drinking nearly every night with her uni mates and the place she works has no parking.

We are seriously thinking of getting rid of it, the insurance is a total waste of money (DD pays it herself).

Everyone's circumstances are different OP, it's pointless to judge.

Daisysbear - yes, but that applies to anyone, not just to a 17 year old with a gifted car.

FWIW I have known several people who had cars bought for them as teens. The vast majority did not write them off (if any???) or even have bumps, etc. And all have managed to go on to bee successful independent people, earning their own money and paying for their own stuff as adults.

Likewise, I know people who saved and bought their own cars. Again, pretty much all didn't write them off or trash them, and have all managed to become independent adults.

Well it sounds utterly crazy to me. Such a waste of money when a good secondhand car would do just as well.

YABU though to think other parents will feel pressurised to do the same though. Sensible people will just roll their eyes and laugh if their 17yr old decides it's only right and proper that they be bought a brand new car too.

Nothing wrong with spending money how you like. What puzzles me is the assumption that buying a car involves loans / monthly payments. Now that would suggest they couldn't afford it.
The fact that my parents didn't buy me stuff doesn't make me resent what other people do .

Agree with helen. When I buy a car for DC it will not be an old rust bucket it will have every safety feature in existence. At 17 /18 though it seems pointless if they are going to uni. It would end up cluttering up the drive.

we have had your opinion damban, utterly pathetic.
take a calm pill

Let what go Bamboo? Criticising your rudeness and aggression??

I will also say what I like thanks!

Also, I think it's good for kids to learn that cars don't have to be top of the range, super duper ones

Please tell me how buying a new car is necessarily the above?

I can't stand hearing young people turning their noses up and sneering at people driving old cars

My point above being made nicely here! Because all children will do this won't they?

I am surrounded by teenagers, some with new cars, some with old and am not aware of any sneering at all.

But keep those generalisations up why don't you.

I got given a brand new car for my 17th had it for 5years and I didn't so much as put a mark on it, plus I was doing 30k a year

DD was given a nearly new car (very kindly by ILs). We live in the middle of nowhere, with useless public transport and her driving transformed our family life, no more constant taxi service. The idea of her being in an old banger, breaking down on dark country lanes was not appealing.
Also old bangers tend to have higher emissions, less efficient engines, higher servicing costs and are in higher insurance groups than their newer counterparts so that road tax and insurance end up costing more. Swings and roundabouts.

I said generally, Bamboo. Made no claim to be 'right', I simply offered my perspective. And having seen some thousands of 16 - 19 year olds in their first cars, I do feel I have a perspective that most parents do not have - unless they too work with 16-19 year olds.

Oddly though you seem to think that your 1 example is enough to prove something. A tad hypocritical, that!

There are a lot of cars in between 'brand new' and 'old banger'.

I was talking about learner drivers Hula and how heavy you can be on a car at that stage, so really you're better off not getting an expensive car until you're a reasonably experienced driver.

In any event, I just think if young people want designer clothes, expensive cars, etc they should save up for them themselves, and not have things like that handed to them on a plate. Kids need to learn about the difference between luxuries and necessities and prioritising what they want to spend their money on etc.