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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

18 y/o DS wants a car

74 replies

user20 · 17/06/2019 00:02

Hi

My 18 year old DS is 18 and has just got himself his first ever part time job. He will be working 12 hours per week on minimum wage (£6.15/hr)

He passed his test 6 months ago and hasn't driven since. He has set his sights on a 2018 Vauxhall corsa limited edition and costs £150 a month for 4 years + £100 deposit on a finance contract.

With this job he will be earning £295.20 a month, Would he be Able to afford the corsa?

He will also have to pay for fuel, maintenance and his road tax which is £145 for the car he has his eyes on. His insurance will be just under £2000 so me and DH will contribute £500 to it and he can pay the rest himself.

He says he is desperate to get a car ASAP, I have said I don't think he will be able to afford it with only under £300 a month, he is using his savings account money to pay the insurance which is what I put away for him years ago and was really only meant for educational purposes eg uni loans etc.

Should he wait until he is earning a bit more? He also wants to pay his monthly phone bill, his gym membership etc

OP posts:
Original poster
user20 · 17/06/2019 00:23

Hi @pikapikachu , yes I'm more worried about his qualifications more than a bloody car but honestly he is doing my head in!! 😳😳 he just wants on the road, he never shuts up about it

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 17/06/2019 00:24

There is no way he can afford that car, and he will never get approved for finance. Don't even think of being a guarantor for it, either.

Perch · 17/06/2019 00:25

He can take the bus, cycle or walk. He really does need to learn the value of time, money, education and opportunities the hard way.
Good luck OP i’m out.

Original poster
user20 · 17/06/2019 00:25

@Aquamarine1029 no that's the first thing I said to him believe it or not, if he wants to spend all his Savings on a car then he can do so but I won't be using my hard earned cash to pay it all when he runs out

OP posts:
Original poster
user20 · 17/06/2019 00:29

@MaraScottie @justbeniceplease

Yeah but the thing is I don't know why he needs a one year old car.

I agree the corsas are a lovely model of car I do have to say, in fact I'm thinking of getting one myself next year possibly.

But if he wants a car when he has a decent wage then he should try and get a 2009 corsa or a 2012 one at least but I think a 2018 one is a bit OTT

OP posts:
Original poster
user20 · 17/06/2019 00:31

@Perch I so agree with you. He needs to focus on his qualifications more than getting a car.

I had to walk/bus / taxi until I was 25. I'd have loved a car when I was 17 but I simply couldn't afford and I waited until I was nearly 30, I think because some of his friends have cars, he feels like the odd one out

OP posts:
pikapikachu · 17/06/2019 00:34

Why are you offering to pay £500 of his insurance when he needs to focus on his Plan B. His gym and phone distracted him from his A-levels and the car will end up as his next excuse if you're not careful.

Original poster
user20 · 17/06/2019 00:36

@pikapikachu I don't know if we even will pay part of his insurance or not, it's to be decided upon.

Even if he got himself a 10 year old car, something a bit older, I would be more supportive of this.

Him wanting a one year old car is just OTT, seems more like he wants to keep up with the crowd

OP posts:
TokenGinger · 17/06/2019 00:41

Why any new driver would get a new car is beyond me. Regardless of whether they can afford it, it's stupid.

So many new drivers crash in their first year and have bumps. I'd much rather do that in a run around than on a car I have outstanding finance on.

Given he's a new driver and likely to bump or crash it, he will need to get gap insurance, too, which isn't cheap.

Aquamarine1029 · 17/06/2019 00:42

Your son needs to grow up and join the real world. His sense of entitlement is fucking ridiculous. Tell him to save his money and stop moaning on about a car he can't even begin to afford.

AlunWynsKnee · 17/06/2019 00:46

He's all about the easy promises isn't he? He never actually knuckles down and works for it. He hasn't started the job yet and he's spent 2 years wages on a car before he's earned a penny. Don't subsidise this nonsense. He can save his wages for 3 months and buy an older car. He needs to learn how real life works.
Taking out finance is all fine and dandy until he crashes the thing and the insurance doesn't cover the finance and he's paying for a car he put in a ditch plus the insurance rockets.

mummabear1967 · 17/06/2019 00:48

@user20 right, just last week you made a thread about how DS did no work at school and now you're talking about funding a car for him?

He does not need a one year old car. What's wrong with an older car? He's 18, not a settled down adult. I'm 53 and In full time work and I don't even have a brand new car, mines 8 years old!

Think carefully. New cars are expensive and I wouldn't recommend an 18 year old using a one year old car. You don't see many young drivers in brand new cars.

justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 00:48

Yeah but the thing is I don't know why he needs a one year old car.

He doesn't.

But if he wants a car when he has a decent wage then he should try and get a 2009 corsa or a 2012 one at least but I think a 2018 one is a bit OTT

I don't know what's OTT about buying a newer car when it's affordable.

blaaake · 17/06/2019 00:48

I'm sorry but your son needs to get a grip, and frankly you need to too and tell him this. Unless he fraudulently lied on a finance application he would never be accepted, and with credit checks he would still be unlikely to be even if he did. Tell him it would be much more satisfying for him to save up and buy his own (10+ year old) car than cripple himself buying a new one that he can not afford. Also, can you afford it if he loses his job? Corsa's haven't even changed shape much since 2007 ish.

blaaake · 17/06/2019 00:50

And I'm saying this as someone who bought a brand new car for my son, the difference is it wasn't an unrealistic purchase as we are fortunate enough to afford it

justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 00:51

Why any new driver would get a new car is beyond me. Regardless of whether they can afford it, it's stupid

Stupid? But judgy don't you think

DD went for new because the benefits of it cost wise over the next 4/5 years far outweighed anything else.

So many new drivers crash in their first year and have bumps. I'd much rather do that in a run around than on a car I have outstanding finance on.

There is not always finance on a newer car though. So if finance is the reason you think it's stupid to buy a new car, what about cash buyers?

I hate the way people make snap judgements about young people and cars. My DD worked bloody hard to be able to buy her car. There is fuck all stupid about hard work.

Original poster
user20 · 17/06/2019 00:53

@justbeniceplease there's nothing wrong if you can afford it, but the thing is he can't.

All corsas look lovely. I honestly think him wanting a 2018 corsa would be just for him to show off / keep up with the crowd. Plenty of young people drive around in 2002 corsas so he does not need a car that is so new.

OP posts:
justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 00:54

I know, you just said he should get a 2009/2012 because a 2018 car is OTT - if he is earning it's not.

justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 00:54

Sorry earning affordablly.

Original poster
user20 · 17/06/2019 01:00

@justbeniceplease yes, if he was in a job were he was earning enough then of course he could have a 2018 corsa.

As they're so new, they're more expensive. Once he gets a better part time job he could maybe get an older corsa for less money. There's no need for him to have such a recent car. There's not many young ones driving around in brand new cars

OP posts:
Original poster
user20 · 17/06/2019 01:04

@justbeniceplease he just keeps saying "oh I really like the nice modern look of a 2018 corsa compared to what it's 2012 counterpart looks like"

He is too picky. Maybe in years to come he can have a brand new car

OP posts:
Original poster
user20 · 17/06/2019 01:08

@blaaake I've told him this before. It always leads to an argument. He just seems to be so frustrated and agitated that he passed his test months ago and isn't driving yet and it annoys the hell out of him that his friends have cars and he doesn't.

He needs to learn that money doesn't grow on trees

OP posts:
justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 01:10

But if he wants a car when he has a decent wage then he should try and get a 2009 corsa or a 2012 one at least but I think a 2018 one is a bit OTT

I was referring to this comment. There is nothing OTT about a 2018 car when you are on a decent wage.

It's not important anyway because he isn't earning well and won't get finance so not sure why you don't just brush it off because it's a non starter.

Original poster
user20 · 17/06/2019 01:15

@justbeniceplease I'm trying to see how others DCs can afford cars really.

Yes, like I said, if they can afford it then there's nothing wrong.

But I can't see how many 18 y/os can afford brand new cars. Not unless they're spoilt brats and the bank of mum and dad buys it all for them.

A brand new car for somebody with barely any money is not a need, it's a want. He's obviously trying to outdo the competition between his peers so that he could show off "oh look at me my car is only a year old"

An older car is fine

OP posts:
justbeniceplease · 17/06/2019 01:19

But I can't see how many 18 y/os can afford brand new cars. Not unless they're spoilt brats and the bank of mum and dad buys it all for them

Mine was 17 when she bought her brand new car. It was one of the proudest moments she has ever had. She worked bloody hard and saved even harder.

She is absolutely not a spoilt brat and bank of mum and dad never paid a penny towards the car or insurance. She self funded all the way.

We did however pay for lessons and her test.

Just because your DC isn't in that position doesn't mean others can't put themselves there.

Hard work and determination goes a long way.

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