WTB: cheap first car for my 18 yr old irresponsible daughter

[erdoran]

Probably the wrong forum but if anyone has an old beater they're interested in selling cheap please PM me with details, mileage, etc. Car must be mechanically reliable & automatic tranny. Prefer something located in Philadelphia/Delaware area since I'm sure it will have lots of miles on it.

[BmW745On19's]

Define cheap.

[erdoran]

No more than a couple of thousand dollars--depends on the car though. This is meant for her to learn to drive in, which means I'm sure she'll put some dents & dings in it, so I don't want to pay for a beautiful body going in--I learned that lesson with my oldest, who destroyed his first car!

[jagu]

Corolla, by toyota.

[erdoran]

Absolutely, or Accord--but a CHEAP one, she isn't responsible enough to have anything even remotely in an investment price range.

[alpinewhite325i]

I'm confused. If she's not responsible, why are you buying her a car?

[erdoran]

She is going to earn driving time by showing responsibility. I hold the keys, she drives when she deserves to. I also feel bad as she is the only kid around who doesn't even have a learner's permit yet--the condition for that was getting out of bed all by herself in the morning and getting herself out the door to school, which she chose not to do. I guess I'm taking pity on her, it must be really humiliating to be an 18 yr old HS senior and have to ride the school bus!

[dragoncoach]

I'm confused. If she's not responsible, why are you buying her a car?

+1000! If I thought my kids were that irresponsible, he/she wouldn't be getting anything till he/she demonstrated they can be trusted and is responsible. Driving is a privilage and you are probably going to be paying for insurance so you are going to be putting a 3000+ lb. object in the hands of an irresponsible teen?! If she's on your policy, you are ultimately responsible. Please think about this one.....

[dboy11]

Check Craigslist they have great buys I've been looking for the same for the last few weeks

[erdoran]

+1000! If I thought my kids were that irresponsible, he/she wouldn't be getting anything till he/she demonstrated they can be trusted and is responsible. Driving is a privilage and you are probably going to be paying for insurance so you are going to be putting a 3000+ lb. object in the hands of an irresponsible teen?! If she's on your policy, you are ultimately responsible. Please think about this one.....

You are right, of course--I guess I am still ambivalent about even letting her get her permit, which should say something...

My thought is I don't want her learning to drive in either of my cars, because I don't want them damaged, and having that car sitting in the driveway will be a powerful incentive. Driving time with the permit can be earned by responsible behavior & choices--bad choices mean she gets to stare at the car sitting there....

[KyleBaczynski]

Wow you're buying your daughter a car?

I'm 17. When I return from vacation, I'm getting my license. I have to pay for my own insurance and my own car.

If you really want to teach her responsibility, make her buy her own. When I return and look for my car, I'm looking for a 97-99 3 series. If I wasn't a responsible driver before, I certainly will be after sinking ~$7k+ into a car.

[rusmaf]

I guess I'm taking pity on her, it must be really humiliating to be an 18 yr old HS senior and have to ride the school bus!

So what? I'm 21 and walked to work. Got a car this year, all by myself, and its a bmw 745. Spoiled society.

[NJREDZ06]

Wow you're buying your daughter a car?

I'm 17. When I return from vacation, I'm getting my license. I have to pay for my own insurance and my own car.

If you really want to teach her responsibility, make her buy her own. When I return and look for my car, I'm looking for a 97-99 3 series. If I wasn't a responsible driver before, I certainly will be after sinking ~$7k+ into a car.


Listen to the 17yr old they know everything! :rofl:

I bought my son a BMW and he's 15. He had to get straight A's in school to prove to me he deserved it.
Sorry your parents are making you buy your own car. But you cannot impose your or your parents belief to others just because that's the way it went down for you.
Spending $7000 on a car doesn't make you anymore responsible than the next person.
It just means you are a better saver at your age than most people.

[dragoncoach]

Listen to the 17yr old they know everything! :rofl:

I bought my son a BMW and he's 15. He had to get straight A's in school to prove to me he deserved it.
Sorry your parents are making you buy your own car. But you cannot impose your or your parents belief to others just because that's the way it went down for you.
Spending $7000 on a car doesn't make you anymore responsible than the next person.
It just means you are a better saver at your age than most people.

I can see what you mean but getting straight A's doesn't mean he is responsible either. I've seen some of my kid's friends who get straight A's and they scare the heck out of me when I see them drive. My daughter goes to UCSD and one of her dorm mates graduated HS with a 4.5 GPA and came in as a sophomore. Parents bought her a new C230. Can't tell you how many times she's been drunk (at 18). I guess it comes down to how well you know your children and how much trust you put in them.

[erdoran]

Well, I'm willing to buy a CHEAP beater for Ms. Irresponsible. She doesn't get her license until she has a job to pay for gas, repairs and insurance. Once I'm convinced she knows how to drive at that point I will go halfsies with her on a more expensive beater up to a point, and of course sell the learn-to-drive beater and keep the proceeds for myself. But Kyle is absolutely right about a teenager paying for their own car, etc. I guess I'm getting soft in my old age.

[Just Bryce]

There's an awesome E30 on the Tampa craigslist for cheap, but it's a 5sp :D

[erdoran]

Yeah, justbryce, I saw your listing on here actually, but it isn't worth it for me to drive it all the way back from Tampa to Philly, even if it would make it that far, plus I need automatic tranny. But thanks.

[KyleBaczynski]

Listen to the 17yr old they know everything! :rofl:

I bought my son a BMW and he's 15. He had to get straight A's in school to prove to me he deserved it.
Sorry your parents are making you buy your own car. But you cannot impose your or your parents belief to others just because that's the way it went down for you.
Spending $7000 on a car doesn't make you anymore responsible than the next person.
It just means you are a better saver at your age than most people.

I'm not trying to say I know everything, nor am I trying to impose my beliefs on others, but I'm simply stating that his daughter is lucky she's getting anything at all. My parents can't afford a car or insurance for me.

I disagree though (very heavily) with your idea that spending money doesn't make you more responsible. You know exactly how hard you worked to earn that money and especially with most teenagers wages that's quite a long time. I assure you I haven't been saving for a long period of time... at all... really... I would really say more that I just haven't spent as much as I usually do. I don't intend to pay it all off upfront either, I'll probably finance it just because I rather would do that than pay for it in a lump sum.

Anyway, I suppose it is a perspective thing, but personally, I would be extremely careful with something I paid for myself versus something I didn't pay for at all (or not for all of it). I'm done now, I didn't intend for it to be taken this way.

@erdoran: I wouldn't say you're getting soft, especially not if she does have to get a job for gas, insurance, repairs, etc. I guess it may not have clicked to a point that it's not really going to be "her car". Also, out of curiosity, why are you having her learn on an auto rather than a manual?