Joined Jan 2007
The Mistress of All Evil!
Forum Thread
Would you buy your newly-licensed teen a brand new car?
December 15, 2010 at
08:37 PM
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Why or why not?
Poll to come.
Poll to come.
169 Comments
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That's how most people screw up as far as cars go though. They focus more on the image and what other people think rather than what is actually going to be best for what they need.
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That's how most people screw up as far as cars go though. They focus more on the image and what other people think rather than what is actually going to be best for what they need.
Although there are lots of things to consider before doing so..
But I would NEVER buy a newly licensed teen a brand new car. I remember what I did to my dad's car as a teen. That shit is not happening to me.
No kids yet for me so I'm not quite sure how we'd handle it when the time arrives but I imagine I'd make him/her save up on their own and I'd meet them halfway for nice used car in good condition.
Most people can't afford a car easily, including myself, so I'd probably look at something 3-5 years old that's safe and that I could still get a warranty on, like a certified pre-owned.
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For one thing, I don't like used cars. While they aren't always the best value, I don't like the trouble that can come with used cars.
New cars are also safer for a variety of reasons. Despite vehicle history reporting services, you still never know the history of a used car for sure. It's nearly impossible to know if a used car really has working airbags or has ever had damage that impacts safety. Side-impact airbags can be hard to find on a used car. Many new cars have side-impact airbags standard or at least as an option. Side-impact airbags can and do prevent splattered brains. I wouldn't put my kid in a car without them. It is also easier to get stability control on a new car, and all new cars have TPMS. Some of these things can mean the difference between being dead and walking away from a bad situation or avoiding it altogether.
Many kids will be encouraged to drive more safely in a new car. The last thing they want to do is damage a brand new car.
You're thinking kids with a superman complex will drive safer just because they dont want to wreck the new car??? Did you ever go to high school in America? Kids with nice cars wreck them more than kids with older cars, inexperience plus bigger engines usually equals disaster.
Side-impact air bags? I'm a car nut and have been in a ton of junkyards, the odds of side impacts are incredibly low, and on most of the cars I've seen t-boned, the side airbags wouldnt have done a lick of good.
TPMS? Are you serious??? Give them kid a $3 pressure gauge and teach them how to check the air! It takes a few minutes to check all the tires. Taking a look at both sides of the car once a day is a more reliable TPMS.