Did your parents buy you a car....?

loltim · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:06

No, both my cars and all driving lessons/tests were all paid by myself.

dirtydog · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:14

Rich_L said:
I don't think you can cast judgement either way about whether buying a child a car is spoiling them or not without knowing the individual circumstances behind each decision.

Perhaps, but I think as a general rule it does follow.

I'm not surprised that Fox got given half of his first car which doubtless goes towards explaining his lack of appreciation for the value of money

He'll learn one day - unless his parents keep supporting him anyway.

Bear · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:17

Nope, no car from my parents.

cleanbluesky · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:18

dirtydog said:
Perhaps, but I think as a general rule it does follow.

I'm not surprised that Fox got given half of his first car which doubtless goes towards explaining his lack of appreciation for the value of money He'll learn one day - unless his parents keep supporting him anyway.

1) Its easily possible to give a child a car and still be thoroughly mean to that child

2) Proof that fox doesn't value money? Proof that you do?

moss · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:19

dirtydog said:
I'm not surprised that Fox got given half of his first car which doubtless goes towards explaining his lack of appreciation for the value of money He'll learn one day - unless his parents keep supporting him anyway.

My impression of fox (from the forums alone) isnt that he lacks appreciation for the value of money, almost the opposite in fact. He usually seems to make comments which make financial sense.

dirtydog · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:22

cleanbluesky said:
1) Its easily possible to give a child a car and still be thoroughly mean to that child

I didn't say it wasn't

2) Proof that fox doesn't value money? Proof that you do?

I'm sure Fox values money. I doubt that he appreciates the true value of money however. The two are not the same.

dirtydog · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:23

moss said:
My impression of fox (from the forums alone) isnt that he lacks appreciation for the value of money, almost the opposite in fact. He usually seems to make comments which make financial sense.

Hehe well that's a matter of opinion

cleanbluesky · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:24

dirtydog said:
I didn't say it wasn't

Then why would gift of a car inevitably spoil said child? Would gift of a house do the same?

I'm sure Fox values money. I doubt that he appreciates the true value of money however. The two are not the same.

Care to explain the 'true' value of money and how you were gifted with such wisdom...

dalepearson · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:28

I bought all my own cars, and saved money myself to buy my house, go to Uni, etc etc.

I think its up to the parents, my only fear would be where does it stop.
I think some people expect it, everything is always given to them, I am proud to have made my own way in life.

People need to be responsible for their acts. I think parents can add better support without giving money away.

dirtydog · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:32

cleanbluesky said:
Then why would gift of a car inevitably spoil said child? Would gift of a house do the same?

What do you think? If a car does then of course a house would.

Care to explain the 'true' value of money and how you were gifted with such wisdom...

I wasn't gifted with it; I learned it the hard way. When I tried to impart this experience to a few people on here, Fox told me off so now when people say they're 18 and spending £xx thousands on a car I'll just congratulate them and let them make their own mistakes.

johnny6 · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:35

My parents gave me 1600 quid for my 16th birthday so I saved it for about a year and a half and walked away with the money and the interest. Paid for my lessons, driving licence, first car and a years insurance.

My brother got the same 1600 quid on his 16th Birthday and pished it up the wall. Resulting in him only learning to drive and get his first car when he was about 21 as he had no money. Silly fool.

LeoN88 · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:36

my dad bought me my first car a p reg 106 1.1 and have to say very grateful for it pays for the insurance anything that goes wrong which so far this year has cost well over £500 luckily only thing i have to pay for is the petrol and if i drive sensibly and dont go far costs £30 every 2 weeks or more!

MagicBoy · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:39

I inherited my first car - a 1.0 Nova. My granddad's health was failing and he was losing the confidence to drive competently. I'd just passed my test and had been using the weekend trip to visit as driving practice. He offered to my parents who agreed to cover the first couple of year's insurance and that was it. I had that car for just over 2 years, then it got TWOC'd and written off. The insurance money just about covered the insurance so my parents chipped in £100 to give me enough to by a car my best mate was selling. Everything after that has been self financed. Car was worth a smidge over a grand when I got it, first year's insurance TPFT was £750!

DanTheMan · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:42

It's all proportional really, the price of a car may be pocket money to some parents yet to others it could be months of hard work. If I had kids, I would spend a sensible percentage that I earn on them which I wouldn't class as 'spoiling'.

I won't be having my first car bought for me but I can see a small interest free loan off them coming into play

.

Giddy · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:44

Paid for by myself, I was convinced my dad was going to give me my mums old car but he sold it and said "I had to buy my first car, blah blah..."

Matt82 · 8 Feb 2007 at 18:57

they paid for the 5 lessons i had. theory was a birthday present, so was the practical test.

they brought me cars too at various stages, even lent me a 1.2 clio 16v when i had mine in bits doing the clutch lol

SpeedFreak · 8 Feb 2007 at 19:34

I know somebody who has an Audit TT bought for him by his parents. They pay his insurance and tax for him. They also gave him a 200k house and pay his bills. He's 24 and earns about 25k. Recently he asked his dad if he could postpone a triple heart bypass because he had exams at the same time and didn't want to deal with both on the same weekend. Now there's a son you can be proud of :rolleyes:

Fatboy · 8 Feb 2007 at 20:20

My dad brought me my first car for £5 in the pub. He spent 18 months doing it up for me and making it into a beast for the day i past my test.

Vix · 8 Feb 2007 at 20:32

We went halves on my first car but I think they have bought me a couple since. When I lived with my parents, they used to pay for the petrol and have paid my tax a few times. They also still pay my insurance, and I have been driving ten years!!

I really really appreciate it though, its not like I expect them to do it or anything

I don't have a problem with parents buying their kids cars, as long as the kids appreciate it (like me!). It is important to know the value of money, so having every expensive item bought for you is not a great way of living in the real world.

Kappa · 8 Feb 2007 at 20:41

My first car was bought by my parents, I dont see the problem, its not like i asked to have a turbocharged deathride which i would be able to get with *** same money.

I look at it this way, when i'm older, and IF i have sufficient money, i WILL buy my child a car, I dont see the problem with it. If i'm struggling with money then I wont, if i dont see a reason for my child to have it then I wont, and I wont buy it because they 'WANT' it, i'd get it because they DESERVE it. It's all relative, why give your child cake on their birthday? Are you spoiling them? They dont need the extra sugar!.