Ungrateful offspring....
Discussion
Having read all this, when the time comes (he's only 11), my lad will get some NCAP 5 rated shed for year one. When he can keep that in one piece for a year we might look at other things.
But I'll agree it with him up front. Clearly these 'surprise cars' don't always go down too well when chosen by well meaning parents.
I know, it were different in our day, etc, etc.
But I'll agree it with him up front. Clearly these 'surprise cars' don't always go down too well when chosen by well meaning parents.
I know, it were different in our day, etc, etc.
k-ink said:
This is exactly why it is a waste of time buying a decent first car for most people. Once six months to a year have passed without issue, fair enough. As said, sadly another mint car pointlessly removed from circulation.
It was a Ford Ka ... It was never going to be worth 6figs (to steal a god awful term from another thread) and dos what it was supposed to do in the event of an accident, protect the occupant(s) ... It's a ultilitarian metal box for heavens sake, and hardly a 'loss'There's nothing to say had they been given a brand new motor or a knackered 200k beater it would/wouldn't have happened the same or earlier/later ... Law of averages people will have accidents for whatever reason, I didn't have a crash for the first 10yrs (by luck I add) ... Doesn't mean I should have driven a s
t box until his perverse right of passage happenedk-ink said:
This is exactly why it is a waste of time buying a decent first car for most people. Once six months to a year have passed without issue, fair enough. As said, sadly another mint car pointlessly removed from circulation.
Never thought I'd see anyone mourn the loss of a KA.It is a shame to see a perfect example of any car smashed up. No I've never owned nor wanted a KA. Waste is still waste. Someone might have wanted a mint example to drop a cossie engine and transmission into 
Kids should have a rough first car. Even if it's just for a few months. It will make them appreciate what comes next far more.
Kids should have a rough first car. Even if it's just for a few months. It will make them appreciate what comes next far more.
k-ink said:
It is a shame to see a perfect example of any car smashed up. No I've never owned nor wanted a KA. Waste is still waste. Someone might have wanted a mint example to drop a cossie engine and transmission into
Kids should have a rough first car. Even if it's just for a few months. It will make them appreciate what comes next far more.
Nobody "wants" a Ford KA. Kids should have a rough first car. Even if it's just for a few months. It will make them appreciate what comes next far more.
xjay1337 said:
If my Dad bought me a 2CV and shoved it in my face and said "here, take it" I'd be more pissed off than appreciative.
And no, neither of my parents particularly helped me out financially, at least not with car stuff.
For me as a car enthusiast I would be like, hey cool, a Breadvan, cheap car, boom - but to someone who doesn't know or like cars, it's just an old tatty Polo owned by some old biddy who had a wee-bag and while all of their mates are getting new Corsas Ltd Editions they are stuck with a tatty old Polo.... not sure if it's his kids fault or societies fault or even him as a parent.
Being one of the younger members on the forum I can see it both ways. You should appreciate what you are offered/given but at the same time the old addage "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" isn't really applicable. Just because something is a gift doesn't mean you have to like it/appreciate it/want it.
My first car WAS a 2cv, and it was great funAnd no, neither of my parents particularly helped me out financially, at least not with car stuff.
For me as a car enthusiast I would be like, hey cool, a Breadvan, cheap car, boom - but to someone who doesn't know or like cars, it's just an old tatty Polo owned by some old biddy who had a wee-bag and while all of their mates are getting new Corsas Ltd Editions they are stuck with a tatty old Polo.... not sure if it's his kids fault or societies fault or even him as a parent.
Being one of the younger members on the forum I can see it both ways. You should appreciate what you are offered/given but at the same time the old addage "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" isn't really applicable. Just because something is a gift doesn't mean you have to like it/appreciate it/want it.
Taught me a lot about driving as you really had to plan your overtakes, and it's where I started wielding spanners in earnest, including a chassis replacement
It was also the only car I've had that actually attracted girls
xjay1337 said:
Surprised you didn't bring up how your company director thinks you're the best driver ever.
:-)
Heh. No they don't actually think that, and neither do I....they just recognised that I'm responsible and safe for my age and I can atually handle larger vehicles without praging them or generally treating them with disrespect. It's less of a 'thing' now I'm 24 but when I started with them I was 17 and it mattered.:-)
The number of vehicles we see where drivers have demonstrated lack of talent and / or lack of respect. It's not just about driving, try cigarette burns in seats, smell of weed in vehicles, scraping vans and trucks when reversing, etc etc. It seems to be a bigger problem then people generally think. I know I found it an eye opener when I was briefly looking after the (fairly small) fleet.
What the causes are are unclear to me...poor recruiting? Poor pay? Poor training? I don't know. None of these issues seem apparent where I work, but perhaps they are and I just don't see it. Personally, I don't see that people should need to be trained to drive safely and well, and to treat the vehicles with respect.
xjay1337 said:
Being one of the younger members on the forum I can see it both ways. You should appreciate what you are offered/given but at the same time the old addage "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" isn't really applicable. Just because something is a gift doesn't mean you have to like it/appreciate it/want it.
So given a choice you'd rather have nothing at all than an old car?Mr2Mike said:
So given a choice you'd rather have nothing at all than an old car?
That depends entirely on your personal choice, interest in cars, etc.I can see how someone would rather not have a car than, what they deem to be a sh*t one that would perhaps be unreliable and rely on public transport.
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