Help convincing the parents?
Discussion
Hi Guys,
Now being a community of petrolheads I'm sure many of you will have advice in my situation.
Right, I'm in my first year of uni, so don't have a car, and to be honest don't really need one here because, though I hate to say it, the buses are ok. But my dilemma is that I've just found something rather lovely in the classifieds, something I've wanted since I first saw one years ago. I've spoken to the owner of the car and it seems to be a good solid car, but can I convince the parents to part with my own cash for it?? No.
The problem is I would have no where to park it at uni so it would need to live at home for a few weeks at a time. Insurance is also perhaps a little on the highside, and I'm wondering if it's possible to just insure it on a temporary basis when I go back home. But I really don't want to see this opportunity slip away. (I'm yet to see the car, and obviously if it's a mess then I will walk away briskly).
My dad thinks I'm being silly, and that no 18 year olds have cars from the 80s.
Anyone have any advice, am I just being all dreamy-eyed about it, or is it possible?
Anyone done it before, any stories? I'm pretty sure I read Mr Garlick had an old Merc at quite a young age?
Now being a community of petrolheads I'm sure many of you will have advice in my situation.
Right, I'm in my first year of uni, so don't have a car, and to be honest don't really need one here because, though I hate to say it, the buses are ok. But my dilemma is that I've just found something rather lovely in the classifieds, something I've wanted since I first saw one years ago. I've spoken to the owner of the car and it seems to be a good solid car, but can I convince the parents to part with my own cash for it?? No.
The problem is I would have no where to park it at uni so it would need to live at home for a few weeks at a time. Insurance is also perhaps a little on the highside, and I'm wondering if it's possible to just insure it on a temporary basis when I go back home. But I really don't want to see this opportunity slip away. (I'm yet to see the car, and obviously if it's a mess then I will walk away briskly).
My dad thinks I'm being silly, and that no 18 year olds have cars from the 80s.
Anyone have any advice, am I just being all dreamy-eyed about it, or is it possible?
Anyone done it before, any stories? I'm pretty sure I read Mr Garlick had an old Merc at quite a young age?
The Crack Fox said:
Hang on, you're an adult, and you have to ask your parents permission to spend your own money ? FFS, grow a pair Man ! 
PS - Lots of Local councils will rent you a garage for peanuts, depending on where you are, give 'em a call
Read paragraph 3 PS - Lots of Local councils will rent you a garage for peanuts, depending on where you are, give 'em a call
The parents are involved because it'll have to sit on their drive.The Crack Fox said:
Hang on, you're an adult, and you have to ask your parents permission to spend your own money ? FFS, grow a pair Man !
PS - Lots of Local councils will rent you a garage for peanuts, depending on where you are, give 'em a call
Was expecting that response, it's more the fact that it isn't worth the trouble it will cause if I ignore what they say. But also I wanted to be sure I'm doing the right thing.PS - Lots of Local councils will rent you a garage for peanuts, depending on where you are, give 'em a call
I'll look into the garage thing though, thanks.
Firstly, is it your cash? Is it a student loan or bursary or something of that ilk? If this is the case I would say don't. If it's a student loan then borrow as little as you possibly can if possible. When you start seeing your first pay packets shrunk by the automatic deductions you will definately wish this.
If you've earned it yourself then have a good long think about whether you can justify the expense vs what you would otherwise spend the money on.
Finally, if it's sitting on your parents driveway then make sure to find out whether they think its silly to buy the car because you don't 'need' one or because they dont want an old car sitting there a lot of the time.
So, in conclusion. If it's your own cash, and you can persuade your parents round and can justify the outlay then go for it :P
If you've earned it yourself then have a good long think about whether you can justify the expense vs what you would otherwise spend the money on.
Finally, if it's sitting on your parents driveway then make sure to find out whether they think its silly to buy the car because you don't 'need' one or because they dont want an old car sitting there a lot of the time.
So, in conclusion. If it's your own cash, and you can persuade your parents round and can justify the outlay then go for it :P
petrolveins said:
Hi Guys,
Now being a community of petrolheads I'm sure many of you will have advice in my situation.
Right, I'm in my first year of uni, so don't have a car, and to be honest don't really need one here because, though I hate to say it, the buses are ok. But my dilemma is that I've just found something rather lovely in the classifieds, something I've wanted since I first saw one years ago. I've spoken to the owner of the car and it seems to be a good solid car, but can I convince the parents to part with my own cash for it?? No.
The problem is I would have no where to park it at uni so it would need to live at home for a few weeks at a time. Insurance is also perhaps a little on the highside, and I'm wondering if it's possible to just insure it on a temporary basis when I go back home. But I really don't want to see this opportunity slip away. (I'm yet to see the car, and obviously if it's a mess then I will walk away briskly).
My dad thinks I'm being silly, and that no 18 year olds have cars from the 80s.
Anyone have any advice, am I just being all dreamy-eyed about it, or is it possible?
Anyone done it before, any stories? I'm pretty sure I read Mr Garlick had an old Merc at quite a young age?
How about just buy it and see what happens.....Now being a community of petrolheads I'm sure many of you will have advice in my situation.
Right, I'm in my first year of uni, so don't have a car, and to be honest don't really need one here because, though I hate to say it, the buses are ok. But my dilemma is that I've just found something rather lovely in the classifieds, something I've wanted since I first saw one years ago. I've spoken to the owner of the car and it seems to be a good solid car, but can I convince the parents to part with my own cash for it?? No.
The problem is I would have no where to park it at uni so it would need to live at home for a few weeks at a time. Insurance is also perhaps a little on the highside, and I'm wondering if it's possible to just insure it on a temporary basis when I go back home. But I really don't want to see this opportunity slip away. (I'm yet to see the car, and obviously if it's a mess then I will walk away briskly).
My dad thinks I'm being silly, and that no 18 year olds have cars from the 80s.
Anyone have any advice, am I just being all dreamy-eyed about it, or is it possible?
Anyone done it before, any stories? I'm pretty sure I read Mr Garlick had an old Merc at quite a young age?
Personally, I wouldn't buy it. Uni is expensive, and from reading the papers lately about graduate employment, living after Uni is too for many students! (mind you, I'm sure that depends what degree you've done..). Running costs need to be considered (repairs, insurance, tax, MoT), and I'd say it's just not worth it. Also, parents don't always know best, but whilst you're dependent on them in some way (and may be after Uni if you can't afford your own place to live), it pays to stay on the right side of them.
RobM77 said:
Personally, I wouldn't buy it. Uni is expensive, and from reading the papers lately about graduate employment, living after Uni is too for many students! (mind you, I'm sure that depends what degree you've done..). Running costs need to be considered (repairs, insurance, tax, MoT), and I'd say it's just not worth it. Also, parents don't always know best, but whilst you're dependent on them in some way (and may be after Uni if you can't afford your own place to live), it pays to stay on the right side of them.
Or there's the other angle on it.1. Chances are they'll need a car at some point, so might as well get it now as it might be more difficult to later on after graduation.
2. If they buy the car, chances are it'll still be worth similar in a few years time should they need to sell it. Not spending the money now on a car might mean pissing it away. So more costly overall.
I agree with a few others on here. It seems a little pointless buying a car that you'll only use a few weekends of a month, if that.
Uni is more important at this moment in time, and also bloody costly. You'll have so many more opportunities to get something that you want once you have finished your course and found a job. You'll probably be in an even better position financially to cope with it, plus the costs and insurance etc would probably be lower by then too.
Think about it realistically too. Are your parents going to want an extra car on their drive that doesn't move for weeks at a time? Not likely..
I'd spend the money on a decent mountain bike and enjoy that for a while, as well as getting some exercise whilst at uni! Then buy the Merc when its more viable.
Uni is more important at this moment in time, and also bloody costly. You'll have so many more opportunities to get something that you want once you have finished your course and found a job. You'll probably be in an even better position financially to cope with it, plus the costs and insurance etc would probably be lower by then too.
Think about it realistically too. Are your parents going to want an extra car on their drive that doesn't move for weeks at a time? Not likely..
I'd spend the money on a decent mountain bike and enjoy that for a while, as well as getting some exercise whilst at uni! Then buy the Merc when its more viable.
CypherP said:
I agree with a few others on here. It seems a little pointless buying a car that you'll only use a few weekends of a month, if that.
Uni is more important at this moment in time, and also bloody costly. You'll have so many more opportunities to get something that you want once you have finished your course and found a job. You'll probably be in an even better position financially to cope with it, plus the costs and insurance etc would probably be lower by then too.
Think about it realistically too. Are your parents going to want an extra car on their drive that doesn't move for weeks at a time? Not likely..
I'd spend the money on a decent mountain bike and enjoy that for a while, as well as getting some exercise whilst at uni! Then buy the Merc when its more viable.
I guess I'm slowly coming round to reality, I mean the car would only be used for 5 months of the year and the occasional weekend on top. But I've already got the mountain bike though which means the money is still there tempting me, oh and the car is an Audi Uni is more important at this moment in time, and also bloody costly. You'll have so many more opportunities to get something that you want once you have finished your course and found a job. You'll probably be in an even better position financially to cope with it, plus the costs and insurance etc would probably be lower by then too.
Think about it realistically too. Are your parents going to want an extra car on their drive that doesn't move for weeks at a time? Not likely..
I'd spend the money on a decent mountain bike and enjoy that for a while, as well as getting some exercise whilst at uni! Then buy the Merc when its more viable.
Thanks for the advice guys, I'm going to think hard about this week, look at costs in more detail, I can already see which way this is going to go, but nevertheless I'm still gonna look into it.
Evangelion said:
Yes, I do think you're being silly.
But it's your money and you can be as silly with it as you like.
On the other hand, it is their drive .....
Is it your cash or is a student loan or overdraft going to fund the purchase?But it's your money and you can be as silly with it as you like.
On the other hand, it is their drive .....
Tempting as it might be I think that your dad is right - get through uni with as little debt as possible, get a job and then start fulfilling car owning ambitions.
I disagree about the minimising Student Loan borrowing, yes of late things have changed, but historically it was always best to borrow as much as possible, stick it in savings to acrue interest more than you were being charged.
It's still the cheapest form of borrowing you are ever likely to get, and (cet. par.) you're best off using this amount towards a mortgage deposit, or any other form of borrowing you were otherwise going to pay market rates for.
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It's still the cheapest form of borrowing you are ever likely to get, and (cet. par.) you're best off using this amount towards a mortgage deposit, or any other form of borrowing you were otherwise going to pay market rates for.
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