Car for daughters 18th, is this the right thing to do?
Discussion
My eldest is 18 soon and we are going to get her a car for her birthday.
She is, like most teenage girls I would imagine, a fussy bugger and knows exactly what she likes and what she doesn't like.
We want this to be a surprise. I have done my research and insurance quoting, and narrowed down to a Ka of some description. She hates Fiat 500's by the way.
I nearly bought a 64 plate Ka Zetec today, a good genuine car in lovely bright red for £3500.
However, my wife has suggested tonight that maybe we should give her the money instead of the car and let her make the decision, guided by us of course.
My question really is does this take the surprise away, or is it a sensible solution for a hard to please teenager?
I know beggars shouldn't be choosers and all that, but we just want to get it right for her.
Have other people experience of similar situations?
She is, like most teenage girls I would imagine, a fussy bugger and knows exactly what she likes and what she doesn't like.
We want this to be a surprise. I have done my research and insurance quoting, and narrowed down to a Ka of some description. She hates Fiat 500's by the way.
I nearly bought a 64 plate Ka Zetec today, a good genuine car in lovely bright red for £3500.
However, my wife has suggested tonight that maybe we should give her the money instead of the car and let her make the decision, guided by us of course.
My question really is does this take the surprise away, or is it a sensible solution for a hard to please teenager?
I know beggars shouldn't be choosers and all that, but we just want to get it right for her.
Have other people experience of similar situations?
Flumpo said:
Quick question, do you live inside the m25 and is she ever likely to be invited to a wedding in Yorkshire?
Probably safer to let her pick, could you give her a choice of 3 and see what she likes?
Already in Yorkshire mate, but that thread was marvellous.Probably safer to let her pick, could you give her a choice of 3 and see what she likes?
I think we have decided to let her be involved, with caveats. Nothing wrong with a pile of ££ for your birthday I don't suppose!
OverSteery said:
Discuss it with her, the options and the pro and cons including
- make/model
- servicing
- insurance
- mpg
and then look/buy together.
No short term 'surprise' facebook moment, but an opportunity for her to learn how to make significant financial decisions. Help her gain the skills she will need as a adult.
I think we have decided this is the way we will go.- make/model
- servicing
- insurance
- mpg
and then look/buy together.
No short term 'surprise' facebook moment, but an opportunity for her to learn how to make significant financial decisions. Help her gain the skills she will need as a adult.
Mo28 said:
Bloody hell that's cheap, I currently pay £900 and that's after having a license for nearly 6 years!
I thought it would be around £1k. I got about 10 quotes for different cars on AT, all approx £800. Maybe due to Mrs and I being named drivers, and a requirement for a box to be fitted.
I seem to have started a good debate here!
Let me try and put a couple of things straight. My children are no more spoilt than any other children I know, but certainly more than I was as a child. That is modern society I think.
I'm certainly not rich, and definitely not poor. My wife and I both work hard to have a reasonable lifestyle and provide for our children, we have nice holidays, a decent home and a couple of BTL's as a pension.
We have been putting money away each month for our children since they were born, and Grandparents have been generous as well over the years.
Aslo, I work in an industry where I meet severely disabled people every day, some of whom have conditions like MND, or have been in accidents that have left them paralysed. OK one day, in a wheelchair the next. Life really is fragile so get on and enjoy while you can is my philosophy.
We wanted the element of surprise with the car, but I think as several posters have said, it may be best to involve her in the decision as it will be a life lesson as well. She would not be Veruca Salt if she didn't like what I chose, but she will have to live with this car for a few years so I would lime her to be happy with it.
Also, I don't want to rush a decision. Her birthday is Sept 2nd, we are away most of August so would have a couple of weeks to find something I think she would like. A mate of hers has a 500 which my daughter doesn't like, another has a Ka which she thinks is 'kind of cute'. I don't feel confident enough to get her one based on this comment.
The poster who said about the collage, great idea and this will be the way forward I think.
Let me try and put a couple of things straight. My children are no more spoilt than any other children I know, but certainly more than I was as a child. That is modern society I think.
I'm certainly not rich, and definitely not poor. My wife and I both work hard to have a reasonable lifestyle and provide for our children, we have nice holidays, a decent home and a couple of BTL's as a pension.
We have been putting money away each month for our children since they were born, and Grandparents have been generous as well over the years.
Aslo, I work in an industry where I meet severely disabled people every day, some of whom have conditions like MND, or have been in accidents that have left them paralysed. OK one day, in a wheelchair the next. Life really is fragile so get on and enjoy while you can is my philosophy.
We wanted the element of surprise with the car, but I think as several posters have said, it may be best to involve her in the decision as it will be a life lesson as well. She would not be Veruca Salt if she didn't like what I chose, but she will have to live with this car for a few years so I would lime her to be happy with it.
Also, I don't want to rush a decision. Her birthday is Sept 2nd, we are away most of August so would have a couple of weeks to find something I think she would like. A mate of hers has a 500 which my daughter doesn't like, another has a Ka which she thinks is 'kind of cute'. I don't feel confident enough to get her one based on this comment.
The poster who said about the collage, great idea and this will be the way forward I think.
Belated update on this folks.
It was my daughters 18th last week and we presented her with 18 small fairly insignificant presents (apart from a Tiffany necklace), and then an envelope with a cheque in it. She looked at the cheque without really understanding what it was for, so I told her it was for a car, and that we would allow her to put some additional money to it so get something she liked. I also told her that the original plan was to just buy her something, but some blokes off the internet told me not to!
She was quite thrilled with the money, and that it was specifically for a car. She then went through AT with a 'what the hell do I do now' look on her face. Later she said that maybe it would be better if I had just got her one and saved the hassle!
Anyway, we took her out 'car shopping' to give her an idea of the market and how to go about finding something suitable. She seemed set on finding a white 3dr Fiesta of some sort, but I don't believe these are great VFM £250'ish more to insure than some of the other options. She originally was against the 'go to' Girlie car of a Fiat 500, but having looked at a few this seems to be the direction we are going now.
She had her test late last week and sadly failed, so the pressure is off for a little while as she is OK practising in my wifes car whilst I wait for something to come up that makes sense for her. Tests are a 7 week lead-time in our area ATM.
White 500 Lounge, 63 plate or newer, pref below 50k miles would be great. I reckon I should get this for under £4k so wish me luck with the hunt.
It was my daughters 18th last week and we presented her with 18 small fairly insignificant presents (apart from a Tiffany necklace), and then an envelope with a cheque in it. She looked at the cheque without really understanding what it was for, so I told her it was for a car, and that we would allow her to put some additional money to it so get something she liked. I also told her that the original plan was to just buy her something, but some blokes off the internet told me not to!
She was quite thrilled with the money, and that it was specifically for a car. She then went through AT with a 'what the hell do I do now' look on her face. Later she said that maybe it would be better if I had just got her one and saved the hassle!
Anyway, we took her out 'car shopping' to give her an idea of the market and how to go about finding something suitable. She seemed set on finding a white 3dr Fiesta of some sort, but I don't believe these are great VFM £250'ish more to insure than some of the other options. She originally was against the 'go to' Girlie car of a Fiat 500, but having looked at a few this seems to be the direction we are going now.
She had her test late last week and sadly failed, so the pressure is off for a little while as she is OK practising in my wifes car whilst I wait for something to come up that makes sense for her. Tests are a 7 week lead-time in our area ATM.
White 500 Lounge, 63 plate or newer, pref below 50k miles would be great. I reckon I should get this for under £4k so wish me luck with the hunt.
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