Hey ryan! whats up? how do you like riverside? I got a few friends going there next year. you doing ok academically?

 

This is OT but ohwell...Riverside sucks. Friends don't let friends go to Riverside.


Back to the topic:

Do not be discouraged that your friends are driving WRXs and STIs. Gas is up there in the $3.00 mark. The way I see it, you're the winner with the Corolla that gets 30+ mpg.

 

well, i'm not envious because i'm one of those drivers. I am angry at the foolish ones that do not deserve it. Well, 2 ppl i know have just gotten STis, one's 19 and one's 18. Both of them go to the 7th st runs regularly, and both launch at redline ..... i think ppl who abuse their cars like that dont deserve high end cars no matter what the age is. *sigh* that's my 2 cents.

 

If someone else is paying for their car, what makes you think they're paying for the gas?

 

I think funds available this is the way to do it. You've spent 2 years teaching your kid the value of HIS/HER vehicle and to respect it. On top of the years prior to that you've spent teaching them to respect you and opportunities they recieve. I think with those tools and active parenting (do your homework/get good grades/get rewarded) kids have a lot brighter future.

I do not however agree with throwing the keys to a $35 sports car to a kid that you've never spent time behind the wheel with. That's never had to work for a damn thing. That's got no respect. That sadly is the case in MANY to MOST cases where you see 17 year olds driving STI's and M3's. These kids have parents that both work a lot of hours, probably never cook and really don't participate in their lives. They just throw money at them and make sure they can play the sports they want to play or have the clothes and games and cars they say are cool.

the extension of the parents ego is a great point. I know in my school it was definately something you could see if you paid attention. We had kids who's spots on sports teams were provided by how much money their parents gave to the school. Kids driving BMW's, 4 runners, benzes and crap like that. Visible bling for their parents. Kid wrecks a 4runner...oh well by him a 3 series.

 

I mostly agree with everyone about the whole subject, yeah it sucks but what can we do? And most kids should learn to appreciate what they have...because a lot of people don't even get to drive. But life is just unfair that way. Well, my father said if he has to pay 60,000 for cars (my sister and I both asked for cars for graduation...going to Davis and she going to UCLA, shesi n the same grade long story), and he was all like "if im gonna spend 60,000 on cars, why don't i just put a downpayment on a house!" and i thought hey good idea, so i would rather have my family invest that money instead of buying me toys.

 

Dunno about that one.

The parents could just be rich, especially true in the Bay Area where a lot of people who live here made it in the .com boom in the past ten years and can afford to throw money at their kids. I mean, if they drive Porsches and misc. exotics, what's a Subaru to them? $35k is pocket change.

 

grrr I am upset/angry/jealous/envious of you!!! haha

 

you just echo'd exactly what I said?

only difference is the work issue. Either way...I don't agree with just throwing money at kids and not teaching them to earn and respect it.

There are 4 kids in my family. 1 of them got money thrown at him...long story. He's a lazy bum. Love the guy to death. But he doesn't do anything. He lives off family money. No job. No car. No lisense...he's 25. Crappy part is that he's a damn genious when in a lot of ways..just no reason to apply it.

I was mearly saying that much of the time that's the case. No family life. Just lots of money getting thrown around. Yeah there are those that just make a **** load of money. Mom's at home. Or they just work good schedules and have a great family life. There are those...but much of the time it's not that way...rich or poor these days in california there is little to no family like/time. Just look at the way kids are coming up these days.

When I was a kid I was concerned about baseball practice and homework. Not what parties to attend, what cars to drive, what condoms to steal.

It was rare you saw younger kids out at coffee shops during the week or at the local whatever until 11pm midnight on week nights or grabbing dinner a the local in/out. Now just about any day of the week you can stroll into in/out late at night and see it loaded with 16 year olds that should be resting so their brains are useful at school the next day and they don't have to live off coffee.

That's all I'm saying. It's true.

the exception today is the one that's raised at home. Used to be the other way around.

 

congrats
I'm 17 and the STi's my daily

*rolls eyes*

 

This is a funny topic.

Is your life really that bad to be jealous of what other people have? Some people have it real good, some don't. Just live with it. Plus, it's only a STI. ****, I had friends in HS that got a brand new M3s, Porsches, etc. when they turned 16. Does it make them better than you? Maybe in your eyes, but who cares. It's just funny to see that some people get so bent because some people have it so much better than they do.

 

I flew an F16 when I was 16. I also drive a Subaru today. Weee!

I agree with just about everyone's comments here. When I was in highschool, I worked and earned everything I had (weird, just like real life). Most of my friends did the same, though we knew a few spoiled ones. It's funny but - you look at those spoiled kids today (10 years later) and most of them are either working as security guards (one at Ala Moana) or at gas stations while the "po kids" all have nice cars, houses and the like. If you don't ever have the chance to learn what it takes to have a work ethic, you are really missing out. I think like others have said, if you have an STi or WRX on a Mommy Sponsorship Program, enjoy it! I know I would have tho what I wanted back then was an Anthracite '94 MKIV Supra.. I think parents who give kids things like that are doing their children a huge dis-service insofar as preparing them for their future, at the same time if I had a kid and the means - I would want to make their dreams come true for them.

A senior VP of the last company I worked at had a great idea. He was seriously into cars, and so his son is too. When his kid was 12, he took him to a few auctions and eventually bought him a '65 Falcon. I knew him for a few years and would stop by occasionally to help with this or that, and that kid was always out there working on the car. His goal, was to drive it when he turned 16. His dad could have bought him any car he wanted. He really enjoyed wrenching on the car with his son on evenings and weekends. He told me last time I saw him that if his kid sticks to his guns with the Falcon, he can have a new car for graduation and in my humble opinion - he earned it. To me, that's a great solution for the rich parents buying a car for their kid and in this case, it brought the father/son a lot closer. I know not everyone can do it, but to me - if you give a kid a POS and they make it better while learning to drive it, that answers so many questions at once. Give them a brand new car when the only skill they posess is opening the door, well - you are paving the way for problems.

 

+1 for both. I totally agree.

 

Some people just love to complain or comment about others way too much instead of worrying about themselves.

I dunno, but I do have some really financially challenged friends too. They'd be happy if they could even have a civic, but can't afford one. So just be grateful for what you have because there is always someone less fortunate than you.