Tom & Ray pose the question: Should a 16-year old have their own car?
Dear Car Talk | Nov 01, 1997
Dear Tom and Ray:
I'm about to turn 16 and I'm talking to my parents about getting a car. They seem to think that sending me to a good, expensive college is more important than buying me my own car, but I disagree. They have said I could use one of their cars, but I want a car of my own so I don't have to ask permission every time I want to go out somewhere.
I have a job, so I'm thinking of buying my own car. My mother says they won't just lend me the money for the car, that I'd have to put up some "collateral," which I don't have. I have no past credit history, so I can't take out a loan. When I asked them to co-sign a loan, they said "Sorry, not until you're out of the house." So how do I go about getting a car?
-- Sarah
TOM: Get in line, Sarah, right behind my son. I have a 16-year-old son, who -- at this very moment -- is tediously pleading the same case with me. And I can't help him either.
RAY: My brother just doesn't think that 16-year-olds SHOULD have cars. Why? Mostly because he's an old f--t!
TOM: That's right. I think you should have to ask permission every time you go out somewhere. So I'll give you my son's phone number, Sarah, and you two can
commiserate about what a mean old goat I am -- while you're waiting at the bus stop together.
RAY: I'm interested in what other people think. Other 16-year-olds, parents, parents who had a car at 16. Write us in care of this newspaper or e-mail us through the "Talk To Car Talk" section of our web site and let us know what you think about this issue. Should a 16-year-old have his or her own car? I'm sure it won't change my brother's mind, but it'll be interesting to see where America stands on this one.
I'm about to turn 16 and I'm talking to my parents about getting a car. They seem to think that sending me to a good, expensive college is more important than buying me my own car, but I disagree. They have said I could use one of their cars, but I want a car of my own so I don't have to ask permission every time I want to go out somewhere.
I have a job, so I'm thinking of buying my own car. My mother says they won't just lend me the money for the car, that I'd have to put up some "collateral," which I don't have. I have no past credit history, so I can't take out a loan. When I asked them to co-sign a loan, they said "Sorry, not until you're out of the house." So how do I go about getting a car?
-- Sarah
TOM: Get in line, Sarah, right behind my son. I have a 16-year-old son, who -- at this very moment -- is tediously pleading the same case with me. And I can't help him either.
RAY: My brother just doesn't think that 16-year-olds SHOULD have cars. Why? Mostly because he's an old f--t!
TOM: That's right. I think you should have to ask permission every time you go out somewhere. So I'll give you my son's phone number, Sarah, and you two can
commiserate about what a mean old goat I am -- while you're waiting at the bus stop together.
RAY: I'm interested in what other people think. Other 16-year-olds, parents, parents who had a car at 16. Write us in care of this newspaper or e-mail us through the "Talk To Car Talk" section of our web site and let us know what you think about this issue. Should a 16-year-old have his or her own car? I'm sure it won't change my brother's mind, but it'll be interesting to see where America stands on this one.
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