How did you afford a car when you were 16-17?

[bigshot]

had a full time job since 14. worked 80 hours every 2 weeks for 4 years (a little less during school however)
bought a 5000 integra, insurance is 3000 a year however i put the car under my parents name and put another car under my name so i only pay 1600 a year.

 

[Bignate603]

I saw the bill that my parents paid right when I got my car, I was over $2500 a year. 2 years later with a clean record it's more like $1500.

 

[RGN]

I cut all teh grass I could find.

 

[PsychoAndy]

First National Bank of Mom

 

[erub]

Parents gave me their old one, and paid for insurance, and for gas. They wanted me to study. And I guess it worked, because I became a National Merit Scholar, and am getting a full ride to college...:Q

 

[StattlichPassat]

I drove my Dad's Jeep CJ-7 to high school when I was that age- didn't 'have' a car.

 

[Atrail]

What did you think all that birthday and Christmas money was for ???

Toys ???

 

[dave127]

i delivered papers from age 10-15 ....and i saved alot of money, not to mention spent alot...anyways, i managed to save around 7,000, which is what i paid for my 96 grand am gt...i bought it about two months ago....i pay for my insurnace by working at the Big K(a.k.a. hell) about 15 hours a week (got hours cut cuz of that whole damn bankruptcy thing)...that job pays for insurance, my girlfriend, and my cell phone, and anything else i might need at the tiem....now i detail cars on the side...my friend and i make about 40 bucks each per car....that money is going into the bank so i can buy either a used volvo or audi next summer ...thats how i afford it

Dave

 

[tcsenter]

I bought a '78 Buick Regal in great shape but a blown motor for $800. My dad and I rebuilt the motor ($450 for a rebuild kit). I paid for it with money I saved so I had no car payment. There is no sense putting full coverage on a car that is worth $2000 MAX.

The Regal had PL&PD coverage only, which would cover anyone I hit but would not cover my car. The car was in my parent's name and on their insurance, I was listed as an 'ocassional' driver on the Regal only. I guess that meant I would drive the vehicle no more than xx hours per month and no further than xx miles from my home, something to that effect.

I paid the amount that my parent's insurance increased by with the addition of the Regal, which wasn't all that much. I think it was $60 per month.

 

[ultimatebob]

It's actually pretty easy, when:

* You buy a beat-up 1982 Plymouth station wagon for $150
* You get your parents to put you on their insurance policy
* You get a job as a dishwasher working 20 hours a week, making a few pennies over minimum wage.
* When you wreck it, make sure that the Insurance company doesn't find out!

Come to think of it, I just should have stuck with a bicycle until I could afforded a REAL car

 

[smp]

I'm 23 and I still can't afford a fvckin car. I've been working since I was 15 and I just graduated from school and work full time. I'm struggling to afford a motorbike. I do however owe 23,000 CND to stupid student loans ..

I think at this point, my only plan of action as far as paying back my loans is suicide.

 

[charrison]

I drove my Dads old f-100 that had 200k miles on it when I got it. I swear a ford straight 6 will run forever.

 

[wiredspider]

I'm 15 with no car!!! Of course I can't legally drive now anyway. Anyhow, got a question for all of those who got cars pretty early. When you got your license there was the inital increase and another increase when your car was added. About how much extra were you guys paying just for having you on the policy and how much after you added a car?

 

[bonk102]

i didn't, i had a full time job, but it' still tough, actually, insurance is usually a LOT higher than the car itself, for instance, the car i'm driving now, i got when i was 18 (4 years ago), and it's still going strong, only paid $700 for it, and insurance is at least twice that every year

 

[Danman]

My parents said if I kept up my grades they would split the cost of my first car. So I got a 1995 Nissan Altima GLE. Nice car.

 

[mithrandir2001]

Didn't own a car until I was 21...when I was on co-op and making $550 a week.

16 year olds should not buy cars. I don't care if they think they have the money, they really don't. Cars are one big money suck so bum your parents' cars as long as you can.

 

[yakko]

I didn't. I bought my first car at 23.

 

[toph99]

Originally posted by: mithrandir2001
Didn't own a car until I was 21...when I was on co-op and making $550 a week.

16 year olds should not buy cars. I don't care if they think they have the money, they really don't. Cars are one big money suck so bum your parents' cars as long as you can.

i'd love that but both of my parents work and i need a car to get to work. For now my mom books off days that i have to work so she can take me there, but that isn't very smart financially considering she makes so much more than i do. I just want a beater to get myself to work/school and back every day.

 

[TheOmegaCode]

My mom was cool about it. When I was 17 she bought me a car, and I paid here money every month for 6 months...

I was in one of those I need a car to make money, and all my money went toward the car... Funny thing is I didn't even want a car all that bad...

 

My best friend and i found a bail of weed and each bought a car. He got a monte carlo (older one) and i got a chevette. This was like 6 years ago...

 

[Ultima]

Originally posted by: toph99
I have been looking for a beater to drive around for a year or two, and insurance is nuts! over 150 a month for a 12 year old S10 or Ranger! i'd have to work 21 hours a month just for insurance. Of course this would be if i had it under my own policy, but i'm not looking to spend more than 800-900 on a vehicle. Not to mention i'd have to get it emissions tested, so i'd end up spending a bunch on exhaust :disgust: how did you all pay for your insurance and such?

insurance should never, ever ever be that high unless you're being silly and covering it for collisions which is just money wasted on such an old car. I havent' got my license yet but when I get it this september I have quotes from $500 - $1000 CANADIAN a YEAR (for old cars). I'm also not looking to pay more than 800 - 900 (Canadian) on a vehicle. Don't have to get emission testing where I live.

Now if insurance really is that high and that's just liability, than that is INSANE!

 

[Ultima]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
I can expect to pay $275/mo for insurance and thats liability only. Thats with all discounts from driver's training and having my parents plans with the same company as me.

yeeshh.. americans must really suck at driving for insurance to be so high. That is sky-high.

 

[freak-o-a-l]

Well I'm 18 right now and I can tell you how I'm paying for the Impreza I just bought.
1) Working 2 jobs
- Wake up at 3:30am to go to work at an industrial electronics company
- drive 1 hour 15 minutes one way to get there
- Work till 5:00
- Drive home 1 hour 45 minutes because of traffic
- Get home at about 6:45
- Drive to other job at a local video store at 7:15
- Work till 10:30
- Eat dinner
- Asleep at 11:00, then repeat process EVERY WEEKDAY

Sounds like fun huh? No? But you gotta do what you gotta do. 19.5 hours A DAY of work, 97.5 hours a week. The real world sucks.

 

[Ultima]

Originally posted by: toph99

Originally posted by: mithrandir2001
Didn't own a car until I was 21...when I was on co-op and making $550 a week.

16 year olds should not buy cars. I don't care if they think they have the money, they really don't. Cars are one big money suck so bum your parents' cars as long as you can.

i'd love that but both of my parents work and i need a car to get to work. For now my mom books off days that i have to work so she can take me there, but that isn't very smart financially considering she makes so much more than i do. I just want a beater to get myself to work/school and back every day.

where do you live, the country? Unless "work" is more than 1 hour away by bike or two hours away by bus, I don't see why you can't take those options.

 

[Brutuskend]

Well my first car (A 1960 Corvair) cost me all of $50. So affording it on my take home pay from the Sonic Drive in wasn't that hard!

This was in 1969 by the way, and I was 16.