How to talk my 17 year old son out of buying a camaro

[Texashiker]

My son is 17 years old, turns 18 in a few months, has a job and has the money saved up to buy himself a car.

Yesterday he told me he wants to buy a 94 camaro.

Fast cars and young men to not go well together. I have heard of too many kids dying after losing control of their car and running into either the ditch or hitting a tree.

A guy I used to work with was killed on the way to work on morning. He came out of a curve, gased the car, lost control, skidded into a ditch sideways, the car hit a culvert sideways, flipped, rolled over a driveway, the young man was thrown out and died at the scene. The culvert was maybe 24 - 30 inches tall, and it was a deep ditch he went into.

There is a honda civic 4 door I would rather my son buy for about the same price. After talking to him about the 2 cars, he still wants the camaro.

I tried the "get insurance quotes and compare prices" discussion, but since he has a job he thinks he will be able to pay insurance on the camaro.

 

[Binarycow]

a swift kick in the ass should do it if you cant convince him verbally.

 

[rivan]

First, teach him it's spelled "Camaro".

Then, get a girl he likes to tell him she thinks Camaros are stupid.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

Lol my first car at 16 was a 95 Z28 with a 6 Speed. I still have it and im 19.

The insurance isn't even that bad, especially if you get the good student discount.

To put it in perspective, the insurance on my mom's 2003 Passat is almost double my insurance rate.

 

[Vic Vega]

Some people learn by listening.

Others learn by doing.

I doubt there is anything you can do. If at this point in life, he hasn't been instructed in such a way to understand this is a bad idea, it's probably too late for that approach.

 

[sixone]

Your son sounds pretty responsible. He has a job, and saved up his own money to do this. Unless he has a bad driving record already, I think you should let him choose.

He's almost grown up. You've done all you can, it's time to let him fly (no pun intended ).

 

[JulesMaximus]

Um, it is spelled Camaro.

I'd go with the gas prices/high cost of insurance/ticket magnet route. Is he set on a V8? Are there even any of that model year around still in decent shape?

You could always take him karting to get his need for speed fix.

 

[Specop 007]

Holy shit, his insurance is going to be HIGH.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

17?


Saved his own money to buy a car?





I believe this is one of those times you step aside and let him buy what he wants, with the understanding that maintenance and etc is his problem.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Find out the average yearly maintenance cost of an 18 year old chevrolet and show it to him. Add in the monthly gas expenditure (that thing can't get very good mpg).

 

[Corporate Thug]

he'll get rid of it upon receipt by of his first repair bill...sometimes they have to learn by trial and error.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

The insurance may be enough to scare him off. It will be a significant portion of his income. You could also basically bribe him by offering to buy him something that he's less likely to wrap around a pole or to pay his insurance if he buys something you approve of.

 

[foghorn67]

Let him live his lesson. I'm a much better driver for having a muscle car at that age. Did some stupid stuff, but learned fast.
You only have to learn a lesson once if life gives you that chance.

I feel sorry for those that didn't go through the same experiences.

 

[alien42]

90s camaros are butt ugly, tell him he needs to grow a mullet to go with the car.

 

[HAL9000]

Show him an insurance quote and show him that that things is seriously ugly.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

at this stage in life he's an adult and is going to make his own decisions. time to see if your parenting was a win or fail.

 

[suse920]

Buy the Camaro hes looking at for yourself.
Easy

 

[Bateluer]

Guys, saying the kid is an adult and can make his own decisions is all well and good, and pretty much true. But, if you were a parent, would you want your son/daughter buying a car that would likely get them killed?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Buy the Camaro hes looking at for yourself.
Easy

Hah, sad but he'll probably lose interest in it and want a prius instead.

 

[KeithTalent]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v3CzvQ9e_w

KT

 

[waffleironhead]

his money, his choice.

lay out your concerns and then back away.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Does he have tattoos and a mullet? If so, the Camaro is the perfect car for him.

 

[Texashiker]

his money, his choice.

Its my money that is paying for his health insurance.

He wraps that car around a tree, the hospital will be looking at me to pay the bills.

You must not have any kids waffleironhead. There is more to being a parent then just money. I do not want to see my son hurt himself.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

Guys, saying the kid is an adult and can make his own decisions is all well and good, and pretty much true. But, if you were a parent, would you want your son/daughter buying a car that would likely get them killed?

It would only get the child killed if it is an idiot.

OP, is your child an idiot?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Its my money that is paying for his health insurance.

He wraps that car around a tree, the hospital will be looking at me to pay the bills.

Why would you pay the bill if he has health insurance?