Originally Posted by FromG2Z

Ok, I finally got a chance to read up on the posts, and I will get on my soapbox.

I don't really care if the kid is a responsible driver, excellent peripheral vision etc... fine, great.

What I do have an issue with (and this is due to personal experience that I can draw from) is a parent "buying it for him". I'm 33 now, but when I was 16, I worked for and paid for my own car, insurance, and gas. Granted it was a POS... in fact, it was a 1982 Ford Escort station wagon with rust all over, and blue colored door (rest of car was white). But you know what? I LOVED that car. I earned it. I worked for it. It was mine. I was proud of it. I washed that thing after school, and remember being so careful as to not to wash the rust off. I saw all these other kids with brand new or newer cars that mommy and daddy bought for them, and they in turn treated their "Gifts" like a$$... like they deserved or had the right to those gifts.

I vowed then and there that I would never be like that.

To this day, several new cars later, I am proud to say, that I am GLAD that I didn't receive a fancy car as a gift. I learned the value of hard work and patience and humility through my experience. No one will ever take that away from me.

As I raise my own child now, it truly is hard to 'practice what you preach', I'm sure. Maybe my tone will change as he gets older, but I definitely won't be buying him a new/relatively new sports car when he turns 16 or 18 for that matter. I'll be sure he works and saves his money, and "maybe" help him buy a much older used car to get him started.

IMO, there is nothing more rewarding than being able to obtain what you yourself personally worked hard for.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox now.