Daughter is about to turn 18 and she wants a Mustang. I found a used one with relatively low mileage in a color she'll really like. My main concern is it's a convertible. She'll probably dig that too, but should I do it?
It doesn't seem to affect insurance rates. Assuming she never rolls it (I had a few pretty major crashes (went airborne couple times) as a young lad and never rolled a car), are there any reasons I shouldn't? Thanks in advance.
the way one of my kids has damaged/dented/had minor fender benders, I tend to stick the dime a dozen older but reliable camry's or accords mostly due to repairs, but your call on that.
my biggest question would be more about where you live and how practical a convertible would be in the colder months.
As I said, she wants a Mustang.
"can you explain why you were doing 65 in a 25"
"i was drag racing"
"in a prius?" (Gen 2)
"i don't win a lot"
My parents couldn't afford getting me a car so I did it myself. That thought me to work hard and value the money I earned at 15 years old.
Damn times have changed since I got my license. My parents said until you can afford the cost of the vehicle, the insurance, gas, etc. you will take whatever car we let you drive (and this is in a town where parents routinely gave their kids new BMW's, SUV's, etc. when they turned 17 if not before then).
As a parent to 9 kids (three out of the house now), the idea that she won't be happy unless it is a mustang is difficult to read. You have to parent as you see fit (preface that before saying this)- I however would be very clear, if you don't like the car I am BUYING you then get a job and buy your own. Just my opinion.
This was done for a variety of reasons
You cant drive a stick and use a cell phone simultaneously
Their friends had no idea how to drive the car so I did not worry about others driving the car
I wanted them to learn how to drive a stick
Manual cars were less money than automatic cars
I also got the safest compact available (used Audis)
This is the best answer.
This was done for a variety of reasons
You cant drive a stick and use a cell phone simultaneously
Their friends had no idea how to drive the car so I did not worry about others driving the car
I wanted them to learn how to drive a stick
Manual cars were less money than automatic cars
I also got the safest compact available (used Audis)
I learned to drive stick when I was 17. Funny thing? Since that merry day of mastering said wonderful task, I never drove a car with a manual transmission ever again. One and done.
I feel bad prying but you did start the thread - why does she need a new car, is the current one no longer working properly? Does she want one just because?
We can't really help you on the later - up to you on how you want to do that. I know how i'd handle it though.
The option always exists for her to buy herself a car, doesn't it?
I was thrilled that my dad got himself a new car and gave me his 1991 Pontiac Bonneville. The very notion that he would have let me dictate the specific terms of a car I wasn't paying for is ludicrous.
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she's been driving a Ford Escape for almost 3 years (got her license at 15) and she's only had a minor fender bender about 1 year ago.
I feel bad prying but you did start the thread - why does she need a new car, is the current one no longer working properly? Does she want one just because?
We can't really help you on the later - up to you on how you want to do that. I know how i'd handle it though.
The Escape is our 2nd car and will return to being that. Daughter is going away to college. Maybe I'm trying to be too nice, I don't know.
It has a V6
That said, it depends on the model. Base Mustangs can be pretty tame, relatively. I don't know if I'd hand the keys over for a GT, though.
We are (have a 529 acct), but she's been dual enrollment for her Jr and Sr yrs of HS, so she should get her BS in 2.5-3 yrs.
But i'm of the other mold - already paying for college, drove a car that she didn't pay for for 3 years and now wants a new one of her choosing? No shot, but that's just me.
So is the question about the safety/reliability of a mustang, or whether you should get her what she wants? 2 different questions with 2 very different sets of answers.
She had the car all through high school and college. It is still going with 130 thousand miles and I would do it again.
If your daughter is responsible and has shown to be a good driver, go for it.
Exactly
ALL of these produce a LOT of HP. Even the 6. I have a 2009 GT as my "play" car. It's a shitload of car, and I have very few mods on it. Be careful and be sure she can handle it.
When I turned 16 in 78, my dad was going to sell me his 73 SS (350 V8) for 400 bucks. My mom put the kibosh on that instantly. I loved that car.
Government?
ALL of these produce a LOT of HP. Even the 6. I have a 2009 GT as my "play" car. It's a shitload of car, and I have very few mods on it. Be careful and be sure she can handle it.
I would never get her a GT. It's a 3.7L V6
As late as the 2015 model, the Mustang has no roll-protection. The standard in many convertibles is to have rear seat head cushions pop-up within ~125 milliseconds after a roll sensor detects an event, and in that case it's pretty damn safe. As the Mustang back seats aren't used all that often...bonus. But, I couldn't even find the primary front seats having a pop-up head cushion roll bar.
Ask the seller straight up; if there's no rollover protection, I wouldn't buy the car myself let alone a son or daughter.
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GT V8(4.6L)? V6? GT500 (Coyote 5.0)?
ALL of these produce a LOT of HP. Even the 6. I have a 2009 GT as my "play" car. It's a shitload of car, and I have very few mods on it. Be careful and be sure she can handle it.
I would never get her a GT. It's a 3.7L V6
Then if she's a safe driver, I think that's reasonable. Just remember, the 3.7 still generates 300+ HP. It's a lot of car.
I had to use max ABS and offset the car towards the lane lines to avoid the rear of the car in front, then immediately look behind me, but thankfully I was now visible at the top of the crest with brake lights.
My point being: I'm not worried about my driving. I'm worried about some real massive idiots out there. The kind of type who don't understand driving too slow in the left or right lane for a given road isn't safer, but more dangerous. The German Autobahn unlimited sections don't have worse safety records than American highways, because Germans (and surrounding EU citizens are taught to drive the correct way: left lane is for passing only.
The accidents that are caused on the Autobahn are primarily due to the speed differential between travelling cars. Keep your speed relative to your lane and the lane into which you're moving over to. Then you'll be fine.
Off of the highways, it comes down to luck when some asshole runs a red light or is drunk.
Credentials: motor-racing enthusiest with the goal of amatuer racing one day (my last two cars were even sporty with the near-extinct manual transmission!), 0 accidents with ~20 years on the road, never even pulled over by a cop (well, except when I borrowed my mom's car to go to university classes and she forgot to renew the registration; he let me go with a warning).
I hope this helps.