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Would you let your 16 year old have a Jeep?

Would you let your 16 year old have a Jeep for their first vehicle?


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Firemadz

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I dated a girl who I cared for very deeply that was thrown from a jeep in high school. Though she recovered, she had many lasting results from the crash. Alcohol, top off the jeep and high schoolers doing dumb shit is a bad combination.

Though any car can have a life ending result, her story was one that will keep my kids from ever seeing that option for their first vehicle.
Sounds like flawed thinking. those circumstances have NOTHING to with with it being a Jeep, and shouldn’t have anything to do with your decision. Sorry, that’s just messed up.
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Firemadz

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These days it seems that parents feel obligated to buy their kids a car. Why?? Shouldnt they do like we always had to? Back in the day, kids had to get a part time job, save their money, and buy their own car...AMD they had to work on it themselves! I couldnt even imagine my parents buying me a car, especially something fairly new. Geez. I have to work my butt off to afford my JLUR, and frankly it makes me sad when I drive by our local college and see these snowflakes driving around in a brand new Jeep that mommy and daddy got for them.

Rant over...thanks :)
sorry, but that’s just a stupid thought process,
 

rickinAZ

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Notice that members who have purchased cars for their newly-licensed kids are being chastised by some members as being coddlers. Why can't you support your decision without belittling those of us who have chosen a different route?
 

wibornz

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Truefully, the best first vehicle for a kid is a two door mini truck like an S-10, with bucket seats. They will never pack it full of kids to do stupid shit. They get great mileage and run for ever. There is no where to hide anything. By the time they put a book bag in the passenger seat, there is only room for them.
 

rickinAZ

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Truefully, the best first vehicle for a kid is a two door mini truck like an S-10, with bucket seats. They will never pack it full of kids to do stupid shit. They get great mileage and run for ever. There is no where to hide anything. By the time they put a book bag in the passenger seat, there is only room for them.
Based on my childhood, it isn't the backseat that's worrisome, it's the pickup bed. But then again, I was a handful.
 

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wibornz

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Notice that members who have purchased cars for their newly-licensed kids are being chastised by some members as being coddlers. Why can't you support your decision without belittling those of us who have chosen a different route?

Envy is the green eyed monster. My kids always worked, but I allowed them to drive the lifted TJ to school or our Camaro in good weather. They pulled good grades and did not start trouble. Neither one ever got into trouble with my vehicles. They were aware that it was still my vehicle and they were responsible to ensure that they were careful with my vehicles.

I think the best thing I did for my kids when then were getting ready to drive at 14 years and 9 months was make them count all the people that we passed while going somewhere. They were required to report the number to me when we go to the location and tell me that all of those people were son, daughters, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, friends and so on and that all of those people depended on them following the rules of the road so that they would be safe because a poor driver impacts more than the person they injure. They impact a whole family and community.
 

Thdoors

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My son will be 16 in August. He will be driving our 2020 JLUR to and from school. Quite a difference than my first car, a 72 Ford LTD back in 86.
 

Shooting or Jeeping

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Sounds like flawed thinking. those circumstances have NOTHING to with with it being a Jeep, and shouldn’t have anything to do with your decision. Sorry, that’s just messed up.
Random internet guy questioning my logic will not change it. I know what was involved and what my reasons are. Your idiotic responses can stay to yourself, jack wagon.
 
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99wishes

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Not to get into parenting because everyone has a right to their opinion. Seems one can teach a kid how to care for and maintain something regardless of price and you can teach them how to drive safely regardless of vehicle. Those life lessons have very little to do with vehicle choice, whether your kid is kind or smart, or whether they are even responsible.

In my mind, my original question is about care of the kids. Are we putting our kids in a vehicle we think will protect them from life? We all know life happens. Some of us grew up when your mom’s right arm was the “seatbelt”. Then, remember when cars started dinging at you when you didn’t have your seatbelt fastened. At some point we just started using our seatbelts because of it. Now I put my seatbelt on prior to starting my Jeep and as a good example to my kids. Technology related to safety has transformed over the last 10 years. I am trying to balance all of that with fun while avoiding unnecessary distractions. Heck, even the 19” screens in a Tesla fits that description.
 
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99wishes

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Truefully, the best first vehicle for a kid is a two door mini truck like an S-10, with bucket seats. They will never pack it full of kids to do stupid shit. They get great mileage and run for ever. There is no where to hide anything. By the time they put a book bag in the passenger seat, there is only room for them.
True, but now he’s everyone’s best friend when they need to move something big. At least he will get a six pack and free pizza out of it. Ha
 

RubiSc0tt

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The responses here run from well thought out to batshit crazy and honestly, a little disturbing, reeking of envy.

Food for thought: Jalopnik's 10 best cars to buy a teenage gearhead

My son is 3 and my daughter will be born in late may.
Safety and cost aside/ understood: I would Absolutely, 100% without hesitation let them get a Jeep if that's what they wanted.
Will it by my Jeep? probably not, but who knows. I plan to have this for the long run. If i'm getting into something else and one of them wants it, it will probably be passed down.

Here's the thing: It depends on the kid. If the kid is a gear head (or even adjacent), buying their first car isn't just a right of passage- it sets the tone for the rest of their lives in terms of vehicles and being an enthusiast. If my kids are stuck between some egg shaped Toyota SUV and a Jeep? You bet your ass I'm pushing them toward the Jeep. It'll be something we can do together, and share a bond over. One of the best (or worst things) my dad ever did was help me get my first TJ, vs. the S10 Blazer my mom wanted me to get because she thought it was a better deal and safer (Spoiler alert: neither were good deals because my parents sucked at negotiation, and it wasn't really safer- she just thought it was because the top and doors didn't come off). If I ended up in that S-10, I don't even know where I would be right now. Working on Jeeps has given me lots solid friends, mechanical knowledge, and even lead to my current job (which has made it possible to buy more Jeeps, Jeep parts, and support my family).

Right now, my son loves Jeeps and trucks. Whatever he wants- he'll get. ideally, I'll probably do something along the lines of "See what money you can save and I'll match it, Plus incentive for good grades in school/ working" as long as I'm financially able. We'll talk about cost, price range, use case, and maintenance, etc ahead of time. We'll start looking over stuff and we'll get the best deal on whatever he's looking for; I'm not going to impose my love of stupid, boxy 4x4's on him, but at the same time- I know they're reliable, and relatively easy to build/ maintain. If that's what he's into, I'm going to do everything to teach him and help him figure this stuff out, the exact way my parents didn't. I think the only time I'd step in an tell him flat out "No" is if he was a brand new driver, eyeing up a used, high mileage speed demon car (any V8 muscle car, WRX, Evo, etc), a giant truck (like a Power Wagon), or something that is more rust than vehicle. Same with my daughter when the time comes.

Everything else is on the table. If they want a boring beige sedan because they don't care about cars? OK. If they want an Orange Rubicon (just like dad's)? We'll find one.
 

Shooting or Jeeping

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The responses here run from well thought out to batshit crazy and honestly, a little disturbing, reeking of envy.

Food for thought: Jalopnik's 10 best cars to buy a teenage gearhead

My son is 3 and my daughter will be born in late may.
Safety and cost aside/ understood: I would Absolutely, 100% without hesitation let them get a Jeep if that's what they wanted.
Will it by my Jeep? probably not, but who knows. I plan to have this for the long run. If i'm getting into something else and one of them wants it, it will probably be passed down.

Here's the thing: It depends on the kid. If the kid is a gear head (or even adjacent), buying their first car isn't just a right of passage- it sets the tone for the rest of their lives in terms of vehicles and being an enthusiast. If my kids are stuck between some egg shaped Toyota SUV and a Jeep? You bet your ass I'm pushing them toward the Jeep. It'll be something we can do together, and share a bond over. One of the best (or worst things) my dad ever did was help me get my first TJ, vs. the S10 Blazer my mom wanted me to get because she thought it was a better deal and safer (Spoiler alert: neither were good deals because my parents sucked at negotiation, and it wasn't really safer- she just thought it was because the top and doors didn't come off). If I ended up in that S-10, I don't even know where I would be right now. Working on Jeeps has given me lots solid friends, mechanical knowledge, and even lead to my current job (which has made it possible to buy more Jeeps, Jeep parts, and support my family).

Right now, my son loves Jeeps and trucks. Whatever he wants- he'll get. ideally, I'll probably do something along the lines of "See what money you can save and I'll match it, Plus incentive for good grades in school/ working" as long as I'm financially able. We'll talk about cost, price range, use case, and maintenance, etc ahead of time. We'll start looking over stuff and we'll get the best deal on whatever he's looking for; I'm not going to impose my love of stupid, boxy 4x4's on him, but at the same time- I know they're reliable, and relatively easy to build/ maintain. If that's what he's into, I'm going to do everything to teach him and help him figure this stuff out, the exact way my parents didn't. I think the only time I'd step in an tell him flat out "No" is if he was a brand new driver, eyeing up a used, high mileage speed demon car (any V8 muscle car, WRX, Evo, etc), a giant truck (like a Power Wagon), or something that is more rust than vehicle. Same with my daughter when the time comes.

Everything else is on the table. If they want a boring beige sedan because they don't care about cars? OK. If they want an Orange Rubicon (just like dad's)? We'll find one.
Ultimately this is the right answer. There is more than one car for more than one person. It comes down to trust, ability, finances, history, and availability.

That in mind, I think the OP was more looking at safety and logic for a first car. To that end, there isn’t a real answer. For every beige ford escort, there will be a new Porsche or a massive SUV. My parents made me buy an 84 suburban that was basically iron and got 8 miles to the gallon. Good for some things, bad for others.

Is it a death trap? No. Is it practical? Not really. Is it right for the right kid? Yes. That’s about as far as a web vote will get you.
 

RubiSc0tt

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That in mind, I think the OP was more looking at safety and logic for a first car.
In that case, the answer is still yes. Jeeps are boxy and probably shouldn't push much past 80mph. They're relatively small and easy to work on. They're 4wd and with good tires can handle just about anything in terms of daily driving. As long as it's a Jeep with more modern safety features, I would have zero problems. Everything else in your training them how to drive and their decision making- which, as a parent- you should have a good handle on if they make good decisions or not by the time they're 16.
 

Carlton

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Depends on the kid. If they are a dumbass or easily persuaded no. If they are responsible, ie won't do dumb stuff with the jeep, won't let their friends drive etc sure. You know your kid and their mentality so only you can make this decision.

Would I give them a brand new jeep? Absolutley not. Your LJ would have been a cool and adequate first vehicle.
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