What advice do you have for a parent who wants to buy a car for a college student? Is sportiness vs. practicality an insurmountable conflict between parent and child?
I have in front of me 5 vehicle purchase agreements (for a GM vehicle, three Toyotas and a Honda) that clearly state that the manufacturer's warranty time is measured from and distance from . The distance number varies from 25km to 100km even though the vehicles typically had travelled only 4-10km when delivered. Of course this is in Canada and the US could easily be different.
What advice do you have for a parent who wants to buy a car for a college student?
My advice is he who pay chooses. I told my kids that they can have any car they want as long as they pay for it, if I pay then you can have any car I want them to have. If they didn't like that they have feet.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
It depends allot on where they are going to college. Are they going to a local college 5 miles from home or will they have a long trip every time they want to come home to see you. if so make sure it is something you will feel comfortable with them driving home late on a Friday night for the weekend.
If they don't like the car you choose for them tell them that what you are buying is there first car, they can have the car and use it as a trade in when they get ready to buy another one with money out of there pocket.
If they don't like this idea tell them that most college towns have a Greyhound station and nothing is more fun then spending 8 hours on a bus for a 3 hour trip
Everything goes by without a hitch. Customer's daughter is delighted with her new tC, and Mom is eyeing a new Camry with moonroof and alloy wheels and a spoiler which I intentionally put there so she could see it Her 2002 is ready to be traded in.
Ya see, that's it right there. That's exactly what us buyers are afraid of...a slick car salesman. :surprise:
I'm sure you'll let us know how this goes when she buys; will probably be a 3 episode tale.
Good luck,
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
My advice is he who pay chooses. I told my kids that they can have any car they want as long as they pay for it, if I pay then you can have any car I want them to have. If they didn't like that they have feet.
Gee, isn’t it amazing how parents have so much trouble using the very simple, one syllable word NO. Then when something happens they have the most bewildered look on their face as to how it could happen. It doesn’t have to be associated with a car. How about how to behave, when little, and not break things around the house and in general doing the right things.
I’m long past that stage in my life. Now I get to hear my sons telling their small sons NO. I have no idea where they learned that word. :surprise:
I can still hear my parents saying, “little things become big things when they’re not dealt with early”. I can't tell you how tired I got of hearing that, but as I got older I finally got it.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Well, she had mentioned a couple of months before that she liked the new Camry. All I did was plant the seed. Now I just have to water it until it grows and it's ready to be picked! Mackabee
I bought a beat up truck for my kid when he was a senior in High School. He told me he would be embarrassed to drive it and I let him know that it was his decision. It took a day or so but he took to the truck very quickly. No sports cars for kids EVER. When I was on the force, I saw too many end up DOA. Went to sell my 86 Prelude recently and had a mother try to buy it for her daughter. I turned her down and advised her to get something more solid.
Hey everyone. Just wanted to know which customer a salesman hates worse; a customer who comes in who has researched car facts and prices, knows exactly the terms (Price, months, down payment, etc.)they want OR an indecisive customer who does not know anything about cars, what they want and is all over the place?
I'm guessing salesmen hate grinders the most. You know, they grind a deal right down to the bone, and then into the marrow. Yep, we grinders... I mean THOSE grinders... are lower than Salami bin ladens sandals. :surprise:
There is a BIG difference between a customer who has researched and a grinder - in fact, most grinders have no idea of what the bottom really is. I much prefer the researcher to the customer who needs to do a stock drive and is still confused and indecisive.
I'd rather deal with someone who has done their research only because it is a easy deal. Like Irguy said grinders are people who don't know what a good deal is.
Someone who doesn't know is either a homerun or 6 - 8 hours of work to have them buy something else. This is not every case just the average.
Roomy, Reliable, affordable, and did I mention FUN to drive?
Note: The back seat folds down flat. I have used mine to carry a trampoline(packed, of course) back home from the Academy Sports Stores, 3x 6 feet trees from the Home Depot, 12 bags of Top soil from Lowes........and the list goes on.
I second that. They call it a 5-door sedan, and it's the best of both worlds - looks like a sporty sedan, and practical like a wagon. And the best part: they don't sell, which means you can get a sweet deal on a 2007. $1,750 rebate from Mazda, and a dealer will give it away, invoice minus holdback. I know I will...
You were right to offer advice on the car, that's what you are there for. Some will take it and others won't but at least you tried steering them in the better direction. Be proud of that.
Of course, bring up safety to the mom, sportiness to the son, and reliability to the dad.
"And the best part: they don't sell, which means you can get a sweet deal on a 2007. $1,750 rebate from Mazda, and a dealer will give it away, invoice minus holdback. I know I will..."
Way cool. Where are you?.....
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
I know this is the wrong forum for my question, but I really wanted Mack's input on this.
Mack, it sounds like you have been selling toyotas for a long time, so maybe you will have run into this problem. I have 2 kids who get carsick in alot of cars, particularly my Lexus RX300 :sick: . But they don't get sick in dad's cheap Hyundai Elantra (go figure). I am looking at TCH vs Prius (need to save $ on gas, Lexi drinks too much). Any opinion on which they might be less likely to get sick in? The standard 10 minute test drive just isn't long enough to tell how they will do :confuse: . I sure am tired of having to make sure I have a stock of plastic bags in the car every day!!!
Thank you for your confidence in me Peggy. I can tell you from personal experience they are less likely to get sick in the Camry. Although the suspension has been firmed up in the last couple of generations, it still has what my buddy over at Honda calls a "floaty-boaty" ride. I had the same problem with my youngest with our 92 Camry. He would get sick all the time we just ended up leaving him at home everytime we went somewhere. Just kidding. But seriously, he did get sick and still gets car sick in our other Camrys (Camri)? and has to take Dramamine every time we take a family trip. He is now 22. I would imagine the kids will probably handle the Prius ride better. Hope this helps. If you need further advice don't hesitate to e-mail me. My e-mail is in my profile. Mackabee
I was really surprised when my salesman told me that my car was going to be flatbedded down from Cleveland to Cincinnati- especially since there was no extra charge for the service.
That reminds me of the time my Dad bought a 1993 Ford Crown Vic and the salesman drove from Cleveland to East Liverpool Ohio (right on the WV border) to dealer trade it on his day off.
Looks like you got plenty of responses. I agree. If I'm buying I'm choosing the car but it has to be safe, reliable, and economical. Scion fits the bill to a T. Mackabee
My dad told me that a teenager will wreck a couple of cars before it is over. He said a good reliable beater with good gas mileage will get him by until he can afford what he wants...
there are two components to motion sickness, one is the motion, the other is visual (does the person not see the motion he/she is feeling).
It could be your kids can see out the window better in the Elantra vs the RX300 and their brain can make sense of the motion
From Wiki Motion sickness or kinetosis is a condition in which a disagreement exists between visually perceived movement and the Vestibular system's (your sensory system) sense of movement.
That would be an explanation. I remember when I first joined the navy I would get seasick when I was below deck. When topside and I could see the ocean I was fine. It took a couple of days for me to get adjusted and I was fine after that. Mackabee
Thanks for the comments everyone. Unfortunately the view isn't the problem as my son is 17 and my daughter (10) is almost as tall as I am. They just inherited it from me. I wonder if cars with more "road feel" are easier for carsick people to handle than the "floaty" type ride? I never could figure out which was better for me, they were both bad! Anyway, big bummer cause I really wanted the TCH. Don't know why it took me so long to think that might be a problem for them, but glad I did before purchase instead of after.
A couple of cars ago, bought a Windstar and test drove with kids to make sure it was good. Bought, got it home (10 minute drive)and daughter jumped out and whoopsed right away. My first thought was "why didn't she do that BEFORE I signed the papers?".
Hope you all have a successful selling weekend. Peggy
Well I got an opportunity today to see how the other half lives. Sold an F150 to a guy who is a Salesperson at a high line store here in town, I told him I would bring the truck and paper work to him. They sell Porches, Jags, and SAABS. It is amazing the difference in the atmosphere between my Ford store and this place. I felt under dressed when I walked in Not only were the cars first class, but so was the facility from what I saw.
One of the lot guys followed me over to give me a ride back and he was blown away. He saw one car that $89K sticker and he could not believe it.
My dad told me that a teenager will wreck a couple of cars before it is over. He said a good reliable beater with good gas mileage will get him by until he can afford what he wants...
On Saturday I delivered a brand new VW Eos, a gift from a grandfather to his 16 yo grandaughter - her first car. On Monday the car was back in our body shop, waiting for a new front bumper... :surprise:
Had a 17yo kid tell his mom that he was not driving a red truck, he wanted a yellow one. As I stood there waiting for her to knock the dog crap out of him she just looked at me and said "Can you find us a yellow one?
These were $26K Super Cab Rangers this kid was thumbing his nose at.
Then dad showed up and I thought he would jerk a knot in this kid............... We found him a yellow one.
Then dad showed up and I thought he would jerk a knot in this kid............... We found him a yellow one.
It just gets worse when you are selling them 89,000 dollar vehicles...
That 89k vehicle you saw was probably an XK Coupe although it might have been a Vanden Plas XJ
A couple of weeks ago I had a 17 year old kid in looking at cars. He pulled up in a newish E500 Mercedes. He asks if we have any Supercharged Range Rovers in stock. I tell him no those are very limited production and I won't have one for a few weeks. I tell him that I do have one Supercharged Range Rover Sport in stock and unsold.
He says, "Well ok I guess I can look at that one but it is not the one I really want. My dad is buying me a new car for my 18th birthday so I am out looking at the ones I want this week. My little brother is going to get my car when he turns 16 in October."
He looks it over and we set a time for him and his did to come in and drive the SC Sport. They of course never show up and he hasn't returned my calls telling him we have a Supercharged Range Rover in stock now.
I wonder if cars with more "road feel" are easier for carsick people to handle than the "floaty" type ride?
Hi Peggy. I just wanted to butt in and say that maybe you shouldn't rule out the TCH quite yet?
Yes, I think cars with better road feel are easier for carsick people than "floaty" rides, but I think there are two extremes regarding the definition of "floaty" ride:
1) An under-damped suspension which causes the chassis (and seats!) to bobble up/down slightly when driving over road undulations (is that a word?) and bumps.
2) A ride that lacks road feel and provides body lean when cornering; but otherwise provides a smooth and relatively firm, comfortable ride.
Back in 1997 I had an Audi A4 sport sedan that some automotive critics (including Edmunds) described as "floaty suspension". I would describe this as #2 above. Nobody who rode in this car, including myself, ever felt any symptoms of car sickness.
In 1994 I had a Chevy S-10 2WD extended cab pickup truck that definitely fit the description of #1. I didn't necessarily feel the little expansion joints too much. Instead, bumps and dips in the road really seemed to bring this truck "to life"!! In 2000, I remember test driving a new Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD. Maybe I wasn't quite feeling my best prior to the test drive, but by the end of that test drive I was actually feeling carsick! (And I was the driver!!) It seemed quite floaty, in a mild "bouncy" sort of manner.
Where am I going with this? Well, I am guessing the TCH might fit my #2 definition of "floaty" more so than my #1 definition. Therefore, even though some people might refer to the TCH as "floaty", it may not bring about the car sickness in the way your Windstar did.
My dad told me that a teenager will wreck a couple of cars before it is over. He said a good reliable beater with good gas mileage will get him by until he can afford what he wants...
That is disgusting.
I don't care about "wrecking" the car, but I do care that the rest of us are on the street with these shmoes, some of us on bicycles or on foot.
That attitude should be nipped in the bud. Yeah, I once squeezed a bumper into the side of my car, it was stupid, but it happened at 3 mph, so nobody could have been hurt.
From my HS days, I remember the idiots who got into wrecks, and then the majority of us, who didn't. It's not rocket science, but attitude has a lot to do with it.
The user agreement prevents me from spelling out what I really think.
"But we are talking Toyotas here there is no Sportiness... "
Hey, wait a second! You're wrong, sir! Toyota makes some sporty models!! :mad:
Ever hear of the Supra?? Err... hold on... oops, I guess that one's been discontinued... sorry!
OK, how 'bout that fun mid-engine MR2 Spyder?? Can't beat that for open road fun in a convertible. What's that? This also has been gone for awhile? Heh, heh... sorry!
Well, there is still that fun Celica hatchback, isn't there? No??
OK, OK... Some critics thought highly of the high-revving XRS version of the Corolla. Certainly you can't tell me that this model has been discontinued! Can you?? You can??
Err... Never mind... As I said, you are absolutely correct, sir!!
I hear he has a good deal going on a VW Eos with bumper damage....
Yeah...I'd go for that one instead. That kid will never be satisfied with a car that's been patched up !! Or, better yet buy it as a private party and cut out the middle man.
Now, the best deal would be to fly out there on his nickel, find the owner of the patched up Eos, buy it, and when the salesman wants to know why you aren't going to buy the Mazda6 tell him you changed your mind. Afterall, a salesman would stick it to you if he had the chance, right? :shades:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Nope. Tidester granted tenure to jmonroe several months ago, for his work in his fan club. The only way to get rid of jmonroe is if he murdered somebody. Any volunteers?
Comments
It would be a straight forward conversation for me... "Do you want me to pay for it? ...No conflict at all, OK Scion it is :P
My advice is he who pay chooses. I told my kids that they can have any car they want as long as they pay for it, if I pay then you can have any car I want them to have. If they didn't like that they have feet.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
If they don't like the car you choose for them tell them that what you are buying is there first car, they can have the car and use it as a trade in when they get ready to buy another one with money out of there pocket.
If they don't like this idea tell them that most college towns have a Greyhound station and nothing is more fun then spending 8 hours on a bus for a 3 hour trip
Ya see, that's it right there. That's exactly what us buyers are afraid of...a slick car salesman. :surprise:
I'm sure you'll let us know how this goes when she buys; will probably be a 3 episode tale.
Good luck,
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Gee, isn’t it amazing how parents have so much trouble using the very simple, one syllable word NO. Then when something happens they have the most bewildered look on their face as to how it could happen. It doesn’t have to be associated with a car. How about how to behave, when little, and not break things around the house and in general doing the right things.
I’m long past that stage in my life. Now I get to hear my sons telling their small sons NO. I have no idea where they learned that word. :surprise:
I can still hear my parents saying, “little things become big things when they’re not dealt with early”. I can't tell you how tired I got of hearing that, but as I got older I finally got it.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Mackabee
I'm guessing salesmen hate grinders the most. You know, they grind a deal right down to the bone, and then into the marrow. Yep, we grinders... I mean THOSE grinders... are lower than Salami bin ladens sandals. :surprise:
Someone who doesn't know is either a homerun or 6 - 8 hours of work to have them buy something else. This is not every case just the average.
The one who does not buy a car.
My favorite customer is the one who just bought.
My fovorite model is the one they just bought
My favorite color car is the one they just bought
Buy a Mazda6 Sedan / Hatchback.
Roomy, Reliable, affordable, and did I mention FUN to drive?
Note: The back seat folds down flat. I have used mine to carry a trampoline(packed, of course) back home from the Academy Sports Stores, 3x 6 feet trees from the Home Depot, 12 bags of Top soil from Lowes........and the list goes on.
I'll work on it. Thanks for sharing!
-Moo
Buy a Mazda6 Sedan / Hatchback
I second that. They call it a 5-door sedan, and it's the best of both worlds - looks like a sporty sedan, and practical like a wagon.
And the best part: they don't sell, which means you can get a sweet deal on a 2007. $1,750 rebate from Mazda, and a dealer will give it away, invoice minus holdback. I know I will...
You were right to offer advice on the car, that's what you are there for. Some will take it and others won't but at least you tried steering them in the better direction. Be proud of that.
Of course, bring up safety to the mom, sportiness to the son, and reliability to the dad.
:shades:
Way cool. Where are you?.....
Mack, it sounds like you have been selling toyotas for a long time, so maybe you will have run into this problem. I have 2 kids who get carsick in alot of cars, particularly my Lexus RX300 :sick: . But they don't get sick in dad's cheap Hyundai Elantra (go figure). I am looking at TCH vs Prius (need to save $ on gas, Lexi drinks too much). Any opinion on which they might be less likely to get sick in? The standard 10 minute test drive just isn't long enough to tell how they will do :confuse: . I sure am tired of having to make sure I have a stock of plastic bags in the car every day!!!
Thanks,
Peggy
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Mackabee
That reminds me of the time my Dad bought a 1993 Ford Crown Vic and the salesman drove from Cleveland to East Liverpool Ohio (right on the WV border) to dealer trade it on his day off.
Mackabee
I think too far from you - in San Francisco.
Mackabee
Honda calls a "floaty-boaty" ride.
I rest my case.
Oh yeah, I busted up a couple my self...
I'm just 5 miles off the ocean but it isn't the ocean near you....
It could be your kids can see out the window better in the Elantra vs the RX300 and their brain can make sense of the motion
From Wiki
Motion sickness or kinetosis is a condition in which a disagreement exists between visually perceived movement and the Vestibular system's (your sensory system) sense of movement.
Mackabee
Don't let him scare you off like that. A really good deal is worth the drive but get it in writing first.
Might even be able to
contalk him into sending you a one way plane ticket, that's what Mack does !!!jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
A couple of cars ago, bought a Windstar and test drove with kids to make sure it was good. Bought, got it home (10 minute drive)and daughter jumped out and whoopsed right away. My first thought was "why didn't she do that BEFORE I signed the papers?".
Hope you all have a successful selling weekend.
Peggy
One of the lot guys followed me over to give me a ride back and he was blown away. He saw one car that $89K sticker and he could not believe it.
On Saturday I delivered a brand new VW Eos, a gift from a grandfather to his 16 yo grandaughter - her first car.
On Monday the car was back in our body shop, waiting for a new front bumper... :surprise:
These were $26K Super Cab Rangers this kid was thumbing his nose at.
Then dad showed up and I thought he would jerk a knot in this kid............... We found him a yellow one.
It just gets worse when you are selling them 89,000 dollar vehicles...
That 89k vehicle you saw was probably an XK Coupe although it might have been a Vanden Plas XJ
A couple of weeks ago I had a 17 year old kid in looking at cars. He pulled up in a newish E500 Mercedes. He asks if we have any Supercharged Range Rovers in stock. I tell him no those are very limited production and I won't have one for a few weeks. I tell him that I do have one Supercharged Range Rover Sport in stock and unsold.
He says, "Well ok I guess I can look at that one but it is not the one I really want. My dad is buying me a new car for my 18th birthday so I am out looking at the ones I want this week. My little brother is going to get my car when he turns 16 in October."
He looks it over and we set a time for him and his did to come in and drive the SC Sport. They of course never show up and he hasn't returned my calls telling him we have a Supercharged Range Rover in stock now.
Hey, it wouldn't even have to be the Mazda 6. I hear he has a good deal going on a VW Eos with bumper damage....
Hi Peggy. I just wanted to butt in and say that maybe you shouldn't rule out the TCH quite yet?
Yes, I think cars with better road feel are easier for carsick people than "floaty" rides, but I think there are two extremes regarding the definition of "floaty" ride:
1) An under-damped suspension which causes the chassis (and seats!) to bobble up/down slightly when driving over road undulations (is that a word?) and bumps.
2) A ride that lacks road feel and provides body lean when cornering; but otherwise provides a smooth and relatively firm, comfortable ride.
Back in 1997 I had an Audi A4 sport sedan that some automotive critics (including Edmunds) described as "floaty suspension". I would describe this as #2 above. Nobody who rode in this car, including myself, ever felt any symptoms of car sickness.
In 1994 I had a Chevy S-10 2WD extended cab pickup truck that definitely fit the description of #1. I didn't necessarily feel the little expansion joints too much. Instead, bumps and dips in the road really seemed to bring this truck "to life"!! In 2000, I remember test driving a new Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD. Maybe I wasn't quite feeling my best prior to the test drive, but by the end of that test drive I was actually feeling carsick! (And I was the driver!!) It seemed quite floaty, in a mild "bouncy" sort of manner.
Where am I going with this? Well, I am guessing the TCH might fit my #2 definition of "floaty" more so than my #1 definition. Therefore, even though some people might refer to the TCH as "floaty", it may not bring about the car sickness in the way your Windstar did.
That is disgusting.
I don't care about "wrecking" the car, but I do care that the rest of us are on the street with these shmoes, some of us on bicycles or on foot.
That attitude should be nipped in the bud. Yeah, I once squeezed a bumper into the side of my car, it was stupid, but it happened at 3 mph, so nobody could have been hurt.
From my HS days, I remember the idiots who got into wrecks, and then the majority of us, who didn't. It's not rocket science, but attitude has a lot to do with it.
The user agreement prevents me from spelling out what I really think.
-Mathias
Hey, wait a second! You're wrong, sir! Toyota makes some sporty models!! :mad:
Ever hear of the Supra?? Err... hold on... oops, I guess that one's been discontinued... sorry!
OK, how 'bout that fun mid-engine MR2 Spyder?? Can't beat that for open road fun in a convertible. What's that? This also has been gone for awhile? Heh, heh... sorry!
Well, there is still that fun Celica hatchback, isn't there? No??
OK, OK... Some critics thought highly of the high-revving XRS version of the Corolla. Certainly you can't tell me that this model has been discontinued! Can you?? You can??
Err... Never mind... As I said, you are absolutely correct, sir!!
That's another reason why those Hyundais are considered "throw-aways".
I sure am tired of having to make sure I have a stock of plastic bags in the car every day!!!
Why waste your money on bags when you can dump the car.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Toyota the passionate pursuit of well nothing
Yeah...I'd go for that one instead. That kid will never be satisfied with a car that's been patched up !! Or, better yet buy it as a private party and cut out the middle man.
Now, the best deal would be to fly out there on his nickel, find the owner of the patched up Eos, buy it, and when the salesman wants to know why you aren't going to buy the Mazda6 tell him you changed your mind. Afterall, a salesman would stick it to you if he had the chance, right? :shades:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Nope. Tidester granted tenure to jmonroe several months ago, for his work in his fan club. The only way to get rid of jmonroe is if he murdered somebody. Any volunteers?