I worked 3 years at CVS Pharmacy , Circuit City, And Best Buy making anywhere from $6.50 - $11.00 from when I was 15 up until I was 18 and now I work for a law firm. I bought the car with the $15,000 down that I saved up. Got a 75% ride to go to Johns Hopkins University and currently paying both with little to no problemos I got good grades in high school too and I cant lie, my parents do help, they pay for my apartment and other little items

 

my parents are the same way......i'm an 18 year old college freshman from an upper middle class family.

 

There is nothing wrong at all for parents buying their children these cars. I am 26, and only now am I able to afford it. My background is in Mechanical Engineering and have been out of school now for 3 years. After all that though, I am not mad at an 18 year old getting the car due to good grades. I believe if my parents were well off, they would have done the same for me for my good efforts. I congratulate these guys for speaking up here and telling us. If my kid was making A grades all through highschool and desiring the best out of life and wanting to do well, I would buy them a car of this stature if I could afford it.

I dont understand how you all can be so harsh on these guys just because you probably could'nt get one yourselves. These guys are actually thankful for what they have. The only thing that gets to me is anyone who takes it for granted.

 

its only spoiled when a kid jus turned 16 and is driving a car like a 330Ci. And when he gets older, his parents buy him a M3 or +++ lol

G35s are only in mid 30s range.

 

I'm 38 and a Professional Engineer, and the G is a big payment every month. I'll have to cut down on some things like the number of trips I go on.

Why do we consider the G Coupe the "s***"? It's the best looking car on the road under $70,000- classy, yet not a "chick" car, clean lines, I've never gotten so many compliments as I have since I got my G, power, torque, value, handling, Brembos, sweet exhaust note, comfortable (I'm 6'3"), features, has a "high tech" image, safety features, made in Japan, lots of mods available both for looks and performance- easy to personalize the car to your tastes and make it unique, chicks love to ride in it, has a back seat, and that's about all I can think of right now.

If I was a parent, I wouldn't buy my kid a car with this much rear-wheel drive power right off the bat.

 

I would agree with that too, but I gotta think about it from my perspective. I wonder what those kids thought about me when I was driving to highschool in my oldazz civic back in 96. The car was an 87. My parents bought this for me, and I am sure there were those kids who were in the majority still taking the bus or walking to school that couldnt afford it looking at me the same way some of you guys are looking at these 16-18 year olds.

It's well known life isnt gonna treat us all the same. Jealousy towards these guys isnt going to do anything for your situation, nor is it going to take anything away from those that are rich/fortunate (you choose) to have a car like this.

Like Slayer said, the car is priced in the 30's range. Depending on whose perspective, that is not an outrageous price range.

 

I dont hate on anyone who has nicer things or more money. In the end there will always be a person younger/older with nicer things, regardless of how wealthy you are. I bought my G with my own money w/ about 6k i saved up. i know i earned my car b/c i waited from the day it arrived to purchase. paid my own way through school including everything else. only thing i had assistance with was living at home and not paying for rent. Everything else I was responsible for and have paid for to this day. Its like comparing someone who buys F/I and wheels and kits for their cars out of their own pocket and comparing that to people who are sponsored. I dont hate on either, but I give more respect and props to one who actually paid out of his/her own pocket. I also tend to think people who actually pay for something or have to work hard to get what they want actually appreciate it more than those who are just given things. anyways my $.02

 

I see your point man. I do. I also agree with it. I would put my money on someone paying for something appreciating it more than if it was given.

 

I just turned 30.

My parents are also immigrants, so I understand the culture thing. Both my parents made about $6 maybe $7 per hour during the late 80's, so we basically had nothing but the support of our sponsors.

Growing up with nothing, I am blessed to have the parents that I have and the "struggles" that we all had as a whole. During my childhood I realized we poor because of the of what most of the othe kids had. This presented a challenge for my parents (and most, if not all, immigrant parents). They wanted me to have the best of everything, but could not afford it. Despite our hardship, I still considered myself spoiled (being the first born and the parent's desire for us to have more "opportunity" then they did). I realized I was spoiled when they bought me an Atari when it first came out, boy was I happy! I think it was about $100 back then!

My dad did "landscaping" on the side to help pay the bills. He would always take me with him. I know now that this was his was of telling me......"Don't do what I do....better yourself...get a good education and become somebody"

When I got my driver's permit, my dad wanted to "help" me buy a car. My first car was an 84 300ZX, $5K. My parents paid for the car, but I gave them whatever I could from my part-time job. I ended up selling the car, and gave them ALL the money I made from it. They then gave me the family car - 88 Grand Prix, no payments for this. After the Grand Prix, I financed other cars with my own money.

After college, I was offered a decent job with decent pay ($27K at the time). I moved out and consider myself truely independent at this point.

Bottom line is appreciate everything you have. Support comes in different ways. There is value in "ownership" of whatever you do.

It will be tough when we have kids, as I know I will want to spoil (as my dad tried with me) and promote them to "do the right things". I don't know if I will buy my kid a new car, the situation will need to be right for that....[thought: buying the G for a child now, would be equivalent to buying my kid a GT-R (at today's value) when they are 16 years old; I can't see this happening now]

 

The thing about immigrant families is that the parents feel obliged to provide everything they can for their children, and likewise when they're retired, they can expect their sons and daughters to support them.

On the other hand, I see these kids who would get a 330 then trade it in a year after for a s2000, only to give it up 6 mons year later for a M3. THAT makes me sick. I'm partly jealous that their parents have the means to do this, but mostly it's because they're totally abusing this priviledge.

 

I understand what you are saying, but I would try to view this from the parent's prospective. When I become a parent, I just might buy my child a new ride, if the conditions are right [might]. If the child trades up with their own money, that's cool with me. Just don't expect me, as a parent, to keep funding your addictions ....

I've got my own addictions to fund

 

Yea you guys understand how it is. It is when you go from having nothing to doing well, you truly appreciate things more and you dont want your kids to go through the same thing. It was not until 2 years ago my dad started making good money. The sudden jump in money took us by surprise and for the frist time, we could do alot of things that we have always wanted to do. I know my dad has high expectations of me, as I do of my own self, and I know one day ill be returning the favor

 

I can understand what people are saying. I really don't "hate" on youngin's with
$30K+ cars. Now, I made damn good grades in school, with a GPA of 3.8 and SAT's of 1320, scholarships, and the whole nine. Now, did I expect a car, no, did I get one no. Did I care no. My pops and of course my mom did spoil me since I was the youngest and only boy in the family, but never to buying me a car. They always taught me the lesson of hard work and work for what you want. I did, buy a few cars on my own. A 93 GTI, Dodge intrepid(POS) and a 02 a GTI and now my upcoming purchase which is either the 350 or G35.

I worked hard, my parents gave me the necessities for life. They helped me with my very first car, which was a beater, but hell I was only 17, and I paid for most of the car. I was thankful cause hell, I was under their insurance policy, and under a roof. That is what they stressed. I will give you the things you need, and you will get the things you want. A 30K car is not a need for any kid, period. Yeah, you guys are blessed beyond words. Also, the excuse for buying your kid an expensive car for good grades is horsesh!t. Why should you get a gift for doing something you are supposed to do. You are supposed to get good grades. You are supposed to be a good student. I did that and passed with higher than avg. expectations, and now am very grateful and responsible because of it. I am 25 now w/ a house working for the gov't and waiting on my next car purchase. Their method proved to be the right step for me, and maybe, just maybe your parents have a decent method for what they did. All I can say is hey, congrats, but I know when I am a parent, my kid is not going to get an expensive car, and would be lucky to get something over 15k.

 

Hi, I'm Randy Hurtado and I'm 28 years old. I've never had ANY financial help from any outside source. I was a father at 16, which no doubt made me grow up quickly. By 20, I owned my first property which I lived in for 3 years, fixed up and then sold and made a profit of $50,000. I then put that down on the next propertiy, lived in it for 2 1/2 years, fixed it up, then sold it and made $110,000 profit. I took that money and rolled it into the property I'm currently building in Texas and will only be financing only $140k. It's a 3,000 sqft home with the equivent of 6 rooms. And, it's located on Skyline Drive! Now, as for my job, I train Network Administrators and then implement our network security software in environemnt all over the US. I currently hold an MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) and plan to increase my credentials in the future. I've been with my wife for 14 years and married for 5 years. I have an 11 year old daughter and 3 year son.

RELAX, your future is safe!

Below are pics of my two passions...my Family and my G.