Yall help me with this one. I have a son that will be sixteen in August. I bought the 89 Accord with the intent of it becoming his car. It's a white hatchback with 140,000 miles that runs great and no leaks. All it needs is paint and wheels and front seat covers and it will make a good starter car. One problem, it's a five speed and the wife says it isn't good enough for him. Heck, my first car was a 1953 Oldsmobile I got out of a junkyard! Anyway, what's reliable, safe, kidproof, in style and under ten grand? Hurry up, they've got their eyes on my 300 E!

I am 17, my first car which I bought in February is a w126 1988 300 sel. I paid $5300 for it, but there are few things I paid like getting a new water pump, etc. So its about a $6000 car. My friends like my car, I do to.. maybe you should check up on a similar car.

Cap'n:

Looking at your fleet, it seems to me that the 2000 Poulan yardtractor meet your criteria (reliable, safe, kidproof, in style and under ten grand). Does it have to be puppyproof?

Seriously, your 89 300E is probably his best bet. It may not be as reliable as your Honda, but it is safe, kidproof, in style and under ten grand.

Then you convince your wife so you can get a newer MB to enjoy (you might have to work harder to enjoy all these modern electronics).

I have a slightly younger daughter and I am saving my 1991 300E for her.

Sounds great to me! An 89 Accord is 2 years newer than my daily driver, and 5 years newer than my 27 year old sons current car. My starter car was whatever I could earn enough to buy, insure, and repair on my own, while I kept my grades up in school.

An acquaintance gave his twin daughters new Pathfinders, said he would cover everything. Neither daughter believed him about oil changes (or even checking the oil) and within 2 years they each needed a new engine, in addition to each having been in multiple accidents. Those cars are junk now, and it is a miracle that they lived through his 'generosity'. At 3 years he bought them each a new one!

Give your son the Honda if you will, but make him understand that the less care he takes of the car, the more it is going to cost HIM (not you), as he is responsible for paying for repairs to his car, or can walk. He will take a lot better care of the car and drive more carefully if mistakes/neglect come out of his own pocket.

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

Yeah, MY plan was to fix up the Honda, give it to him and see if he trashed it or preserved it. The Wife's plan is to find him a six year old Mustang to trash/preserve! It breaks my heart to have to say this, but I'd rather have a 13 year old Honda than a six year old Ford!

By the way John, that's about the best looking 124 I've ever seen!! Is that a factory color?

Why do so many parents feel they need to give their children a car????

In general people don't appreciate things unless they earned them by themselves.

I grew up on the wrong side of the train tracks (literally) and had to work summer jobs and part-time after school at McDonald's to save the $800 to buy the 65 El Camino. It was in rough shape, but I loved the car, and maintained it lovingly.

I had many friends who had well-to-do parents, and were given cars - either new or nearly new used cars. To a kid, they abused their cars because they didn't care. It wasn't their money.

Don't give him the Accord, let him use it, and set standards that he must live up to, or loses the privelege.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Thanks Cap'n! Yes, that is the original factory paint in Smoke Silver. It didn't look nearly as nice before I went through the Lee's Detailing DIY article. Each time I repeat that process (about every 6-9 months) it gets a little nicer, especially since I started using the Porter Cable buffer.

Maybe getting your son involved in the painting, wheels, etc. of the Honda is a good starting point. Add in Suginami's comments as well. Let your son choose the paint and wheels, show him what the maintenance schedule is (including wash/wax after the paint is cured), and tell him he can use it until he graduates from High School if he keeps it in good condition and maintains his grades. If he does, it is his as a grad present (I got a wrist watch). If not, he will have to buy something on his own.

I think a Mustang is an invitation for disaster - it will provide him with the means to play, and send the message that this is what you expect of him, and is OK. I lost a high school classmate because his parents got him a 'vette. The insurance companies tried to dissuade the father, even refusing to insure the car, but he wouldn't listen, and got his kid high risk insurance. Several weeks after he got the car he hit a concrete bridge piling at 120 mph and was history.

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

I remember turning 16, seemed all the kids at school were getting the neat cars for their birthday - Camaros, Firebirds and 'Stangs. The conversation went like this:

"Daddy, what kind of car am I getting for my 16th birthday?"


"Wahtever kind you can save up for between now and then!"

I ended up buying, with a little help, a '66 Mercury Park Lane fastback. Had to do a lot of work to make it driveable even though it was under 10 years old, it had come from somewhere in the north and had been attacked by salt. A couple months of work and it was a good ride.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

I came up lower middle class and had to build my own cars out of my own pocket. As a result, I learned how to "fix" a lot of things. Although I can now afford better, I still "think" that I have to scrimp and save and do most of my own repairs. I have a shop and we can build anything he wants. Problem is, his Mother! She was one of those that was taken to the Chevrolet dealer on her 16th bday and told to "pick one out". She only wants our children to be afforded the same luxuries she had. She would rather give him a car than to see him picked on for having an old Honda. I'm not trying to please him. I have to please her!

My first car was a rear ended mitsubishi Mirage '89 (200k km) wich i bought for about $250, the only thing i ever did to it was i added one new taillight, speakers, purple stripes on the hood and a Coffecan exhaust (it was a coffecan!!)

That was last year.

After i bought the W126 i sold the Mirage to a junkyard.

1966 Mercury Parklane fastback?

My buddy in high school bought a '59 Parklane two door hardtop from an old lady. She was the original owner, the car had every option, and was in original, but very tired condition.

We were always working on it. It got about 9 mpg, but it was a great boulevard cruiser. The transmission finally gave out, and it wouldn't go into reverse, and he parked it.

He finally restored it, looked beautiful, but he wanted to move onto something else. He had a hard time selling it because nobody it seems is into old Parklanes.

He eventually swapped cars with the owner of a very tired 59 Cadillac Sedan de Ville. It was an even trade, and now the '59 is now beautifully restored and he enters it in car shows.

This buddy of mine also has 9, yes 9, Ramblers, 64-66 models, all Ambassador 990's. He's a little weird, but this is a topic for another discussion.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Mine was a little sleeker lookin'.

This is not a picture of mine, same year/body but mine was a dark green. And boy was it fast.



Thanks to the net, I was able to find a picture, but it was still hard to. Apparently there were only 3500 (or so) coupes built in '66, and many suffered badly from inherent rust prone areas. Most of the pictures I found were of the 4 door varity with the breezeway window (yep, still had the neat rear window in '66).

Kinda wish I still had it .

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

The best first car is whatever he can affort to buy and insure on his own. I remember high school where the kids thoroughly trashed the cars their parents bought them. The ones that bought thier own seemed to take better care of them. I also bought my own. My first: a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville for the whopping sum of $150. I thank my parents to this day for making me buy my own car. I learned and appreciated the responsibilities that went with it.

Me being me, since you already have the Honda, I'd tell them both that it is either that or nothing. Or he could opt for that nice cherry Yugo in Autotrader.

My wife sounds like yours Cap'n. We've got more money tied up in paint ball guns that the 240D cost .
My first ride was a tractor and then progressed to an early 60's Ford Econoline with an inline six and then a '63 Chevy Nova station wagon (wish I still had that car). They were both hand me downs from the older siblings.
I have already started my boys out driving the 300D. The wife is starting to nag about wanting me to get rid of the 240D which I would like to keep - she is starting to talk more of her "next" vehicle. I will probably get rid of the E320 to make room for her next one.
I think the 240D makes an excellent "around town" car - especially in an area like Eastman. I like the fact that these diesels will run on veggie oil if that is ever needed.

__________________
Jim