I have to agree with you. However I add that the kid should get the pleasure of paying for that beater car too. I had "buy" the old family minivan when I was finally allowed to get my license at 17 since my parents didn't want two teenage drivers on the insurance at once. I don't care if they pay for it by paying to rebuild the transmission, or they buy it or they pay insurance and gas, they need to pay for it and know how much it really costs to own and opperate a vehicle. It puts an additional layer of respect and care for the vehicle in the mix.

I bought an AMC Spirit brand-new in 1980.  It was one of the best cars I ever had.  I put 100,000 miles on it in four years.  If American Motors was still around, I'd still be driving their cars.  They were great.

My first car was a 1980 Chevy Chevette. My uncle got it for $300 for my 16th Christmas, he fixed it up, put new tires on it... no air, AM radio, MANUAL EVERYTHING.

But it got me from point A to point B and was GREAT on gas. I made it last til my Sr Year of college... 6.5 years, when I bought my new old car [1998 Toyota Corolla] with some money I had saved up.

That was the best damned first car I could have ever had.

And my uncle thought "oh, I figured it'd last you a year".

I make the most of what I am given. :)

Working on my second car, 4.5 years almost now.

Having a beater car as a first car for a young driver does have its advantages. Car insurance usually is cheaper because collision insurance is not needed. Its a great way to learn WHAT NOT TO DO in the snow or heavy rains  and when you do have an incident of dents,  scratches and torn off side mirrors it doesnt matter because the car is beater.. thats why its called a beater car  ;).  Getting an expensive new car for an inexpereinced driver only leads to  monthly car payments, high insurance and more money shelled out for when those dents and accidents happen.

My first car at 17 back in 1989 was a 72 dodge swinger, v8 engine, bench seats and was painted gold. That car got me my one and only speeding ticket..gotta love that V8, was great to haul 8 friends comfortabley and lasted untill the engine block cracked..and I am thankful that dad was right on getting that as my "pratice" car so when I bought my jeep I had the expereince and trainging on how to properly handle a vehicle

My first car was an '84 Firebird. It was the 305 V8 and automatic but it was a fun car to drive when I was 17. Yes I got some speeding tickets but I learned to take responsibility for my actions. I also had to take care of that car. I learned how to take care of the engine, change most of the parts,a nd that a transmission is a costly repair when you're a freshman in college. My second car was an '88 Firebird Formula. This one had the same size engine but was manual and had t-tops and the precursor to positraction. One of my favorite cars. Not great for traveling around the DC Beltway in summer but still a good car. Now I have a '99 Forester. It was used, cheap, pretty good condition, and some of my car maintenance skill have paid off though, there's definitely not nearly as much room to work as there was with those old V8's.

My future son(s) will drive an older car for sure unless they put up the money to buy their own. Then they can buy what they want (within reason). According to my wife, my daughter(s) will drive as safe a car as possible. Seeing as we don't have any kids yet we have time to think that one through a little more.

What do you think, would you get a different car based on your child's gender? I'm not talking about the Accord for your son vs the Carolla for your daughter. I mean a old beater for your son and a brand new Jetta for your daughter. I'm just curious.

I completely agree-kids should not start off with a new and expensive car. The benefit of having to work hard, save and swallow your pride (when your driver door squeeks unbearably loud when you open it) are all wonderful character builders. My gem was a red, white and blue Vega with brown and yellow interior. I paid under $500.00 for it and also purchased my own insurance and gas. The car was a trooper! I get to buy nice cars now, but I love telling the kids about my Vega every time they bring up what THEIR first car should be.........I think they might be in for a surprise!

"at the age of 16 just by the gift of a Ford Fiesta"

I'll do you one better....require that your kid earn the money to buy a car themselves.  You're guaranteed a character building exercise in that one.  What kid wants to ride the school bus their senior year?

I bought my first car, a '69 Marquis, in 1977. Six hundred bucks was a lot of money back then, especially when I was making $2.35 an hour. My next two brothers bought their own first cars. My youngest brother and sister were both given cars for their 16th birthdays.

My younger siblings' kids (three of them have kids of driving age, one doesn't) all got cars when they were old enough to drive. Mine aren't old enough yet, but they won't get a new car. They won't get a used car. They'll do what Dad and Mom did.

It is a ridiculous notion that a kid "earns" a car just for drawing breath. In my neighborhood, the standard "sixteen" vehicle is a 2004-2006 Tahoe.

My first car was a 1971 Old Cutlass very big and so fun to drive.  I have many fond memories. It was 1989 it was a gas guzzler but gas 0.89 a gallon.  I had to put some work into it but it was mine.  My parents had me pay for my own insurance.  It helped me along the way.  It taught me responsibility and to work for what I have.  It also taught me to have respect for the things I do have and to take care of them.  So my husband and I have decided that we will help our children with some of the money to purchase the vehicle but they must be employed and contribute for their insurance and for the price of the vehicle.  It is the only way to learn responsibility.  My eight year old son helps his father deliver papers one night a week and is saving for a car.

CB I have a son and a daughter and yes the topic of different cars for different genders has come up.  For us the same conditions will apply they must be employed and put some money towards the cost of the car.  I don't feel gender makes a difference.