What's the psychology behind this?

[TexasHusker]

This was mentioned in an earlier thread, but I think the subject deserves some further pondering:

My son and daughter both attend a mostly middle/upper middle public high school. It truly is a wonderful school, and everything they do is first class - performing arts, sports, academics, you name it.

But on my daughter's sports team, there is an interesting phenomenon: A lot of the girls (most) are driving really fancy, super nice cars. BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, high end Jeeps. I'm talking really expensive cars. I am sure some of these families are very well off, and others are not.

Just in the last couple of months, two of my daughter's friends have been given late model BMW and Mercedes SUVs as their first car, and they are still a year from having their drivers license!

Now I'm not judging the parents whatsoever, I'm not in their shoes. I am just wondering what the psychology is behind buying your kiddo a late model BMW SUV for going to school when the parents themselves drive Hondas.

I always thought the new driver drove a jalopy and certainly nothing as nice or nicer than mom and dad's.

It's a very interesting phenomenon. I would enjoy reading comments. Again, I am not judging. To each his own. Just interested in the psychology of it.

[disneysteve]

These are individuals who have abdicated their responsibility to parent (the verb, not the noun). They have lost (if they ever had) the cajones to say NO to their child.

I would suspect that these are children who have been coddled and spoiled their entire lives, given everything and anything they asked for. The flashy expensive car is just a highly visible symbol of that. These kids also probably have high end computers, designer clothes, the latest iPhone (upgraded immediately every time a new model comes out), and all other sorts of goodies.

As for buying a car before they can even drive, that can make sense in certain situations, but not in your example. I can see doing it if you come across a really sweet deal on a pristine used car at a great price. I also know people who have done it to buy a car that needed some work and the child and parent worked together to fix it up so that it was all ready when they got their license.

[disneysteve]

ETA: Our daughter's first and only car is a 2010 Hyundai Accent. It was $5,000. She paid $3,000. We chipped in $1,000 and grandmom chipped in $1,000. I think she got it in 2015. She has been driving since 2011.

[msomnipotent]

The only reasons I can think of is either they unexpectedly got full scholarships and the parents spent the the 529 on a car, the kids are extraordinary babysitters and had their own money, or there was some kind of auction that nobody else showed up for.

If it was a sweet deal, I don't blame them for buying before they had licenses. I almost bought a car when I was 13. I had $1,800 and my parents were going to loan me the additional $200 and keep it for me until I was 16. Then someone who they will not name talked them out of it, just because they didn't think a 13 year old should have a car. What kind of car, you ask? Only a 1964 Thunderbird in pristine condition!!!! It is still my dream car and one day I will have it. It will just cost $20,000 more to get it.

[Fishindude77]

It's just parents showing off, keeping up with the Jones. Truth be known, probably quite a few of those cars are leased or bought on credit.

Wait till you see the expensive weddings they throw for those girls

[corn18]

I did this before I came to my senses. First daughter got a brand new Nissan Altima at 15 1/2 ($27k). Second daughter got a brand new Jeep Wrangler at 15 ($30k). Both financed 100% for 6 years. That just added to my already mountainous consumer debt ($160k total at it's peak). At one point, I had $2600 / month in car/RV/horse trailer payments. And I was looking at buying a boat.

What was the psychology behind it? Can't rightly say. At the time, I had an answer, but for the life of me, I can't remember what it was. I'm pretty sure we were insane.

Now that we are out of debt and pay cash for cars, I would never do that for/to them. Not sure what I would do now, but it wouldn't be that.

[disneysteve]

Just interested in the psychology of it.

I'm pretty sure we were insane.

There you go. Insanity is a psychological answer to the question.

[Like2Plan]

I couldn’t say what the psychology is behind this. Personally, I believe the cars dependents drive should not be nicer than what the teachers drive (in general), but that is just me. Also, new drivers are more likely to have an accident or minor incident as they get more experience. So, it makes you wonder if these parents have yet to experience that with their child.

[disneysteve]

new drivers are more likely to have an accident or minor incident as they get more experience. So, it makes you wonder if these parents have yet to experience that with their child.

Of course they haven't experienced it yet. Some of the kids don't even have licenses yet. No way would I put my brand new teen driver behind the wheel of a super expensive vehicle no matter how much we earned.

[Thrif-t]

People just don't think!

[Jluke]

In a delusional way, reasons could be:

Safety reputation with the brand.
Safety due to large size of vehicle.
Reliable transportation.
Future give-me back vehicle for the parents when kids go to college.


My experience growing up:
The kid car in our family (3rd vehicle) was newer than my dad’s commuter car but we are talking used GM vehicles in the early 90’s.

[disneysteve]

In a delusional way, reasons could be:

Safety reputation with the brand.
Safety due to large size of vehicle.
Reliable transportation.
Future give-me back vehicle for the parents when kids go to college.

I'm glad you prefaced that with "delusional".

Plenty of non-luxury cars have top safety ratings, maybe even more so than the luxury cars.
You can certainly get a large vehicle in a non-luxury vehicle.
"Reliable" is simply a crock of BS. It's the same excuse people give for buying new instead of used and it's BS then too.
And the "give me back" idea makes no sense. In that case, why not just buy yourself the new car and give your kid whatever you're currently driving?

My wife actually suggested that I do that when DD wanted a car - sell her mine and get myself a new one. The problem is that I really like my car. Yes it's 12 years old but it's a Camry XLE fully loaded with everything. It would cost a bundle to replace. I wasn't handing that over to my daughter.

[TexasHusker]

I spoiled my son a little for graduation.

[Tabs]

I do not get that either. Makes no sense to me.

[phantom]

My mom got her first car before she got her license. No one in her family owned a car. So, she couldn’t learn to drive till she got one. I highly doubt that’s what’s going on here. It’s funny how times change.