Teen’s first car a rude awakening

By Terra Weiland
Clay County High School

As the time grew near for me to finally receive my driver’s license, I began to formulate the perfect car in my head. Silver, sleek and shiny, it would be a super-fast sports car with a motor that purred like a kitten. It would have leather seats and a subwoofer in the back.

Imagine my surprise when my parents bought me a Lumina a year older than I was. Its speakers didn’t even work, and the dashboard was sun damaged. It was nowhere close to my dream ride.

Talking to my classmates at Clay County High School, I realized that I wasn’t the only teen who had a reality check when it came to getting a first car. Sophomore Cory Dobbins had a similar experience.

His dream car is a ‘69 Corvette. His actual car? A Ford Escort.

As I learned more about car ownership, though, I realized my parents were right (which is the case more often that I like to admit). Their selection of a used car was the right choice.

Since I want to go to college, a new car was out of the question. With land and houses, the value increases over time, so it’s a good investment. However, a car decreases in value the second you drive it off the dealer’s lot. That’s why a used car is the best buy when it comes to a teenager’s vehicle.

Also, the cost of insurance is a big part in choosing the right car. If the car is an older model, it can be put under liability insurance, which is much cheaper than regular insurance.

One drawback to older cars is that they might have to be replaced sooner than new cars. However, that can still be less costly than buying a new one in the first place. My father has always called very cheap used cars “Bic cars” because you can dispose of one and get another without losing much money.

Sophomore Mindy Sizemore’s first vehicle was one of these cars. “My mom bought one with a baked lasagna and a hundred bucks, but the starter broke,” she said. Her family is repairing it now, making it still far cheaper than a new car.

Some people are prejudiced against particular car brands. Senior Caitlin Dalzell, for instance, exclaimed, “Never a Ford. You can’t give me a Ford!”

But don’t let brand names get it the way of finding the ideal car. It is true that some companies have a history of problems, but don’t choose your car based solely on a company’s reputation. Research vehicles and find a deal.

Of course, the biggest lesson in this whole experience is that I’m lucky to even have a car. Many students will receive a car in far worse shape than mine or none at all. In fact, I’ve come around to Laura Johnston’s way of thinking.

Johnston, who was more humble in her choice than I was from the start, said, “I don’t care what kind of car it is as long as I have a car that runs.”