stux⚡️Feb 24, 2023

Is it really common that kids in the US get a car on their 18th birthday? (or 16th or 14th i dunno anymore)

Or is it something that TV likes to make us believe?

I mean, kids here should be happy if they get 1 lesson for their licence on the birthday instead of a whole car 

Show threadDanFeb 24, 2023
@stux in the states cars cost a fraction of European prices. And most places are remote w/o proper public transport.. so parents are basically buying themselves freedom by gifting a car (no more driving the kids around).
Show threadTodd Tyrtle

@danvanmoll @stux I hadn't thought of that at all. But yes, it did give my parents freedom either from driving me around or from me taking the car and leaving them unable to leave.

And yeah - at least in my day there were no emissions inspections and even the safety inspections were light. My first car cost $500 in 1987. About 2-3 month's of my wages as a cashier. Much less for my dad.

Feb 24, 2023 at 12:10pmWeb
Show threadPseudoscienceFeb 24, 2023
@toddtyrtle @danvanmoll @stux Same. My cars from 16 to age 22 were roughly $500 apiece. I lived 20 minutes by car from school/employment and my parents were ecstatic to gift me a car at 15 (school permit) so that I could drive myself and siblings to school and other obligations.