16 year old son's 1st car a Jeep good idea?
11-09-2014 | 08:17 AM
#11
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JK Newbie
Joined: May 2014
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From: homestead florida
This can go both ways.... Know a guy who's son is very responsible in his jeep due to taking time and showing the young man how to properly do things in and with the rig. Does that mean the young man follows those recommendations all the time, no. I mean come on we were all teen boys with all that testosterone flowing through our veins and we all know about peer pressure and the stoopid things we did in and out of cars. So it is a double edge sword. I would ensure he had some sort of locating device so he can contact you to go get him when he gets stuck in farmer John's field and needs a tug because his buddy's Ford Fiesta tuner car isn't gonna get him out. Then again, these things can happen in any car. From what I've seen teens don't hang out and do the things we did, would rather video out on the couch. The other thing to consider is that CHICKS DIG JEEPS. Don't think this one needs 'spailin'. So I guess it boils down to if you think and believe your son is mature enough to not succumb to peer pressure in doing things with the jeep he is not ready or equipped to do.
11-09-2014 | 08:19 AM
#12
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JK Newbie
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From: homestead florida
Maybe just limit mods to 33s and 2" lift. Run a good AT which will have better street handling then an MT. When I was 17 I had a 94 Sahara. Added a heavy-duty shackle lift and 31s (which were bigger then stock back then). Added a pair of Hella 500s and upgraded the stereo system. In all I spent less then 1500 and thought my Jeep was pretty custom.
11-09-2014 | 08:21 AM
#13
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JK Newbie
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From: homestead florida
After I first read your thread I started thinking about suggesting getting a 2007 JKU. Then I looked at Craigslist to see what the going rate for them is, 15k - 20k. I'm not sure about you, but I won't be able to spend that kind of money for my daughter's first vehicle (in 2.5 years). Snow driving is my biggest concern. I didn't look to see where you are from, but is snow an issue where you are? If I lived somewhere where snow wasn't an issue I would be fine with my daughter driving a TJ. While a TJ will get through the snow, the short wheelbase and weight make it seem like it would go into spin mode more easily. If I did end up getting my kid a TJ I would keep it mild at first to get experience driving, either keep it stock or a small lift with at most 31" tires.
11-09-2014 | 08:23 AM
#14
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JK Newbie
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From: homestead florida
When I was 18 I bought a TJ as my first "car". I then drove it over a thousand miles away from my home state to live without on my own. I had it for 5 years without any problems aside from ones due to my own carelessness. (New tires, busted window on soft top, fried gears, new xsmn) I off-roaded it every chance I got and it was always dependable. If you take the time to teach your child responsible driving and maintenance practices a TJ will be a great first vehicle. The 4.0 is damn near bullet proof and the TJ is a great simple jeep to wrench on.
11-09-2014 | 08:57 AM
#15
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: Rhode Island
My first two vehicles were wranglers. Bought an '89 in '98 for $2500 and sold it 2 years later for $2800. Then bought a '96 which I ended up driving for about 5 years before I got rid of it.
As far as safety goes, never had a problem. I live in New England so snow is an issue and my jeep came in handy a number of times. My parents were alittle hesitant at first but eventually gave in and I never let them down
As far as the mini van reference, I once fit 7 people in my '89. Lol. With the hard top on. Boy to be young again. Also, girls definitely love jeeps. There were numerous times as a kid we'd be at a party and my friends would come up to me and say 'ill be in the jeep' and proceeded to take a girl out there with them. Roll bars are great for a number of things!!! Hahaha
Give the kid a shot!! If you trust him enough, he will be fine
As far as safety goes, never had a problem. I live in New England so snow is an issue and my jeep came in handy a number of times. My parents were alittle hesitant at first but eventually gave in and I never let them down
As far as the mini van reference, I once fit 7 people in my '89. Lol. With the hard top on. Boy to be young again. Also, girls definitely love jeeps. There were numerous times as a kid we'd be at a party and my friends would come up to me and say 'ill be in the jeep' and proceeded to take a girl out there with them. Roll bars are great for a number of things!!! Hahaha
Give the kid a shot!! If you trust him enough, he will be fine
11-09-2014 | 09:17 AM
#16
JK Freak
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Well, my girl and I have discussed getting her boys each a jeep for their first vehicle. That way they have wheels to get around on, a play vehicle to hit some trails with with their friends or us, and just think it would be cool to do overall.
I can tell you from personal experience though. When I was 16 I had bought a Porsche. It was pretty quick and handled like it was glued to the road. I drove it like a mad man. I ended up wrapping it around a tree and it caught on fire. Totalled. So I bought another one. I drove it the same way. I also eventually bought an SUV. I didn't drive the SUV the same way because it wasn't fun to drive like that. With that being said, this is how I feel about that...
Boys will be boys. I was incredibly responsible and made great money at that age. I still acted like an idiot in the two Porsches though. SUV, much more responsible driver. I feel a sports car will get someone in trouble if not killed. A jeep, despite possibly being lifted with huge tires, isn't a fast vehicle that you want to whip around curves. It's a different beast. Most boys will drive it slower and more responsibly because it wouldn't be as fun to drive like a sports car as an example. It's not fast at that. Not to mention, you could equip the jeep with steel everywhere and make it a tank on the road. If he wants to have fun, he can hit trails with it. I personally think he would be safer in a jeep than most other vehicles.
Not only that, if they want to mod it, they can work for it. Teach them responsibility for something they want to have and work for it. They'll also be less inclined to treat it irresponsibly if they put their hard labor into earning the mods the want to put on it. I think overall it's a good scenario.
I can tell you from personal experience though. When I was 16 I had bought a Porsche. It was pretty quick and handled like it was glued to the road. I drove it like a mad man. I ended up wrapping it around a tree and it caught on fire. Totalled. So I bought another one. I drove it the same way. I also eventually bought an SUV. I didn't drive the SUV the same way because it wasn't fun to drive like that. With that being said, this is how I feel about that...
Boys will be boys. I was incredibly responsible and made great money at that age. I still acted like an idiot in the two Porsches though. SUV, much more responsible driver. I feel a sports car will get someone in trouble if not killed. A jeep, despite possibly being lifted with huge tires, isn't a fast vehicle that you want to whip around curves. It's a different beast. Most boys will drive it slower and more responsibly because it wouldn't be as fun to drive like a sports car as an example. It's not fast at that. Not to mention, you could equip the jeep with steel everywhere and make it a tank on the road. If he wants to have fun, he can hit trails with it. I personally think he would be safer in a jeep than most other vehicles.
Not only that, if they want to mod it, they can work for it. Teach them responsibility for something they want to have and work for it. They'll also be less inclined to treat it irresponsibly if they put their hard labor into earning the mods the want to put on it. I think overall it's a good scenario.
Last edited by D3ADLY; 11-09-2014 at 09:24 AM.
11-09-2014 | 09:48 AM
#17
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JK Newbie
Joined: May 2014
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From: homestead florida
My first two vehicles were wranglers. Bought an '89 in '98 for $2500 and sold it 2 years later for $2800. Then bought a '96 which I ended up driving for about 5 years before I got rid of it. As far as safety goes, never had a problem. I live in New England so snow is an issue and my jeep came in handy a number of times. My parents were alittle hesitant at first but eventually gave in and I never let them down As far as the mini van reference, I once fit 7 people in my '89. Lol. With the hard top on. Boy to be young again. Also, girls definitely love jeeps. There were numerous times as a kid we'd be at a party and my friends would come up to me and say 'ill be in the jeep' and proceeded to take a girl out there with them. Roll bars are great for a number of things!!! Hahaha Give the kid a shot!! If you trust him enough, he will be fine
11-09-2014 | 10:22 AM
#18
JK Freak
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 896
Likes: 5
From: Ventura, CA
Based on my experience as a former 16 year old boy, now a confirmed 52 year old with a 12 year old mind, I'd say it is probably a poor choice for a first car.
Has your insurance company weighed in yet? I imagine for a sixteen year old a Jeep Wrangler is going fall into the same risk categories as a new Z28.
Has your insurance company weighed in yet? I imagine for a sixteen year old a Jeep Wrangler is going fall into the same risk categories as a new Z28.
11-09-2014 | 10:47 AM
#19
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 25
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From: homestead florida
Well, my girl and I have discussed getting her boys each a jeep for their first vehicle. That way they have wheels to get around on, a play vehicle to hit some trails with with their friends or us, and just think it would be cool to do overall. I can tell you from personal experience though. When I was 16 I had bought a Porsche. It was pretty quick and handled like it was glued to the road. I drove it like a mad man. I ended up wrapping it around a tree and it caught on fire. Totalled. So I bought another one. I drove it the same way. I also eventually bought an SUV. I didn't drive the SUV the same way because it wasn't fun to drive like that. With that being said, this is how I feel about that... Boys will be boys. I was incredibly responsible and made great money at that age. I still acted like an idiot in the two Porsches though. SUV, much more responsible driver. I feel a sports car will get someone in trouble if not killed. A jeep, despite possibly being lifted with huge tires, isn't a fast vehicle that you want to whip around curves. It's a different beast. Most boys will drive it slower and more responsibly because it wouldn't be as fun to drive like a sports car as an example. It's not fast at that. Not to mention, you could equip the jeep with steel everywhere and make it a tank on the road. If he wants to have fun, he can hit trails with it. I personally think he would be safer in a jeep than most other vehicles. Not only that, if they want to mod it, they can work for it. Teach them responsibility for something they want to have and work for it. They'll also be less inclined to treat it irresponsibly if they put their hard labor into earning the mods the want to put on it. I think overall it's a good scenario.
11-09-2014 | 10:49 AM
#20
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 25
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From: homestead florida
Based on my experience as a former 16 year old boy, now a confirmed 52 year old with a 12 year old mind, I'd say it is probably a poor choice for a first car. Has your insurance company weighed in yet? I imagine for a sixteen year old a Jeep Wrangler is going fall into the same risk categories as a new Z28.