its not so that insane.. because it is hard to get into college now days.. especially a GOOD college. like a UC system. takes lots of time, effort along with crap like community service and extra carricular. if the child focuses on these and works hard to get in/remain in and work toward a good grad school, the parent rewards them with a nice car. instead of working everyday after school to pay for car payment and leave no time for school requirements. and it sounds alot less idiotic than
"ok son, now go to school, get straight As, do your homework, study for test, work 30hrs at least a week to pay for your car and insurance, go volunteer service during weekend, be a club member and leader, and make it into a UC"

its a simply logic of giving the teens a hand in this crazy society. and those time spent studying probably could make a big difference to which college they get in than out working in a min. pay job to pay for the payments.. its a pretty layed out fact that a graduate from a famous college makes more than a grad. from a lesser college. and college now is much more difficult to get in than maybe 20-30 years ago. lets just say a UC Berkeley (1 of Cali's top college) student and a community college student (no disrespect to any of you guys) go apply for a job. you think it matters that the community college student put "I worked hard for everything in my HS and College years and payed for my own car"??? noo..

 

I'm going to hate myself for contributing to this thread, but...

I went to college full-time at 17, worked part time, bought my own new car, paid my own insurance, lived at home the first few years, lived in a shared apartment for a few years in which I paid my share of the rent, graduated with honors and received an M.A. I was also involved with other activities. No, it was a state college and not a U.C., but then I didn't ask for everything to be handed to me on a silver platter. I put in the work, I reap the gains. It can be done.

For those who have been handed a beautiful car like the 350Z, appreciate it. Don't expect it or defend it. You did not "earn" or "deserve" it. It's a gift. Just appreciate your parents all the more for it and make certain to display that gratitude.

Maturity is based on time and experience, lessons learned from life and making wise choices. The path I took helped me to grow responsibly. There are different paths toward maturity for different people. Rationalizing and making excuses isn't one of them.

 

Wrong. I have seen NUMEROUS times that it does not matter where you went to school, but what you know. Atleast in my field (IT), it is this way. I have seen quite a few people who dont even have degrees in this field (let alone a degree at all) who are much more knowledgeable than people who went to reputable schools. Its a label, not a guarantee.

And your whole reasoning about giving your kids a car IF they study and get good grades is acceptable. Its one thing to get them a car, its another to buy them a $30,000 new car. I think they can give their kids a very reliable car for roughly $7,000. Then, when their "honor student" graduates, they can reward themselves with whatever they want. It makes them appreciate the hard work that they put into their education. But, if a parent keeps on providing everything for their kids, they will never learn the lesson of self-reliance.

 

Andrew, 17 going to college? or your too smart.. you must started really early.. man i feel old now.. but anyways.. most people here are arguing high school 16/17 getting a Z.. high school working is different from college. College we can choose our classes at any time.. high school time is set.. usually 7am-3pm ish.. no way to get around it..

Camaro 194.. i see what your saying and different fields have dif. rules of hiring.. but obviously it doesnt apply for majority of fields where what college you graduated makes no difference. If anyone can walk in and be hired as a doc. or lawyer then why waste 10 12 years of your life in school..

 

First, thank you for graciously receiving what I wrote. Secondly, no, I never felt very smart. I started school early. I had to study longer and harder than many others I knew, but I was driven to perform the best I could.

Actually, I started working at 16 (worker's permit) while in high school in San Jose, CA. My school schedule was arranged to accomodate "work experience." So, technically (at least in my case), there is a way of getting around it if strongly pursued.

 

I go to grad school, pay for rent, 2 cars, insurance, utilities, cable, and internet. Work 40 hours a week, and get straight A's.

I get much better grades now than when I lived with my folks.

 

And thats probably because you care more for the things you used to take for granted....
Had I not moved out from the "folks place" at 17, I'm not sure I'd be as far as find myself now...
Dealing with EVERYTHING by yourself builds caracter, and a strong sence of responsibility.

 

good job.. but as i said to andrew, working in college is different from working in high school. the topic this thread is focused on high school teens roughly 17-19.. but im impressed.. hope im as successful in grad school..

 

i started college at 17, not strange at all. Strange is being 19 and still in HS. I worked all through high school and college. It is not hard, maybe I am a genius but I got straight A's and had a job since 14 working 6 days a week. Like I stated before and others have as well is that the real issue is people making posts like "i am 16 and my parents bought me a Z, yeah eat it, what is the best intake to get?" That is the stuff that gives all youngins a bad name on the board. Posting your age or how the car is paid for is going to start flames, and it seems like the young kids do this the most.

 

makes people like you, you can get laid, and grow hair on your nut sac.

(you forgot that part)

 

m0nkie... This seems pretty superficial don't you think? I challenge you to read the book the "Millionaire Next Door". No kidding. This is important life type stuff.

 

Ouch. And you call yourself an adult? And I wouldn't be sure if it was MY mom's car I was taking out when it is dark. Shut up and post some more mature responses. And if you couldn't tell, my previous "insult" was full of sarcasm.

Insulting a board member who owns a 350Z, just like you, is pointless.

Nice to know you work hard too; but I do as well. I have to pay off many other things besides my car. Life doesn't all revolve around the Z sometimes. Just because you moved out of your house, doesn't put you above anyone.

 

No I think there is a general hate towords teenagers in general (not just Z owners) because they start weak *** threads like this one.

 

K

 

LAx91181 isnt not strange in HS being 19.. in Asia, we start school 1 year later than kids here.. therefore, immagrant teens are typically 1 year older than most kids in their grade. and iono where u live by we legally work until we are 16.

MulhollandDrive, as i said. SOME richer parents have a class they must maintain. i did not say all and i cant speak for everyone. but from what i can see.. my folks are business people.. this is especially popular in China. if you are rich, you must drive fancy BMW and Benz 1) to show your class and 2) to make the business partners believe you are somewhat worth dealing business with. its a cultural thing... so i am not surprised at all for Asian parents buying their kids bmw in order to make their family look better. I'v been to weird fancy parties my parents hold.. with mercedes parked all over sidewalk, they were giving me looks for pulling up in a Nissan..

 

The main reason that *SOME* teenagers get heat from us "older" folks is because you start threads like this one under the guise of asking a question, when really what you're doing is going "LOOK AT ME!!!! I'M 18 AND HAVE A Z AND I WANT TO TELL EVERYONE HOW YOUNG I AM AND HAVE A SPORTS CAR", you just don't want to come right out and say it because you know you'll get flamed for it. You are probably the 200th teenager to do this since I've been on this forum. This combined with the arrogance of assuming that we would be jealous that you have the same car as the rest of us just makes you annoying, which is why you feel 'hated on'. Sorry, but it's true. Don't think I'm hating on you, I'm just answering your question.

Ever notice how none of us "old people" even bring up our age as a topic of a thread? That's because we know nobody cares. Why do you think we should car how old you are?

Peace.

 

It's more a disappointment.

The Z is a car that I worked all my life to buy and some kid's dad buys them one. I lived as a gypsy for 24 years serving this nation and traveling around the world three times. Dragging a sports car doesn't make sense so even when I had the cash to buy a car I couldn't. When I retired from the Navy in 2005 I bought the car after looking at the Porsches and an Audi.

When I turned 16 my parents allowed me to spend the money that I had been working for and saving to buy a car that dad approved of. It was a three year old 1973 Plymouth (340 HP Baracuda ). They allowed me to park it in the street in front of their home, to use the driveway to repair it and wash it, and put me on their insurance policy and allowed me to pay the price delta when their rates went up. When I had no money for gas I walked or rode my bike. Occassionally when the weather was bad they would lend me their car as the 'cuda wasn't really black ice friendly. When I enlisted in the USN at age 21 after a few years of college they let me store the car inside their garage before I sold it after getting stationed in Japan. I was there between 1981 and 1985 and really liked the looks of the Fairlady Z's there.

Was I warped for life being the only kid in the group who's parents made me work and keep good grades to earn the car? Probably. I learned the value of hard work and what accomplishment was. Other kids parents bought them Trans Ams and Mustangs ... they learned what? Life is way to short to not learn certain lessons early on. I think that one should earn valuable things through hard work and accomplishment ... not by gift.

Most kids will crash the car pretty quickly given the chance and that just raises the insurance for the rest of the drivers. I'm sure glad I'm in a seperate insurance pool from the fools.

YMMV.

 

Actually, I posted this because in a lot of threads, I see "adults" say the simple of phrase of... "I bought it with my own money blah blah blah...so it means more to me". Or some kind of variant of that. Just kind of redudant for you to say you don't care about age when a lot of you're posts state it.

Oh yeah, and I get the biggest thrill out of letting you know I own a Z and I'm 18 [SARCASM]. I don't come on here to impress anyone. I come on here to talk about a car we all own, or in my case just drive... Grow up.

 

True, true. Very well put.

It is just a car payment.

I'm more proud of a whole bunch of things ... not a one is a thing that I made payments on. My wonderful wife. My lovely and smart daughter. My service to the nation. My rank. My talents and skills.

... I'm sort of making payments on my Navy service ... in a lifetime of pain.

 

This is starting to remind me of the "coorperashun" thread.