yamaha wrote: In reply to Nick_Comstock: I blame bad parenting.....you don't buy E36 M3 for kids, because they won't treat it well.
This. My parents always subscribed to the "If you want nice things, use your allowance" way of life. We're fine, I guess.
My Grandmother and Aunt bought me my second vehicle at 18. (I bought my first with the help of my Dad with the condition that I would swap out with his truck as needed. It became very obvious I was going to end up taking his truck to college and be at his beck and call whenever he wanted it back. Despite being 200 miles away.) I didn't have money and neither did my father. So the fact my aunt, who was working 50 hours per week, and my grandmother spending a portion of her pension, meant all the more. I knew the money situation and we didn't have enough to just step up and buy a car, much less me a car. My grandmother mentioned exactly what has been mentioned here. "If he doesn't buy it, he won't a appreciate it," was her words.
That was the best taken care of truck you have ever seen. All maintenance done, I stripped the interior out 3 times a year to clean the carpets, it was clay bared and waxed twice a year, with a sealant. Normal washing every month and a normal wax every warm month, washing included taking the wheels off to clean the backside of them. Armor All was always on the interior, tires, and in the wheel wells. I always had good tires and the brakes were perfect. Up until the day I traded it I would get compliments on it. People finally stopped thinking it was new after the next generation came out. No one ever thought it was averaging 20k~25k miles a year (160k when sold). They thought it was my familys with only 20k miles on it total. I abused the vehicles I have purchased way more than I ever did that truck. It was a reflection of my respect for the faith and support that my family had given me. I knew what them spending resources that weren't available on me meant. I didn't forget it.
I still haven't forgot.
Saying a gift will be abused isn't an accurate statement. Maybe you meant an item/oportunity not appreciated is more inclined to be abused. Appreciation and purchased with your own is not the same thing. In the end the upbringing of the person comes into play. If they understand hard work goes into money and it isn't easy, they will respect it. If they don't, you get kids by the time they are 21 with a DUI and working on their third Vette, and whining they didn't get a truck too.
As much as it may pain us, kids think hybrids are cool. Scion needs a version of the Prius under it's brand with a different name, maybe eL, bZ or +/-. I also still think that the new defunct FJ cruiser should've been a Scion model.
captdownshift wrote: As much as it may pain us, kids think hybrids are cool. Scion needs a version of the Prius under it's brand with a different name, maybe eL, bZ or +/-. I also still think that the new defunct FJ cruiser should've been a Scion model.
I'm a kid, and I think barges are cool. Mind you, I am a bit crazy so that might explain it.
I'm 33 and still can't afford a new car.
I'm 40. if I stretch my budget I could buy on of those 12K Mitsubishi's. But why would I want to? I can buy a better car on the used market for far less.
In reply to G_Body_Man:
who currently produces a barge that you'd consider though?
moparman76_69 wrote: I'm 33 and still can't afford a new car.
Join the Club. 
I could afford a new car, but I couldn't handle being locked into a car by the fear of huge depreciation loses.
I'd buy a sports car and immediately start finding situations where I needed more ground clearance or space.
I'd buy a truck and hate the gas mileage. Or I'd miss having fun in the twisties.
I'd buy a Miata and have to get rid of it once kids happen.
Used cars just allow much easier transition from one vehicle to another.
I can afford a new car, but there's really nothing out there that A.) makes me go "Oh I have to have that NOW!" and 2.) nothing that is so much better than what I have now that I must upgrade.
In reply to Bobzilla:
I can afford a new car, but a new car isn't this:
captdownshift wrote: In reply to G_Body_Man: who currently produces a barge that you'd consider though?
The Cadillac XTS V-sport. Good god, that thing is great.
I bought a new car right out of college (1994 Civic DX coupe) and got my 99 Civic Si new as well. I had more disposable income then, though. I also didn't have the $200k of student loans that current grads are facing.
My current daily driver is my recently-purchased Toyota Yaris S hatch--$5500. See: lack of disposable income because house.
My wife will get new cars, as I want her in something fairly fresh, reliable and with a history I know. Her 2010 Fit Sport is paid off and has a solid 5 more years before I think of getting something else (I might take it over, for all I know--it'll be at 160-170k miles by then).
Anyway, targeting millenials is proving to be a helluva task. They don't seem to buy much of anything outside of phones and yet they're the most advertised-to demographic. Lower incomes and massive loan debt gives them very little buying power compared to other generations. Most of them won't be buying a $27k "entry level" car. I won't be buying a $27k "entry level" car anytime soon.
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