Dad's New Car

Hi here is some background. I’m a junior in HS and got my license a few months ago. My dad is kind of a car hoarder so our family has 10 cars. They aren’t new or anything. Most of them are cars from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. I drive a 2004 Chevy Impala to and from school. Recently, my dad decided to buy an electric car (idk how much), but my mom is making him compensate for that lost money. He is planning to sell all of the cars except for his new electric car and my mom’s van. This includes the cars that my sister and I use. The thing is they are old, clunker cars that won’t sell for much. My mom is also unemployed rn. What should I do?

Take the bus?

Buy a car from your dad.

To me, the “value” of having a clunker that runs and can get teens around is much more than what you will get if you sell it, which if it is truly a clunker, could be less than $1000. A clunker that you know the history, what’s wrong with it and what you’ve fixed…that’s all value. What I’m trying to say is, they are worth way more than what you can sell them for. If anyone changes their mind about you guys having cars, you’re going to spend around $4000 to buy a replacement clunker! (Unless your dad has some inside connection, which sounds like he might).

Do you and your sister have jobs, activities, drive to school, etc? Are your parents going to start doing that for you? I like the idea @Publisher to buy one of your dad’s cars… if you don’t have the money, commit to it…you can make $1000 from a part time and summer job.

My county does not have buses and my school is far from my house. Thank you for your comments and that sounds like a good idea to get a job. My problem is I’ll need a car to get to work.

@apfailsstudent Reading between the lines. it sounds like you are hoping to get feedback here you can use to bolster your appeal to your parents to let you keep the car you’ve been driving. How about a compromise? This situation can work to your advantage if you play your cards right. Your father is a hoarder (of cars), so he would actually like the car to stay. Your mother is sick of this, and also would like to see some money. Let’s say you have reason to believe your 2004 Impala could fetch $1000 on Craigslist. Offer them $100 for it. Borrow the money if you don’t have it. If they say that’s not enough, offer $150, but no more than that. Offer to pay your mother directly in cash. Stick with your argument about needing a car for school and eventually they will give in and sell it to you. Make sure that they actual transfer the title into your name. You will need to pay the minimal bodily injury and property damage insurance. If you ever need the money, resell the car on Craigslist yourself and pocket the difference.

As a parent, when my teens got part time jobs, it eased up on the financial situation a tiny bit…they were using their own spending money for outings and stuff…so maybe that could help you talk to your mom. Also…as someone whose teen’s clunker just was unfortunately totaled…it’s a pain driving kids to and from school, work, etc when you, and they, have been used to driving themselves. I know your mom is unemployed right now so she may have time, but if she is job searching, how will you guys get home from school if she gets a job and sells the cars?

How did you get to/from school before you got your license?

@momtogirls2 @TS0104 thanks for your insights! I will try to get a job as soon as possible. I was thinking of getting one during summer when I’m more freed up, but I’m looking for one now. My mom is actually not going back to work for reasons that aren’t relevant to this question, but she is not home/accessible to drive me either. She wants the cars gone because of costs for insurance, maintenance, and the fact that the neighbors complain about us covering the whole street with our cars. My dad just said that he will be selling the cars that my sister and I use, but keeping his “vintage sports cars” that are stick-shift and only seat 2 people so it is not practical for us to use. We are a middle class family, but not rich that my dad can afford to own that many cars. Before I got my license, my older sister drove me to school, but now she is in college. Before that, I was in middle school and that was a mile from my house and I didn’t have activities to go to @ night.

If this is a fight between your parents, you can’t get in the middle. All the more reason to come up with a way to buy it and insure it (on their policy, but you offer to pay.) Problem is, if you’re male, your rates can be exorbitant.

Can you get your mom to agree your car isn’t one that has to go? (After all, she made the demand. Maybe she can amend it.) Without getting in the middle. Does sound like he’s a bit spiteful about leaving you in the lurch.

Any neighbors you could ride with, if it comes to that?

This is story is getting more interesting. Your father sounds like a middle class “Cameron’s dad” from Ferris Bueller.

Of course, two-seater sports cars work great for personal transportation. (And they are also fun to drive.) So it seems like the only issue is either that your father doesn’t want these cars driven, even though you call them “clunkers”, or else you don’t want to learn to use a stick shift, even though you say you have no other transportation options.

Sounds like you and your sister are caught in the crossfires of a feud between your parents.

They may not be thinking clearly or taking you and your sister’s transportation needs into account.

Your dad may be so fixated on his next Purchase that he is saying rashly that he will sell all the other cars. You know him best–will he really sell your car and leave you walking a mile to school everyday?

And would your mom step up and give you rides? Is she in agreement with your dad about selling cars?

Is your dad a hoarder by nature, and has he ever gotten rid of things before? He may be too attached emotionally and not able to let go.

If this decision did not impact you, I might suggest you stay out of their fight. But it does, so you have to speak up.

Choose a calm moment and start by asking questions. “Have you considered my need to get to school?” “Will you or mom be able to drive me to school?” Hysteria will not be productive, but have neatly they both may be too emotional to have thought this through.

If there IS an issue with feuding, OP may need to get a bicycle. Not risk a parent not getting him/her to school on time.

How do other kids in your area get to/from high school? Can you pay to carpool? Why isn’t a two seater not practical for 1 person to get to/from school providing your father teaches you how to use stick shift? How far is the school and how are the roads - are bikes/scooters an option or is it highway driving etc?

I agree with talking to your parents calmly. Ask them if they have thought about arrangements for you to get to/from school without the car.

Make it your parent’s problem:

“Mom, I understand that you want Dad to do something about all these cars he has if he buys a new one…but does that include selling the one I/Sister use to get to school? (if yes) How will Sis and I get to school and go to our activities? (if the answer is walk) Is it possible that I and sis start to pay off the cars and buy them?”

I believe Sis is away at college.

@damon30 The fight just keeps on continuing. He WANTS to keep his sports cars, but my mom said he has to sell them. I’m not lying about it. Also, my dad refuses to let us drive his sports cars because they are his prized possessions and he is afraid of us destroying them. He won’t teach me because 1.) I’m a fairly new driver 2.) He doesn’t want people to use his car

@apfailsstudent Wow, so your father really is a “Cameron’s dad”. Are any of his toys vintage Ferraris? I understand the advice from some that this is a fight between your parents that you should stay out of, but I still see opportunity. (Especially if he really does own a Ferrari 250GT California.) You aren’t saying that you don’t want to learn how to drive a stick shift, so I’m going to assume that that’s not an issue. Maybe you don’t want to wreck it, but then at least one of your parents will be happy, right? I say live your teenage life, just like in the movie, and don’t worry about consequences. Tell your dad that if he lets you drive the Ferrari 250GT California to school, you will convince your mom to let him keep it. Don’t tell him how, just that you will do it. When you talk to her, tell her that if she lets you keep one of the cars to drive to school, you will convince your dad to get rid of the rest with no argument. Once she agrees, enjoy your father/daughter bonding moments while he nervously teaches you how to drive a stick. All your friends will be super jealous. B-)

When you ask your parents, “How am I going to get to and from school as well as to evening/weekend activities?” How do they respond?

I too was thinking of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off!” Great movie.

Your public school should have buses. How do all the other students get to school?