Out with the Old; In with the New

Amber Elliott, staff writer

Ever wonder what it would be like to roll up in a brand new 2016 car in a high school parking lot? Or just owning a brand new car in general while only 17 or 18 years old?
Everyone knows that having a brand new car would be very cool, especially when you are still in high school. Not many teens get the privilege of driving or owning a brand new car because most parents supply the first vehicle. Parents know the high risk of their teen wrecking their first car.
In 2013, young teens ages 15-19, accounted for 11% of total cost of motor vehicle damage. Most parents start their teen out with an older, beat up vehicle because of statistics like these. Why dish out a whole bunch of money on a new car just to have it end up in the scrap heap?
Luckily some teens who are responsible can purchase their own car, but it might cost a pretty penny, especially for a 2016 with less than 10,000 miles on it.
As a new owner of a 2016 Ford Focus, I can tell you it takes a lot of responsibility to go out on a limb and purchase a brand new car.
It’s not cheap. I have work a lot to save money and make sure I am on time with the payments because it is building my credit. I don’t want to start off life with bad credit. I normally make my payments 2 days ahead of the due date and I always pay the full amount. Every month I have to make sure there is $406.69 in my account so I can make my monthly payment.
It is an awesome feeling to go around and tell people who ask what I drive. It’s kind of funny to see their reactions. I’ve had several people tell me that it must be nice to drive a car like that at my age.
And let me tell you…it is very nice to drive a car like that. I work hard for my money so why not have a nice car to treat myself?
I’ve also had people assume that I rely on mommy and daddy to make my payments. I can tell you that that’s not the case. I work hard every day and make my payments on my own as a responsible teen entering the adult world. My parents do not have the funds to make my car payments for me so if this is what I want, it is up to no one but me.
They purchased my first vehicle when I was a freshman. I can tell you it wasn’t the best looking vehicle. It was a 1999 Ford F-150 that had rust and dents but I was forever thankful to them for getting it for me. But after three years of owning a truck, I was ready for a new vehicle. But this time I was on my own.
So if you’re thinking about buying a brand new car, be sure you are truly ready. Owning a new car is great fun, but comes with great responsibility.