https://www.wsj.com/articles/driving-the-kids-are-so-over-it-11555732810?mod=trending_now_3

When did you get your license? I didn't get mine until I was 17 in '06. First car was a '90 Oldsmobile Delta 88 that was a old woman's grocery/pharmacy/church hauler. Parents bought it for me for a grand. Eventually shared the car with my brother once he turned 17.

Had that for 3-4 years until the rust monster ate the front strut housing causing the front strut to shoot up through the hood

Then bought a used 10 year-old '01 Acura TL and drove that for 5 years before the transmission crapped out.

First "new" car was a CPO '13 Kia Optima Turbo. Engine blew up in that bad boy 2 years into ownership. Luckily engine was under a recall so replacement was free. Kept getting additional recall notices for other shit so ended up trading it in this Feb.

Rolling with a '19 4Runner TRD. Totally impractical for living in the city with just the wife and dog. But I fucking love this truck.

I can't imagine not having a car. I'm a big time road trip guy. AZ, Yellowstone, Toronto, Montreal, North Carolina, Vermont, UP, etc. Parents were big on road trips and it carried over to myself.

Sucks for a lot of kids that insurance rates are so damn high. Especially in the city. So Uber steps right in.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

My son is getting his license the day (morning) he turns 16. If I'm lucky, I'll get a new car and he can have mine. Too soon to start a count down but I cannot freaking wait. He can drive himself to hockey and his sister to dance. I'll be free again, free-er than I have been for 16 years!

My dad got my first piece of crap car for about a grand at 16. I didn't take it to school because no one thought it could be driven at highway speed for an extended time. Bought my first new car a little over two years later. Saved 85% of my salary for three months and got a job the second week of school to help cover the costs.

I really have never been a car guy, As I get older, I care less and less. I don't bother haggling, just do the research, lock down the price and move on. It always helped that I preferred to drive a stick shift. The look of disappointment on sales guy's faces when they realize they can't push for more cash is always satisfying.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Got my license at 18. I was a year younger than the rest of my class, so I couldn't take driver's ed sophomore year, and it didn't feel pressing because I lived a few blocks from my high school and lived in a small town, anyway -- if I had to go out of city limits, someone could drive me. Once it was junior year, I had trouble finding a time to take it because the choices were from 3 to 4:30 in the afternoon, which I couldn't do because of extracurriculars, or 6 to 7:30 in the morning, which I wouldn't do because that would be too many hours of my day spent at my miserable high school. So I had to wait until the summer between junior/senior to get it out of the way. I then failed my first road test for an illegal turn the likes of which I'd been watching my dad make my entire life and got discouraged for a while. Then I failed a second road test, scheduled in Madison of all places, because there was a crack in my windshield. Finally passed with flying colors the third time, albeit two years later, and to this day I still avoid driving. I get stressed and grip the wheel too tight and then I get hand cramps.

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My youngest didn't bother until he'd already turned 18. He either got dropped off, or could catch a bus/train anywhere he needed & didn't have a gf until then. Plus 95% of what he did was at or really near school. I think the gf and his older brother finally pointing out that my car often sits at home unused motivated him.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Kids just sit at home these days and play Fortnite and eat Tide Pods and wait for the newest bad Star Wars movie so they can cosplay a person who actually does stuff.

/old man rant

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Got my license right at 16. My kids at various times between 16-18 for all different reasons. Not sure how all states effect the studies but PA has some weird laws regarding young drivers.

The biggest impactful one is if you are born 2000 or later no license until 18. Then if you did get one for the kids eligible there are a bunch of restrictions until 18. Like no driving after 11pm and except adults only one other passenger.

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Elections have consequences.

Do your kids have to blow into the device attached to the steering wheel too? Or just you?

swing and a long one to right

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None of the above.

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Elections have consequences.

I got used to my sons spending weekends at their friends' homes or their friends staying the same amount of time at my home. And then a car was only needed for a trip to The Jewel's to reload the freezer & for more snacks.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

sales are down due to Craigslist charging to run car ads now

I got my license the summer I turned 17. I don't remember if I was still 16 or not when I actually got the license, but the one stipulation from my parents was that I had to pay for my own car insurance. Like Spaulding said, I had to do some errands and lug my sister and some of her softball friends around from time to time each week, but I also got to take one of my parents cars out on the weekend pretty much whenever I wanted. I had a part time job at Rosario's on Pulaski so I was able to cover the extra $100 or so a month it was for me to be on their car insurance.

The first car I bought was either late '99 or early '00. It was a used piece of shit Mercury Cougar that ended up having a ton of shit wrong with it. Luckily, it got totaled about 5 months after I bought it. The second car I had was a 1998 Contour that I bought right before the 9-11 attacks. It was about five grand and had 30K miles on it. No bells, no whistles. Manual locks and windows you had to crank down. That car lasted thru MANY road trips, two winters in Montana, and finally met its maker with about 140K miles on it in 2012 when the transmission gave out.

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My older son turned 16 in July and get his license that September...had to wait out the 9 months of permit. He was very very very excited to drive and like Spaulding, I was very happy to use that as an excuse to but myself a new car. Having him drive himself to Hockey practice and do sibling pick up IS THAT FUCKING AWESOME. You will not be disappointed.

My youngest in drivers ed now, so once again...I am salivating at the benefit of him driving himself to places

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Got my license the day I turned 16. Went directly to Hillside after a 3 a day football practice stinkin' like only a sweaty high school kid can. I think it made it the road test go faster as it was hot a day and the guy wanted the windows open the whole time instead of the A/C. Wasn't a great driving performance but good enough. Celebrated by driving the girlfriend to the North Riverside Mall that night and we walked around like boring high schoolers.

I got mine on my 16th birthday. The only thing of interest I recall is that we are cruising 35mph down the street and he yells, "pull over!" so I immediately pull over to the side. Then he tells me I failed to use my turn signal.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

We may have had the same guy. Only difference is that he dinged me for failing to use the turn signal pulling away from the curb on an otherwise empty street.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Is "dinged" what they called finger in the butt hole back in the 1970s?

Girl who works for us has a son who is 17 or 18 and has zero interest in getting his license. And we're not talking about living in Chicago where there is plenty of public transportation. She lives in Genoa for crying out loud. Doesn't make any sense to me.

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Well, I mean everything is within walking distance.

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In places like that, anywhere you need to go is either easy to get to or it isn't. I came to terms with it. If I had stayed in Arlington Heights for high school, I probably would have had a greater sense of urgency about driving, but then again, I would have lived down the street from that high school, too.

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Did drivers ed the summer I turned 15 and proceeded to loose my wallet with permit in it before school started. My mom was a stickler and wouldn’t let me practice without it and eventually, after I turned 16, called the teacher and asked him what we should do. He said let him go fail the test and they’ll give him a new one. I passed. No dings. Zero practice time besides with teacher. I don’t know how but my mom freaked out and told me I wasn’t driving anywhere. A week later I’m driving to school because she doesn’t want to deal with the bus. First car was the family Chevy celebrity Eurosport station wagon. It was a beater even though it wasn’t old.

Daughter turned 16 recentyj. Being lazy about her hours.

Pretty sure your mom threw your wallet in the manure pit.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

My dad wouldn't let me get my license until I turned 17 because, as he put it, "where do you have to go anyway?"

I had the obligatory failure at Elston since I didn't pay the guy off, then the second time I knew the trick to get me to fail and slowed way down before the signal at NW Highway, and that guy gave up and passed me.

I drove my parents' car: a 1977 Buick Electra in pimp style: white paint, with while landau roof and a white leather interior. It sat seven comfortably, and for years I had a habit of driving on the left side of whatever lane I was in because the Electra was so fucking wide.

The first car I owned was a few years later when my mom had some bad disc issues in her back and had to unload her 1982 Century at 3 years old. It was a piece of total shit, a repair nightmare with a short in the fan system that the dealers wouldn't acknowledge. It would overheat in any kind of stop and go traffic, including famously one Christmas week on Michigan Avenue in -4 weather.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Sweet car, Chet.

Also glad you're not switching the avatar.

I started driving when I was 13.

I got my license when i was 17.

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How fast could you get that Model T up to?

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Daughter has her permit right now. I already told her I will take you and pick you up from anywhere you want.

With a tailwind, 23mph!


Chet loved his car because it had that big backseat.

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