Kre

First of all, never look a gift horse in the mouth!!LOL!!

Your mom probably was thinking about the reliability of a new car versus a used one. It takes a lot of money to keep up an older car sometimes. You buy another person's problems when buying used.

The insurance would be high anyway even if you had an older used car that did not require collision insurance.

When our kids were home we could not afford to have a new car for ourselves because the insurance company assumes that kids will also drive parents car and they stick a high price for collision on parents car. Only way to not have the high collision cost on parent's car would be for them to sign a form stating that kids would never drive the car and they would have to never let their kids drive it. So, since insurance will be high anyway, might as well have a good car for kids to drive.

We have 5 grown children and not one of them chose the car they would be driving. We bought cars and they could use them or not. We bought what we wanted/could afford for them to drive. We bought wheels and it would be up to them to buy real cars when they were on their own.

When young people are able to pay for a car for themselves and keep it up, then, they will have the privilege of buying what they want/can afford.

Be thankful you were not given an old clunker with dents in it to drive around. Many kids would love to have a car like the one your mother bought for you.

You will appreciate your mother's endeavors when you are a mother and have children. Yes, I am sure you have heard that before, but it is true. My grown son (35) told me recently he appreciates me more and more. He has an 18 year old son, 2 year old girl and 8 month old boy.

Please drive the new car with pride and take very good care of it. Drive safely so you do not acquire a bad driving record and insurance companies will not insure you.

The new car will serve you well as you start out in life in college or out in the work force.