Daughter Car scenario ???

[beyemvey]

OK, this place has been rather a snooze fest lately, so I thought I would do a toss-up with some potential entertainment value.

As most of you remember, about 4Y ago I bought a 323iT for the girl child's first car. She has been a great student and has earned 66 credit hours as of this semester. She is in the process of declaring a double major which will result in a BS in Mathematics and a BS in Environmental Science. So far her GPA is a 3.4, with no basket weaving and pottery classes... She has already taken Calculus 1&2, Chemistry 1&2, Physics 1&2, Geology 1&2, Petrology, Differential equations, Discrete Math, Programming in Visual Basic, plus the required History, English, Philosophy, etc. She is planning to pursue a Masters & PhD. in Geology.

Well, of course a black station wagon has never been her car of choice, though she has learned to respect the good handling, decent power, and efficiency of the Touring 3 series. She has a clean driving record, and the car is paid for. The 323iT is a very handy car, and we plan to keep it regardless, as a spare, or for runs to the garden center, etc.

My wife and I are contemplating a surprise for her approaching birthday. We are considering either a used Porsche Boxster, BMW Z4, or Mercedes SLK 230. Considerations are... at or under $15K, red w/ black interior, auto tranny.

I'm expecting the usual "spoiled rich girl" comments, but she is at Wesleyan, so she isn't alone ;-P Anyway, her scholarship is saving us $20K annually, and we can do it easily enough provided we find the right car. We're pretty familiar w/ BMW Zs, but would appreciate any info regarding the Boxster & baby Benz, or Porsches & Mercedes in general.

OK, tear me a new one... :)

[DDB]

I got a chuckle out of your claim that her scholarship is "saving" you $20K per year.

I think your idea is a terrible one, and the reasons are so obvious that they aren't even worth mentioning.

[Donkey]

I think the following two comments:

<i>"I'm expecting the usual "spoiled rich girl" comments"</i>, and

<i>"Anyway, her scholarship is saving us $20 annually."</i>

preclude any sort of rational discussion.<br />
<br />
"Sent from my iFag"
<br />
<br />


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[beyemvey]

[beyemvey]

There's a nice little SLK 230 I drove on Saturday. I like the idea that a retractable hard top would prevent somebody slitting the canvas to steal the stereo. Not over-powered, and the 4 banger gets pretty good economy. Driven 99% locally on city streets.

[SheB]

[beyemvey]

[Donkey]

I see two issues at work in your original post.

The first, of course, is pure braggadocio. You describe in mind-numbing detail the classes your daughter has taken, which is meaningful only to those who have taken classes at the same college as your daughter (eg., "Calculus 1" didn't exist at my school, but if I had to guess, I'd assume it was for non-technical majors).

You mention that your daughter is "in the process of declaring a double major" in math (!) and geology (!), and that she's taken no basket weaving classes (hmmm, then WTF do you call "Programming in Visual Basic"?). Finally, you drop on us that she is planning on pursuing advanced degrees in geology.

Then the big kahuna: "I'm expecting the typical spoiled rich girl comments..." You should have said "I hope to get the typical spoiled rich girl comments..." but there's just one problem: we all know what you do for a living. This is reminiscent of when Andy_WY told us "I pay more in taxes than most of you make in a year..."

Then there's the second point, which is really two sub-points:

1. "Why does your daughter need a new car?", and
2. "Why does your daughter need a porsche, BMW, or Mercedes?"

You state yourself that her current car is in good shape ("we plan to keep it regardless, as a spare, or for runs to the garden center, etc."). From the sound of your description, she's a sophomore (?) in college, and pretty much the only thing she's accomplished to date is to maintain a reasonably-good GPA. Which is a great start - but that's all it is: a start. Why not wait until she lands that first job that puts all that education to work?

So I have to ask you a question: what is it that you are REALLY trying to achieve?



<br />
<br />
"Sent from my iFag"
<br />
<br />


<br/><br/><br/>
Bitte nutzen Sie die E-Mail-Verbindung mit uns ausschliesslich zum
Informationsaustausch. Wir koennen auf diesem Wege keine
rechtsgeschaeftlichen Erklaerungen (Auftraege etc.) entgegennehmen.
Der Inhalt dieser Nachricht ist vertraulich und nur fuer den angegebenen
Empfaenger bestimmt. Jede Form der Kenntnisnahme oder Weitergabe
durch Dritte ist unzulaessig. Sollte diese Nachricht nicht fur Sie bestimmt
sein, so bitten wir Sie, sich mit uns per E-Mail oder telefonisch in
Verbindung zu setzen.

[SheB]

.....use good sense and rather use that money as a down payment on a condo or house when she graduates. A car is so transitory, and I would expect her to be grateful that she's even now - at her young age - driving around in a BMW!! I think the Porsche, BMW, Benz thing is more for you, than her. Not so?!?!

[:) evil]

answer

[beyemvey]

RE:1 - Yes, I'm bragging a bit. RE: Programming VB, a CS class is required. Yes, Calc 1 is mostly for BA science majors... calc 2, differential equations, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, number theory, etc. are mostly for BS majors in math and science.

RE:2 - There is no "need" for either a new BMW, Mercedes, or Porsche. We certainly could wait. Another year would make her a senior and turning 21. By then she would have 5 years "penance" driving a SW. On the other hand, why wait? If I plan to do this anyway, why not now? These cars won't take much of a depreciation hit, and they might allow for some fun father/daughter car outings. I'm thinking track days, driving schools and autocross fun. I'm glad my daughter is interested in cars, and I want to encourage her.

She's a really good kid, and sometimes it is just nice to do something unrequited to show appreciation. It isn't like I'm contemplating a brand new car, and she isn't a rookie driver anymore.

So putting aside unvarnished pragmatism for a moment, of the three choices, what do you think of their relative merits?

[beyemvey]