I can relate! I have a nephew that has been through more cars than I can count. One was a MX-3 that went through about 4 trannys before my poor (literally now) brother decided the car had some built in flaw that was ruining the gear boxes. In his mind, it certainly wasn't anything Junior did! That car got sold and Jr. is on his 3rd truck since then. Hasn't done one thing wrong!

I had another scenario like this about a year ago. Kid bought dad's old truck. Dad LOVED his old truck, and told JR to "By God take care of it". Lasted a month or so, and the trans took a dump(only had about 130,000 miles at the time!). They brought it in, and I built it.
Dad & JR pick it up, and off they go. Comes back about two weeks later. Looks almost like the one in my pics above. I explaind to papa what caused the damage, and why we could not warranty "abuse", and he understood completely. His words were, "That little S.O.B!! Ya'll go ahead and fix it. He's gonna pay for it this time, and he'll be walkin to work."
Truck sat there for about two months before JR had cut enough grass to pay for it!!Adams' Apple38842.7266898148

My wife "celebrated" last month her last monthly payement on her stationwagon OPEL. ( used for her business ) .The same week her 21 year son ( from former marriage ) crashed him completely. And no insurance because he had drunk 4 beers....  So she payed 4 years omnium insurance.... to get nothing. Luckely nobody was hurt ( with 4 friends in the car ! ) .

I told him to look for MANY jobs.....

[QUOTE=jgoglick]Well, youth IS wasted on the young. This story only adds to the proof...also demonstrates the bigger problem of a general lack of responsibility for one's own actions.[/QUOTE]

Things are very different today from when we were kids, our parents had different ethics. Have you noticed how many kids go out with the family for dinner and wear their hats at the table, notice how girls under 17 dress ? Unfortunately accepting/teaching responsibility is a major problem with both adults & kids today. I have a nephew who really is a very nice, and well behaved kid, but hasn't a clue about anything. At the age of 17 his mom & dad bought him a new Trans Am. He  went to collage, never was made to work, not even part time ! This kid doesn't know how to change a tire, cut the lawn, clean windows etc. he never cleaned the Trans Am either ! He's now 24, parking cars for the service dept of a car dealer, making minimum wage, and has gotten close to being fired a number of times. He can't check the cars in right, and is slow as molasses, and lazy, even though his dad wakes him every morning he still comes in late. Oh BTW my friend is the service manager ! And to top it all off mom & dad just bought him a brand new Honda Accord (cash) and are happier than pigs in doo doo that he's working !

Kids are a prodigy of there parents as a rule. I was raised on the school of hard knocks. I spent countless hours under the hood & under the drivetrain of big 4wd trucks in my youth. Mostly becuase we trashed them on the weekends and busted our knucles & wallets to repair them back only to do it over again.
Today I see kids on all sides of the spectrum. Each of them seem to need some motivation from home. If they don't get that there's not much incentitive for them to be productive.
I guess what I'm saying is that we need to help tweek today's youths mind in the right direction if possible. Lord knows if my pop hadn't drove his message home into me (mostly through tuff love ) I wouldn't be the man I am today!

I just feel the need to add my tale to the list..

Daughter (17) has a MGB with a manual Trans and decides to take her boyfriend to Ft Worth for a Sunday drive. (We live in North Dallas area)   They arrive back home about 7 PM and I am told that I need to tune up the car because it used a tank of gas during the trip. Total drive about 75 miles or so..  I'm thinking gas leak and on Sunday night I didn't want to be working on the car till midnight..

I get "THE LOOK" from the better half, so out the door to bring the car from the front of the house to the garage..  No smell of gas, No leaks on the pavement..Guess it may need a tune afterall..

Get in the car, starts fine, seems to sound like everything is in the right places, no bangs, rattles, loud noises..Place the car in first gear ..let out the clutch..AND THE D$%* THING WON'T EVEN BUDGE.

The clutch was so burnt that you could shift gears without even pushing the pedal...In the house I go..and asked the most obvioys question  "wHAT DID YOU DO TO THE CAR ???????"

Answer was the usual 'I DON'T KNOW !!!!!' but I need the car fixed for school tomorrow."    Well school is TWO STREETS OVER AND LESS THAN 1/8 MILE,  WALK !!!!!!

So at 11:30PM I had the tranny removed and  the new clutch in place and allmost ready to call it a night..When the "BOSS" asks if the daughters car will be ready for school. or is she supposed to take MY TRUCK ????? 

It's now 2:30AM,  I go to work at 9:00, But allswell as I go in the house, and see everyone sleeping soundly in  their beds, faint smiles on their faces, and not a worry in the world...CAUSE DAD'S ON DUTY AGAIN TONIGHT!!!!!! 

 

 

My daughter is learning to drive, and a requirement is to know how to service the van and learn how a car works. When I tear into something I will explain the parts and what they do. When it was time for an oil change on the van I had my daughter under it. She pulled the drain plug and tried to remove the filter. It was on to tight so I loosened it and then she removed it. I had her check the trans fluid, brake fluid and coolant.

Yes I will buy a $4k to $5k car for her but it is up to her to cover repairs, gas and insurance. I think raising kids today is a little different than it use to be. Many kids lack respect and work ethic. I find it very difficult to try and prepare my kids for the day they will go out on their own. 

Two words.....

 

JOB SECURITY!!!!!

'nuff said.

Alan

When I was a kid, if I couldn't fix it myself, I walked. Dad didn't know which end of a screwdriver to hold.

It's a different world now. Neighbor kid's mom and dad bought him a Jap car for Christmas. I asked him if it was front wheel drive... He hadn't a clue.... How will they survive the real world????

Dave

Many of todays kids are lazy and worthless.

Then there is the flip side.  My oldest got a car from dear old dad for her graduation.  An 85 Lebaron 4 door.   Here was the deal.   She paid the insurance after the first month.  She paid for all the parts and gas.  I did any necessary work.  She lived with us at no cost while in college, until she got married.  As soon as she got out of high school, she worked full time, and went to college full time.  She really needed that car.  She is now a high school english teacher.  Her husband is also a teacher.   Both of their cars are only a few years old, and she is now working on her Masters Degree.

Many of her friends have a similar story.  There are the worthless, but there are reall good kids out there as well.