gooseboy said:
Dad just wants me to drive something gas efficient.. But if im paying for gas whats the big deal?? Its kind of about the image thing to.. I hunt atleast 2-5 times a week, fish all summer long, and wear camo hats.. How the heck am i supposed to hunt, fish, tow a boat, or offroad with like a honda civic or something?
Like i said if the parents buy me something like that great.. Ill drive it.. But im buying a 2000 dollar junker and learning to offroad.. Ive done quite a bit on ATVs but damnit i want a Jeep or somethin!:REAdvRockClimber:
There are a bunch of assumptions here so please accept my apologies if I'm wrong and feel free to ignore everything I say.
I can also relate to your dad and everything he's going through. My oldest is driving a 1997 Mazda Protege that I bought him for $1500 because of exactly your dad's kind of thinking! He likes the Mazda though because he commutes 60 miles a day to college and the Mazda does 35 MPG.
I think its great that your dad is willing to spend hard cash on some wheels for you, even though his idea of the right vehicle is not the same as yours. One thing that's hard for a teenager to grasp is parents have been around since the stone age and we have a lot more experience about most things and most of it is relevant. Not all of it but enough that we can usually do the right thing. But since we don't see the world through your eyes we don't always get the whole picture and that can be frustrating for everybody.
Given you've been asking questions and talking enthusiastically about getting a 4wd, lifting it, adding lockers, going off road, etc, I would bet that your dad doesn't really know what you're talking about and the picture he's formed in his mind is this: A tricked out monster truck with a fiery paint job, massive tires, chrome exhausts and you'll be playing whack-a-mole with everything and everyone you come across.
If I'm wrong and your dad knows everything about 4wds, understands what you're really trying to achieve and knows you and your real needs well then he's probably right. Ask him to explain everything and let it sink in and wait for your time to come. In the mean time you'll still have wheels and that by itself means your folks think you're trustworthy and responsible which is a good thing. You're in the minority so well done!
But if I'm right and if you don't drive far enough to make a car hands down the right vehicle you might still be able to plead your case and agree on a vehicle that is acceptable to everybody. Be appreciative of everything your folks are offering you already. Gather enough evidence that will help your folks see that you're not crazy. Present it in a calm and diplomatic way. You need to come as close to their idea of the right vehicle as you can. And humbly admit defeat if that's what happens!
Since your folks are looking for fuel efficiency you're probably best off with something that gets 20 MPG or close to it. A 4 banger YJ would do that, as would several other small trucks out there.
Do the math and work out how much fuel is going to cost for the distances you're realistically going to drive at 20 MPG and 30 MPG and see what the difference is. Ask your parents how much they think you'll be driving too - they might come up with something you've not considered which you'll need to account for.
Almost everything you add to a vehicle will reduce the gas mileage because of increased weight or drag so you might consider promising to keep your vehicle as stock as possible and not change anything until you can demonstrate you really need to.
If I was your dad I'd be worried about you getting stuck or having an accident alone so think about where you'd go, who you'd go with, what you'd do if something happened, etc. What can you do to make them feel better about a teenage boy driving off into the savage wilderness by himself. Is it as simple as being able to keep in touch by cellphone or CB?
Hunting is obviously a big thing to you and if you can come up with some realistic scenarios for where you can safely go in a truck where you can't go in a car then that can only help.
Finally, if you're getting really desperate, you can cite one more advantage of a Wrangler over almost all other cars out there: You can hose down the interior which will be a lot more pleasant for your mom when you drive her to the grocery store.
Don't worry - everything will work out - even if a 4wd isn't in your immediate future!
Cheers,
Graham
