Foo - I love my niece.......but

I just purchased a new car, and decided to give my niece a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis in mint condition. She said she hated the color and wanted a black car. :notamused:

When I was sixteen I would have been thrilled to get any car for free. I drove a 10 year old Chevette with no floor boards.

Is it me or do kids today expect their every wish and desire to be fulfilled.

So... don't give it to her. Sell it and use the funds for a vacation. She needs to be taught a lesson; apparently the hard way.

So... don't give it to her. Sell it and use the funds for a vacation. She needs to be taught a lesson; apparently the hard way.

+1. I had to purchase my first car - a rusty '56VW. My parents did buy my second car ($300 Triumph Herald saloon) when the VW failed a roadworthyness test as they felt slightly guilty about encouraging me to buy the beetle.

I would have been over the moon to have been given a 10 year old car. Heck my parents would have been over the moon to have a 10 year old car at the time.

...and convince her parents to cancel her cell phone & cable, and not pay for her college ed. Definitely time for a reality check. Does she even have a job with which to buy gas?

Had to rebuild the motor in my first truck(a free, behind the barn special), just to get it running. Saved for my second car, where my parents matched me dollar for dollar in an effort to encourage me to get something they considered safe. They , correctly, feared that to do otherwise would have resulted in me purchasing a peace of crap sports car.

I agree with the others, if she isn't happy with it, sell it and do something for yourself with the money. Or, use the cash to purchase her a new bicycle that she can use while she saves for a car of her choosing.

Nah, don't sell it. Adopt me instead.:innocent:

I had a '95 Crown Vic. Didn't get the best gas mileage, but the ride was smooooth. Traded it in for my wife's '05 Hyundai Elantra.

Or you can buy her a pair of Nike's and hand her the schedule to the local transit service.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81GUFJ_eo90

So... don't give it to her. Sell it and use the funds for a vacation. She needs to be taught a lesson; apparently the hard way.
I agree, but let me fix it a bit, sell the car, buy her a black Walmart bike, then go on vaca. :thumb:

She needs to be taught a lesson; apparently the hard way.
No she doesn't. If she doesn't want a free car, good for her. Too bad she hurt your feelings.

Get over it.

a 2002 car is practically brand-new!

From another perspective.... If my memory serves me correctly that's a pretty big sedan, that probably gets awful gas mileage. If I were in her shoes, I would say something to the effect of, "Thanks for the offer, but I do not think I could afford to keep that car on the road. Would it be okay with you if we sold it and used the money to buy something smaller and cheaper to maintain?"

But at the very least, she should be extremely gratefulyou're willing to GIVE her a car.

No she doesn't. If she doesn't want a free car, good for her. Too bad she hurt your feelings.

Get over it.

Feelings hurt? No

She wants the car if it was black. It doesn't have an ugly color it is a silver metalic blue

Plus surprisingly the car does get pretty decent gas mileage.

Feelings hurt? No

She wants the car if it was black. It doesn't have an ugly color it is a silver metalic blue

Plus surprisingly the car does get pretty decent gas mileage.

+1 to sell it instead. You want to give her a car and she's complaining about the color? That's pretty sad.

Since you were willing to give it to your niece, why don't you give it to a charity? When your niece asks what happened to the car you can say you gave it to someone that wanted it. You can claim a tax deduction too.

So... don't give it to her. Sell it and use the funds for a vacation. She needs to be taught a lesson; apparently the hard way.


Since you were willing to give it to your niece, why don't you give it to a charity? When your niece asks what happened to the car you can say you gave it to someone that wanted it. You can claim a tax deduction too.

++

i'm 19, the car i own was given to me by my mom a year ago. 2005 hyundai elantra, white. it's SO reliable, and it's pretty, and what, it gets me from point a to point b (assuming point a is more than forty miles from point b and too far for a bike commute where i don't need to sweat :D). it was a "i'm done paying it, i want a new car, do you want this one sweetie?" i was like :twitchy: YES.

seriously, that's so mean of her. do the charity thing.

Since you were willing to give it to your niece, why don't you give it to a charity? When your niece asks what happened to the car you can say you gave it to someone that wanted it. You can claim a tax deduction too.

NOT! I've seen many, many, "donated" cars end up in the hands of shady used car dealers who got them for a song! Do your homework before you donate! and doing your homework doesn't mean asking them, or checking out their website, it means really dig before you donate anything! In Vietnam (and many other wars) 80% of the RedCross donations end up being sold in street markets! :mad:

No she doesn't. If she doesn't want a free car, good for her. Too bad she hurt your feelings.

Get over it.

You obviously didn't read the OP, she's just a snooty teenager is all, I'd get it painted black then take her to watch it get crushed at the local scrap yard! :D

NOT! I've seen many, many, "donated" cars end up in the hands of shady used car dealers who got them for a song! Do your homework before you donate! and doing your homework doesn't mean asking them, or checking out their website, it means really dig before you donate anything! In Vietnam (and many other wars) 80% of the RedCross donations end up being sold in street markets! :mad:

Talk to friends about legit org's to donate to. Here near Green Bay, Bart Starr has represented the Rawhide Boys Ranch for the last few decades. There should be something similar & respectable nearby.
http://www.rawhide.org/home/donate/donateit.aspx

Wow if she actually said that to you, you shouldn't ever get her anything.

Man. Kids today are soo ungrateful! I agree, give her the bus schedule.

The response is even more sickening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWkQeX_RN9Q&feature=related

I want to beat her with a Gucci bat.

You obviously didn't read the OP, she's just a snooty teenager is all, I'd get it painted black then take her to watch it get crushed at the local scrap yard! :DPerhaps I was in a snippy mood and a bit harsh with my reply, but I stand by the gist of my message. If a teenager doesn't want a free car, good for her. Sure she said she didn't like the colour, in which case she obviously isn't desperate to have a car. Why does every teenager have to have a car? Why does the OP assume she wants one? Why does everyone infer that by refusing it she somehow embodies all the imputed evils all the old people like to rant about where kids are concerned? "Kids nowadays! Why when I was their age...!"

Perhaps I was in a snippy mood and a bit harsh with my reply, but I stand by the gist of my message. If a teenager doesn't want a free car, good for her. Sure she said she didn't like the colour, in which case she obviously isn't desperate to have a car. Why does every teenager have to have a car? Why does the OP assume she wants one? Why does everyone infer that by refusing it she somehow embodies all the imputed evils all the old people like to rant about where kids are concerned? "Kids nowadays! Why when I was their age...!"


1. She does want a car, but she wants a car more suitable to her liking

2 Why do I assume she wants a car............. Well I am only her uncle and have been around her, her whole life.

3.She lives in a suburban sprawl area of Metro Detroit. You pretty much need a car to get anywhere.

4. It would help out my sister, who happens to work fulltime, and is paying the gross national product of a third world country for her two oldest children to attend college.

5. Thanks for playing idiots....oops devil's advocate.

I'd just say 'suit yourself' and drop the subject.

1. She does want a car, but she wants a car more suitable to her likingThat's fine, she's on her own.


3.She lives in a suburban sprawl area of Metro Detroit. You pretty much need a car to get anywhere. She seems to be managing without it so far.


4. It would help out my sister, who happens to work fulltime, and is paying the gross national product of a third world country for her two oldest children to attend college.So give the car to your sister.

That's fine, she's on her own.

She seems to be managing without it so far.

So give the car to your sister.

Wow, you are clueless.

Wow, you are clueless.Seems to me if you choose to complain about your relatives on an internet discussion forum, you are inviting comments, both positive and negative. And until we hear your niece's perspective in her own words, someone has to take a contrary position to all the old people ranting about the no-good kids.

She sounds like a stupid brat and I wouldn't give her the car. I would also concider setting her on fire as well. **** every couch she has in her house too.

Couch

Seems to me if you choose to complain about your relatives on an internet discussion forum, you are inviting comments, both positive and negative. And until we hear your niece's perspective in her own words, someone has to take a contrary position to all the old people ranting about the no-good kids.

Another no-good kid? ;)

I'd also like to hear the neice's POV, but only for comic value. The uncle is giving her a car and she doesn't like the color? Classic example of looking a gift horse in the mouth.

DING! DING!

During this intermission, I'll attempt a brief recap. The OP offered to give a car to a family member.The car is in good shape, but family member refused because it wasn't the right color.

The OP is in a unique position to help out his family in these troubling economic times. The niece has two older (?) siblings in college. Money would be tight for anyone having to put two kids through college at the same time.

@OP- Is your sister aware of the offer? As a parent who has a 16 yr old, if someone close to the family wanted to 'gift' a vehicle in good shape to us, I'd take it. If it didn't meet the kid's fashion sense, oh well.

*Rings the bell*

Seems to me if you choose to complain about your relatives on an internet discussion forum, you are inviting comments, both positive and negative. And until we hear your niece's perspective in her own words, someone has to take a contrary position to all the old people ranting about the no-good kids.

+ 1

If she wants it to be a different colour, tell her to get it repainted....with her own money, of course. Everybody Happy.

Classic example of looking a gift horse in the mouth.If someone offers you a gift you don't want, they are not doing you a favour, even though they can get a bunch of anonymous internet posters to tell them they are.

If someone offers you a gift you don't want, they are not doing you a favour, even though they can get a bunch of anonymous internet posters to tell them they are.

Ummm...as far as I understand, the neice does want a car (horse), it's just an appaloosa rather than a bay. You don't feel that is being overly picky? Is the right color so important that you'd rather have nothing? A horse is a horse, of course of course.

Is the right color so important that you'd rather have nothing?
As far as I understand it, she did not ask the OP to give her a black car instead, so yes.

As far as I understand it, she did not ask the OP to give her a black car instead, so yes.

If that is indeed true...she's an idiot, which is all anyone has implied.

If that is indeed true...she's an idiot, which is all anyone has implied.

Do you honestly believe that every American teenager wants, needs and can afford to maintain their own car? Perhaps she knows what she wants and needs better than her uncle does.

:popcorn

Wow, I'm coming to the pile on party late but I have to go with the majority, the young lady is clueless and arrogant. At least she appears that way.

But, the op must care for her as he offered her a car and family considerations are different for every family. I hope he/they can stay friends. Really.

Suggestion, offer to give/buy her a black bike.

:)

Steven

Do you honestly believe that every American teenager wants, needs and can afford to maintain their own car? Perhaps she knows what she wants and needs better than her uncle does.

Oh, I've no doubts she has some firm opinions on what she wants and needs. It's a good thing too since she'll likely be doing that all on her lonesome, but not accepting a car that doesn't quite fit the bill, yet still has value is like not accepting $2000 because the check isn't the right color. Unc never said she couldn't sell it to buy what she wants, she just whined that it wasn't her dream car.

I always hope OPs will post an update on threads like this 6 months or so down the line. We would find out if she caved, or if she got her black car in the end, or if she made do without, etc.

Not everyone has an ungrateful niece to shower with gifts. My suggestion is to stop being so ungrateful about the situation and buy her a black car already.

:D

Not everyone has an ungrateful niece to shower with gifts. My suggestion is to stop being so ungrateful about the situation and buy her a black car already.

:D

Good point.

I will gladly be an ungrateful distant relation in exchange for a car...of any color.

My first car didn't have floorboards either, it was new enough the floor was made of metal :)

If someone offers you a gift you don't want, they are not doing you a favour, even though they can get a bunch of anonymous internet posters to tell them they are.

Damn, I hope you give your patients better advice and that you have a deeper understanding of basic norms. Teenagers in the US (and, I would suspect Canada) generally want their own car as soon as they get a license. It's a rite of passage as well as an essential element of personal freedom from parents.

If someone offers you a gift, they are doing you a favor, period. Whether you want it or not doesn't really play into the equation. If you don't want it, you POLITELY decline the favor and move on, which I'm sure the OP would have accepted - if surprisingly - at face value. But to say no, I want a black car is pure brattiness. That kid somehow has developed a supersized sense of entitlement, like the OP would either get the car painted or run out and get her a black one to her liking, rather than just withdraw the offer.

Hopefully she'll learn a bit of humility if (hopefully!) he withdraws the offer and she gets nothing.

Damn, I hope you give your patients better advice and that you have a deeper understanding of basic norms.

No, I'm actually quite ignorant of all things human.

Seriously, teenagers are teenagers - they don't act like adults. The ones today aren't much different than ever, nor are the adults for that matter, who always find some excuse to bash them.


If you don't want it, you POLITELY decline the favor and move on,
Is it polite to start an internet thread mocking your niece? Oh, yeah, she's a teenager so she's fair game. Pile on.

I would've been happy to get a 2002 Grand Marquis. It has spacious room for plenty of your bodies and lot's of horsepower to help you get away! :)

Is it polite to start an internet thread mocking your niece? Oh, yeah, she's a teenager so she's fair game. Pile on.

It's an anonymous (relatively) way to vent frustration. He just explained the frustrating situation, we're the ones that are mocking his anonymous niece.

I vented about my cousin frequently here, should I not have?

It's an anonymous (relatively) way to vent frustration. He just explained the frustrating situation, we're the ones that are mocking his anonymous niece.

I vented about my cousin frequently here, should I not have?
I have no problem with the OP or you, or me for that matter, ranting about something or somebody; but we should be prepared that not everybody who responds is automatically going to see it our way. And we may not even see it our way, if someone give us a different perspective.

No, I'm actually quite ignorant of all things human.

Seriously, teenagers are teenagers - they don't act like adults. The ones today aren't much different than ever, nor are the adults for that matter, who always find some excuse to bash them.


Is it polite to start an internet thread mocking your niece? Oh, yeah, she's a teenager so she's fair game. Pile on.

How many teenagers do you have?

I have three. :twitchy:

One left. The others are in their 20s.

I have 2, ones 25 the other 21 (she's still at home) we gave the older one a newer Chevy Cavalier when she was around 19, she loved it but never ever used it, we gave our younger daughter a newer VW Beetle when she was 18, she loved it but never ever used it. Till this day they refuse to drive, not 'cause they're little snot noosed spoiled brats, but just because they don't want to, I say good for them! :)