I don't consider myself old (29) but allow me to have a "grumpy old man" moment...

Driving to work this morning there were tons of kids driving from one highschool to the other with big flags on their trucks (guessing they play each other tonight) so obviously these were 18 or younger kids.

Probably 200+ trucks and I seriously doubt more than 4 or 5 were less than $30,000 trucks. I mean nearly every single one was an almost new Z71, King Ranch F150/250, Silverado HD, Tundra, etc.

Even going to a private school I don't remember hardly anyone having such expensive cars. What possesses someone to hand a 16 or 17 yr old a brand new $40k pickup truck?

People are dumb.

Kids these days work hard from an early age, they all saved up and bought them I am sure.

Same way at our local high school. Drive by there and it looks like a new car lot. Most driving nicer vehicles than their parents.

And everyone of them get ragged out to hell and back!

Care to guess what percentage were either covered in mud, had no mufflers, or both?

I dont know why but the same stupidity abounds here as well. I believe its one of the reasons Josh had such a problem with Drew when we were trying to find him a truck. It HAD to be a 4wd. He has no use for it and could be driving a much newer 2wd Josh found but turned it down for a 4x4. And has done nothing but work on the POS since he bought it.


I live 2 miles from Baker HS were I graduated and drive through there often seeing kids that look barely old enough to drive driving BIG HD's, power strokes, yukons, etc... And most of these trucks are not only 30-40K vehicles, they also have 10K worth of lift/wheels/tires on them.

Wish I had their allowance when I was that age....

I wish I had their allowance at my age.

Tru dat!!

I just wish I had gotten an allowance..

Wish I woulda had an allowance period.

I had a nice truck in high school, but not 30k nice. It was a 98 f-150 4x4 with a big brush guard and flowmaster exhaust. BUT, I took care of it. Kept it washed, serviced, etc. I had it stuck twice in all the years i had it, and that was hunting, not mud ridding.

I graduated in 02.

If my son ever has friends like that he is going to be extremely disappointed when he compares whatever vehicle he ends up with to theirs.

That is the norm around here as well. Every boy in high school either has a nice truck or a jeep. If the truck is older, it is lifted and has rims and big mud tires on it.

That's what my son keeps telling me about the truck he wants when he can drive. Gotta add on all the lifts and rims and lord knows what else cause a factory ride would be an embarrassment. It's gotta be "sick and tricked" he tells me.

Our son has friends with the "sick and tricked" trucks. He thought and still thinks they're cool, as 16-yo boys will think.

We were talking one day about their expenses -- thousands just for rims, not including tires ... how much one tank of gas costs ... the cost of roll bars, bumpers and fog lights they NEVER will use -- and when the numbers started adding up he didn't think they were as cool.

A former friend of one of our daughters drove, and still drives, a new BMW SUV and got it when she was 16.

My kids are going to be sorely disappointed.

I started with an '88 Toyota 4x4. Wish I still had it. For my highschool graduation in 03 my parents bought me a 98 F150 4x4 (wanted me to have something reliable to drive back and forth from Memphis to Tuscaloosa). That was 11 yrs ago and I still drive it today.

One thing is for sure though, he had to pay every single dime for that POS and the repairs.

My 16yo is not in that group I guess. He is in my ole 97 F150 with over 200K. He does take care of it though, he changes the oil and keeps it clean. When he goes off to college I will get him something nicer but it won't be high dollar!

I just cuss them under my breath and go to work.....

This is also the reason that 3/4 ton trucks are outrageously priced. I'd like to upgade to a 3/4 ton but I'm not paying those prices even for MY truck.

That's another thing... truck prices are asinine. When I got my 98 f150 in 03, it was loaded (except leather) and had 80k miles on it. It was $12,500.

Go find an 09 F150 4x4 today with 80k on the clock and you're looking g at mid-20's.....

The problem lies in the parents wanting all the other parents to think they have it "going on" and are probably more in debt than everyone else around. Parents want to think they have a great kid and they deserve to drive something nice. There is not (1) 16 y/o that deserves to be driving something that nice, and I tell these parents that too, because I have been to more accidents involving nice vehicles with 16 y/o behind the wheel. All 3 of my boys received a vehicle that I paid cash for when they turned 16, and that cash amounted to 2500.00 for each one.

Like Clem mentioned lay down the $$ on paper where he can understand what it costs. These I see running around are not done cheaply or even moderately cheap. I know trucks, lifts, tires, etc... pretty well and have since i was driving age...they have spent some major loot on these suckers. I cant afford to do it now (and wouldnt) if I could, I dont know how these parent afford all this crap.

My first vehicle in high school was my mom's '88 s-10 blazer...it was well taken care of and a really nice vehicle... I never once asked for anything different because I knew the answer.

Let me clarify. That was toward the middle to last part of my junior year. I bought all the add one with my money. I started out with an 89 Chevy. It was gold and red with a busted fender and the driver side window didnt roll down and the speakers popped. But it had a 454 .


I kept the Ford till a couple years ago and traded it on a Dodge with a Cummins. He wanted my truck and he gave me a killer deal on his.

My son wanted to be in that group. It's a disappointment that these parents throw that kinda of $ out. Most these kids probably don't do crap at home (chores, job, etc) to earn it.

I bought Kaleb a 95 Z71 stepside last year from Megacott. Kaleb was 14 at he time. I've done some things to it that needed to be done. I've been very pleased, it's a nice old stepside. I will agree to do somethings to it. I used to hear all the time about this kid has this, this kid has that. I reinforced be thankful for what you have that some kids don't have anything at all.

He has busted his butt all summer mowing grass. He knows he's going to have to pitch in on wheels and such. Knows I'm not going to just spend, spend & spend. He knows what the word EARN means. I busted my tail when I was his age to get or help get what I wanted/needed. My parents could have funded anything I wanted but I'm glad they beat that in my head that everything in life isn't handed to you.

I am all for people buying what they want and can afford. But I have a hard time believing most of the people buying their kids these brand new tricked out trucks can really afford them. Much less the 10 mpg it takes to keep them on the road, or ridiculous priced insurance.

I saw on FB a while back where some folks bought their son a fairly new 4 door, fully loaded duramax 4x4, and then were griping about how much the insurance was for a 16 year old kid to drive it.

There was a kid here in a souped up newer Chevy/GMC 2500HD diesel that pulled into the gas station one day to get gas. He pulled up to the pump, and proceeded to fill it up with gasoline. His buddy came up and asked him why he was putting gas in it since it was a diesel. Kid starting cussing and jumped on the phone to call daddy (he called him on speakerphone so I heard the whole conversation). Undoubtedly, it wasn't the 1st time he had filled the truck up with gasoline, as the dad told him he wasn't helping him a 3rd time with it.

All they are doing is setting their kids up for disappointment. No way these kids can afford what they are driving now when they are the ones having to pay for it and not mommy and daddy.

Same with the girls. Gonna suck when her new hubby can't put her in a BMW like daddy used to do.

Isn't the goal supposed to be rags to riches, not riches to rags?

Factor in Insurance costs as well and oh my.
2006 Camry w 210,000 miles. $156 per month w every discount state farm offers. Mom and Dad will be supporting them the rest of their lives.

Gotta say, it makes me scratch my head too. I've been in practice 20 years and 100% of the trucks at my kids school are newer and nicer than mine. But I'm cool with it. Mine has loud pipes and they are envious.

Dr. B

My first ride was a brand spanking new Ford Ranger extended cab 2wd! The ONLY reason I got that was that my dad worked for a dealership and they were offering CHEAP prices for employees AND... I had to pay for it AND insurance.

Just come to Auburn. There's more 3/4 ton King Ranch's and Duramax's riding around and the only trailer they have ever seen was when they got dropped off at the dealership. Most of them have those gay ass wheels on them too.

Allowance, I was allowed to work after school and Saturdays.

Funny... Maybe he'll think twice next time about a diesel....

My 16yo isn't in that class. $5k gmc 4x4. He's paid for 75% of it. When we got his tires, i told him i'd pay for 'em...but he HAD to have the nitto's for an extra $150 for the set. I told him i'd pay for the generals or he'd pay for the nittos. He bought them. He has ownership in his truck, so he seems to take better care of it. IF i could afford $30k for a truck...it'd be for me, not him!

I can't afford a truck like the kids have now much less buy my son one...in high school I drove a 77 International scout II 304 auto with a oil leak and smoke that came in from the firewall...what a pleasant smell to where all day at school..did finally get a 79 Ford courier that we put on a 81 ranger 4x4 frame...I thought I was living fancy...times sure have changed alot

I graduated in 2003, I had a 1979 F-150 all through school. These kids want these new vehicles to pull muff. Well I had a old truck and still pulled it. It's all in the driver..

It seems to be the culture these days for young high school males. Tricked out trucks are in country songs and videos as well as the hunting shows on TV. They are lead to believe before you can be cool and have good looking girl friend you must have tricked out truck and duck hunt. Ain't no different than the black boys driving 74 caprice classics with ten thousand dollars worth of tires and wheels on them listening to rap music and how the man is to be blamed for everything.

With my work I am at high schools quite often and for the life of me I don't understand how and why a parent would spend the kind of money they do on a teenage boys pickup truck. Why don't they invest that money in something that they can use later on in life like stocks or trade school and a college education instead of something that has little or no return like a used vehicle.

When I was talking with our son about his friends' trucks, he mentioned one of them getting some cool wheels.

I asked him if he meant the tires or the rims.

"There's a difference?"

Yep. Rims are the metal thing in the middle that attach to the vehicle. Tires are the rubber things on the wheels.

"Oh."

Bam. Financial lesson. Those $3,500 or whatever rims also needed them round tough rubber thingies so they'd work.

Then we discussed chrome roll bars, chrome brush guards, the need for a step since the trucks were jacked up 28 feet off the ground and so forth.

But if someone's shelling out the $$$ for Junior to have a 2500 DuraWheezerCoolMax then they're probably not going to sniff when he wants all the goodies.

And anyone who buys all that for Junior and THEN bitches about the high price of insurance, kids, gas or expenses just needs to have a big steaming mug of ShutTheHellUp and a muffin.

HA HA could be they won the lottery.

My brother-in-law had a really nice Bronco in high school back in the late 80's (his dad paid for). Lifted, big tires, winch, ect... He burned up the motor mud riding, getting stuck, pulling his buddies out. If a kid doesn't have any of his own money invested in it, he won't take as good of care of it.

Same here in Hamilton. A lot of the high school guys drive very nice newer trucks that cost big $$$. I've never owned a vehicle as nice and expensive as many of the high school kids drive, and I've worked full time since I was young.

Dealing with this right now with my 15yr old. Hard to explain when his friends are getting new tricked out Jeeps, Ford Raptors and Crew Cab Z71's. I have tried the explaining the part about costs. I have taken him to a few used lots and covered the stickers with him, insurance, fuel and upkeep. Yet, he still gets starry eyed everytime one drives by. Takes me back to that age when I was the same way to some extent. I understand that.

My first care was a hand-me-down 72 Datsun B210 that was school bus orange. One morning I was on my way to school and made a right turn and my muffler went straight. I had the coolest sounding Datsun at the school for a couple of weeks.

Of course, he is going to have to pass his driver's permit test before anything is going to happen. His first try has turned into a good lesson that it pays to prepare no matter what your friends tell you about the test. So now he gets to pay for the next one. Thats another story for another day.

So I take it you were on the muff diving team

They are teaching there kids that its ok someone will take care of you must be a bunch of Democraps buying the trucks. My first car was a 85 Trans am that had been hit in the front. I had to fix it up to be able to drive it. But by the time I graduated and worked for $1.30 and hour in a body shop. She was a beast putting down around 800hp. That was my baby.

Kills me to see not only these kids in New Big arse trucks but there Daddys in them as well and then they have to come borrow money from me just to pay a house payment. They have to keep up with everyone else.

I guess its just part of being a kid...my trucks got glass packs on it (mid volume, not super loud). They were on it when we got it but I'd give my left nut for factory exhaust. I also wish I had that single cab 88 yota 4x4 back but its not practical for a family.

If I had my druthers, I'd have a mid/late 70's single cab, long bed F150 4x4.

I noticed the same thing this morning while dropping my daughter off at high school. Waaayyy too many trucks in the student parking lot that even I wouldn't/couldn't afford. Some F250's sitting on 38"+ tires all jacked up.

Must be nice to mooch off mom and dad. I didn't get my first car until I graduated boot camp and paid for it myself...and at that it was only a $5000 car.

Times have changed. We were glad to have something to ride in. Now they all drive vehicles nicer than I do now!

Guess I'll be the Racist for the day bahahahahahahaha! Majority of theses kids r nothing but spoiled ass white kids..Mama & daddy has to keep up with the joneses looky here at my house oh check out my fine wife, Poor Ole fellers working his azz off to keep up with the joneses.He eventually finds out half the neighbor's have been keeping up with is wife's plumbing for years!!!.True story I know a guy

Who cares what someone's kid is driving?they ain't getting a dime of my money so why should I care how much they spend on their kid,I got more important chit to worry about

Amen to that

You are 100% right.... Back in my day, you earned what you got. It dang sure wasn't given to you. That's what is wrong with today's youth,, spoiled brats.

My first car was an 86 maxima (same model year as me) that I paid $1500 for and needed some work. That got totaled by someone rear ending me, so we replaced it with a 97 gold-colored thunderbird that I also paid for. Granted, I now have my dream truck, but it's also paid off bc I busted my ass to get and have it. It's crazy that these kids have these trucks and most likely don't have any skin in the game to treat them like they should.

I was in the my chit don't stink zip code area of mobile..And I seen these boys in their dress clothes headed to a prep school in there jacked up ride..They were jamming on some colt ford singing about country boys kicking city boys azzes & I busted out laughing. What a bunch of idiots

First vehicle i ever had i bought myself when you grow up poor you don't drive to school you ride the big yellow bus. A lot of kids today are spoiled and expect to have everything there parents have when they are 20 even though it took there parents a lifetime to get the stuff they have. They don't want to get a job and work there way up they want to get hired in at the top or just not work at all. I see it on a regular basis most parents are doing there kids a disservice by giving them this kind of stuff without them having to work and sacrifice for them. Just my .02

There's two kids on the UA campus with maseratis and one girl with a red Bentley coupe. How bout them apples? Hell, my "new" truck was three years older than my previous one with 100k less miles on it.

There is also an Audi R8 riding around over there

If shes sporting a Bentley Im impressed shes even going to school to pursue a career cause she must come from enough money to not have to ever work.

She's pursuing an MRS degree...

Shoot, she's pretty hot too. You seen her gomer?

My first truck was an 88 chevy truck. My dad bought it for me. He paid for the insurance on it until I graduated high school. That truck spent most of its time pulling hay trailers, cattle trailers or hunting gear. There was a lot of days I went to school with a hay trailer hooked to my truck or a roll of hay in the back of my truck to go feed cows after school.

I've not, but then I try to avoid campus as much as possible. Between the awful traffic and the near constant distraction of scantily-clad coeds, I'd almost definitely wreck my truck

There are tons of boys around Oxford, AL in the 16-20 yr old range driving these brand new jacked up Chevys you see on the lots. Those are $50,000+ trucks. Every time I pass one I wonder how on earth they afford that. Even if it's a young 20's age single guy who's working, you're looking at a $600 to $1,000 truck payment, plus $150-$200/mo insurance, plus gas. The better question is, what bank approved it???

So shes worthless then? Got it.

So what kind of truck is your kid driving?

Sad thing is, sooner or later everyone has to stand on their own two feet, and these parents aren't preparing them for that. I know an old man and woman that built a business and made some real cash for themselves. Very wealthy. They spoiled their kids and grandkids rotten. New cars every year, bought them all houses, etc... The couple eventually died and left the business to their kids. The kids had a work ethic of zero and has ran the business into the ground. The family has blown the money, gone through divorces and lost houses, etc. Now, they are all broke and act lost about what to do because they've never had to work for something. Sad.

Great post!!!

You could always tell the teacher's parking lot when I worked at Grissom. That's where the cheap cars were.

My neighborhood is full of them. Most of it is because the parents think that they are still in high school and live through their kids. They want to show the other parents how cool and rich they are. The kids don't even respect their parents.

This^^^^

What's even worse is when they total one because of being drunk and they just ground them for a month and buy a new one.

when you don't whip your kids the other choice is to reward them. Its like saying Iam sorry I didn't have the guts to be a real parent.

My son drives an 97 toyota 4x4 and the guys would rag him on his being old. They quit when he was able to go through several mud holes the new trucks couldn't handle. It's setting these kids up for a life of debt when their parents give them these new trucks. They think they always should have a new one.
I do know of a couple of guys my son goes to school with that got new trucks for getting full ride scholarships to college. Their parents did it as a thank-you for not having a big college debt to pay.

Alabama frat boy:

Ridiculously expensive truck
Costa del Mar sunglasses
Yeti cooler
Yeti hat
Yeti sticker
Salt life sticker even though he only sees the Gulf once a year, lol.
Horrible pop country blaring from the radio.
And they all have the same dopey, Beatlesesque haircut
Etc...

We see em all over down here during spring break. I don't even have to look at their tag to know they are from Alabama.

Probably the most predictable group of people I've ever seen. It's like they were all produced at the same time from the same momma. Weird!

This is what my youngest wants (he is 10)



Sad thing is this would cost as much as these newer jacked up trucks you guys are talking about.

Id rather see him that than a Z71 Your son has got it figured out!

Don't forget the orange hat above the steering wheel in the windshield in July.

And what's wrong with my blaze orange bammer hat in the windshield during July?

I hate to say it, but some,of you sound jealous.

Not every kid with an expensive car is going to be set up to fail in life. Some people can afford those things. Now, a ton of the people ridding around in them are financed to the hilt, but not all. Slamming a college kid because he has a nice truck, makes you seem jealous. A grown man should not be worrying about what someone else I'd driving.

I know there are several posters on this thread that are slamming the kids and it is not their fault. You act like you wouldn't take it if it was given to you, becuse you didn't earn it. Okay, I believe that.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Often it is pride that gets in the way of common sense. Perhaps not always, but it is a common problem. Parents want their kids to be cool and get attention based on material possessions. The kids want to be "it" on the high school campus and around town. So spending tens of thousands of dollars on a vehicle with accessories to boot somehow enables that.

Parents buying and tricking out expensive trucks and cars for their teenagers are in my opinion doing them a disservice and missing a great opportunity to teach and train their children in a few good character lessons:

1. The value of a dollar
2. Value of earning something yourself through sweat equity
3. Learning how to delay instant gratification and focus on some better long term goals.
4. Work ethic
5. Responsibility
6. Service oriented instead of self-centered

It becomes more difficult to teach these things when a parent is supplying a teenager with such easy money luxury when they typically have zero to very little skin in the game. That is a disservice to the teen. A golden opportunity missed.

Parents giving their children a reliable used older vehicle...not a problem. Even a newer affordable car or truck--no issues from me. I'm not suggesting that parents shouldn't buy their kids a car. But I still contend it is even better when the teen has to work to earn it and help pay for it for they come to respect the process and the material item in a healthy way.

I've already told my boys that when it is time for their own vehicle I don't mind helping out if I'm able to do so. But they will have at least 50% of the money it takes for the vehicle, gas and insurance and the maximum I'll contribute is $3,000.00. That way they'll have 6 grand for a nice used older truck or car.

And another thing, I have seen the trucks some of the guys on here have, they are covered with stickers. Are those guys sponsored by Browning, real tree, Mathews, Hoyt, etc:? If you aren't, why do you have the stickers? To show off, that is why.

I agree to an extent doekiller, but I don't see it as "grown men worrying about what someone is driving". I see it more as an observation people are making about where our society is headed with a bunch of "you owe me" kids being raised that will be running our world of tomorrow.

I agree with you with regard to most of the people that posted on here. I posted I have noticed the same thing. But, several have gone beyond observations and talk about specifics and even specific vehicles. To me, that shows envy. They are say, why doesn't that kid have that, he doesn't deserve it, I can't even pay for it. His parents must be bad parents and he will never amount to anything.

I didn't have a new car when I turned 16. My first car was a 1972 VW. But, that doesn't mean I wouldn't buy my son a nice vehicle when he turns 16, if I can afford it. I certainly wouldn't buy him something I couldn't pay cash for.

We adults get caught in the same trap often too, as doekiller mentioned. Many of us, myself included, deal with both pride (our attitude toward our own nice things) and our envy (our jealousy over the nice things others have).

I'm reminded of the old proverb, not sure of the source:
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"

Parents can give generously as much as they want, their right to do so. But there is an open opportunity to use material possessions as a way to teach a teenager and even younger children certain valuable life lessons on money, debt, value, work ethic, responsibility, etc...

I guess I see it differently. My Daughter now in college in Birmingham had a certain set of friends that had the new cars, But, Everyone knew which ones would have those type of cars.

Just like my 9th grade old son's group of kid's coming up next year, we all know which kid's will have the blown up trucks now and they don't even have them yet. It's different classes of folks in my opinion that's all. And, I believe in Sociology they teach you that you end up doing as good or better than the class of your parents on average.

As for me, I am a muff hauler like Daniel, both of my kid's know we are not in that class and accept what and work for what they have. Some of these kids can't earn what they get, but that doesn't mean they don't know what they have and work towards that goal of being able to afford the same for their kids

Speaking of UA campus trucks/cars. Over the years I've seen a ferrari that was driven consistently and more high end bmw/mercedes than I care to count, and just the other day I saw a new looking 4 door dually dodge 3500, jacked up to about chest height, smoke stack exhaust in the back coming out of the bed, mud tires (on a dually), custom rims (on a dually), and fog lights. Lords knows what was on the inside. That truck must have cost at least $75k after everything. Only one thing to describe that truck: wtf!?!

Mine were.
My youngest drove the last 2 years at Auburn in a Thunderbird I gave $600 for but I also gave him a pair of channel locks to clamp on to the hood lift to keep it up so he could put oil in it. Now he has a nice Silverado but earned it and paid for it himself.

I bought a new regular cab, 4 cylinder, 4X4 Tacoma, (as plain a truck as one can get these days), in 06, drove it a few years. Then gave it to my son when he turned 16. Oh, for what it's worth, he ranked high in his graduating class and I've never had to get him out of jail and don't expect to. I must be a terrible parent.

I seen one the other day that had 4 yeti stickers on the back glass, one inthe each corner,with big costa sticker in the middle. I chuckeled a little .then cussed him

You forgot to mention they also have their pants tucked inside their slip on boots.

Y'all sound like a bunch of babies. I have two girls and I will give them the best vehicle I can afford within the family budget. If that's a used Honda or a brand new 4runner so be it.

I went through my entire years in high school riding the bus. My dad would let me use his truck if I went out on weekends, but he would inspect it when I got home. An lord forbid something be wrong with it. When I finished high school, I joined the National Guard and sent all my money home till I finished boot camp and training. When I did make it home, my dad went with me and helped me find a car that I had to make payments on. You will respect and take care of something that you have to pay for.

Very true.

I agree.

I can tell you now what my 9 year old will get when he's 16. A 2015 4x4 Toyota 4-runner. I know because I'm about to purchase one for my next work vehicle that my company gives me a vehicle allowance for. I'll drive it for 5 years and then he can have it when I have to purchase another company vehicle, in 5 more years as required. He better hope I take good care of it.

I'll get my son the most expensive biggest truck I can afford cause I want him to marry the richest landowning girl he can get.
Now my daughter will get a Chevette, two pistols, and shooting classes.

Yes, you too could be a bad parent by Aldeer standards, but we are giving used Toyotas, maybe we're safe.

I told my 13 year old that he makes AB honor role until he turns 16 you will see him driving a white raptor. I will give him what he wants if he makes the grades. That's what he said he wanted.

I guess if a man works hard and earns a good living it's wrong to buy their kids nice things,the way y'all talk if they'd buy them a chitty ride and give them nothing they will turn out to be great people one day,jealousy's a bitch

Naa, chitty ride want make them a better person, but it'd make me feel better. Dont get me wrong, I hate on em, but would do the same for my child if I could.

AND THEY GOT ON LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS AND SHORTS!!!!