What have I started? Daughter wants Dodge Charger for her first car... Should...

[GordonGriggs]

My first car was the 1966 dodge charger that I still own. My mother bought it used on my 4th birthday. I told her then that I wanted it. I got the keys when I turned 16 but by then the car had sat in the yard for 5 years without running. I spent all summer cutting grass, babysitting, picking cans off the side of the road and other jobs just to get it running.
When I got it running my mother paid my insurance for 3 months, and gave me gas money for 1 month just to get me started. After that it was up to me to PAY for everthing myself.I got a job working 32-35 hours a week while I was still in High School. I never raced on the street, and to this day I have never had any kind of speeding ticket or any other moving violation. Although I did get a parking ticket when My 79 el camino broke down back in 1988.
  Nobody knows your daughter better than you. If you think she will be responsible and careful then I would get her a running, restorable 69 Charger.

[RallyeMike]

On the other hand I don't really agree with the idea of getting someone used to a car that has excellent stopping distance, great steering, ABS, 4-wheel disc brakes, traction control, etc., and then turning them loose on a 400-horsepower car that drives like a farm truck. 

To really toughen them up and make sure they are worthy of driving an old car, make sure there is an exhaust leak into the cabin and keep the brake reservoir very low on fluid. If they survive that they'll be able to handle anything !

[71green go]

I would never buy my daughter an old car as her first car.......I could not imagine how I would worry about her driving around in a car that shouldnt be a daily driver....and the gas mileage....
Newer cars are far superior in everyway including safety....except the cool factor, the type of guys that would be hanging around her would also bother me if she was driving an old muscle car

My daughter is getting a honda or a Toyota....because I love her, not because I think it would be cool for her driving what I love

All out of Chevy, Ford, or Dodge in your town? Why buy foreign? 

Because I would want the best for her......and where I live Toyota has one of the best plants in the world.......At my 50years of age I am tired of repeated trips to dealer to have my dodge/chevy cars fixed....my mazdas have been flawless..and my toyota trouble free
people state things like this but spend millions on aftermarket chinese stuff everyyear....whats the difference?

[Charger_Dart]

My daughter did not want my Charger but wanted to own my 70 Challenger RT SE. When it was time to sell that car she could not understand why I would sell it rather then give it to her to drive. I wanted her to have a much safer car that actually got something called gas mileage. Teen's never seem to have money for gas and our old Mopar's love to pass anything except for a gas station. I lucked out because my mother was ready to trade-in her VW Passat and decided to give it to her as a graduation gift. Its been a couple years since then and she still takes excellent care of the care and just used the polisher on it last weekend to make it shine a little more. She still misses the Challenger....a little.... 

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

I would never buy my daughter an old car as her first car.......I could not imagine how I would worry about her driving around in a car that shouldnt be a daily driver....and the gas mileage....
Newer cars are far superior in everyway including safety....except the cool factor, the type of guys that would be hanging around her would also bother me if she was driving an old muscle car

My daughter is getting a honda or a Toyota....because I love her, not because I think it would be cool for her driving what I love

All out of Chevy, Ford, or Dodge in your town? Why buy foreign? 

Because I would want the best for her......and where I live Toyota has one of the best plants in the world.......At my 50years of age I am tired of repeated trips to dealer to have my dodge/chevy cars fixed....my mazdas have been flawless..and my toyota trouble free
people state things like this but spend millions on aftermarket chinese stuff everyyear....whats the difference?

Interesting...

None of the Ford or Chevrolet vehicles I have bought in he past decade ++ have needed anything other than maintenance. I do have a 14 y/o Ford which needs a new door lock motor. But that's it... Not bad over a 140,000 mile spread!

Regarding the millions to the chinese, I am with you! But then again, if I can buy a domestic alternative, I will. Cars, included 

[bull]

On the other hand I don't really agree with the idea of getting someone used to a car that has excellent stopping distance, great steering, ABS, 4-wheel disc brakes, traction control, etc., and then turning them loose on a 400-horsepower car that drives like a farm truck. 

To really toughen them up and make sure they are worthy of driving an old car, make sure there is an exhaust leak into the cabin and keep the brake reservoir very low on fluid. If they survive that they'll be able to handle anything !

Nah, wouldn't want the PC troopers coming down on me. Maybe I'll dress her in a hockey goalie uniform, wrap her in bubble wrap, put her in a Prius and then put the Prius inside a Volvo wagon before she goes anywhere. Better yet I'll just lock her in a padded room with 30-inch concrete walls, cut all ties to the outside world and never let her leave the house. You can never be too paranoid safe. I still don't know how anyone my age survived the seatbelt-free station wagon apocalypse of the 1970s.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

On the other hand I don't really agree with the idea of getting someone used to a car that has excellent stopping distance, great steering, ABS, 4-wheel disc brakes, traction control, etc., and then turning them loose on a 400-horsepower car that drives like a farm truck. 

To really toughen them up and make sure they are worthy of driving an old car, make sure there is an exhaust leak into the cabin and keep the brake reservoir very low on fluid. If they survive that they'll be able to handle anything !

Nah, wouldn't want the PC troopers coming down on me. Maybe I'll dress her in a hockey goalie uniform, wrap her in bubble wrap, put her in a Prius and then put the Prius inside a Volvo wagon before she goes anywhere. Better yet I'll just lock her in a padded room with 30-inch concrete walls, cut all ties to the outside world and never let her leave the house. You can never be too paranoid safe. I still don't know how anyone my age survived the seatbelt-free station wagon apocalypse of the 1970s.

Or even worse, we used to ride in the bed of a pickup truck - sitting on the top of the wheel well for a better view 

[71green go]

I would never buy my daughter an old car as her first car.......I could not imagine how I would worry about her driving around in a car that shouldnt be a daily driver....and the gas mileage....
Newer cars are far superior in everyway including safety....except the cool factor, the type of guys that would be hanging around her would also bother me if she was driving an old muscle car

My daughter is getting a honda or a Toyota....because I love her, not because I think it would be cool for her driving what I love

All out of Chevy, Ford, or Dodge in your town? Why buy foreign? 

Because I would want the best for her......and where I live Toyota has one of the best plants in the world.......At my 50years of age I am tired of repeated trips to dealer to have my dodge/chevy cars fixed....my mazdas have been flawless..and my toyota trouble free
people state things like this but spend millions on aftermarket chinese stuff everyyear....whats the difference?

Interesting...

None of the Ford or Chevrolet vehicles I have bought in he past decade ++ have needed anything other than maintenance. I do have a 14 y/o Ford which needs a new door lock motor. But that's it... Not bad over a 140,000 mile spread!

Regarding the millions to the chinese, I am with you! But then again, if I can buy a domestic alternative, I will. Cars, included 

Dont get me wrong...For me I would buy a new Challenger any day....but not for her

[Cooter]

On the other hand I don't really agree with the idea of getting someone used to a car that has excellent stopping distance, great steering, ABS, 4-wheel disc brakes, traction control, etc., and then turning them loose on a 400-horsepower car that drives like a farm truck. 

To really toughen them up and make sure they are worthy of driving an old car, make sure there is an exhaust leak into the cabin and keep the brake reservoir very low on fluid. If they survive that they'll be able to handle anything !

Exactly...This is why when the kid wanted to get into an old car, the first thing he asked was it's gotta be a Mopar..So, I stuck him in a 1966 Plymouth Belvedere II, 440, 4-speed, Dana 60 car....I thought I would have to hire a Plastic Surgeon to remove the grin from his face the first time he drove it.....

[DrHemi]

My first car was my 70 Charger. I learned to brake a little earlier and expect the slight pull to the left. Or not turn out unless I had plenty of room in case it sputtered. I think an old car as my first car made me a better driver (not to mention learning how to fix things). Plus it's all metal.

[1BAD68]

I learned SO MUCH from having to buy a shell at 15 and build my own, both about working on the car itself and about sticking with something and reaching your goals. It's only now that it's on the road, but I can honestly say that I'm glad I wasn't handed one. I wouldn't have appreciated my Charger NEARLY as much as I do now. I've known only two other "kids" that were given classics and they couldnt care less.

My daughter turns 16 this month. last year I bought a used car for her that needed some work with the agreement that we would work on it together until she got her license and then it would be her car.
Once it was here, she had absolutely no interest in "working" on it. She went out and washed the windows one day like it was a huge chore.
It made me realize that this is how this "entitled generation" became to be.
So I put it on craigslist and sold it a week later, she came home and said "Dad where's my car?" I said get your own damn car and maybe you'll appreciate it a little more.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

It made me realize that this is how this "entitled generation" became to be.

Very true... Sad, but true... 

[Rolling_Thunder]

budget wise...    I dont know what you're working with...     but what about buying her a little cheap commuter (used civic or something) and getting a project charger she can help build the way she wants it?   She would learn about cars and how to do basic fixes and would treat the car a lot better when it's done. There is a lot to say about the term Sweat Equity....      That way if she changes her mind down the road and for some reason doesn't want the Charger you can have a second one   

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

budget wise...    I dont know what you're working with...     but what about buying her a little cheap commuter (used civic or something) and getting a project charger she can help build the way she wants it?   She would learn about cars and how to do basic fixes and would treat the car a lot better when it's done. There is a lot to say about the term Sweat Equity....      That way if she changes her mind down the road and for some reason doesn't want the Charger you can have a second one   

Budget, under $25k

She will probably drive one of our "family  cars" when not driving whatever she ends up with - sweat equity is good! I know I learned lots on my old HS Charger bought as an auto shop project 

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

One daughter informed me yesterday, "when I grow up, I want to be just like you" - she wants to drive a Dodge Charger....

[Brightyellow69rtse]

charger as a first car is a nice thought at first. personally i wouldnt let either of my daughters have a old muscle car as a first car. while i agree most people didnt die back in the day not wearing seatbelts and riding in pickup beds. fact of the matter is new cars are just plain easier to drive in every possible way. plus i know theres no way i could have afforded to pay for the gas for a charger in high school and i worked ALOT!

[oldgold69]

 my second son wanted a chevelle or a b body for his first car.  so he finds a decent 69 ss chevelle he could afford. so i let him buy it .  all  the ricers gave him trash   but he quieted them soon enough  he still has it  but is doing a restro on it  so if your daughter wants one  tell her to save her penneys  if they pay for it they appreciate it more 

[XS29LA47V21]

My daughter (16) wants to drive my Challenger as her H.S. car and the Boy (11) wants the Cuda for his, I've been grooming them for this their whole lives  

I am positioning accordingly with my 5&7 yr olds 

[Danny Gutierrez]

My Daughter is getting my 69 Charger when she graduates. Plain and simple. She wants it and she will have it. Is it the safest option, No, but neither was letting her ride a bike or dance in Ballet. I guess I should have kept her in a bubble all her life. Much safer.

[Danny Gutierrez]

On the other hand I don't really agree with the idea of getting someone used to a car that has excellent stopping distance, great steering, ABS, 4-wheel disc brakes, traction control, etc., and then turning them loose on a 400-horsepower car that drives like a farm truck. 

To really toughen them up and make sure they are worthy of driving an old car, make sure there is an exhaust leak into the cabin and keep the brake reservoir very low on fluid. If they survive that they'll be able to handle anything !

Nah, wouldn't want the PC troopers coming down on me. Maybe I'll dress her in a hockey goalie uniform, wrap her in bubble wrap, put her in a Prius and then put the Prius inside a Volvo wagon before she goes anywhere. Better yet I'll just lock her in a padded room with 30-inch concrete walls, cut all ties to the outside world and never let her leave the house. You can never be too paranoid safe. I still don't know how anyone my age survived the seatbelt-free station wagon apocalypse of the 1970s.

Well said Man!

[Danny Gutierrez]

I would never buy my daughter an old car as her first car.......I could not imagine how I would worry about her driving around in a car that shouldnt be a daily driver....and the gas mileage....
Newer cars are far superior in everyway including safety....except the cool factor, the type of guys that would be hanging around her would also bother me if she was driving an old muscle car

My daughter is getting a honda or a Toyota....because I love her, not because I think it would be cool for her driving what I love

All out of Chevy, Ford, or Dodge in your town? Why buy foreign? 

My 1998 Neon lasted 11 years. My 1994 Ram is still on the road. My Charger is older than me!!

[SRT-68]

I agree with rolling thunder, Get her a Honda for everyday use and a project car for you two to build together. What she will learn while working on the project will be priceless later on in life. Basic mechanical and electrical knowledge will keep her from getting ripped of at dealers and by contracters in the future.

You guys will also get to spend some father, daughter time together building it, and there is nothing cooler than that.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

...she painted her nails orange for what I thought was Halloween - then she added "01" to them 

[Dino]

...she painted her nails orange for what I thought was Halloween - then she added "01" to them 

Better go check if she cut her jeans up! 

As much fun as it was to watch, the Dukes are not exactly the prime example of how to drive a 4 ton boat on the open road.

Personally I would not let anyone without some serious driving skills drive a Charger or any other old and powerful car, for the driver's safety and that of the people around him/her.  Later on in life, after some driving courses, by all means.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

...she painted her nails orange for what I thought was Halloween - then she added "01" to them 

Better go check if she cut her jeans up! 

As much fun as it was to watch, the Dukes are not exactly the prime example of how to drive a 4 ton boat on the open road.

Personally I would not let anyone without some serious driving skills drive a Charger or any other old and powerful car, for the driver's safety and that of the people around him/her.  Later on in life, after some driving courses, by all means.

I hear you - yet many of us survived, driving just like the Dukes, or powerful cars as teenagers