Giving my Ranger to my son

[superdave1984]

When I bought this truck a few years ago it was with the intent of being a DD and one day giving it to my son when he was 16. He will be 16 in November. He has shown zero interest in the truck and has not helped much at all with the 5.0 swap. He will be driving 25 miles round trip to school and my Corolla would be MUCH better for that. Plus the car has A/C. Should I make good on what I said and give him the truck, give him the car since it would be much more practical for him and would likely last him through college, give him the car until he shows he's responsible enough for the truck, or give him the option from the start? The car is in pretty good shape, needs a few cosmetics, but runs great. Gets 38MPG on the highway too. My guess is the truck will get <20.

I have to make up my mind by the time he gets back from Florida for the summer so the poll is only open for 60 days.

 

[doorgunner]

If the vehicle title & insurance is gonna be in your name....don't give him anything until he grows up! Make him use the car. Being a good father sometimes means that your kids have to Be Taught Appreciation first!!! (My son is in Heaven now...& I am being Taught to appreciate that fact)

 

[BlueChariot]

If he apreciated the Ranger and had an interest in it, then I'd say give it to him. But when someone doesnt care for a vehicle, then usually it goes to hell within a few months.

 

[TexCaliBII]

BlueChariot
I cound not agree more!

SuperD,
The car for all the reasons you and the other posited. I loaned my 22 year old son my 87 BII to drive to college and as it was not his idea of a cool car it got abused and recalled by me in short order. Never mind it was deep winter here in Alaska and nearly anything that is non 4W drive WILL be in a ditch. Grumble, grumble.....

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

give him the car.
a5.0 truck sint something for a kid imo. besides he obviosuly doesnt care a bout it. as blue said, it will go to hell very fast LOL

 

[ranger to be]

I appreciate Ranger's and will be 16 at the end of November. So If you need someone to look after it let me know.

 

[Psychopete]

I would have voted for "buy him a disposable $900 POS", but it wasn't an option. Either one is going to be beaten on and he is going to do things that you'd rather not know about in them. I didn't give a shit when I was 16, and my dad knew better..

 

[daniel3507]

Dont give him the truck. BlueChariot is right, if someone doesnt appreciate what they drive they wont give a crap about it. Give him the car and make him pay for maintenance and everything like that. I had interest in the Ranger before I was even 16 and it was bone stock. Once I got it I started modifying it and making sure everything was perfect and paying for everything. Thats what taught me to appreciate what I have. My dad actually refused to sell it too me after awhile because he thought I had put enough money into to buy twice.

 

[Snoranger]

He has shown zero interest in the truck

That line right there says it all!

Give him the car. Like everyone said, "If he doesnt appreciate it now, he never will." It will get abused, neglected, and as a first car maybe a little to powerful for someone still learning to drive.

I was given a '79 F350 as my first vehicle. I did all the work. I did the 460 swap. I put the 8-71 blower on it. I paid for it all. I got "almost" all the tickets.

 

[BlueChariot]

I'm a young guy, and my dad gave me the Ranger I had, and I loved it. It was dented, very high miles, but I would of rather of had that than a Lamborghini. Youth doesnt neccesarily mean he shouldn't have it, but if he's young AND wouldn't take care of it, then it's a waste to even let him drive it to the store.

If you want him to learn to appreciate the Ranger, or ANY automobile (and you have the tools, but since you did a swap I'm assuming you do), whatever his first car is (preferabley a cheap POS), make sure he has to FIX it to DRIVE it and he should learn to appreciate what he drives no matter what it is.

 

[88_Eddie]

teenagers shouldnt get options. i got an aerostar when i turned 16 until i could prove that i wasnt going to be an idiot behind the wheel. i wasnt and i was given my dads bronco 2. (although, to this day, he still says that it is his)

if he hasnt shown any interest in the truck, then it sounds like he wont care what he gets as long as he can drive.

 

[84bluebronco2]

If he is showing little interest in the Ranger, it will probably get little care from him. I vote to let him learn to drive on the smaller car, get the better mileage.

 

[adsm08]

I wanted my dad's old Ranger when I started driving. I'd wanted it for 4 years at that point. I even started carrying the keys around with me when I turned 15.

I still didn't take care of it like I should have when I got it. Almost 10 years later it is just now starting to get the TLC it's deserved all along.

Go to the JY, pull out something with a straight body and little else and make him build it himself.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

What is the kid really in to.......
Music? Give him the car and put a banging stereo in it.
Computer gaming? New PC and the car.
My point is find out what HE wants and go from there.To me the truck is out of the question but you did promise him something so you should make good on it.

 

[LearjetMinako]

I really want to say, "Let him choose". But if he is not showing much interest in the Ranger, then let him keep driving the Corrola.

The Ranger was my first ride. And I'm still driving it 8 years later. My dad use to have a 91 Ford Ranger 4x4, but he traded it in for a Dodge Cummins 2500. My heart wasn't really in on the Ranger at the time, but it grew on me with time. And as time went on, I got my hands dirty keeping the Ranger going like a well oiled sewing machine. Now I have gone to so many places with the Ranger, that it will always have a place in my heart.