The Thing about First Cars....

In the past year I have purchased 2 cars for drivers in my household. This is an important rite for me as a parent and for my children. I believe right up there with a first favorite rock group, first crush on the opposite sex, or a first kiss lives the all the dominant first car. Mainly among men, but women too, is the pride, or maybe the embarrassment, of sharing what their first car was. Some have the unfortunate story of owning an AMC Pacer or their parent's hand me down wagon with full wood grain siding. Others, like me, seize the opportunity to casually mention owning a 1968 Mustang Fastback as a first car.

The importance of that first automobile is almost unfair during those teenage years where life is already filled with one linked angst moment to the next.

'She likes him, but why?' 'He goes out with her, really?' 'He isn't that great at football.'

As teenagers we have so many opportunities to help build, or often destroy, our self-esteem. We first have to live up to expectations that are driven by hormones. We then add to that school prowess which supposedly defines how smart or dumb we are, we are valued based on how many awards have we won, all while asking the 'Will I ever even graduate from high school?' As if all that isn't unfair enough, pile onto it pimples or full blown acne, cracking voices, physical development, or lack thereof, and teenage life is simply one pressure cooked moment to the next. Your license, your first car, will take you away from all of it, even if just one tank of gas at a time.

I know as you read these words the memories associated with that first hunk of metal are flooding in. It is the rare few that don't bond with their first ride whether it was good or bad. The car was important but the freedom it gave us as young people goes beyond all imagination. Just think, the other side of town was now only minutes away. After the movies going to get ice cream and maybe show off a bit for that cute girl behind the counter was yours for the taking (I gained about 10 lbs my freshman year because of a cute girl behind the counter, but that is another story).

A first car equals freedom - as simple as that. 

The car was your first true step of adulthood where you were given the responsibility of hurtling a 3,000 to 5,000 pound machine at speeds our soft and mushy bodies were never meant to travel all the while kept between the lines with a tiny round thing called a steering wheel and small black things called pedals. Most importantly, it was all controlled with a mind
that is as mature as an 8 year old boy's bathroom joke. The first car is a part of our culture that even ancient tribal rituals cannot match. It is simply amazing.

What I didn't realize back then was that the freedom, the expression of me, was just part of the importance that my first vehicle would have throughout my life. Yes, I wanted to avoid the typical high school derision of owning a bad car but had no idea that years later owning a Mustang Fastback would allow me to have the last word in many conversations. Not too long ago among a group of fellow dads the discussion of first cars came up. Some had a Plymouth Fury or some counterpart to which first question asked, '2 door or 4 door?' Not really a necessary question because if their first car had important letters like GT, GTX, or SS the person would have told us so, but the question will be asked
to make the other squirm. Others drove small economy cars of the 70's and 80's like the Datsun B210, a Renault or maybe an Omni. Each man justified the car that he had as great for some reason, often only recognized by him. However, from his countenance it was easy to tell that a great facade had been created to protect memories of the car, but deep down inside he knew that the guy with the big V8 engine, rally stripes and Magnum 500 wheels was the winner. The goal for these conversations is to have the best first car, the cool of cool cars, to be number one in the discussion. Fortunately for me I have rarely lost in these conversations and when I have, I was always a close second.


Why share all of this? Many of you probably have children who will be driving, or are already driving, for the first time and the first car is just one payment away. Think the decision through thoroughly and carefully. Think about yourself and your feelings when you talk about your first car experience. One day your child will be sharing those same thoughts and memories. When picking a car consider if the extra $300 or $400 or maybe even $1,000 is worth it for the car that your child really wants? Remember, this isn't just a first car or freedom, it will be a defining memory for the rest of your child's life.

That's the thing about first cars, the right one is so much more important than just transportation.