Ownership of a car in year 12

[Mr Keshy]

So year 12 is upon me and I've struck a deal with my parents

As a source of encouragement if you will, my parents hinted that if I continually produce A+ SACS or maintain a high rank in my class, they will buy me a very nice car on my birthday. (June, snap bang middle of the year)

The car I'm working for is something like this... (stolen off a random forum)






For people who care, it is a Mazda RX8, a very special car to me... I've loved cars all my life, I've considered an E46 BMW, MR2, Falcon and many more, but when I walked past a dealership and saw an RX8 I knew that she was the one.

Anyway, I know at this point, many of you will be thinking that I'm a spoilt brat, that I shouldn't buy a car of this nature as a first car as I'll crash it etc... I'm really not after that advice at this point.

My question is, have any of you who have a deep passion for cars, owned one and managed to not get sidetracked too far whilst in VCE? For me, I know I'll devote a great deal of attention to such a thing. But I feel that if I were to have one, it would be a great reward or break to drive it or work on it, or admire it..

But I'm slightly worried that I'll put my studies down lower after this purchase, and I don't want my parents to regret buying me the car.

I'm 99% sure that this won't happen, but I'd like to know other peoples opinions or experiences if they have any..

No abuse please

(If you managed to read this, why not give your opinion on the car itself as well )

[studynotes]

i never thought i would find someone who loves cars on atarnotes! haha well man i love my cars too except my parents are only buying me one when i finish year 12 i love the rx8 it flys but i did heard they break down easily too since they have a rotary engine haha well integra type r has to be my favourite car

[Mr Keshy]

i never thought i would find someone who loves cars on atarnotes! haha well man i love my cars too except my parents are only buying me one when i finish year 12 i love the rx8 it flys but i did heard they break down easily too since they have a rotary engine haha well integra type r has to be my favourite car

Type R's one of the most understated cars I've come across. Similar to the RX8 in many ways (-NSX), not so fast in terms of straight line speed, but in terms of chassis performance and cornering, they put many other sports cars to downright shame.

The RX8 has actually improved in terms of reliability. '06 onwards, they've improved a fair amount. Topping up oil, and petrol consumption will cost me haha. Also my favourite, "A redline a day, keeps the carbon away" to 9300 RPM .

The main thing that goes down in a rotary is the apex seals, essentially the "piston ring" in normal IC engine terms.. But to replace those, requires a full teardown of the engine, and that costs a fair bit. Some rotaries, if maintained well, can go upwards of 150, even 180k without a rebuild.

[studynotes]

haha yeah true petrol will be costly:/
i really like the s15 evos and skyline 25gtt but ill have to wait till im off my Ps
probably buy either a skyline 25gt integra type r or even an EP3 but i dont know yet haha
jap cars all the way (Y)

[Starlight]

My cousin got a car during year 12. I suppose if you organise your time well then it shouldn't be a concern.

[Mr Keshy]

My cousin got a car during year 12. I suppose if you organise your time well then it shouldn't be a concern.

That's what I like to hear. Was he a petrolhead/car nut?

[datfatcat]

Luxury Car that I want to have:


Sport car that I want to have:


1st car that I probably will get:

[Starlight]

My cousin got a car during year 12. I suppose if you organise your time well then it shouldn't be a concern.

That's what I like to hear. Was he a petrolhead/car nut?

Lol no it's a girl haha. She wanted a car for travelling to uni next year.

[binders]

If you really have loved cars all your life, then why not ask your parents to defer the car until after VCE?

This way :
- It won't negatively affect your studies
- you will keep working hard to maintain your grades, with the dual positive effect of earning the car, and doing well at vce.
- It shows your parents that you can be responsible and they may have fewer grounds for possible regret. Also, instant auntie props.
- It gives your parents a few months more to get the $$ together.
- You will have more free time to drive it and get to know how to handle all that power safely (look up the stats on accidents and young drivers).
- You've waited all these years for a car, why not wait a few months more?
   It's only jun-november. It's nice to have it on your birthday, but it's also nice to put off pleasure until after work is done.
- After exams, the weather will be like it is now, perfect for cruising up chapel st or down beach rd/the esplanade with doof doof blaring.
   Much better than cold and rain in jun.

[Special At Specialist]

I got my P's in March this year. It was a bit of a distraction, but if you are motivated enough, you can easily balance your time between studying and having fun/going for drives. For example, you could drive to the library, study for 2 hours, then drive around a bit, do a Hungry Jack's run (because let's face it: Maccas is disgusting) and then return home.

A lot of teachers say that students shouldn't get their licence until after year 12, but I disagree with that. Getting my licence was one of the best things that ever happened to me, and even though I may have studied slightly less, I don't regret it at all. I haven't gone for many long drives in the past month, but I have been going to my local library and back pretty often, and it is really refreshing to be able to leave the house and come back anytime I want without having to ask my parents to drive me around everywhere.

My car is just a cheap 1997 Holden Commodore Acclaim. I really wanted to get an SS, but the stupid P plate laws won't allow it As soon as I turn 22, I'm going to buy that SS I've always dreamed of.

My only advice to you is not to get your licence within 2 weeks of exams. If you get it 2 weeks before your exams, you will want to drive around everywhere to celebrate it and that may pose a huge distraction for you. If you get it 2 weeks after, you'll be going for driving lessons quite a bit (it's hard to pass the test without at least a few lessons beforehand) instead of doing practice exams, which is also an unnecessary distraction. Otherwise: go for it! As long as you are determined to do well in VCE, that determination is usually enough to override distractions like this.

- You will have more free time to drive it and get to know how to handle all that power safely (look up the stats on accidents and young drivers).

This is true. Did you know that 1 in 3 people will have a car crash within their first year of getting their licence? I thought that I was a safe driver, but it happened to me about 2 months after I got my licence. You might not think it now, but it's not uncommon at all for P platers to crash their first car and have to get it written off. If you're going to get a luxurious car like that, you really need to be careful with how you drive.

[Mr Keshy]

Luxury Car that I want to have:
(Image removed from quote.)

Sport car that I want to have:
(Image removed from quote.)

1st car that I probably will get:
(Image removed from quote.)

2012 Jetta would be an awesome first car!!

My cousin got a car during year 12. I suppose if you organise your time well then it shouldn't be a concern.

That's what I like to hear. Was he she a petrolhead/car nut?

Lol no it's a girl haha. She wanted a car for travelling to uni next year.

Haha fair enough, for the vast majority, a car is just another object, they'll show interest for a while, just like when they get a new phone etc.. But it won't work out that way for me 

If you really have loved cars all your life, then why not ask your parents to defer the car until after VCE?

This way :
- It won't negatively affect your studies
- you will keep working hard to maintain your grades, with the dual positive effect of earning the car, and doing well at vce.
- It shows your parents that you can be responsible and they may have fewer grounds for possible regret. Also, instant auntie props.
- It gives your parents a few months more to get the $$ together.
- You will have more free time to drive it and get to know how to handle all that power safely (look up the stats on accidents and young drivers).
- You've waited all these years for a car, why not wait a few months more?
   It's only jun-november. It's nice to have it on your birthday, but it's also nice to put off pleasure until after work is done.
- After exams, the weather will be like it is now, perfect for cruising up chapel st or down beach rd/the esplanade with doof doof blaring.
   Much better than cold and rain in jun.

I'll keep this in mind! Good points! Parents say money is not an issue, but I'd also think they have better ways to spend it tbh haha.

I got my P's in March this year. It was a bit of a distraction, but if you are motivated enough, you can easily balance your time between studying and having fun/going for drives. For example, you could drive to the library, study for 2 hours, then drive around a bit, do a Hungry Jack's run (because let's face it: Maccas is disgusting) and then return home.

A lot of teachers say that students shouldn't get their licence until after year 12, but I disagree with that. Getting my licence was one of the best things that ever happened to me, and even though I may have studied slightly less, I don't regret it at all. I haven't gone for many long drives in the past month, but I have been going to my local library and back pretty often, and it is really refreshing to be able to leave the house and come back anytime I want without having to ask my parents to drive me around everywhere.

My car is just a cheap 1997 Holden Commodore Acclaim. I really wanted to get an SS, but the stupid P plate laws won't allow it As soon as I turn 22, I'm going to buy that SS I've always dreamed of.

My only advice to you is not to get your licence within 2 weeks of exams. If you get it 2 weeks before your exams, you will want to drive around everywhere to celebrate it and that may pose a huge distraction for you. If you get it 2 weeks after, you'll be going for driving lessons quite a bit (it's hard to pass the test without at least a few lessons beforehand) instead of doing practice exams, which is also an unnecessary distraction. Otherwise: go for it! As long as you are determined to do well in VCE, that determination is usually enough to override distractions like this.

- You will have more free time to drive it and get to know how to handle all that power safely (look up the stats on accidents and young drivers).

This is true. Did you know that 1 in 3 people will have a car crash within their first year of getting their licence? I thought that I was a safe driver, but it happened to me about 2 months after I got my licence. You might not think it now, but it's not uncommon at all for P platers to crash their first car and have to get it written off. If you're going to get a luxurious car like that, you really need to be careful with how you drive.

Extending to what binders said, might be a good idea to borrow my parents Ford Falcon. The rx8 is not very fast in a straight line, but the the Falcon has far more torque when compared to the RX-8, so I could perhaps learn to drive independently in that... But the likely hood of that happening will be low... Because I'm a P plater and therefore am the best driver and won't crash at all.

[Special At Specialist]

Extending to what binders said, might be a good idea to borrow my parents Ford Falcon. The rx8 is not very fast in a straight line, but the the Falcon has far more torque when compared to the RX-8, so I could perhaps learn to drive independently in that... But the likely hood of that happening will be low... Because I'm a P plater and therefore am the best driver and won't crash at all.

Not sure if sarcasm or not...

[Mr Keshy]

Extending to what binders said, might be a good idea to borrow my parents Ford Falcon. The rx8 is not very fast in a straight line, but the the Falcon has far more torque when compared to the RX-8, so I could perhaps learn to drive independently in that... But the likely hood of that happening will be low... Because I'm a P plater and therefore am the best driver and won't crash at all.

Not sure if sarcasm or not...

It was haha. I didn't make it clear enough? 

[InsaneMcFries]

This is true. Did you know that 1 in 3 people will have a car crash within their first year of getting their licence? I thought that I was a safe driver, but it happened to me about 2 months after I got my licence. You might not think it now, but it's not uncommon at all for P platers to crash their first car and have to get it written off. If you're going to get a luxurious car like that, you really need to be careful with how you drive.

This. I crashed my first car after 5 and a half months on my Ps. I got the insurance claim and stuff but it is a pretty severe risk, you just don't see it coming.

Not to mention this happened 20 days ago, could you imagine the problems if I was severely injured that close to exams? I didn't have airbags or anything, but I was lucky enough to walk off with a totaled car and slight whiplash.

[Biceps]

I personally got my Ps on June.
I did get a little side tracked initially but when things got serious at school i was able to prioritize.
Time management is key in year 12.