Teens Driving 4runners

[FateOne]

I'm 16 and my parents bought mine. I don't play really loud music or annoy anyone, try to race, etc. Hopefully i don't come off as one of those spoiled kids
I worked really hard in school for this, all A's etc. I know all the older guys are thinking I should be getting good grades anyway, but it was very nice of my parents to buy me one.
Plus, in my area most people are what most people would consider "rich". Not many 4runners around here.

You sound like a spoiled brat to me! At least you aren't as much of a jerk spoiled brat as it sounds like the other kids in your area are.

My parents are a doctor and a lawyer. My first car was a 1979 Ford Courier with rust holes big enough to put a foot through. When I turned 16 I got a 7 year old Ford Taurus. I now have a 2002. I graduated high school with a 3.967 GPA (my school forced you to give a speech at graduation if you were a valedictorian.. so.. took a B).

One day after school some girl in a brand new Volvo tried to make a right hand turn in front of me from the left turn lane and ended up with her rear quarter panel mashed against her wheel. She just kept on driving like nothing happened.. luckily my crappy Taurus' bumper was only a bit scuffed. I'm sure she went home and said someone hit her car in the parking lot while she was in class.

When I was in high school a class mate from down the street (in the nice big houses) came banging at our door because he was going through the neighborhood accusing everyone of keying his brand new BMW.

One of my friends in high school who also came from a fairly wealthy family (his dad is a chemist of some sort and had a sulfur reclaiming business that did work with the oil refineries) and he drove a 10 year old 4Runner that his parents bought for him. He loved that thing and took great care of it and it is probably because of seeing his that I bought a 4Runner.

I'm now driving a 2002 with 90k+ miles on it after driving a 1994 Audi with 172k miles. I would guess a large number of people here also worked hard to buy their 4Runners. I also know there are a lot of young (and not so young) jerks that went into a family business, got a job through family ties, or simply had their vehicle bought for them by their parents.

So I think some of us are fairly cynical bas****s that think those that didn't work for their 4Runner are a bunch of punks, regardless of age. Even if they don't act snobby or punky they can still be spoiled punk brats.

Of course, I'm in a not so grand mood as my good friend just had her vehicle totalled and was unconscious for some time after an 18 year old jerk in a brand new Mustang hit her from behind without slowing down because he was busy f-ing around with his expensive stereo system.

Those of us though that worked our asses off to afford a 4Runner of some sort probably appreciate our vehicles much more. In a few years I expect most of the spoiled jerks will be gone from here as they get sick of their 4Runners and want a sports car or something else and ask mommy and daddy for something new.

My girlfriend though is a spoiled only child who has a 2002 Accord that her parents paid 90% for. My grandpa on one side was a farmer and my grandma a teacher. The other my grandpa was a janitor. So my parents have money but didn't come from it and wanted me to learn the value. As an only child I'm sure her parents would have bought her a much more expensive vehicle if they could afford it!

Anyway.. there is my rant!

 

[ALt4r]

You sound like a spoiled brat to me! ...

Settle down man, just because you did not have a good car when you were young doesn't make you any better than me. I think buying me a nice vehicle was one of the best things my parents have done for me. I thank them every day for it. You don't know me and don't ever tell me i don't appreciate my vehicle as much as you guys that "worked" for it. I am very good with money, my parents can tell you that. Either way i was going to take a 3rd gen 4runner, (yeah yeah still "expensive to you) but my parents loved the 4th gens much more and thought it would be a better investment as we found a nice deal (as nice as you can get from a car dealer anyway).

Ah **** look, now you've got me on a rant. Anyway just come back and look at your post when you cool off, we can both have a nice laugh.

 

[01goldt4r]

yeah i am with allt4r

My parents bought me a 4runner when i turned 16 and i am not a spoiled punk you shouldnt judge people without even knowing them how much can you learn from somebody from a forum????

 

[FateOne]

Settle down man, just because you did not have a good car when you were young doesn't make you any better than me.

Not better... just not spoiled. I don't think there is any argument anyone can make that will prove otherwise. If being spoiled or not makes a person better or worse I can't say. But quite clearly it pisses me off

One of my best friends has had his parents buy everyone in their families new vehicles. He drove a brand new highly modified Dodge RAM with an expensive sound system in it in high school. He was a valedictorian. He's now finishing a masters in Biology. He is totally spoiled. My brother drives a brand new Taurus my parents bought him. He is also spoiled.

I don't have a problem with you. From what little I know of you you seem like a nice guy even if spoiled. And like I said, my girlfriend is spoiled (and a bit of a brat) also. It is the spoiled and also a real obnoxious **** that I really really hate.. but I know guys that drive expensive pimped vehicles that they've managed to pay for that are complete obnoxious ****s when anywhere around a vehicle.

Don't take it personally... in another half decade when you are old enough maybe I'll buy you a beer

 

[ALt4r]

Not better... just not spoiled. I don't think there is any argument anyone can make that will prove otherwise. If being spoiled or not makes a person better or worse I can't say. But quite clearly it pisses me off

Well i apologize, it's just that "you're a spoiled brat" has a negative connotation in my opinion. Just to clear it up, it's not like i turned 16 and begged for a 4runner. I was taking care of an older toyota for half a year, accident free, before my parents told me i could have a car as great as this 4runner i have now.

 

[EuroDriver]

Enjoy your T4R

To all you teens out there driving a 4Runner, all I can tell you is God bless your heart & appreciate what you have, whether you "act" spoiled or not. I started driving at 16 and started with a 1972 Datsun 510 station wagon that I bought with no engine. By now I have also gone through a Toyota Corolla GTS, 2 BMW 7 series, a Volvo S80 T6, and now I have a 4th Gen 4Runner. I have bought each vehicle with no help from parents or anyone, and have sold each of my cars for more than what I bought them for (except for one BMW 735 I still have but is in better shape than when I bought it, the POS Volvo that I traded in for the T4R for less than what I owed on it, and my 4Runner, which I love and is destined to be my wife's soccer mom SUV when our baby girl is born in May), while putting myself through college and then law school. I held on to each car and babied them, because they cost me every penny that went into them. My parents were blue collar workers who were of the opinion that I should be working to help out the family instead of "wasting my time" in college. And although I did get wild in my cars here and there (as all teenagers inevitably do), I did so with calculated risks because the cars cost me and because I could not afford to replace them if I got reckless. I have had friends that were given expensive rides by their parents because they earned them and appreciated them, and those that were spoiled and where they are in life now reflects that. So the moral of the story is, appreciate what you have either earned, or have been given, and there's no point in 'representing' (really, how much faster/louder than another 4Runner can you really be, and assuming you are, so what???) Ultimately, if you don't care about what you have, no one else will. So take care of your ride, and share your pride in your ride with the rest of us here, for no other reason that we are here to make each other better T4R owners. And next time you catch me at a red light, please don't gun your engine. Say "nice ride, let's compare details!" So hopefully you, me, my lovely wife and our baby to come can become good friends over out 4Runner stories.

 

[ALt4r]

Re: Enjoy your T4R

I have had friends that were given expensive rides by their parents because they earned them and appreciated tham, and those that were spoiled and where they are in life now reflects that.

:clap:
Amen.

 

[BTLFED]

Re: Enjoy your T4R

I started driving at 16 and started with a 1972 Datsun 510 station wagon that I bought with no engine.

That's awesome. I love 510s. I have a 73 2 door now and want to add a wagon to my stable. :biggrin2:

 

[EuroDriver]

I wish I would have kept mine. When I got it, it was avocado green with the woodgrain decals on the sides that was all cracked & chipped. By the time I was done, it was electric blue, had the 1.8L motor with the SSS cylinder head, dual-sidedraft Weber Carbs, 2" intake, Crower cam, Mallory ignition system, 2.5" lowered slalom suspension and it could run circles around just about anything. It also "bumped" with a full Fosgate component system with 12" subs (which was the envy of systems back then). Remember the old electronic crossover boxes that were as big as an amplifier??? At on point, I had 4 engines sitting in my parents' garage because, since I was "souping it up" on a budget, I was often doing the midnight engine replacements! I also did my own bodywork & paint job on it. Those were the good 'ol days when modding your cars meant way more that throwing money at them. (No offense to you youngsters out there, but the majority of them probably don't even know how to change the oil nowadays). Now, if I had only been able to put my 4Runner's engine in it...

I drove it up to my first year in law school. I'm sure it got a lot of puzzled glances in the parking lot, amid the "modded" Mercedes, BMW's and Land Rovers. I'll see if I can find an old pic to post.

 

[BTLFED]

I wish I would have kept mine. When I got it, it was avocado green with the woodgrain decals on the sides that was all cracked & chipped. By the time I was done, it was electric blue, had the 1.8L motor with the SSS cylinder head, dual-sidedraft Weber Carbs, 2" intake, Crower cam, Mallory ignition system, 2.5" lowered slalom suspension and it could run circles around just about anything. It also "bumped" with a full Fosgate component system with 12" subs (which was the envy of systems back then). Remember the old electronic crossover boxes that were as big as an amplifier??? At on point, I had 4 engines sitting in my parents' garage because, since I was "souping it up" on a budget, I was often doing the midnight engine replacements! I also did my own bodywork & paint job on it. Those were the good 'ol days when modding your cars meant way more that throwing money at them. (No offense to you youngsters out there, but the majority of them probably don't even know how to change the oil nowadays). Now, if I had only been able to put my 4Runner's engine in it...

I drove it up to my first year in law school. I'm sure it got a lot of puzzled glances in the parking lot, amid the "modded" Mercedes, BMW's and Land Rovers. I'll see if I can find an old pic to post.

That's awesome. I am in the process of doing all the body work and paint on mine too. Right now it still has the 1.6 with the SSS dual side draft SU carbs, cam, header, and exhaust. I'm still contemplating what engine I want to swap in it. I am down to either an SR20DET Silvia engine (2.0 Turbo), it's normally aspirated version, or a KA24DE out of a US spec 240SX. If I do one of the N/A engines, I'm putting direct port nitrous on it. If it's good enough for my CRX, then it is good enough for my 510. I love nitrous. :biggrin2:

I hope you can find a pic of your wagon!

 

[kregg]

haha, this thread cracks me up...

When I was 14, I started working after sdchool at a car lot detailing cars, I worked there for 4 years, making minimum wage, saved almost every penny I could, and I bought my truck from my grandmother. I bought everything that has gone into my truck. I have done every single oil change, wiper blade, light bulb, floor mat, changed the rear axle seals, rear shocks, and installed all of my other goodies myself. I like my music loud, so I bought all of the audio equipment i wanted, installed it all myself... Granted some ****weed decided he wanted it bad enough to steal it... I paid for both replacement windows when it was broken into. My truck is well taken care of and stays detailed by me. I care about what I have put so many hours into... So am I a brat... nope, but I will claim that when it comes down to my stuff, i'm an ass, it's mine right... I'll also claim to be spoiled... By me... I like nice things, so i work for nice things... so when i hop outta my shining, bumping, 4Runner, with my $200 Abercrombie get-up on, I don't give a rip who says what... It's my life in the end anyways... i'll spend my money anyway i want, it's MY money... :bigok:

 

[BTLFED]

haha, this thread cracks me up...

When I was 14, I started working after sdchool at a car lot detailing cars, I worked there for 4 years, making minimum wage, saved almost every penny I could, and I bought my truck from my grandmother. I bought everything that has gone into my truck. I have done every single oil change, wiper blade, light bulb, floor mat, changed the rear axle seals, rear shocks, and installed all of my other goodies myself. I like my music loud, so I bought all of the audio equipment i wanted, installed it all myself... Granted some ****weed decided he wanted it bad enough to steal it... I paid for both replacement windows when it was broken into. My truck is well taken care of and stays detailed by me. I care about what I have put so many hours into... So am I a brat... nope, but I will claim that when it comes down to my stuff, i'm an ass, it's mine right... I'll also claim to be spoiled... By me... I like nice things, so i work for nice things... so when i hop outta my shining, bumping, 4Runner, with my $200 Abercrombie get-up on, I don't give a rip who says what... It's my life in the end anyways... i'll spend my money anyway i want, it's MY money... :bigok:

So you have worked for everything you have. No one is talking about the kids like you. LOL @ your Abercrombie "get-up" though.

War Damn Eagle!

 

[TheBlueWave]

I agree with kregg. I buy nice stuff all the time, especially for my house and car, because I have to live there/drive it. People who scrimp don't get me, but I could care less if they do or not. As I mentioned in a previous thread, I come from a welfare family, so when I got a good job and started getting nice things, I found out who my real friends were. Yeah, I get called a yuppie by some for driving a "mall-terrain" vehicle, but I could care less. I take it offroad when I want to, and I don't sit around and complain about what I can't do. And yes, I'm an anal ******* when it comes to my stuff and people using it. I paid a lot, worked hard for it, and I'll be damned if some ******* is going to ruin it besides this ******* writing this post!
The moral of the rant is this: You teenagers out there who are "spoiled brats" now (you saw my last post, so you appreciative ones don't count) won't be forever. You will be where I am now, working your tail off for what you want in life day after day after day. Enjoy the "spoiled" lifestyle you have now, it ain't gonna last forever!

 

[kregg]

So you have worked for everything you have. No one is talking about the kids like you. LOL @ your Abercrombie "get-up" though.

War Damn Eagle!

It'd have to be an Auburn fan to be the smarta$$ of the day... Congratulations on your accomplishment... Roll Tide!

 

[dingo]

My truck is well taken care of and stays detailed by me. I care about what I have put so many hours into... So am I a brat... nope, but I will claim that when it comes down to my stuff, i'm an ass, it's mine right... I'll also claim to be spoiled... By me... I like nice things, so i work for nice things... so when i hop outta my shining, bumping, 4Runner, with my $200 Abercrombie get-up on, I don't give a rip who says what... It's my life in the end anyways... i'll spend my money anyway i want, it's MY money... :bigok:

Amen to that (well except for the Abercrombie clothes which I don't wear ). My thoughts exactly regardless of age. I take care of my stuff and work hard for them. I too don't give a rat's ass what anyone says. I'm happy and that's all that matters.

btw, Kregg, I hope things are ok after that little (ok not so little) fender bender you had a while back.

 

[BTLFED]

It'd have to be an Auburn fan to be the smarta$$ of the day... Congratulations on your accomplishment... Roll Tide!

What accomplishment? Beating you last season? lol

(I'm only an Auburn fan because my girlfriend goes there lol)