“They’re Gonna Crash It Anyway…”

How ridiculous does this sound?

“They’re going to crash it anyway.”

I hear it all the time from parents whose kids are creeping up on driving age. The goal? Find something cheap, beat-up, and “safe enough” for a new driver. Bonus points if it's a tank from the '90s because, "they don’t make ‘em like they used to."

Let’s pause.

We're talking about kids who are still learning how to drive—as in, they just figured out how to merge without their blinker on. And we’re okay putting them behind the wheel of a rusty old sedan because it’s cheap and already has some dents? Sounds more ridiculous now, doesn’t it?

Look, this isn’t about calling out anyone’s past choices. It’s about sparking a conversation about the future drivers we’re putting on the road.

So what should you buy your new driver?
You know, the one who:

• Thinks stop signs with a white border are optional

• Turns a Buick like it's a Peterbilt

• Brakes like they’re kicking a bass drum in a Metallica encore—and still doesn’t stop in time

Yeah, that one.

Sure, that crusty late-’90s sedan feels like a win. It can take a school parking lot door ding or a rogue shopping cart without making you cry. But what about the other kind of accident? You know, the kind that ends with “I’m just glad you’re okay” and a medical bill?

When that happens… is that the car you wanted them in?

Here’s the truth: that old tank might save your wallet from cosmetic damage, but it won’t save your kid like a 2020 SUV with airbags in its air vents and a crumple zone smarter than half the comments on Facebook.

So what’s the right car?

That depends on what you value:
Your bank account… or....