You Know What Really Grinds My Gears...

"Michael Maguire" (michaelmag25)
04/12/2015 at 16:38 • Filed to: Ford, mustang, rant

People who just assume I had my car handed to me by my parents because I'm young and drive a 2014 Mustang...

I bought my car a month after I turned 19. I had been umpiring since the age of 12 and working a restaurant job since 16 to this day. Everytime I meet someone and they see my car, they just ASSUME I had it handed to me. I worked my ass off to get that car and I love it. I always hear the, "why didn't you get the v8?" It is because I couldn't afford it. You try to but a $30k car at 19 with the gas and insurance that follows.

I don't know. I apologize for the venting, but damn is it annoying!

DISCUSSION (32)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:41

Congrats on the extreme financial independence!

I didn't buy my first car (unassisted) until I was 23...

MrDakka > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:43

Maybe you should put a sticker?

Thunderface > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:43

That must be annoying.

Is it a GT or V6?

AthomSfere > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:44

It is something you could take pride in:

The fact that yes, us older people are too used to and jaded by kids whose parents do buy them a vehicle like that (or even nicer) and misuse and abuse the vehicles (and feel owed the vehicle).

Instead, you worked your ass off and bested them all (Those punk kids and those who make that assumption).

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:45

I used to work for cellphone industry where the pay is really good. And i hates it when people look at my Elgrand or My Lexus or my old Mercs, and said similar things like yours.

...Despite all of those cars are used and i bought it for less than a base model Toyota Corolla. Yay for used cars!

Michael Maguire > AthomSfere
04/12/2015 at 16:46

True and that is gratifying, but it sucks being looped in to the stereotype.

Michael Maguire > MrDakka
04/12/2015 at 16:47

what should the sticker say?

Michael Maguire > Thunderface
04/12/2015 at 16:47

please tell me you are trolling and you actually read what I wrote...

AthomSfere > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:48

I bet it does, but you should also feel good that you were able to do something so few others were able to.

Oontzoontzoontz > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:49

"Why didn't you get a V8?"

"Why didn't you pay for the upgrade?"

Congratulations on busting your ass and buying your own car. My parents bought me a 14 year old Jetta when I was that age.

Michael Maguire > Oontzoontzoontz
04/12/2015 at 16:51

thank you kindly sir. At 16 all you want is wheels! Who cares what it is?

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
04/12/2015 at 16:51

our store always got called out because we had on any given day in our parking lot: 2011 m3, an X5, (older) Benz SLK, Boxter S, Navigator, Charger RT, Camaro SS, and the Stringbean

Oontzoontzoontz > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:53

We all drove crapcans at that age. FREEDOM. That is the perfect age for discovering the pearl of wisdom that is "Slow car fast"

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:53

I know this is gonna come off as spoked, but even as someone who's family DID buy them a car, this is annoying. Like really, so I didn't buy my car. So what? I'm making no claims.

I seriously congratulate you for working hard to get something you really wanted though. There's a lot to be said for that.

Oontzoontzoontz > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:53

And I'm 29, with a 2015 WRX, and I can't even count the number of times I've got "Why didn't you get the STI?"

Thunderface > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:54

Kinja'd!!!

Steve in Manhattan > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:54

I only wish my parents had given me a car. At 18, when I bought one, they stopped paying for me to live in a dorm at U MD. They made it up later, but much bitterness followed, and remains.

Michael Maguire > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
04/12/2015 at 16:55

I just hate the people who act like they are hot shit in their new Lexus or Audi when they did nothing but be alive to get it.

It is not a crime to have something handed to you, but you're a douchebag if you then flaunt it

Michael Maguire > Steve in Manhattan
04/12/2015 at 16:56

damn, parents suck sometimes

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 16:59

Exactly. I may have an Audi (albeit not a new one), but I have never, EVER made any attempt to make it seem like I bought it or "earned" it. I am incredibly grateful for it, and everyone who knows me knows I love it, but I never pretend to be "all that".

Steve in Manhattan > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 17:06

To be fair, I was a difficult teenager, but I never got drunk, did drugs, or destroyed property - only one scrape on the side of dad's Dodge. But it's all water under the bridge.

PS9 > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 17:07

Butthead: Why didn't you get the V8?
You: Why didn't you get aborted?

Michael Maguire > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
04/12/2015 at 17:08

you sir, sound like a decent human being. Sometimes hard to come by these days.

McMike > PS9
04/12/2015 at 17:12

Butthead: Why didn't you get the V8?

Him: I couldn't afford it, SINCE I'M NINETEEN!

That answers both questions. :)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 17:30

Why thank you

DipodomysDeserti > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 17:58

Why would people think an adult had his parents buy him a car? I bought my first car when I was 15 and at 19 had already leased my second apartment.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 18:15

Meh... opinions are like assholes... everyone has one.

For me, I've sometimes had the same problem but in the opposite direction. Because I work I'm a white collar professional, have my own place and have two kids (who I have 50% of the time), they sometimes have expected that I should have a bigger or more prestigious car.

And I could afford a nicer car. But I stick to basic 4 cylinder FWD hatchbacks or wagons. I'll get something nicer once my mortgage gets paid off and the child support payments go away.

For now, I prefer to have something basic and the extra financial leeway that affords me.

Cheers to your work ethic and fiscal discipline!

titsinmymitts > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 18:39

The dreaded V8 question is why I could never own a non-GT Stang. That shit would annoy the hell out of me.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 19:01

I understand your pain people at stoplights always give me that look like "Yeah kid your Dad's car is nice".

But fuck those people.

AM > Oontzoontzoontz
04/12/2015 at 21:03

I'm 31 and just got a 2013 Jetta TDI for my daily driver, picked it up Wednesday and I've already got "Why didn't you get the refreshed 2015 model?" AND "Why didn't you get the Passat?"

People will always question everything.

AM > Michael Maguire
04/12/2015 at 21:25

My advice is to not let it bother you. At the end of they day you know that you worked hard to buy a new car and that's all that matters. You should feel damn proud of yourself, it's a nice ride.

Back in 2002 for my 18th birthday my stepfather gave me his '98 540i and I would never claim that it was anything else but a gift. It was only 4 years old and even though it was a lot nicer than any of the cars my friends had, I would never criticize/shit on what they drove since majority of them had paid out of their own pocket.

Besides, they all had good American cars and a few VW's and while their cars held up strong, mine slowly turned into a money pit.

wafflesnfalafel > Michael Maguire
04/27/2015 at 18:24

perception is reality unfortunately...