daughter this fall, in exchange for her earning full ride scholarship to college. 34000 very fun miles in just a couple of years... only two unscheduled trips to the dealer for cold start/flood issues.. The new Dunlops make it better than ever. The fact she's mastered the stick shift is almost as great as the scholarship. LOL

I just gifted my wife (who really needed and deserved a new vehicle) a Rover LR3 - so it looks like I'm back to driving the '88 Toyota Pickup

 

Sorry to here that,but i guess that's what father's are for. By the way what DUNLOPS did you put on your car?

 

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx XL - 235-45's I think

 

Is there a question in here somewhere?

 

I think the answer is.....Buy another 8?

 

Thats a great fricken gift!! Good job pops! Fathers are very giving individuals or at least they should be. You sacrificing the 8 and going back to the old pickup reminds me of my dad and his willingness to give for his family. I applaud you sir!!

 

Kinda makes me never wanna have kids!!!
Congrats for your daughter though. Depending on the college she is going to, you could probably buy a brand spanking new 8 with all the bells and whistles with the money she is saving you.

Which college is she going to go to?

 

Thats, uh, great. When I graduated, I got squat. Guess I was born in the wrong generation.

...bitter

 

You could buy a new RX-8 with all tjhe bells and whistles if she's going to a less expensive state school. If she's going to an upper ecehelon private school you could buy an RX-8 for each year of tuition...

 

More likely to the wrong parents

 

^ haha OWNED

 

The answer to your problem is a little Pontiac called the Solstice GXP.

 

the front ends are way to fugly, the saturn version looks a little better. but still wouldnt purchase one.

 

We went the 07 Saturn Sky route for my wife, the 06 RX-8 route for me (forecasted to arrive at the dealer any day now...) There was a question as to how do we carry my bikes, go to Costco, drive through a muddy field for a concert location we go to from time to time, but we solved that by just keeping the 02 4Runner.

 

make sure you put rules taped the dash board. like rule 1. dont shut car off until its at the warm enough spot :P jking . but yah glad your daugther gets cool car

 

Thanks for the support everyone. Yes in reality I've made out like a bandit - 100K for education for the price of an RX-8 worth about $20K. With the LR purchase, I need to wait a couple of years before popping for another eight - My son hits college in 4 more years - we budget to keep him out of the government schools altogether. My daughter's full ride, is sure a bonus.

BTW; I got a partial scholarship to college and starting my sophomore year my Dad's white RX-2. So I guess I'm just passing the torch.

 

more like your daughter is making out like a bandit; a lot of people pay for their own education AND transportation.

 

Personally, I'd gift the Toyota pickup:
1. It's better on fuel
2. It will carry her gear to school and back faithfully
3. She'll be less tempted to act stupid on the street with only one friend beside her, as opposed to 3 in the RX-8
4. Virtually any import shop can fix a Toyota truck if you're not around
5. Tires are cheaper, if she happens to get a flat
6. She won't cry (you won't either) when some jealous sophomore bitch who's upset your daughter glanced at her ex at a frat party keys every panel on the car!

I'm not saying she doesn't deserve the RX-8, but there are more practical reasons why the pickup makes a better "college vehicle"

 

I got a full ride to a $40k a year college. After I graduated I bought myself an 8


edit: I don't know how people can afford to send their kids to a private college without some sort of scholarship/grant. It's like buying a new car every year for 4 years.

 

Portuguese parents like mine believe that their kids, especially males, should find their own way. Not all, but most. I started working part-time at 14, paid for my own tuition, loaned what I couldn't pay for, paid for my own car (an 11 year old civic at the time), even paid rent when I finished school and lived at home for a while...which got me out pronto.

Do I feel ripped? Sometimes. But nowadays with kids milking their heavily indebted parents well into their 30's, what are we creating? A generation full of opportunistic wusses I say.

Still, I'm already saving for tuition for my two young boys, so I'll be slightly different. But, I won't give 'em sportcars at 18, regardless of their accomplishments. A good parent is not a wallet, and recognition is not a set of car keys.