There are lots of commercial on television this time of year based onsurprising a family member with the gift of a new car. Usually it’s in the driveway on Christmas morning with a big red bow on top. That might work great for the controlled environment of a television sound stage. In the real world, surprising a family member with a new car can really go wrong if you don’t get the details right. If you plan to gift your teen a new car this Christmas, you should first do your homework and check out the latest technology available, know what it will cost to insure the vehicle, and think about how reliable it will be for the way it will be driven.
Many parents think an old clunker will make the best choice for a teen’s first car. They fail to realize that an older car might not have comparable safety features that would be available on a newer model for just a few hundred dollars more. Body styles and environmental impact might have a big influence on the type of car your youngster sees in his or her future. You might like the price of a standard model, while they may be dreaming of a hybrid. They fail to realize that an older car might not have comparable safety features that would be available on a newer model for just a few hundred dollars more. Body styles and environmental impact might have a big influence on the type of car your youngster sees in his or her future. You might like the price of a standard model, while they may be dreaming of a hybrid.
Once you decide which car to buy, you can have lots of fun with the reveal. One family took a trip pretending they needed to see a relative. Instead of staying with them as they had done for years, they spent the first night in a Motel 6 that was conveniently located nearby. By using a Groupon to rent their room, they saved 5% off their bill. Taking advantage of the free WIFI, while there, they shopped online for new car accessories, asking the unsuspecting teen which ones she would give to her best friend if she had to make a choice. Using a Groupon, the mother later ordered the items, and arranged to pick them up from the store.Using a Groupon, the mother later ordered the items, and arranged to pick them up from the store.
By the time they got to the relative’s house, the new car had been delivered. When they handed the keys to their daughter, and she realized the car was for her, she was so shocked she laughed and cried all the way home. They all remember it as the best Christmas ever.
