Dan is "Stern" but fair. The lad doesn't deserve Grandpa's truck, or the privilege of driving, if he is going to act as he has. Best to keep your anger in check and deal with him with a level head.

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Never seen a Valiant I didn't like!

So sorry for your loss but, I still (IMHO) think the states do this drivers licensing/drinking ages backwards... (not know your state d) I think drinking age should be 15 and driving privilege @ 21. Get all the stupid stuff outta the way first, without having to worry about a 4000# missile.

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MRO....

Cheap, Fast, Reliable.... Pick 2...

IMO, I think every person should have to work to get their first car. I am only 17 (turned 17 on april 17th 2011) and I have already owned 3 cars.
I have bought all of them on my own and not crashed a single one of them. Just sold because I got bored with them. I had 2 before I even had my license which i got the day i turned 16.
I will wash my cars every week, then wax them up to 2 times a month. Clean the interior when I was the body.
I think that when you have to use your own money that you worked for, you are more likely to appreciate your property. Im actually in the process of buying my 4th car.

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1973 Dodge Dart Swinger

I bought my first car ('68 Dart) from my parents for $1200 in 1988, fair market value at the time.

I still have it and only a couple of small fender benders over the years.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Durn tootin', he doesn't. Sit the lying little puke down and make him read every word of this — out loud.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Wow. That's sobering stuff. Maybe the lad needs to have his drinking buddies come over and they can all read it together. With some supervision, so that it doesn't turn into a laugh festival between them.

Add my voice to the chorus of folks who would have LOVED to inherit a family car (in any condition) but had to work hard to scrape up pennies, and then had to learn how to fix the resulting junker I could actually afford. After an entire summer of sweat equity (and a great deal of learning), there's no way I would have taken any chances in that prized old rusty clunker.

I know of a kid who's parents gave him a shiny new Camaro at 16, flipped it in the school parking lot 3 days later. His punishment? They didn't give him another shiny new Camaro until he turned 17. Sheesh.

It's been sort nice to slowly see my own transition from student to teacher, whenever I get a chance to pay back my knowledge to the next generation. Let's hope this young lad wakes up to a similar opportunity someday. Maybe Doc's ranch in Utah is a pretty good idea?

- Erik

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Lots of early Valiants and Barracudas have crossed my path.
Also a handful of other toys for variety now and then.

I was given my grandma's car a the age of 17, a 1970 Maverick. I jumped railroad tracks, dragged raced, roaded raced on country roads, basically abused this car. When a drunk driver hit, and totalled that car...while parked, I was forced to buy a car on my own. I babied that car. My daddy always told me that we only appreciate things we are vested into. PS. People seek things to make there lives bareable when life is not. Drugs, alchohol, food, sex. When a monkey shoots someone with a gun...don't blame the gun. Let's hope it's just youth finding ones individuality.

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A little rebellion now and then... is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. Thomas Jefferson

Im only 17 and I bought my dart 2 years ago for 900 and spent about 6 months or more on paint and body and every day after school I drove a hour to sand and shoot show coat on my car. I have about 4 grand invested in my car and you can bet I take extra good care of it because I worked two full summers to pay for parts and now im working 10 hour days on the weekend so I can afford gas and insurance plus whatever else I need for it

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Annabelle: 1970 Dodge Dart Hardtop
1991 Nissan 240sx (sileighty) Lots of mods
1974 Dodge Dart *Wrecked*