My first vehicle was a 47 Mercury convertible, bought for $75.00 in running shape from the original owner. I was 14 at the time. I "lost" it a couple of times for grade problems, and it made quite an impression on me. When it came time for ny kids' first cars, I made each of them a deal- - - -"I'll buy the first car, and you get to keep it, and your driver's license, as long as the grades are 'B' or above". Anytime the grades dropped, the car got parked, and I held onto their driver's license for the next 6-week grading period. I only had to do that once for each of them! They're both parents now, and when the time comes, I'm pretty sure they'll impose the same rules. BTW, rule #2 was, "You break it, you fix it!". My son's a professional mechanic now, and my daughter does all her own work, including engine overhauls!
Jerry
