Parents buy 18-year-old daughter a $65K Jeep they can't afford, befuddles adult son who previously offered $5K for car payments: 'The 5k won't even last the summer'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Apr 28, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

If there is one thing people love wasting money on, it's expensive cars. I come from a town where people would buy $70K vehicles for themselves but wouldn't pay for their kid's college education. Maybe this is just because I haven't regularly driven in about six years, but I can't wrap my head around paying such an excessive amount of money on something that simply gets you from point A to point B and back. I don't think you should be foolish and buy a $500 car from some guy on Facebook Marketplace, but there's got to be a better option than buying new expensive cars for every family member. Looking cool and high-status isn't worth anything if you don't have the funds to back it up. 

The adult son of a pair of overspenders recently got himself into a conundrum. He offered to give his younger sister $5K for car payments to get her through college. However, instead of getting her a cheaper car, his parents got her a $65K Jeep. 

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  • 01
    r/AmltheAsshole u/yougotajeepwhat ⚫ 23h WIBTA if I back out of helping my sister pay for a car because she went and got a 65k jeep instead of what we originally agreed on. Not the
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 02
    My sister (18 f) is starting college this fall. She doesn't have a car but will need one because she'll be commuting to school while living at home.
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 03
    At the beginning of the year, I (27 m) told her that I'd help her pay for a car as a graduation gift, and I'd pay for the first 5k of her monthly payments. She has an almost full-ride scholarship and is living at home, so this will probably be her only recurring bill outside of school fees and supplies. I did this so that when she started working, she could build as much of a savings net as possible if something came up.
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 04
    My parents, my sister, and I originally agreed on a max of 25k-30k. This car isn't meant to last her a decade. She's never owned a car before; this is her "baby's first car." It's supposed to be an affordable used car for a college kid to get around in. It should last her for college, and then she can figure out what to do from there.
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 05
    Well, I was lied to because she and my parents went out and bought a brand-new Jeep yesterday. I'm livid my parents co-signed for her to get this. Not only did they buy a 65k brand-new car, but they financed(!) a 10k down payment at an even higher APR for some reason! For some insight, my parents cannot afford this car themselves, and they can't even afford the new payments on the loan they got for the 10k. There's a reason I'm the one helping out with the payments on this, not them. My sister d
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 06
    I'm livid. The 5k I had set aside for her won't even last the summer if we put it towards the car and loan payments. The whole reason I did this is now basically moot because she'll have to cover the payments while she's in school. My parents have good credit somehow but ave 0 cash at the end of each month, so I'm pretty sure once my 5k runs dry, the car will be repoed for nonpayment in the next year or so. What boils my blood even more is they know I'm livid but don't care. Mom went on a whole
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 07
    I'm considering backing out. I'll tell them to return the car, and we return to the original plan, or else I'll just invest the 5k in a 5-year bond for my sister. I want some opinions on this plan,
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 08
    Edit: Quick clarification. My gift to her is a total of 5k that was to be used for monthly payments. The way I worded it was weird I think originally. I did not promise to help with a downpayment or anything else fee related. She had saving to cover that. I was going to pay the first 5k of monthly payments after that.
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 09
    edit 2 and update: Some people are asking why the original car purchase price we decided of 25k-30k was so high. I agree, that's pretty high for an unemployed college. kid. That was meant to be an "absolute max that you need to think very carefully about" total (fee's included.) I was encouraging them to go for 10-15k but was talked up to a 25-30k max.
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 10
    I also just got confirmation that the deal was finalized yesterday. There's no returning the jeep, I was mistake about how used vs new cars are treated with cool down period laws. She and my parents are screwed. Thanks for the advice so far, going to think this over tonight and figure out how much of his circus I want to be apart of.
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 11
    Comfortable-Sea-2454 • 23h Commander in Cheeks [259] NTA - but your parents are, and are acting like children themselves. "For some insight, my parents cannot afford this car themselves, and they can't even afford the new payments on the loan they got for the 10k. There's a reason I'm the one helping out with the payments on this, not them. My sister does not even have a job yet, which was supposed to be step 1 before we even got her the car." They are setting your sister up to fail. The Jeep go
    via u/Comfortable-Sea-2454
  • 12
    yougotajeepwhat OP. 23h but your parents are, and are acting like children themselves. I'mvery much kicking myself right now for not realizing they would probably act like 3 18 year olds at the car dealership, rather than 2 adults with their 18 year old child. 5.2k
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 13
    rememberimapersontoo 22h Partassipant [2] maybe it's time for a one on one talk with your sister about why you're the one who has money to pay for her car, and how following your parents example with regard to money does not come with a car ✰ 5.6k
    via u/rememberimapersontoo
  • 14
    wifey1point1 • 21h I can't upvote this enough. OP needs to do an end-run around the parents at this stage. "I didn't agree to this and refuse to be a sort of this. It is reckless and foolish, and they are not helping you by teaching you that this irresponsibility is okay. Mom and dad can barely keep themselves above water, and are signing for this before you even have a job. It doesn't make sense, and I'm not bailing them out for it, and will not pay a dime towards this Jeep.
    via u/wifey1point1
  • 15
    "If or when you lose this vehicle, then we can talk. Please, let me help you with your financial plans, budgeting, how to keep your finances and bills together while you start your life. "Learning now will save you a huge amount of pain later." The parents are lost causes, clearly. 65K!!! The first vehicle my ex and I bought while making 200K combined, was only ~50K. And it was a brand new Pilot. 65K Jeep? What kind of stupidity! ... 2.2k
    via u/wifey1point1
  • 16
    Safe_Community2981 • 21h I make over $140k and I've STILL never bought a vehicle that cost over $50k. It just seems silly. And a Jeep? One of the least-reliable vehicles out there? Not only are they going to get 1 on payments but they're going to get utterly wrecked on maintenance costs as well. ◇ 1.8k
    via u/Safe_Community2981
  • 17
    ccrush 20h Wait until they get the insurance quotes. 1k
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  • 18
    True-Mousse4957 • 22h Enthusiast [8] NTA. They all need to learn a lesson the hard way. It seems as though everybody just assumed you would "pitch in" and help out once she starts drowning in debt. They will guilt you too. Tell them to take the Jeep back or figure it out themselves. I would expect this type of decision from an 18 year old, but not parents, especially when they can't make the payment themselves. If you let this ride, you will wind up paying for the Jeep out of guilt. When the day
    via u/True-Mousse4957
  • 19
    yougotajeepwhat OP. 22h Did any of the three think about how to pay for maintenance for the Jeep, insurance? No, it's as simple as they didn't once think about this. If you let this ride, you will wind up paying for the Jeep out of guilt. When the day comes that nobody can pay for it, and it will, then they will start to guilt trip you. I know for a fact this is what my parents are thinking. It's why I thought about nipping this right now ... G 1.9k
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 20
    True-Mousse4957 • 22h Enthusiast [8] I think you should. You have already gone above and beyond for your sister. Give an inch and they will take a mile. 741
    via u/True-Mousse4957
  • 21
    MOVE ON KRUB Robbes Watch • 23h Certified Proctologist [22] NTA, but I'm not sure how they can back out of the purchase. Car companies really do their best to not make it possible to back out of a deal. You need to find out if the deal is already done. If it's possible to get out of the deal, I think it's a great idea. A jeep!?? Not even a car with known excellent track record in terms of repairs, etc. And how much is the monthly/yearly insurance on this Jeep? Personally, I like the bond idea. .
    via u/Robbes_Watch
  • 22
    yougotajeepwhat OP 22h • I have no clue about the aditional costs right now. I knew the insurance + maintenance was going to be a nightmare the second I say the picture of the car they bought. I don't think they've even figured that out yet. I live 2 states away so I can't just drive to talk to them right now. I don't doubt they've signed a deal with the devil on the car and are stuck. I'm just frustrated beyond belief so I don't know, because they don't. 829
    via u/yougotajeepwhat
  • 23
    trickstergods • 21h Hey, at least you had the sense not to be involved in signing anything. So even when it gets repossessed (whether you throw away the $5k at them or not), your credit won't take the hit and you won't have debt from it. Tell them you'll save the $5k for when the car is repo'ed and help her buy a $5k used car. ... 649
    via u/trickstergods
  • 24
    NTA- KryoChamber • 23h Certified Proctologist [28] There was an agreement of a 25k-30k max. They didn't adhere to that agreement and didn't consult you when deciding to get a 65k, which is double the amount of the original agreement. Your parents co-signed a car they can't afford and one she can't afford. They will soon learn if they don't return it, that they made a horrible decision. An to be more responsible when deciding to take on any contract out of the price range. Just do what feels best
    via u/KryoChamber
  • 25
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