Talking with a work friend yesterday. His son has been living at home for a couple of year (working part time / full time) since graduation, and finally has applied and will go to school in January.
He mentioned that his truck (Ford 350) was totalled in a fire (one of the batteries ignited and it melted / burned up in the driveway), and his son was exceptionally disappointed to not drive it any more. (Son paid for gas, but no other costs that I am aware of). In fact, friend is not replacing truck because they do not NEED a truck anymore.
So, the son decides to buy his own truck, because driving one of the other family cars is "not his style". My friend coached him on the high cost of such a vehicle, and the fact that he, as a young adult in school and working at a restaurant, does not NEED a truck.
Great? yah?
End of story -- Friend has cosigned a loan with son for a NEW (I think, from a dealer) FORD 350 truck. Friend helped him cost it out, and it will cost $1200/month for payments, parking, insurance and DIESEL to drive 38km each way to school.....!!!!!
Maybe I shoujld be content that my friend can math, and did not buy it as a family car that the son only uses....