Tammy, Mag & I think the world of your daughter. She's a good kid, and I'm not going to weigh in on whether or not you should get it for her. I don't want try to influence your decision either way. Because the next time I see her, I don't want her thinking we had any sway in how you decided. Knowing her, I'll bet she's got her hopes up.
We've been wrestling with getting our 16-year old a car, but only out of necessity. He's going to college, and with us both working, no public transportation, no one to ride with, he needs to get his license and drive himself.
I always vowed I'd never buy my kid a car. Because my parents didn't buy me one, and it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I had to work to earn my money. I had to buy something I could afford. (1969 Camaro- $350)
It barely was running when I got it, so I had to learn to fix it myself. I had to pay for my own insurance, tabs, gas & parts (and parts, and parts...) What I got out of it, would last me a lifetime. Sad to say the Camaro wouldn't.:(
The problem I have with my son is more a symptom of his instant gratification generation. He hasn't had any interest in driving like we did. His whole world is in that damn little box.
So I pretty much know he'll never appreciate anything we get him, or appreciate what it took for us to get it. But we have to take advantage of this opportunity for him to go to college. We always want our kids to do better than we did. And I often think he'll get the advantages the college education that I could never afford when I was that age, but he will lack so much in the life skills that I gained the hard way.