We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Should I buy my daughter a scooter / moped?

wongstack
wongstack Posts: 22 Forumite
edited 11 April 2011 at 10:14AM in Marriage, relationships & families
It only seemed like 5 mins ago she was a baby, now she wants a motorscooter (shes 16 next week)

I used to ride motorbikes but gave up for the safety of a car

She really wants a scooter and It would be great for her to have her independence but I do worry about the safety side of it.

Some of her friends have them and I'd hate to hold her back

I am tempted to get her one but might ask her to wait until she's older and get her a car instead.

She's really sensible, I don't think she'd ride it is badly as I used to

She wants a very cheap scooter, possibly a ploy to get me to say yes. The one she wants is the silver 50cc one from buy scooters UK surely at that price it is going to fall to pieces after a month or 2?

Would I be being over protective to ask her to wait for a car? :(
«13456789

Comments

  • Kimberley82
    Kimberley82 Posts: 1,717 Forumite
    I would never buy my child one, infact they will not have one while under this roof, far too many dangers.
    Shut up woman get on my horse!!!
  • tbourner
    tbourner Posts: 1,434 Forumite
    As long as she wears protective clothing and doesn't go out in a low cut top and shorts with just a helmet like some people do!!

    I ride a 125cc scooter, and I have motorcycle boots, armoured overtrousers, armoured jacket, armoured gloves and a good quality helmet. I look a div and have had comments like "You lost your Harley?" etc., but I don't care as I value my body more than my pride - most 16 year olds don't share that sentiment!!
    Trev. Having an out-of-money experience!
    C'MON! Let's get this debt sorted!!
  • krycek985
    krycek985 Posts: 114 Forumite
    As you most likely know. It not how well you ride but how other around you act when riding any sort of bike.

    All it takes is one person not to see you, pull out and your done for.

    I had a couple of motorbikes and after fracturing my whole hand comming off due to another idiot I sold up and used public transport.

    Yes its slow unreliable and not very cool, but it is a hell of alot safer.
  • tbourner
    tbourner Posts: 1,434 Forumite
    krycek985 wrote: »
    As you most likely know. It not how well you ride but how other around you act when riding any sort of bike.

    I have to disagree with this slightly, 9 out of 10 accidents can be prevented if the rider is aware and takes early avoidance for potential dangers - it's usually the car drivers fault but that doesn't mean the rider should just merrily ride along thinking "I have right of way here". When I see someone approach from a side road it's; right lifesaver, cover brakes, move over to right hand side of lane, make eye contact with car driver, slow down if your stopping distance is too much for the conditions etc. etc. There's no way him pulling out will cause me trouble (unless he floors it into the side of me as I go past).
    Only problems riders should have is things like people ramming them from behind at lights, even then I'm on the throttle and watching people behind me - if they're coming too fast I've always got a plan to pull forward or out the way.
    Trev. Having an out-of-money experience!
    C'MON! Let's get this debt sorted!!
  • mountainofdebt
    mountainofdebt Posts: 7,795 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Well my OH calls them donor scooters - so I guess that sums up his attitude to them.

    As for me I worry when Junior is out in the car so gawd help me if he decided he wanted one - and even though it would probably be cheaper to get him one considering the difference in premium with having him on the car insurance I don't think I would want the worry.
    2014 Target;
    To overpay CC by £1,000.
    Overpayment to date : £310

    2nd Purse Challenge:
    £15.88 saved to date
  • anderson8
    anderson8 Posts: 1,224 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    my dad has had motorbikes since he was 14(he's now 56). touch wood hes never had a bad accident(touch wood) yet he still refused to let me have a scooter whilst i was under his roof.
  • pearl123
    pearl123 Posts: 2,082 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Just don't buy one. It would be the best way of showing you love her. They are far too dangerous and any age!
  • Apricot
    Apricot Posts: 2,497 Forumite
    I had to do a speed awareness course on Friday - apparantely motorcyclists only account for 1% of road traffic yet make up 19% of all road fatalities & obviously a bigger number of casulaties that don't involve fatality!

    Personally I would start saving for driving lessons for her.
    :happylove DD July 2011:happylove

    Aug 13 [STRIKE]£4235.19[/STRIKE]:eek: £2550.00 :cool:
  • faithcecilia
    faithcecilia Posts: 1,095 Forumite
    I currently have a moped, but purely for financial reasons. If my dad offered to buy me a car in a few months time in exchange for not riding the moped I'd jump at it!! However I'm 31 not 16...and my dad will never be buying me a car!
  • the_cat
    the_cat Posts: 2,176 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I wouldn't!

    Thankfully my kids would not consider using any form of motor bike so this is unlikely to be an issue. Very sadly the reason for this is the death of a teen lad they knew a few years ago
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.7K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.4K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 601.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.6K Life & Family
  • 259.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.