In reply to JamButty:
It may be a bit of jealousy talking but I hate the idea of parents buying young kids cars. My parents wouldn't ever have done so, not because we were skint n all!
I got my first car at 19, around 8 months after passing my test. An agonising 8 months of being a licensed driver and not having a car because I couldn't afford one. I got a new job, on a good salary, and bought a car, with a killer 3grand insurance premium. It sucked my wage out of me, but I had little else in the way of outgoings and I was just happy to have a car finally!
Every year of insurance, ever repair bill, the two huge insurance excesses I had to pay I had to pay. I'm sure we all here know that cars are money pits, is the right way to teach kids about money and cars to just buy them one? Relying on agonising public transport is a life lesson in its self too.
I had a year, recently, where I was without car, because I didn't have the capital to buy one after being away for a bit. Going back to buses was horrific, but it's taught me to value what I have.
Anyhow, I'm ranting on now, I'll apologise for judging, and telling you how to parent (I'm yet to be one, so I'm sure you can tell me it's not easy), but think about the implications of buying a car for your kids!
Happy to receive lots of responses as to how brilliant it was and necessary it was for other peoples kids to have cars, but I'm well of the opinion it's not a good idea! A job and savings is though!