Now that most of my friends have kids who are starting to drive I've noticed a real change (even in this economy) in kid's first cars. Parents generally pay for their kids first car, and the insurance and registration, and seem to buy a fairly new (often times brand new) more expensive car. Back when I was a youngin' no parent bought their kids first car. If you wanted a car you bought it yourself and it was usually a very old clunker. You were also expected to work to earn the money to insure and maintain the car and pay for gas. That has seemed to change - alot!
So what was your first car and who bought it - you or your parents? At what age? Did you work to earn the money to buy the car? My first car was a 12 year old Ford Econoline van (to haul my motorcycles - dirt bikes- around). Nothing like a cute 16 year old girl with her own van to make you popular with high school boys :-)! It was a clunker and cost me $400. I had several other cars during my high school years (all bought and paid for by me) but the van was the first - and coolest - IMHO!