Value of car purchase? Please, it's complicated!

Well, you asked for advice, so please dont get offended.

When you consider what you spend on your children during your lifetime, there is no type of "Justification". It's like saying "Well, your mother and I have spent $200k on you during your lifetime, so you owe us your paycheck for the next 20 years".

Your kid wants to sell the car. He can sell the car to someone else and get $2k for it. He honored your request to give you first dibs. I cant see how you would even question the situation.

What's the upside/downside here? Upside: You get a car for next to nothing, and recoup some of the money you spent. Downside: You will create hard feelings between your son and yourselves that will never be forgotten. And because your kid loves you, he may see it your way, even though it puts him in a worse situation than he is.

If it were me, I'd buy it from him, then turn around and sell it, and give him that money as well. I had wonderful parents who always put me ahead of them, no matter what the situation. I will always do the same for my kids. If they cant rely on me for a little help when the odds are against them, who can they rely on?

I am in no way implying you are not good parents. The way my parents raised me was different from the way many of my friends parents raised them. (Funny, but those same friends remember their parents less fondly than I do mine.) I'm just saying that as far as kids go, you can pretty much forget any money that has been spent in the past.

Now, however, if it were a Hemi GSS Dart.....lol