Do you let your sons (or daughters) drive your Tacoma?

My 8yo drove it a few times around a parking lot. Does that count? Lol

 

For some, that would be all the time...

 

I had a good friend who raised three daughters, who told me to get your kids driving and licensed as early as possible and weened off riding their bikes. Then, complete discipline was just a car key giggle away.

 

I respect our citizenship responsibility to allow others to follow the laws of the land (or change them). There are many legal behaviors that I have family rules for. I was providing Op with my strategies and did not intend to make a social justice inference.

 

Technically, you’re correct. But, it does enhance the growth of existing cancer cells.

 

Did someone say p*ssy? All of a sudden I'm interested in vaping now.

 

That’s funny, I’m of the other mindset. I’d rather my kids like to ride bikes—that’s real freedom. Mountain Bikes are the true Zombie Apocalypse vehicle, if that’s one’s fairytale jam. But my kids will be able to drive my truck when they’re licensed, but only for a purpose, like to haul stuff or to camp or go “off-road” or to get bikes to the trailhead or to move kayaks to the water... I hope they’re as into some of those things as I am.

 

I'm single and have no children.

I drive my friend's Mini Cooper Countryman fairly often and always offer to let her drive my Toyota, but I don't think she cares much for the comparatively rough and unrefined character of a Tacoma compared to her smooth and quiet Mini.

 

Ha ha.....
I hear you. But it’s all about the job we adults do teaching them how to drive and be responsible and setting good examples. The kids will still ride bikes. My friend said, “Trust me on this.When the kids finally get out in their own, you’ll want as many years as possible driving under the responsible eye of a concerned parent. It’s like learning any mature adult behavior. “

Drive often under adult supervision as much as possible while they are with you. Our kids got to drive early and often, and eventually on their own often. Both learned on manuals and I insisted they drive my truck with the manual as much as possible.

We did not let most of their experience be with other teens and without a parents guidance. They drove early and often while they’re under our roof. Like in the military, every time they took the car/truck out on their own, they check the air pressure, oil and brakes. These were little habits they got into when they knew they would get to drive frequently and often.....and alone.

Trust is a two way street. They learn to trust us when we showed trust in them. A car is one example. It was also a great bonding experience when ever we went anywhere as a family. We had the kids do the driving.

 

Sounds like a terrible friend

 

They would never find the body.

 

I second that.

 

I hear you. But, the convincer is a long drive over a rough dirt road. All of a sudden, it’s the Taco that’s smoother and quieter.

 

Sure, if I can’t trust my kids to behave themselves in school when I’m not around and to work hard and get decent grades, I can’t trust them to take my cars out. In our house, they went hand in hand.

 

The local racetrack puts up Christmas lights and lets the public come do a slow crawl down the track. Last year I let my 2 year old sit in my lap and steer. He's had some offroad practice this summer so I suspect his lap time will go down this year. We go early in the season and midweek when we have the place to ourselves. Driving dad's truck is becoming the highlight of the holiday season.

 

Fortunately for me, there are a great many gravel roads where I live. The Tacoma is an absolute riot on gravel!

I mean, she doesn't even get into forum battles with other Mini drivers over weirdly-specific details of the cars that have no significance. It's almost as if she...likes her car? Weird, I know

 

No

 

My college son's take it all the time when they're home. I don't mind.

 

I let my 21 year old daughter drive my new pro with only 100 miles on it. I’m guessing years from now she won’t forget the experience of driving dad’s brand new truck.

 

I grew up in a household where my dad really enjoyed his cars but also enjoyed seeing his family be able to enjoy them too. He let my brothers and I learn on his sports cars and insisted that we learned how to drive a manual transmission. We would practice under my father/mother's guidance and pretty soon my parents would let us take their cars once they trusted us enough to be able to drive well.

I agree with the messages above that trust is a two way street and must be cultivated on both sides... that being said, when I have kids of my own I would love for them to enjoy and appreciate my truck as much as I did my father's cars, given that they are able to appreciate and respect the privilege it is to drive someone else's valued possession.