graduation, my niece, and a jetta

There's always multiple angles to every story.
J Utah states shit got weird After telling her dad what he was up to.
Sounds to me like Dad may have something to do with cars refusal.
Kids with no car are fucking estsatic to get anything to drive. 4 or 2 door.
Shit even the Amish kid rejoiced at a buggy.
I say something is amiss with Dad and daughter graciously turned down car with out exposing Dads refusal to let her have it.

I'm with the niece on this one.

She wasn't born selfish. She learned that from someone. There are unintended clues to who taught her from your post. You couldn't be bothered to find out what she wanted. You weren't close enough to her to know that if she didn't get exactly what she wanted she would reject it (this can't have been the first time this has happened). You didn't buy this for her. You did it for yourself. To be the cool uncle she would brag to her cute friends about. You were selfish.

The interesting thing is that your brother (or brother-in-law) didn't seen to know either; that she was very specific about the kind of car she wanted. Or maybe he did and thought it would be entertaining to sit back and watch what would happen.

Sure, she could have taken the car and sold it. But I admire the in your face rejection. She couldn't be bothered with a 10 year old car that, despite what you may have put into, was probably not worth more than a couple of thousand. Originally Posted by cabletex7

Why is what she "wanted" particularly relevant? You don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Unless you have the means to buy your own car, if somebody gives you a car, you're grateful and you drive it. Period. When I was 17, I wanted a Ferrari or a Jag E-Type 12 cyl. Well guess what, I got a hand-me-down comet green Ford Falcon.

You don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Originally Posted by TexTushHog

So no one is allowed to say no to a gift these days? Regardless of why, anyone can always say no to someone giving them something.

The story in this thread is poor form and completely irrelevant, unless the intent here isn't to actually sell the car.

Why is what she "wanted" particularly relevant? Originally Posted by TexTushHog

My niece is graduating, headed to college, recently got a drivers license and a part time job to save for a car. Originally Posted by Jonny Utah

There is your answer. OP goofed. Had great intentions; but goofed. Girl seems staunch on what she wants and what she is working hard for. Can't blame her for that. Good luck selling the car OP, maybe if you want your good deed to go punished (??) next time you risk the surprise factor and make everyone happy.

Donate it to Texas CAN for a write-off. Those kids would love to have transportation.

I wouldn't take it personally. I remember being that age and EVERYTHING is embarrassing -- your parents, your neighborhood, what kind of phone you have. It all feels like the end of the world if it isn't exactly perfect.
Of course, if it were me..and I didn't like it..I would have accepted it and sold it and used the money as a down payment on something I wanted..but of course, that's the hooker in me:-)
You're a very nice uncle and a good person, don't let it discourage you:-) She's 18! 18 year olds aren't known for always making the best choices. Probably 5 years from now, when she grows up a little and realizes what it's like to spend her own hard earned money, you'll get an apology!

Sounds about as bad as my nephews. Wow I'm terribly sorry.. Your doing right putting it up for sale. My nephew one year acted like such an ass but brother had spent so much money it really hurt and my brother gathered all his stuff and said I'm shipping it back you can't be more respectful and grateful or you can do without. I say kodos to him!! You don't bit the hand that feeds you. Back in like 1998 my first car was a 1972 chevelle man loved it it ran like.. Lmao.. It got me from point A to point B when I needed to be there by curfew for sure. Lmfao!!! The memories but to have a newer car and you did all that you freaking rock!! It's a shame she's not more greatful. I would had bought it at same time I was looking for a cash car but I'm a Chevy, Cadillac and gmc woman!! Well I've been in a little Toyota Rav 4 and it fun to drive and can sure get you to where you need to go so I'll have to possibly add to the list maybe..

Sounds about as bad as my nephews. Wow I'm terribly sorry.. Your doing right putting it up for sale. My nephew one year acted like such an ass but brother had spent so much money it really hurt and my brother gathered all his stuff and said I'm shipping it back you can't be more respectful and grateful or you can do without. I say kodos to him!! You don't bit the hand that feeds you. Back in like 1998 my first car was a 1972 chevelle man loved it it ran like.. Lmao.. It got me from point A to point B when I needed to be there by curfew for sure. Lmfao!!! The memories but to have a newer car and you did all that you freaking rock!! It's a shame she's not more greatful. I would had bought it at same time I was looking for a cash car but I'm a Chevy, Cadillac and gmc woman!! Well I've been in a little Toyota Rav 4 and it fun to drive and can sure get you to where you need to go so I'll have to possibly add to the list maybe.. Originally Posted by Velvetangeltouch

you fit in a rav4? damn....

Sigh...the Entitlement Generation....everything has been free for them in life so far.
They don't even know what their Iphone costs.
I would not donate the car. The tax code and the IRS screw you on that.
Sell it.

You know, you can sell a car down the road, kick in some bucks and get what you want and still be grateful to your thoughtful considerate uncle.

I'm with you on this one. Even if she didn't like the car, it was free to her. No reason she couldn't drive it to her job for a few weeks, save up some cash, then trade it on on what she really wanted! Now, she's totally on her own having to come up with the down payment, etc.

2006 Jetta's with 100k + miles typically run about 5 - 7k, which means trade in is probably 2.5k to 4K. Not bad for free money.

Plus, you're right. Once day when she's about 25, she might not ever say anything to her uncle, but she'll definitely tell her friends about how her uncle bought her a car and she turned it down, and they'll tell her how dumb it was to turn it down, then she'll realize.

Oh well. . .

I'm sure our parents thought the same way about us. . .

I wouldn't take it personally. I remember being that age and EVERYTHING is embarrassing -- your parents, your neighborhood, what kind of phone you have. It all feels like the end of the world if it isn't exactly perfect.
Of course, if it were me..and I didn't like it..I would have accepted it and sold it and used the money as a down payment on something I wanted..but of course, that's the hooker in me:-)
You're a very nice uncle and a good person, don't let it discourage you:-) She's 18! 18 year olds aren't known for always making the best choices. Probably 5 years from now, when she grows up a little and realizes what it's like to spend her own hard earned money, you'll get an apology! Originally Posted by Maggie_May