My son hates my Prius- How can I mod it to be cool to a 13yo

remind him that this thread is 4 years old.

i wonder if the OP is still on here, and can chime in with what happened when the kid started driving.

 

He would be 17 years old by now... How does he feel about the Prius?

 

* I know how *

Take it to a large, unoccupied parking lot. Let him drive it, at low speeds.

Guys *always* fall in love with the *first* car they drive....

(soft spot in my heart for the GM Chevrolet Acadian)

 

People I werk with tell me how ugly my car is. I agree with them, then start talking about the 60.4 MPG best tank I have done, or the 55ish average I see, and how pretty that looks to me.

It shuts them up quite fast...and its honestly how I feel too.

 

Re: It's not a good car for a child driver - too sophisticated

I went window shopping (online) and found a smart car CONVERTABLE (2 door) with 1500 miles on it for only $9,999....

I was thinking I should grab it for my son...Almost NO miles, SMALL, will discourage any idiotic driving!

 

I'd just trade my kid in for a "cool" kid who thinks Prii are the "bomb."

Mike

 

Wait on that quote for when it's raining outside, just to make doubly sure the message is "received".

Speaking of which, I fired off a PM to the OP to ask him to revisit this thread. He last posted on at the end of August, so he does still frequent the site.

 

Dump the kid, keep the car.

 

Exclude him from every family function to which you would travel in that car. He's thirteen, so he'll love the time without family. At that age, adults are idiots and they know absolutely everything. I wouldn't dare even consider modding the car for his tastes; it's bad enough that he thinks he has some sort of right to complain about the car.

If he wants to go anywhere, offer to take him only in the Prius. And when he gives you grief about "park back there; I can walk from here" you just turn around and bring him home. Quite simply, if he's going to be stubborn, you need to employ the technique of "firm positional bargaining:" You want to go somewhere? OK, go get in the car. You want me to drop you off right here? You're funny; you get to choose between going all the way there or all the way home.

After some time and resentment he'll start tolerating it. After he tolerates it the "war" over the car will get old and boring like any other new toy. After it's an old toy you won't have to fight with him over this anymore and your authority will be more soundly established.

Kids need to remember who has power and that they have no rights other than personal safety.

~ dan ~

 

Hey, welcome back fruzzetti!

You were missed.

 

Thanks, Tom! It's good to be back. I'm not sure how often I'll be online, but I'll be popping in now and again!

 

Ray, I feel for you. Really.
I'm a step mom. My DH's oldest is a girl (well, she's 26 now... she was 17 when I married him), and it's only been the last few years that she would be in the same house with me. She hated me!! Nothing I had or did was cool enough, I was horrible, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Now that's she is an adult, living independently, and has her own child, she thinks I'm awesome.
[she actually moved to a friend's house for her entire senior year, she wouldn't ever step foot in the house if I was here for that whole year.]

 

All it might take is some online shopping with him at a graphics store. Everyone likes what I did with my plain vanilla Super White. (see Avatar) Cost is minimal. We did our own tinted windows and clear bra also. If he helps put the graphics on, he may like it even better, and you can sit back and tell him what a good job he is doin'..... jf

 

Don't be too concerned about how he feels at 18. You are going to become more more intelligent and relevant to his life when he turns 25. He still may not like the Prius, but he will like you.

 

Modify it to a Plug-In. My preteen and teens (5 kids) love the wow/cool factor of driving to school and around town w/o starting the engine. Being the first in town may also help...

Hybrad
www.junglemotors.com

 

Stepchildren. They're redeeming value is that they're out of the house sooner than those that are born to you. Unless, of course, you get a good one...then you hate to see them go equally.

But you can't tell about any of 'em until it's too late to take them back and get a new one, claiming there's OBVIOUSLY been a mistake (since this one's broken.)

 

Bummer about the step-son, Ray. Keep in mind that "we" get smarter as "they" get older, if you get my drift. I got my Prius in May. My son will be 12 on the 23rd. He loves the car! I hope to pass it on to him in about 5 years and then buy myself a new one. Who knows what they'll be like by then?!!!

 

I agree with Starla (2nd posting). I was in love with both the Corvette Stingray and the Triumph Spitfire, those were my dream cars when I was younger. Then about 5 years ago the Prius became my dream car (how weird is that?) and I finally bought one. I did purchase a Spitfire about 15 years ago but it just sits in the garage. I wish I had the time to convert it to a PEV!

 

Tell him when he grows up you'll by him a BMW E30 .

Car nuts are always car nuts! And we'll never own a car like the prius as you can get just as good MPG as a 2.5 1984-1991 BMW