ADVICE

[TheClevelandSound]

Ok bear with me, cuz of course somethings gonna come out wrong while im typing this.

I just bought decal graphics off of ebay, and no i am not asking for your opinion on them, that i could care less (no offense). These graphics were $40. I got the graphics about two weeks ago, and my dad found out He said I am not aloud to put them on, because it makes the car look "trashy" and there will be a mark when i sell it years from now. I told him that the mark is easy to get away with some touch-up paint. I tested that theory and it works.

I think I have the right to put on something that i bought on my car. Although my dad paid for most of the car, i spend $3000 on the car payment when we bought it, which was most of my savings. Because of this factor, I think i should be able to design it the way i please. And the grpahics are decals, so it isnt permanent.

I look at it this way. My mom puts a roof under my head, right? But i can still decorate my room to my liking. So why not the same circumstance with my car? Any advice?

I welcome constructive critisism.

And please dont tell me to just put them on. My dad said he will take the car away for a year if i do that.

Thanks.

RK

[Eikon]

Sounds to me like your father's already made up his mind, and you don't have a whole lot you can do about it.

Part of being a teenager is obeying your parents. Even if you don't agree with their rules, they have the right to enforce them for as long as you live under their roof.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you're perspective is screwed up on this. You are coming from a perspective of entitlement... You think you deserve this, and have the right to do that. It's really the other way around... You are fortunate to have parents who are paying for most of the car. You are lucky to have a roof to live under.

My advice is to obey your father. I see nothing wrong with trying to convince him to allow you to do what you want. Do your homework and prove to him that the stickers will not leave any lasting marks on the car. I always had to "sell" my father on my ideas. That's a good exercise. But if he stands firm and won't sway, I would not cross him.

I know it's not what you want to hear... but you asked for honest advice. Good luck with it.. you'll figure it out.

[TheClevelandSound]

Thats where ur wrong. That is what i wanted to hear. The topic is entitled" ADVICE" and thats what i got. Thanks.

And dont get me wrong, I do appreciate everything that my parents ever do for me, and i love my car to death. I just am trying to figure out what my dads issue is. Cuz if u knew him, he ALWAYS eventually gives in. I dont even live with him. I live with my mom. But now my dad told me that its up to my mom because the title is in her name, so i will still try. Cuz i cant wait two years till i graduate! Idk if the grpahics even last that long!

[Eikon]

Sounds like you're on the right track.. One of the best skills a kid can learn is to haggle with their parents and sell them on their ideas.

Keep working on convincing your mom and/or dad that the stickers don't harm anything. Find some proof that the adhesives don't eat into the clear-coat paint. Then continue to debate the idea that personalizing your car is something that is very popular and common nowadays..

Keep working on them.. they will give in.

Then when you do put your decals on.. post pictures here so that we can make fun of you.. lol. kidding...

[matt_a]

As the father of a teenager I would like to say that Eikon has given you very good advice here. Yes, you paid for a portion of your car. But you've already admitted that your dad paid for most of it. He's also just trying to look out for your best interests. While you are looking at the more immediate situation, your dad is thinking more about down the road a few years. He's thinking about the value of the car when it's time to sell or trade it someday. This is something that comes from experience. Pardon the cliche', but your father has "been there...done that" for many things you're going through.

As for the touch-up paint thing...you might want to rethink that. While very small nicks and chips can be made to look better with touch-up paint, it's not going to help a large surface imperfection or fading. Just something to think about.

[07Vsdn]

Eikon touched on what I am about to say.

Negotiate.

Give him something he wants and maybe he'll give you what you want.

I don't know what he wants, you'll have to figure that out. But I bet you can come up with something...

Grades, yardwork, some other sort of manual labor, etc...

"Dad, if I do this, will you allow me to do this?"

[biggie]

Dad is a smart guy.

The decals will lower the value and if they are on there long enough you will see them in the paint forever (until repainted). He is just trying to protect his investment (and probably trying to save you some redicule).

[matttail]

Perhaps you could consider customizing the car in a non-permanent way that will still et you put your mark on the car. Even when you know your parents are wrong, sometimes it's best just to go with what they want. My suggestion would be rather than research and sell this idea to your Dad you should look into other ways to customize the car that will make you happy.

Perhaps window decals would be something to consider. They'd go up on the inside of the windows and can be taken back off with a flat blade. Or perhaps matching seat covers, floor mats, steering wheel covers, and seat back organizer - just don't cover up your side air bags.

(and on the side, sorry for the partial post. Somehow I submitted the post before I was done, and then when I was finishing it up my computer switched off, and then I had to re-type it. Bah! troublesome computer. )

Modified by matttail at 7:37 AM 11/2/2007
Modified by matttail at 7:45 AM 11/2/2007

[Joker69]

Ok, Im 19 and married, and i live alone with my wife and dogs, i have 4 cars, a mercedes which was a wedding gift from my mother in law, an eagle talon which i bought cash, a 280 Z which i bought cash, and my versa sedan. I bought the 280 while i was living with my parents still and i said hey im putting this and they were against it, but because i paid for 100% of the car it was ok to do what i wanted, now when they paid yhe better part of my 1st car which is now my sisters, a 67 mustang with the center consule, side pipes etc, i wanted to put in new speakers and stereo, take off emblems, power locks, and they said no so i didnt, they paid for the majority of the car. i understand the dilema but when u pay for your car 100% you can do WHATEVER you want with it.

[Ever Victorious]

You are still a minor, and as such you do not "own" the vehicle and don't have any "rights" with respect to it. You parents are allowing you the PRIVILEGE of using it.

It's good that you have an open dialogue with your parents and can talk to them about it, but ultimately, it is their decision until you fulfil two conditions.

1) you turn 18 AND2) the vehicle is titled in your name.

[kc5f]

Here's a possible negotiating point. Find out how much MAACO or some other company charges to repaint the car. Offer to set aside that much money to have it repainted when you're finally ready to get rid of the car and have removed the decals. It might be worth more that way than if you just never put the decals on and left the original paint. If my son suggested that to me, I'd have a hard time refusing!

As an aside, my first car was a 1972 Subaru that I bought new. I had a bumper sticker on the back of the trunk, and after I'd traded it for the next car I pulled the bumper sticker off. Along with all of the paint underneath! I have a feeling companies are using better paint by now...

[NY.AD.MAN]

Why is there even discussion about this?!

Your parents are paying for the car, even if you put money into it! If you bought a car and some guy put a down payment on it, then decided he was going to put some crappy wheels, a cheesy set of seat covers and replaced the in-dash against your will.

Would you be angry?

Yes.

Yes you would.

You know why? Because even if the other guy put 5 grand in the car, it's still YOU who is making the payments. Don't EVER underestimate or just go with what you want to do DESPITE what somebody tells you!

Sure, you want to put on the vinyls. That's your thing, whatever.

It's not your car while they pay for it, so don't treat it like it is. It's a car you are USING. I had to pay for my Versa, so I do what I want, but ON TOP of the cost of the car. I choose to spend extra money just like several others, but it is money that we have to earn on top of car payments and insurance....

SO...

Start paying for the car, THEN put the vinyls on. Simple.

[Joker69]

Why is there even discussion about this?!

Your parents are paying for the car, even if you put money into it! If you bought a car and some guy put a down payment on it, then decided he was going to put some crappy wheels, a cheesy set of seat covers and replaced the in-dash against your will.

Would you be angry?

Yes.

Yes you would.

You know why? Because even if the other guy put 5 grand in the car, it's still YOU who is making the payments. Don't EVER underestimate or just go with what you want to do DESPITE what somebody tells you!

Sure, you want to put on the vinyls. That's your thing, whatever.

It's not your car while they pay for it, so don't treat it like it is. It's a car you are USING. I had to pay for my Versa, so I do what I want, but ON TOP of the cost of the car. I choose to spend extra money just like several others, but it is money that we have to earn on top of car payments and insurance....

SO...

Start paying for the car, THEN put the vinyls on. Simple.

Damn right NY!

[lain]

Man you dad paid for most of it yet its under your mom's name? How did that happen? But ya if the car was under your own name then I would say do whatever you want to your car because its yours. But since its your moms car you would have to ask her. Usually mom's dont care...at least my mom never cared.

Of course she was the one that would kick my tires to make my alarm go off so I would jump out of bed and find her outside laughing.

[TheClevelandSound]

Man you dad paid for most of it yet its under your mom's name? How did that happen? But ya if the car was under your own name then I would say do whatever you want to your car because its yours. But since its your moms car you would have to ask her. Usually mom's dont care...at least my mom never cared.

Of course she was the one that would kick my tires to make my alarm go off so I would jump out of bed and find her outside laughing.

Ok...first off, thanks for the advice everyone...it helped alot.

Secondly, my mom is someone who cares too much if u know what i mean, but im ok with that sometimes.

And thirdly, i can handle waiting two years until im 18 to put them on, i just really need to know if they are gonna last that long

[Urq]

Depending on the vinyl used It will last about 3 to 9 years!on the back of the decal what does it say I know Orical 651 last 6 years outside and Orical 751 lasts up to 7 years.If you let me know I will look it up.

[BenzTech Gone Versa]

I always did what i wanted on my cars even if my parents paid for it,anyhow.....i have a 1981 trans am and anyone familir with these cars knows they have a bigazz decal on the hood.well after a few yrs the paint faded and decal got old so i decided to remove the decal n it left an inprint in the pain. under the decal the paint was new looking! so i replaced the decal then rather get the hood painted n fenders blended in!even if u leave a bra on your hood for a long amount of time,it will even preserve the paint while the rest of the vehicle paint fades!!!

[cherryball]

i am not sure if this is correct... but i would say touch up paint will definitely not work if u plan to do it after u have had ur vinyls on for years. the paint on ur car will fade with time... so when u are ready to sell your car and use touch up paint to cover up. it will not match the color of the paint on your car. repainting the whole car is the only option... but thats an option that will cost a lot of money....

[TheClevelandSound]

Depending on the vinyl used It will last about 3 to 9 years!on the back of the decal what does it say I know Orical 651 last 6 years outside and Orical 751 lasts up to 7 years.If you let me know I will look it up.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWDVW

[XterraVersa]

As a gag, try some of this on your V. http://www.autobarn.net/duplicolor-car-art.html

It comes off without a trace.