Not every teen's family can afford to get a nice car

Getting a driver's license is a rite of passage for any teenager and has been for generations. Feeling the tires grip the road, letting the RPMs soar and becoming one with the automotive community are all various pieces to the young-adult driving puzzle.

But not every kid's family can afford to get a nice car for its teenager. Sometimes kids have to drive their mom's old station wagon or nothing at all.

Others are lucky, such as Mitch Short and Kari Baker, both seniors at Murray High School, who ride around town in cars that would be considered extremely luxurious even to adults.

Short is a 17-year-old senior who has a 1997 BMW 328. He's been driving his leather-clad German sports car to bowling matches, work and friends' houses since June 2004, when he decided that he needed a new car. His old Mitsubishi Cordia just wasn't cutting it, so Short and his parents looked around and found this beauty of an automobile.

Surprisingly, Short doesn't spend an exorbitant amount on his wheels every month. "The payment is $124, but I make payments of $136 for some reason," he said. "(My parents) matched my down payment." With a matched payment of $2,500 and a relatively meager monthly installment, Short is on the fast-track to picking up the ladies without a large dent in his wallet.

When he's on his way down the highways of Salt Lake City, he rocks out to his Pioneer CD player and 10-inch subwoofer at high volume. "I like it. I've got some bump in the trunk."

When asked about that oh-so-important, cash-saving topic of gas mileage, Mitch gave a shrug and said "Around town about 22, on the highway about 31." With wheels this nice, who needs amazing gas mileage? A practical amount suffices for Short.

"I'm jealous!" said Short's mom. Although his mother wishes she had a comparable vehicle, she's happy for Mitch. "I think it's great. He earned it."

Because of his high GPA and such activities as jazz band and an array of AP classes, Short's parents feel he is definitely worthy of this sweet ride. As long as he keeps up those grades, he can pay for his insurance at a discount.

Short plans to keep his car for quite a while. "This'll probably last me through college, or that's the plan."

Although neither of her parents had cars when they were her age, Karily Baker's 2002 Acura MDX is one of the nicest cars in any high school parking lot (including those belonging to teachers).

This light blue SUV was one of the safest cars on the market when she received it for her 16th birthday present in 2002. "It's one of the safest SUVs. That influenced my decision. I got to pick my car, and it was either that or a 3 series BMW. But the safety factor is what 'drove' me to it."

Baker spends her time as a member of the MHS Cheerleading Squad. When she needs to lug all of her gear and friends to competitions and practices, she brings her mighty car along. "I drive everyone around because I like my car so much."

She drives her MDX around so much that she's even taken the time to name it -- "Krull The Warrior King."

Listening to her brand-new XM Satellite Radio and six-CD changer, driving her friends around town all the time and naming her car "Krull" could put most other motorists in a pretty intimidated state with a car the size of an MDX. But fear not, Utah, Baker's got a clean record. "I've gotten into little fender benders, but it's mainly like me running into my garage, but nothing major." Baker gets 18.6 miles per gallon.

Baker also hopes that her car will last until she gets out of college. She'd like to keep it around for a long time, but with the way kids are getting cars these days, it may only be a couple more years until she speeds out to the nearest dealership faster than the speeding ticket will clear.

Nick Parker is a senior at Murray High School and a member of the Deseret Morning News Pulse team of high school writers. If you are a Utah high school student and have a topic you would like to see covered, please e-mail pulse@desnews.com or write to Susan Whitney at the Deseret Morning News.

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