I agree with this guy here. I'm 21 now, got my liscence at 18 after driving around in my sisters G-20 to learn how to drive. Looking back, I didn't know anything about driving and had little to know common sense until I was about 20 or so.

My first car was a 93 Civic. I put a stereo, wheels, muffler and intake on in and I thought I was the coolest kid. I would try to show off in front of people and they probably looked at me like, "what the hell is he trying to prove?" I think I impressed 0 people. I couldn't afford full coverage anymore after spending all my money on mods and so I changed it to just liability. Later a dumb girl hit my car speeding in a residental neighborhood talking on her cell phone. There were no stop signs and I wasn't paying much attention either. Since she was to the right of me, they claimed it was 60% my fault and didn't pay for any on my damages. I was pissed, but learned a valuable lesson. Watch ALL intersections even if the other person should stop, and drive carefully. I remember why it happened too. I was on my way to Circuit City to buy some new speakers, tried a back road, got lost and then BANG...all my money GONE!

Second car was a 93 Civic LX. This time I was buying non crappy stuff. I had a muffler with a silencer, low key GSR wheels, intake, stereo, ground-control coilovers, tociko shocks. Mind you, I don't have much money, so it was mostly on credit. Big mistake! A lady turned left right in front of me and there goes my car. I had a hell of a time her god damn insurance company wanting to give me almost nothing for my car. First they gave me a check that would only pay for part of the damage saying if the body shop needs more money, they'll give it to them. I took it to the body shop and they ended up totaling it out, the damage being about $4500. They thought I would take the measley $3,000 and be on my merry little way. The bitch even accused me of spending the money she had given me. I fought for weeks riding around in a rental car that they were only going to pay one weeks worth. They were not going to compensate me for the mods done to my car, they wanted to give me $4,500 and that's all. Actually they wanted me to give back the $3,000 dollar check, so they could give me another one for $4500, but I don't think they were going to do that. When I told her that it was in my bank account, she go mad and accused me of spending it. I wasn't going to hold a check for that amount to risk either losing it or them putting a stop payment on it. To cut it short, I ended up getting $8300 for it which payed for all but $500 of my remaining loan and mods. Having a cop friend and threatening to sue helped I think. FYI it was Farmers Insurance. Lesson one, never take a check for a rental. Always set up a direct payment with the insurance co. Lesson two, don't let the insurance screw with you. If you don't get what you deserve, sue them. They tried to pick on me cause the thought I was an immature little bastard who let people push me around. Immature was right, but I will not be stepped on. All in all, I got a good deal, they payed off a car loan that I was paying way too much for and high interest and I got a car that I've always wanted...a del Slo. I'm much smarter with that car and only got rearended by some drunk who hit and ran.

Sorry for the long post. You guys will learn when it happens to you...maybe not.

Mark

BTW, my car was at the body shop waiting to get fixed when she accused me of spending all the money. That's how stupid they thought I was.