for a college kid to request a Euro or an American gas guzzling SUV, he may have some self-esteem issues. Well, as a parent, you decide, get what he wants and you boost his self-esteem for life or get a cheaper maintenance car and he remains confused with identity crisis. I would get him the Exped or Volvo, I think it's cheaper for his development in the long run

btw, what's with teenagers and yuppies nowadays? recently, I've had 2 experiences (1 in the Fort Parking Area, 1 in Ortigas side streets) with 2 groups of kids checking out my 9-year old Ford Exped. I thought that they were up to something but when I got in to my car, they were smiling at me and one even commented: nice car sir.

maybe it's the generation gap, these kids didn't know that sometime in 2008, the Financial Crisis happened, and Ford owners desperately wanted to disposed their SUVs lol

re your kid, I think it's better now that he realize that what he wants is a mistake. who knows in the future, after experiencing the Exped, he would get strictly hybrids in the future