But my parents bought me a car for my 16th birthday, it was from a new Cadillac, but it was my first car... It sat in the driveway, me still ridding the bus everyday, until I found a job allowing me to buy my own insurance... (and that took 6 months)
Still to this day, I believe that was very effective parenting, As my parents have probably not given me more than $10 for gas in my lifetime. (and $5 of that was a bribe to take my sister to soccer practice, me being ever the capitalist) what is the old saying, catch a man a fish, feed him for a day, teach him to fish....
If you have a child with a penis, i see no reason why he cannot assume all of the responsibility of owning/operating his own automobile. To allow him do any less, will certainty cripple him.