AITA for selling “my daughter’s” car?

Buckle up for a family saga that’s revving up emotions! A 56-year-old dad, proud of his 28-year-old son and 22-year-old daughter, finds himself in the driver’s seat of a tricky dilemma. He gifted his son a shiny new truck to celebrate an HVAC certification, a reward for sticking it out. Meanwhile, his college-bound daughter, a brainy star, got a used ’99 BMW—cheap, a bit rusty, but hers to use, with a catch: Dad could sell it anytime.

Tensions roared to life when, during her visit home after finals, he listed the car for sale. She’d poured cash and heart into fixes—engine, paint, the works—only to face losing it. Dad insists it’s his to sell, but her hurt runs deep. Has favoritism fueled this mess, or is it just a bumpy road of misunderstanding? Let’s peel back the hood!

‘AITA for selling “my daughter’s” car?’

Selling a car tied to a daughter’s efforts sparks a family flare-up with deeper gears turning. This 56-year-old dad’s choice—gifting a new truck to his son, but offering a used BMW to his daughter with a “for now” tag—hints at uneven tracks. She fixed it up, painting and detailing with pride, only to see it listed for sale. Is this a fair deal, or a subtle tilt toward one child?

This revs up a classic issue: perceived parental favoritism. A 2021 study from the Journal of Family Psychology notes that 65% of kids in unevenly supported families feel less valued, straining bonds (source). Here, the son’s truck rewarded persistence, but the daughter’s academic wins got no parallel boost—leaving her feeling sidelined.

Dr. John Gottman, a renowned family researcher, says, “Equity in family support isn’t about identical gifts, but aligning help to effort and need” (source). Applied here, Dad’s logic—truck for certification, car for temporary use—clashes with her investment of time and money, fueling resentment. The offer to repay half the paint feels like a flat tire.

What’s the road ahead? Pause the sale, as Dad’s reconsidering, and talk it out. Acknowledge her fixes—maybe split profits if sold later, or let her keep it.

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

Reddit’s engines roared with hot takes—sharp, funny, and ready to roll! From cries of favoritism to pleas for fairness, the community’s got this dad in the hot seat. Buckle up for the highlights.

These are Reddit’s pit stop opinions, but do they hit the mark? Is Dad stuck in the mud, or just misreading the map?

This car-selling saga skidded into family friction, with a dad rethinking his move and a daughter clinging to her revamped ride. The ’99 BMW, now a symbol of effort and hurt, stays off the market—for now. Reddit’s revved up, but the road’s open: is this favoritism, a misfire, or a fixable flat? What would you do if you were in this family’s driver’s seat? Drop your thoughts, stories, and clever quips below—let’s keep this engine running!