Mike C.

Thanks for the comments, suggestions and kind words all. The question of a 15 year old driving in CT is a valid one.. The rules stated above are correct. Yes I had been teaching him to drive the old Subaru (stick) on some fairly deserted roads around here. So I will accept some of the blame but it really boils down to trust as far as I'm concerned. I cannot trust him to make mature decisions yet and until I see evidence of such maturity, driving will not be in the cards. Lack of respect for others property is also at issue here. My wife and I realize most teenagers will do stupid things and we are glad he didn't get hurt or get arrested. It's our job to make sure the lessons are learned.

Mike C.

It would have to be something underpowered like a Cimmaron...

Mike C.

Luckily I do have a tail light and marker light in the basement from a parts car. The shop that did the fixing on the front end (approx 1 & 1/2 years ago) was willing to work with me as far as letting me supply the parts, etc. I suspect he will make me a good deal if I bring it in ready to beat (carpet removed, stick on sound deadener removed, tail light removed, etc). Hopefully they can do a decent job matching 25 year old alpine white.

pa944red

Kid has two strikes, trust and respect, and he doesn't even have his liscnence yet.

My vote is he buys his own car, or at least a large portion of it; after he pays for your car and pays for 100% of his insurance on your policy for the privelage to drive.

Tom

Mike C.

Yes we're often reminding him that insurance will be very expensive. He will be paying for his own car for sure. I had been trying to drive home the point that an inexperienced driver should not start out with a 'nice' car since learning often involves little incidents where two solid objects try to occupy the same space. We were planning to subsidize maybe half the insurance with the understanding that if he gets any tickets, he will pay the extra surcharges which, depending on what the infraction is, may price him out of driving until 18 at least.

Arominus

my vote, a late 80's grand am with a 2.5l iron duke. It was ugly, slow, noisy, reliable, uncool, and cheap to fix/maintain. I also didn't care if i bounced off something (which i did). It wasn't even my first car, i just needed a cheap ride at the time and it worked out. My first car was a 1957 dodge, and it was cool as hell, too bad the motor gave out. Being young i was to stupid to just fix it and i let that car goto the crusher. That was about 10 years ago... I miss it, but i love my porsche that i have now.

944Ross

Ummmmm.... maybe you should read post #14 before making outrageous statements

bearone

i did, apparently the kid had access to the key, aka kid's fault or parent.

the op apparently had been driving with the 15 year old before this incident or the kid wouldn't have attempted to drive it.

you must not be a parent, i am and with three kids, now 30, 28 and 20, none of them ever took the car with out permission and none were driving without a permit.

ilikemy944

+1 for the Geo Metro.

I had a 91 Toyota Previa (2.4L 4-cyl rwd) for several months, and it was faster than my buddy's V6 Camaro, would do donuts, jumped ok (if you didn't go too far as it was nose heavy) and was great off-road. Not to mention how fun it was in the ice and snow...

mark_uss

a YUGO or PACER

V2Rocket

mid engine supercharged minivan ftw

944Ross

I am a parent, 3 boys, all grown now, which is why I know **** like this happens!

bearone

did your kids ever take a vehicle without permission or drive alone without a permit?

MM951

I did as a young, dumb kid and never was caught. My mother only found out when I told her. A big chunk of the males I went to school with with did the same or worse. A few girls even, but that was relatively uncommon.

IMO, you would be very surprised to find out some of the things your kids have done that you never found out about.

bearone

touche'