crazandy

My thoughts exactly... with the money I could have saved, I could have a nice Jeep (2.5k for the jeep then another 2-3k for axles and lift) for 4wheeling and a decent tow vehicle (early 90s F250). Too late for that though, I just spent 3k on a new paint job, which means I've spent about 14k total on the 944 in the 2 years I've owned it.

Pics to come of the new paint job in a few weeks.

User 41221

You guys missed my point. I am certainly not planning on trying to put her in to the position that stupid alternatives are available to her, but do you really think I can keep them from her, or her from them if that what she really choices to do? Life deals its hand, and then you what you do with those cards is up to you. I just hope I can help her out when she gets dealt four hearts and a club...

Regards,

brrt50cal

Use this as an example: You can't stop someone from killing another person. But you don't give them the gun to do it with. Understand where I'm coming from?

User 41221

I understand your example but I don't agree it fits in this case. The part you guys aren't factoring into this is a concept called "parenting", which seems to have taken a backseat to tvs and videogames in the world today. This is not meant to be taken as a personal comment by anyone reading this, but as a comment in general. In my opinion, the 944 is an inherently safe car. If I do a good job teaching my daughter the limitations of it, give her some decent driving experiences so that she can learn how to drive safely and place expectations on her and hold her to them, then I have hopefully done what I can do as a parent.

Or would you guys rather have been told "no" by your parents? To be honest with you, I don't see you guys talking about why the 944 was so bad for you, except from an economic standpoint and what other things you might have otherwise done with your money, none of which included paying rent or being self sufficient. And thats okay, because thats an important part of life too, and not everyone is fortunate enough to be in the position to experience that. Count your blessings, guys... you are sitting in front of a computer talking about this (and I am enjoying the interchange, btw... ).

Regards,

brrt50cal

Ok heres another example: You can't stop someone from speeding, but you don't give them a car that they can do it in excess. My mother was totally against me getting the 944. She had very good reason to be. But I had to pay for insurance on the car and it damn near killed me.

crazandy

My parents did a great job of raising me. Like I said before I did well in school and never did any drugs or alcohol, but that one night I met up with my friend changed my whole driving style. If I didn't meet up with him I may have driven the 944 sanely (sp) for the past 2 years, but just one incident changed my way of driving. But the first time I got the Ford above 80 (going downhill) I was pretty scared of it at that speed, but in the 944 at that speed I felt like I was only going 15-20mph (piece of cake), so I don't go that fast in the Ford anymore.

Another thing... I guess my friend that I got up to 130 with got scared by my driving, because everytime I've seen him drive, or been with him driving he does the speed limit and is an all around great driver.

User 41221

Sorry, I hit the wrong button while typing... go back and check out the edited version, as thatsays what I meant to say.

Regards,

brrt50cal

At the time I didn't want to be told no. I was going to own a Porsche!!! GO ME!! Now I wish they had said no way. I could have saved my money and went out on my own. I wouldn't have had to put up with kids in school talking about me behind my back. All of a sudden I was some kind of rich *****. The ricers called my car the "poor man's Porsche." Teen years are troubling enough without having to put up with extra BS because you drive a Porsche.

User 41221

Brrt, again, I disagree with your example, as I can't think of a single car out there that isn't capable of grossly exceeding a posted speed limit somewhere. Does that mean we shouldn't let anyone under the age of, say,27 drive, simply because they might possibly speed? What about "personal responsibility", guys? It needs to be learned at some time, but I challenge anyone to define at what point an individual will develop it.

I STILL am of the opinion that the 944na is as safe a car as I can provide my daughter, and as long as I am there to help her learn the responsibility of it, until she can demonstrate that she understands the concept of "personal responsibility", then how is this a bad choice?

Regards,

crazandy

I believe that if I had some DE experiences or some form of a controlled driving environment I wouldn't want to get my fix driving on public roads. Or maybe even take it to the strip once in a while to get my speed frenzy under control. But I never had and so I ended up doing it on public roads.

I guess there's only so much you can do and certain things are going to happen in life whether or not you can control them. I guess the 944 is no worse (if not better/safer) than my CJ5 I just bought this winter. 304V8 with 33" tires (soon to be 35") and about 6" of lift, narrow track axles and an extremely short wheelbase.

http://www.geocities.com/crazandy/ve...eppassside.jpg

brrt50cal

Like I said before, do what you want. I'm just trying to say, I've seen too many kids hurt before. I'm tired of arguing about it. Like I said many a time, just like running in the Special Olympics. I can't change the fact that parents give their kids fast cars just like I can't change the weather. Do what you want. It's your life and hers. I only hope things turn out okay.

crazandy

The only thing that teaches responsibility is first hand experience (at least for me). I always knew speeding was bad and could get you in trouble, or seriously/fatally injured. But it never occurred to me how serious stuff is until it started happening to people I knew and that they had to go to court and paying large amounts for insurance, and even some had injuries from accidents.

This is true for many things, including drugs, luckily I learned about drugs early and never wanted to try. My parents could/can tell me what to do all day, but until I experience it first hand I may or may not bother to act upon what they told me.

Ag951

I don't think that loaded gun analogy holds. I knew lots of teens with guns. Not one ever shot at another human. The gun and car are only dangerous if Scott hasn't done his job as a dad correctly.
If his daughter does end up driving like an idiot, a Porsche is a great vehicle for it. It has excellent brakes, great tires, a stiff suspension with a balanced, low design to accomodate high speed swerves. And if all that doesn't keep her from hitting something, she has a 3000lb. galvanized steel cage around her.
But Scott, you'll be surprised how many teenagers can fit in a 944 if they try. Make sure to stress the "1 seatbelt, 1 butt" rule.
I drove like an idiot when I was a teenager (but without a single ticket or accident), but I did it in an '85 escort, '85 chrysler lebaron turbo, or '88 grand am. I could go 100+ in each of those (I did), but they don't have anywhere near the control of a 944, nor do they have its safety.

User 41221

My daughter has already been out on the parade laps that we have at the DE's, so she's not unfamiliar with being on the track. She's also gotten a little bit of experience with go carts, so she's getting some early instruction. No DE's until she's 18, of course, which I think is reasonable as most kids spend their first couple of years getting the basics down. I do wish that driving instruction included some closed loop sessions that taught kids what its like to spin and what the limits of adhesion can be expected in the average sedan. I bet that would open a LOT of kids eyes up right there, and make them much safer as a result. Letting someone take a car up to 80-85 and then lose control of it in a controlled environment would teach them a lot more than any class room instruction would, imo.

Regards,

ERAU-944

scott -

you're a smart guy. i've got no doubt that she'll be a fine driver. obviously you've got great taste in cars.

now, lets have taste with what we post on this board, i know its a funny picture, quite a bit suggestive, but either put it in its own post and call it adult, or leave it on the OT forum. we gotta think of the children, the children!!! they're the future, they'll support us one day, they'll take care of the pcars we keep good for them.

-Michael-