I have no misconception my kid is an angel in or out of the car. Still a good reliable car for her.

 

I got a 944na when I was 17, 944 turbo by 18, and a 996 by 19. If anything it sparked my interest towards Porsches and cars themselves. Plenty safe, especially if the one you're passing down is in "arrest me red." There's no missing you.

 

I got my NA when I was 19 or so. Definitely a positive experience...ownership, value of a dollar, value of hard work and earning what you achieved, etc. I probably babied that car more than anything for the first few years because I was so proud of it. Sure there are times you want to cut loose in it, but usually, the pride of ownership is a more powerful force for a young car enthusiast.

 

...wait, what?

 

I have to say I dove my first cars hard. My first was a 68 Mustang I burned 4 sets of tires off in. My next, a Datsun 200sx was a beast for a 4 banger. That was a great little car I was far too young to appreciate. After that I was old enough to not get too crazy...

I just can't understand how anyone could get too crazy in a 944 NA. Not any more than you could any other car. My biggest fear would be getting too used to the handling, then getting something else later and sliding it off the road thinking it would handle like the 944.

Top speed may be a little higher than other cars in it's class. But at least if your going to do it, best to do it in a Porsche.

 

I bought my first 944 new, just out of college.

And no, parents did NOT help me get it, or any of the other cars. I earned my way thru college and thru my car and motorcycle purchases. I say this in noting, I perhaps had a responsible gene or two passed down, so doing stupid stuff was out of the picture. Besides, Dad would have had serious words of 'dis-honor' thrown at me ......

I'd had a few performance cars already, so knew what to expect by way of braking and handling; the first drive in a Porsche 924 intrigued me, the 944 CONVINCED me these cars were safe and superbly balanced, honed to a razor's edge. I would buy one today as a parent's gift to his child, but would be taking said teen to a Porsche Driver's Education event. ( 18 yrs of age )

Training by a PCA Instructor on the merits of these cars would be mandatory. Any highspeed track events would see safety gear and helmets employed. Any drinking, bullying, drug use, diminished grades in college would see the car in MY garage till problems dealt with, and perhaps a change of venue to a military college setting, incorporated.

See ? Done and done.

 

I am waiting for my kid to turn 18 so she can indeed attend the PCA DEs. She will have her first DE Jan 2018 (assuming Suncoast will be doing one late enough in January for her).