Mark Anderson

I can tell you how to easily take out about 40hp and get it to run on 87 octane. Call for details.(don't want the kids to know how)

Ispeed

At 10 y.o. I was operating my family's 100 hp ski boat with my 11 year old brother skiing off the back. We would go out for hours, no supervision. We had a lot of fun, but nothing bad happened. I can't believe we were allowed to do stuff like that, but as a parent you have to start entrusting your kids with responsibility someday.
Put a throttle stop in, just something to limit how far the linkage will move.

danglerb

My son will be driving my Mustang by summer, its not as fast as 928 GT, but its well within the envelope of "will get you into lots of trouble in less than 10 seconds". We haven't set a hard rule about getting any ticket and it goes, partially because that first ticket may teach him something, and partially because I still like the old car, but his driving "privilege" will be suspended for long enough to remember it.

The 928 is a VERY safe car, but now I notice I made a mistake, 90 is non airbag, and I might be a bit sticky on insisting he drive an airbag car.

RicerSchnitzzle

Don't they make a GPS unit you can install that will tell you where he is and how fast he's going. Knowing Dad can switch on the laptop and bust him being stupid might be a big enough deterant.

danglerb

Put a GPS tracker in and log every mile.

docmirror

I'll be in touch tomorrow. I'm interested in the lower octane fuel use, and lossing a few ponies won't bother me either.

I thought of getting a GPS tracker, but despite the technology advances, it says much more about the relationship to me. I am either going to trust him or not trust him to be responsible. Having the tracker installed was something I tossed around and rejected. If that's what it takes to keep him safe, then I've already lost the battle. He's so much more mature than I was at that age, it's remarkable. But, like the bumper sticker says 'stuff happens'. I hope I'm not posting for a parts car in the coming months.

Doc

JWise

Doc,

First of all, kudos on raising what sounds like a very good son. If any 16 y/o is responsible enough to handle a 928, he seems to be the one.

That said, I was a similar type child and I still did things with my '81 Z-28 that would have made CBS Sports Spectactular had their cameras been present.

I believe Mark Anderson's combination of engine de-tuning along with clearly defined consequences is the way to go. You also mentioned the availability of track time. I think this is excellent as it allows you to drive home the point of there being a time and place to go fast, and it's not on the street. Also, how does he treat the car? If he's developed pride of ownership (i.e. washing/waxing it constantly), he'll probably be less likely to want to do anything that might harm it.

Oh, I forgot to mention one positive of a 16 y/o driving a 928: it's virtually impossible for anything to happen in the back seat! (I know, I know, if there's a will, there's a way)

Andre Hedrick

Where are the photos of that girl in SoCal that splattered the 996 Cab?
Show those to the kid and explain, if this doesn't kill you I will!

Bad mojo to let a 16 yo in a shark. I suspect Mark's son had some driving experience before hand. Additionally, buying one verse giving one is two totally different issues.

Doc, will trade you my SAAB 9000Turbo for the 90GT

Good luck!

Mark Anderson

We discussed the same thing with my son. His argument was that he had never done anyting to loose our trust up unitl this point so why would we not trust him now. If he had ever got into trouble or lied to us it would have been different.

macreel

Doc... may the Force be with you & wife... and your son.

Our prayer will be that he won't succumb to the call of the V8
and the OD jolt of testosterone. And when it does take him out
to the Motorsports Ranch for a lap or three.

Mark's dictum about speed makes lots of sense. [and maybe
he twiddled something under the hood... quien sabe?]

{I believe we all have teen adventures we might not share}

G'luck to you all.

danglerb

Trust them, but check up once in awhile anyway. My mom used to call the highway patrol to let them know I was headed to school and might be speeding on the freeway. Good thing I was only crazy at night, no clue whatsoever how I lived through 16-25.

GPS and make them wear a helmet.

intrepidjohnson

When my son turned 16 I bought him a new Mustang GT and a 18 speed bike. He asked why a new bike and a new car. I replied , "if you get a ticket in the Mustang you will be riding the bike".

He drove 86 miles every day to school and never got a ticket.

Nicole

Doc: Your son might be able to handle the car safely - but where does he go from driving a 330 hp high end sports car? Are you ready to give your Ferrari or Lambo in a few years when the 928 is worn out?

Because it might well be that nothing else is good enough anymore after the experience.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't think its such a great idea to let someone be defined by his car at such a young age.

This is an age where learning and travelling should be the priority - if he still gets to do that, then he is one lucky child...

Now I know why they say "in Southern California you are your car"...

Mike Frye

What's up Doc?

I don't know man. You only get one chance to make a mistake in this direction. I really appreciate what you're saying and I'm sure you know your son well enough to make this call, but I don't know.

My son is 17 and drives a beat up '92 Nissan and he won't be sitting behind the wheel of my car for a LOONGG time. He's an honor student an athlete, someone who knows right from wrong... I took his time with a permit very seriously and we spent lots and lots of hours out in the rain and snow finding out how to do cool stuff with his car so he wouldn't ever be surprised or unprepared in a spin. He knows exactly what his car can do. Six weeks ago he was delivering pizzas, cut some guy off and got hit (my son's fault). No injuries and my insurance gave us one free for having a clean record for five years. A real lucky break.

Bottom line, boys will be boys. If he didn't love the car, you wouldn't want him to drive it. If he loves the car, he definitely shouldn't be driving it !

Besides, where's he gonna go from there? He'll never be able to drive a minivan or some old beater after this. I don't think I could appreciate this car as much now if I hadn't spent my first 5 years driving POS after rusty old POS.

danglerb

Car keys and a bus pass sounds good too.