mcholdfast

My first car was a 69 Mustang Mach 1. Luckily, it was broken down more often than not reducing my opportunity to kill myself and others. Had I had more road time with it, I probably would have done both and I was an A student and a good boy as far as my parents knew. Prior to that, I drove my parents AMC Pacer which, in hindsight, was really a great car. I wonder if that had any influence on my current automotive preference.

Gretch

I strongly second the motion on getting him to the track with the car as soon as you can. If he is even remotely normal, there will come a time when he wants to see what the shark "can do"............ You want him to do that on the track, not on the street. Best of luck, and yeah he is one lucky guy and all his buddies will think him the BSD..........because he is.

slider172

http://www.driveok.com/

Alan '79 928

Good point, if your kid wants to drive fast he is going to do it regardless of the car. When I was 16 I had a 95 hp Nissan Pulsar, plus regular use of my dad's Mustang Cobra and 928 (though not a GT). All I wanted to do was drive fast regardless of what car I was driving (probably I am lucky to be alive).

Anyway, I used to max the Nissan out at 108 on the highway, it took days to stop from the speed. We used to do 360s, drifts whatever we could think of.
But I always had more respect for the Mustang and especially the 928. Even though I still drove fast I was always careful with the Porsche. And surely I was safer in a car with big brakes and better handling.

All I am saying is I look at it like this - If my kid is like me he will speed in whatever car he has, consequences be damned. Nobody could talk any sense into me at the time. But I would rather have him in a safe car that he respects even if it is faster. Because even a 95 hp Nissan can go 100+. It just can't stop or change lanes from that speed. My high school had kids driving M3s, Camaro SSs, a couple of very fast turbo Supras - they treated those cars like their baby's. Two students were killed in an Accord, one in a Toyota, and several seriously injured in a Navigator.

We all drove like maniacs, but I feel like those of us driving sports cars were slightly more well equipped and more respectful of the cars abilities.

MPD47

Doesnt matter if it's a 928, or a Mazda 626 with 100bhp, he'll find a way to smoke the tires, do donuts, and get it upto 120mph. Ask me how I know. Everyone has a wild streak in them, especially behind the wheel. So no, I wouldnt let him take the car. A BMW e30 325is is a perfect beater car though. I've bought those as winter cars a few times and always got my moneys worth.

Shark Attack

WHEW!

THANK YOU. I actually lost sleep on this one last night

and he will thank you when he has teenage kids and looks back at this.

docmirror

Hey guys, again I appreciate all the viewpoints, and thanks for sharing your back stories like mine. We're gearheads, grease is in most of our bloodstream. My son isn't like that at all. He just wants something to drive. some of the other suggestions he's had(influenced by me of course) are a late '70s El Camino, original Mini Cooper, and a VW Golf. None of which are particularly safe driving cars.

We'll prolly get a truck so we can use it for other things on weekend. Kind of a dual use vehicle. Modern Dodge trucks are pretty safe, mainly because their big, and bulky. I've got a Durango, and it's been amazingly reliable for 175k miles.

When we had the take it easy discussion, I told to think about what the headlines in the newspaper would say if a 16 YO smashed up daddy's Porsche. It would embarass him no end at this age, and although it seems juvenile, embarassment is to be completely avoided at 16. The discussion on giving him respect for his decision making and allowing him to control his destiny is pretty much how I feel. He's done nothing so far to warrant any discipline other than the occasional rant to finish homework, or clean up the bedroom. It's scary how well behaved he is, and not because I'm a tyrant about it either, actually pretty laid back in terms of parenting.

So, he's not driving today due to a problem with the car(in another thread), but I'll let him use it from time to time and we'll keep him in another car for a few years. Texas has the graduated license program. He can only drive from 6am to 9pm, no more than 50 miles from home, only one passenger, and any moving violations in the first year is a six month suspension. So far, he's agood judge of his abilities, let's hope that continues.

Doc

Ed Scherer

So... color? Condition? Price? Expected availability?

Bill Ball

One of my son's best buddies, a real nice kid who had gone on many ski trips with us, in a way sacrificed himself for his friends. He died less than a year ago in a horrific single-car accident in the family MB sedan, apparently after leaving a party at which there was alcohol. It was a very diffcult, rude awakening for all of his friends and family. I've never seen so many people completely torn up at one time as the kids and adults at the wake and funeral events for him. I cried right along with my son and all of the others. It was a tragic, senseless loss, and I can only hope it had a huge impact on all the kids there, making it clear that they are not invincible.

bigmac

Keep in mind that a novice driver can do a lot of damage to others in a Dodge truck.
A used non turbo Volvo is safer for all parties concerned.
Good luck!
Mac

Shark Attack

I wonder how many there has been that dad doesnt even know about?
Not all kids with hot cars will be killed in them. I just dont feel it is worth the risk.

I made it. and Ill tell ya, i look back and wonder how. It was a triumph tr8 and it had no speeding tickets in it, but there was plenty of times that spelled disaster..

Gretch

plus 1...............

('cause I was a "good kid" too, but there are thigs I did that I still cannot tell my parents about, 40 years later!!!!!.......)

anonymousagain

Doc - I'm in the same boat, with my 17yr old driving The Blue Car.

Obviously, I think he's the greatest kid...because he is. Nevertheless, he drives our little pickup most of the time and especially to school, while getting accustomed to the 928 as well as doing a heavy portion of any required wrenching. Over the past 8mos, he's appreciated NOT driving it to school for damage prevention and noticed how many "nice cars" get thrashed by bad spontaneous decisions and drivers thinking they can drift like the best of 'em. Fortunately, having his own fast car has helped him pay more attention to how others act with theirs and a desire to think a bit more before planting his right foot.

I try to spend quality driving time with him whenever possible and impose as many real situation cost/benefit equations for him to ponder. He WILL drive faster than he should and he WILL scare the b'jonkers out of himself doing something stupid at some point. That said, he is understanding the "mystique" of a fast car and that he doesn't have to race everyone (or anyone for that matter), to still have a fast car. Since any coffee can exhaust teen wants to race, he sees the enjoyment of blipping the throttle and then smiling off a contest, to let people continue to rumor about who's car is faster than the next guy...but not actually knowing.

Take as many drives with him as you can to talk about how things really are, and show him how to respect it's speed; find an open space to make him do panic stops, turns, acceleration in a controlled environment and/or go to a DE if you can. Then when you let him take it out for a date or borrow it for a special occasion, you'll both feel better about him knowing "this is not like driving the truck".

Good luck.

macreel

Parenting ain't for wussies...

I said Parenting not Breeding, as in raising useful, responsible,
thoughtful, considerate, entertaining children.

We can't box'em up and put them on a shelf til they're 20 (can we?)
and hope all will be well. They learn about life and responsibility
from minor, relatively inconsequential errors. Just call this thread
Rennlist Dr. Sprocket.

As parents we teach by word and example and hold our breaths when:
they take first steps,
start school,
take a firearm into the wilds alone,
date,
drive(any vehicle),
college,
have KIDS of their own.

I tip my hat to all you parents out there. Gutsy bunch.

G'luck all.

Richard S

My dad bought a 924 when I was in high school, and let me drive it occasionally. Good starter Porsche for a teenager....low power, but handled good. Couldn't get out of it's own way in the stoplight drags, so I never took the bait. But it was a lot of fun. My brother on the other hand, preferred to drive the Ford mini-van in high school. He could fit all his friends in it, and always had a nice big comfy place to sleep when all his friends went camping.....besides, the ladies preferred the van to a tent.

Now that I'm older, I'm glad I don't have to worry about a teenage son/daughter driving. The expense and liability issues are scary.

Rich