One of my boys started out with a 95 Chevy Conversion van.

 

I really am not sure that good gas mileage is a good thing for a teen driver.
But the flip side of that is they will be riding with some one else if they have no gas.

 

I used to work on a kids van, it was a Astro van, he had it decked out really nice, he got a rather large stuffed pink bunny and handcuffed it to the grill in front, had that bunny all S&M'ed out, leather collar, old biker hat, dark shades, one of the funniest things I have seen.

 

Not knowing your son at all....I would say NO...NO WAY really...but there are exceptions....Mark Andersons son was a good example....he drove a 928 & a red one at that without many problems....Mark will say his son is NOT like him, or any of us...he's just not into cars like we are....

 

We have the situation. Son drives it when the occasion presents itself. Have 2 teens, they are insured to drive all the cars.
Factors in favor of 928 and teen - they are cheap and slow
Factors against - hard to repair minor dings and dents, not modern in terms of airbags and modern style crush zones (at low speed they are heavy, so they may be safe at lower speeds). Visibility not so good.
These cars aren't real expensive or fast, so what's the problem other than safety and the dings and dents issue? Safety, however, is a big deal. In our case the 928 is the heaviest car and the only one with antilock. All things considered the kid should have the safest car. In Wisconsin they can't drive with more than one non-family member for some months after first operator's permit. Our insurance is ~$ 2 000, per year on 5 old cars, only the 951 with collision. Four drivers, 2 teens, perfect records.

 

928? Not a good idea. My son got an 82 MB300TD for his first car when he was 17. It's big slow and quite durable. During the same time period 2 friends wrecked a Mustang GT (spent 6 months in the hospital and had to repeat his junior year) and turned over a Nissan 4x4 "mudding" in a state park (his parents were thrilled when the park ranger presented them with a bill for EMT services and damages). Given the peer pressure to be cool these days I don't think I would have been able to sleep at night if he had a 928. By the way....my son and his friends were honor students. Not bad kids just young and stupid.

 

I'm 16 and drive a 928........... I don't do stupid things on the street, if I want to drive fast I go out to the track. First ticket I get, I ride the bus to school.

 

I didn't respond to the poll, but I was 18 when I got my 928, and I think it made a difference. I was pretty idiotic at 16, and I did some dumb **** in whatever cars I was driving at the time. By 18 I had calmed down quite a bit, and I was able to enjoy the car for its surplus of power but also comfort of ride and surprising amount of cargo capacity (I once carried 4 people and three hockey bags in it on an hour trip. Not super comfy, but it worked).

EDIT: also, in what universe is the 928 slow? My stock S4 is like a rocket, and is probably faster than 90% of the cars out there still. I can't imagine that with minor mods (or a blower) it wouldn't be an absolute beast

 

944 N/A , I got an S2 when I was 16 but my dad and I basically rebuilt it so I had a lot of respect for it and the rest of our cars, but every time I drove the 928 I would have people trying to race me even older guys in their M5's. Now I'm 18 and still don't have a ticket (knock on wood) and I drove a Porsche everyday, basically get him an N/A that needs some work and he will gain respect for the car and will be less likely to do anything stupid.

 

I know where your coming from, my father and I also totally restored my 928. It gave me a great sense of accomplishment and I really respect the car. Since I have this respect, I do not attempt do anything stupid on the street that risks my safety or the car's.

 

Like many here, my fathers idea of a good car would have been a 66 Pontiac. That being said he had a couple corvairs (not sure about spelling)

 

My first car was a 62 Corvair. My dad didn't know anything about cars so I bought this ratty old thing for $70. I found a donor car that had the later 140HP Corsa engine and did a swap. It was a sleeper beast. Looked bone stock but I had plenty of power on tap. Didn't corner worth a ****, but in a straight line it was stupid fast.

 

Here, here to our young posters! Most appreciated. As a teen when I paid CASH for my own car and did ALL the upkeep on it, it REALLY made me appreciate that car!

As for the, "I did crazy **** whatever car I was driving when I was 16, but by 18..." Ummmm, I am 45 and STILL do CRAZY $HIT in my 928's EVERYDAY! Some people NEVER, EVER grow up, but damnit I do keep getting older! Just no fair! I only hit 100 once today and only drifted the car slightly twice today, so it was an off day for me! LOL!

 

I like the idea of the mb300tdl they are nice cars and aren't very fast. If it had to be a porsche I would say a 944 na.

 

Now a Bug is a GREAT idea. I had a buddy with one in high school, '74 super with the semi-automatic. We did everything we could possible do to get it to chirp the tires and nuthin'. Even in reverse, floored and sidestep the brake just got us rolling backwards, great car. Thumpin' Kraco stereo in that thing too. And I like bugs, would love a chance to play with one again.

My first real car was a '74 Opel wagon that died very quickly. Then I got a '78 Fiesta that-would-not-die. I did some stupid **** in that car, discovered it would drift nicely in the dirt using the handbrake. Also went off-road and passed several stuck trucks on the way to a concert once. Took that thing to college and did everything I could to kill it and it just kept going. Finally sold it for $400 to someone and as far as I know it's still going.