Markmandude

I say no. I know how I was when I was a kid driving. I was so mad my parents wouldn't let me get a fast car and I had my own money to buy one. Now I'm gla they gave me a 87 Honda civic wagon(not hatchback, the four door wagon). I ended up wrecking it too. Then they finally let me get an 87 na supra which they almost didn't let me get because they thought it was too fast. And I proved them right by getting it up to 135. They don't know that.

The Flying Dutchman

I started with a Peugeot 205 when I was 19 ( in Holland at that time it was possible to drive from 18 years old). Can't remember a close encounter and maybe a speed ticket once for 3 km/hr (2 miles an hour) after correction. Never really speeded that car. However I think I am a responsible driver (my gf says sometimes I should drive faster in our DD, but the car just hates to drive fast). However if you would have put me in a 200+hp Porsche at my sixteenth bithday, I at least would have tried to give my friends a nice ride (me behind the steering wheel of course) at least once.

Why not buy the P-car a few years later. Buy a cheap car for the first year(s) while building/restoring the P-car. And after a few years you toss the keys and drive with your son. In the meantime you could let him drive in your car a few times under supervision. He will like it a lot. I also went to trackdays of Porsches and other old sport cars. Really really loved and still like that a lot, and helps you to respect the Porsche sport cars.

I really learnt driving from karting. Started young, I think it really helps you to get a feeling for driving and feeling when a car signals you it is going to drift (frontside or rearside).

blown 87

Some may have been mature, but I was WFO until I hit about 40.

SeanR

Ditto here.

My parents gave me a '77 MGB and pretty much let me do what I wanted with it. It got thrown in the ditch, hit a tree and continued to live up until the point I loaned it out to my senior prom date. Night before prom she put it in to the back of a Buick at 40mph. That was the end of that car.

I'd have killed myself with an S4.

Irony of it all, I learned to drive a stick in a 928 and had many hours behind the wheel by the time I was 17.

White Lightnin'

Perhaps a poll could be inserted in this thread... to see the actual vote of the masses?

If the first car has to be a Porsche... a 924 or a 914 should be plenty of a weight/power/handling balance to enable him to learn how to handle a car -without the higher power to tempt fate.

man_knee

In February of 1999, I was 16 with a learners permit who came home one day to find a beautiful Ruby Red 84 928S in the garage. I wouldn't consider myself to have been any more mature or immature than a typical teenager. From Feb to Oct of 1999 when I finally got my license, my dad and I drove the car everywhere I had to go. So I had 8 months to get accustomed to the car and it's capabilities while under supervision.

I wasn't a saint with the thing once I was on my own, I drove fast, I got speeding tickets, crammed in more people than I should have, drove girls around, etc. I would have to say I took full advantage of all the perks that come with driving such an amazing car. Now, just about 13 years later, I'm married with a son on the way, and it's now in my garage and someday my son will drive it as well.

I think the most important thing was my dad spending a lot of time with me driving while I was on my permit. I learned to be a comfortable, calm driver. I learned how to constantly check mirrors so I would always know who's around me, he would say that I should be able to change lanes with my eyes closed because I should already know where all the other cars are. I was a confident driver which I think is more important than the car you drive. I also learned that I had to hold the steering wheel with my left hand so I could hold the girl-in-the-passenger-seat's hand while I drove.

I think every kid should be lucky enough to be able to drive one of these cars, and I can tell you from experience what an amazing feeling it is. I think it's on you to teach your son to drive smart and to respect the power he'll be wielding with that thing. It'll be the time of his life.

SIVART

when I was a kid I had alot of cars I was driving because of friends and work , 996 , RX7 twin turbo, XJS HE , supercharged corvette , 500sel , Lancer evo, but I had alot of respect for the cars and did use the power , but some of the kids today are abit clueless and Im scared when I see them in a normal car

aussie laws now wont let young drivers have a V8 or turbocharged car, and its not stopped them from being stupid and driving like a moron , I think with the less power there pushing the limits alot more

I would do this on a case by case basis , my kids are going to have to learn to respect what they have before they can have it

Range Rover

I'm 18, and although I admit not having read this entire thread, I would like to add my input. I NEVER drive fast (never more than 5 mph above the posted speed limit) or dangerously. I am well aware of the dangers of not paying attention, using excessive speed, etc. If your kid is responsible enough not to engage in unlawful driving practices and proves that he can drive safely, then I don't seen the problem.
I RARELY drive my dad's 928 GTS, but when I do, it's usually just around the neighborhood at 25 mph. My mother has a Mercedes SL55 that she lets me drive occasionally. It's almost impossible to refrain from pushing hard on the throttle, but, as if I'm driving any other car, I never take it above the speed limit. Perhaps I'm so careful because I'm concerned with keeping both in concours condition, and I don't believe I'm using that term loosely. Almost everyday, I see friends of mine rev their engines hard, screech their tires everytime they pull away from a stoplight, and I can't help but think about how stupid and immature they look. Having a car is a huge responsibility, and should be treated as such. If kids aren't responsible, then they shouldn't be given a license or a car (even a slow and safe one). Also, the insurance premiums that come with a speeding ticket should be incentive enough to obey the law.

Tom. M

Our local PCA (PNWR) has a drivers skills day for parents and their kids...a great event and teaches them how to properly handle the high performance cars.... I'll take both my boys once they learn to drive stick...

As to maturity...any kid will be mature when by themselves...it's the "friends" that usually cause the problems LOL.....

And finally... I think part of the solution is to have the kid work for the vehicle..(either buy it..or fix it up etc)...if they have some ownership stake in it...they are likely to respect and cherish it more...and not let themselves be "peer pressured" into doing something stupid..

supercedar

When I was 19 I was driving the 12 cylinder 275 GTB I believe it was called, Daytona's, many 911's, Maserrati's, XJ6's and E Type Jags you name it. The customer's alway's left their car with me for the time they were going to be out of town. I alway's went to pick up a friend first off then to the street drags. Never once did I abuse or race any one's car. I let all the bystanders try to get me to horse around. I was not mature then as probably not now either but never abused the right to be trusted with someones car. Their girfriend is another story
Thomas

whatudrivin

I am far away from having a child old enough to drive but I don't think I would put them into a high power sports car. I'm 24 and have had my fair share of close call. From sideways on a crowded highway at 120mph or flying through a red light at 115mph. I'm thankful that my car got totaled when it did now. I credit that to saving me from serious injury or death.

Think about it this way. A stock 95 neon will reach 120+. Done it before, and I'm sure many others have as well at a young age. Why, because we wanted to see if it would. Then in the same neon I floored it and something popped and smoke bellowed out from under the hood. I pulled over and was thankful to see that the radiator cap had blown off and that I had not blown the motor. And this was before the above stated incidences. I am lucky to not have had a wreck or anything back then.

Was I stupid, yes. It wouldn't be that I don't trust my kid. Because I will try to teach them to have great respect for for the machine. Something I never really had. But because they will be stupid, at least at some point. No matter how safe you try to make their first car, at 100+ mph not much can save you. But the safer, the better. I agree with most people on here saying to get a beater first and make them help you fix it when it breaks. And also help pay for repairs so that they will realize things aren't free and that they need to work to obtain what they want. Then maybe help them into a better car later that they will really be proud of.

Just the thoughts from a fellow youngster.
-Brad

pcar928fan

I agree with Thom on this point for sure! Everyone needs to learn to drive a stick and they need to learn that RIGHT AWAY!

I also agree with those who have suggested a 924/944 or MAYBE an OB 928. Wouldn't go S4 for sure...

Tom. M

I wouldn't go as far as suggesting an OB 928... I'd say 80 through 86...those are truly the most expendable of 928's

ShawnSmith

I like the thought above (which most of us probably proved in our youth):

== Whatever vehicle you give to a teenager, it will be inevitably be tested for top speed, maximum cornering, etc. ==

So.... you want to equip them with something that is hp/drag/gearing limited to perhaps 120 mph since few places have anything straight enough or empty enough to explore higher velocities safely.

In the 928 world, this suggests a mid-80's car instead of the S4...

$0.02

pcar928fan

^^^^
OUCH... Tom, that hurts! That said, I was actually thinking 80-82 928's... Be they OB or S (nee Competition package).