Seljan

I have 2 daughters..both drivers.The oldest who is 19 drives the 328cab.The younger who is 16 drives the eclipse.The younger daughter is lobbying me something fierce to learn to drive the 993 cab(6sp)she seems to be really interested in cars,i hear lots of talk about her getting wheels,lowering and in general ricing out her eclipse.On one hand I do want to foster her interest,but on the other hand...ITS MY FIRST 911

993chaz

Nope, just "Juel" <img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/albun49/100_0081_IMG.thumb.jpg" alt=" - " />

Mike in Chi

Wait til you see what it does to your insurance.

BTW, Leland West, who insures mine, made me sign a notarized statement that no driver between 16 to 21 will drive the car, or my coverage is void.

I do plan on sharing the track car with my son. He however is no longer a teenager.

Seljan

I have the insurance nicely covered.I am in business and I have fleet insurance on over 20 vehicles.I pay 650 a year for each vehicle on the policy.They even cover my 911's and the M3 for the same price

Jeff 993TT

No way!

At least not with some training. Take her to some autoX or DE events.

I think that is a great way for young drivers to get the "speed" out of their system in a safe environment.

ca993twin

I think your relationship with your daughter is more important than your Porsche clutch. Teach her how to drive a stick shift properly; smooth upshifts, smooth downshifts, heel & toe, and even double-clutched heel & toe downshifts. Properly driving a stick is a fine art. She'll love you for it, and also REALLY impress her boyfriends!

Mike in Chi

Here's a thought

Send her to the Skip Barber 3 day race school -- she'll learn double-clutch heel and toe and how to be a smooth driver, or at least to the 2 day driving school. They hold them all summer long at Road America.

She'll have no problem with your 993.

I agree with Steve it will impress, if not intimidate, her boyfriends.

I'm surprised she's not happy with the 328 Cab.

Mike

Vinny '98 3.8 C2S

I've taken my son to about 8 days of DE, and we share my car. He's doing amazingly well. He drives safely, fast, and from the inputs I've rec'd from his instructors, he's been an excellent student. I enjoy watching him progress as much as I enjoy driving myself.

I'm hoping my daughter will develop a similar interest.

As far as street driving, I won't allow either to take the car out without me as a passenger.

ZAMIRZ

I'm assuming the Eclipse isn't a 5-speed, but is it at least a turbo? As long as she wants to do performance modifications using quality products (none of that APC euro taillight ****) it should be alright. Now driving the 911....that's a different story. I think that teaching her how to drive stick on a different car would be a better choice and when she has figured it out I don't see what's wrong with letting her drive the 911 so long as she respects the car and her privelage.

Anir

Seljan,

My five-year-old son sits on my lap and wildly gyrates the wheel from side to side as we creep down my residential street.

Does that count? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

In 1985, after my new Honda Civic suffered hail stone damage, I settled for cash with State Farm and used the money to put Momo Wheels, Pirelli tires, and Tokico lowering shocks on my car. I also repaired the dents and painted it (myself) GM Corvette yellow and tinted the windows limo black. Pretty scary - I may have been the original "ricer". <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

rcwelch

Seljan,
When my daughter(one and only) first got her license at age 16, I made an appointment with the Bondurant School in Phoenix for a 2 day teenage defensive driving school. By the second day she was hearding a prepared Mustang around their road course and loving every minute of the experience. She will be 18 next month and I let her take my 911 out every now and then as I have confidence in her judgement and know that she knows what power is and where it is best used. They grow up way too fast and this is one of the things it is fun to share...She has an appreciation for the car and the marque.

dwe8922

Definately invest in driving schools if you want your kids to drive your cars!! When I was in high school my dad told me I could drive whatever I wanted if I paid for it. I got lucky and called his bluff, by creating a partnership w/ a wholesaler selling corvettes w/ him. At the peak of the business, I had a 405 hp ZR-1. I nearly killed myself in that car! Not b/c I wasn't a really responsible kid, or a great student, yada yada; I just had little driving experience, let alone the kind of experience to handle high hp sports cars in my exploratory years. Teaching kids what cars will do in the right place, is far better than your child, and YOU finding out the hard way. Case in point, a family friend, a couple years younger than I, acquired an m3 his senior year of high school similar to the way I did. He went from a truck to an E36 in 2 years of driving (no driver training). He is no longer with us today b/c he slid off the road driving too fast. It has been 2 years now, and his dad has still not forgiven himself for letting his son buy that car.

I think kids are perfectly capable of handling such things, as long as they have a very solid understanding and a good level of experience with what the car will and won't do. And, free reign is something to be doled out VERY carefully, as kids will be kids. I wish I would have started autocrossing earlier in high school, and I wish I would have diverted money to go to a driving school as well. I just think back to all the near misses and stupid choices, and am just really happy to be here now.

As far as bonding goes, I think its great to drive and learn with your kids. I met a girl (college aged) at road atlanta last summer who was sharing her grandfather's red 993, and she had a great time doing DE's w/ him. My dad has even started to like going to DE's w/ me. With me away in school, its some of the best time we get to spend together anymore. He's never been a big car guy, and now he's sharing my car w/ me! He meets me at school w/ the trailer, and we drive up for the weekend together.

Sharing what you love with your kids is a great thing; just make sure you are willing time wise and financially to help them learn how to do it safely.

Best Wishes,
David

pwrsurg

Well stated, David. I took my then 17 y/o son to Monterrey for the 98 Historics. He drove 1/2 the way and was safe and responsible. My other boys (3) do not have the right attitude yet, even though they are excellent drivers. These cars are special and very quick. It takes awhile behind the wheel before one's reflexes acclimate to the power, steering and brakes. It is often a judgement call parents have to make. I did let him take it to the HS Prom as well. I was pacing all night (he arrived at 2AM). Everything was fine. Driving schools are great and before the other boys get to drive the car they will need to have attended at least one.

Kids and driving make me cringe because I remember all too well my own dumb exploits.

Tom

Jeff

Life is short -- since you have the insurance, let them drive. Bet you wish you could have had that oportunity when yuo ere their age.

Bob D.

Seljan, the Windy City Chapter of the BMW CCA has a one-day "Safety School" they offer once or twice a year, usually at a site in Wisconsin near the Illinois border. The school is designed *precisely* for the purpose of introducing young drivers to basics of vehicle dynamics and car control in a high performance car. There is some classroom time and lots of wet/dry skidpad, slalom etc.

Porsches would be most welcome and the cost is something like $50. The program has been lauded nationallly and I can't say enough good things about it. If you'd like more info, send me an email and I will dig up some specifics for you.