TedA

Agree..

When I was 17 I had a ten speed bike as my DD. I rocked on the weekends when I got to drive my dad's 68 chevy c10 pick-up. I would not date a girl who had a problem riding in the truck. I would have donated an organ to be able to go to the track and watch other people drive.

Pimp or learn to drive?? I have instructed guys in E30 BMWs, 944s and spec miatas. Every one of these guys was dedicated to learning with no ego. Several of these guys were high end doctors and lawyers. They could afford faster cars. Be the ball......

Gary R.

Ya think? A 17 YO kid telling his father what car is "acceptable".... I'd say give him another year to think about it.

Chris M.

+1. That or tell him to drive whatever car his job allows him to buy since he doesn't care for the ones Dad suggested.

TR6

My 23 year old just graduated from college and after driving a 96 Ford Ranger with faded paint for 4 plus years, he has his first professional job and is shopping for his first sports car on his own. He's done two PCA DE's in my miata and is completely hooked. Interestingly enough, he is looking at cars like Miatas and E36 M3's.

Larry Herman

I'm in total agreement. As a reference point, when my youngest son (at 14) said that he wanted a Subaru WRX when he turned 16, I told him that it was over the budget that I gave to my other sons for their first cars. Well he scraped together what he already had and saved all of his money for the next 2 years and came up with the $5,000 difference that I needed to step up to the Subie. He still has it today at 21 and still loves it.

Gary R.

We're quite the bunch of crochity old bastiges aren't we...

TR6

Kids definitely take better care of their cars when they have their own skin ($$$) in the game!

DanR

I would vote boxster, failing that go for a 968 would be my opinion

DanR

I saved for 2 years to buy my own car when I was 17. Even though I had all my skin in the game I still crashed it inside 4 weeks. My dad told me I would and he was right. Sad thing is 15 years later and I start racing my dad said I would crash and gues what

Dont you just hate it when the old man is correct!

mglobe

werd. op asked for opinions on cars and gets "when I was young, we walked to school in the snow, uphill both ways"

Red9

The car that will serve you best is a 944-naturally aspirated and base model engine.Performance wise a clear cut path to development and a value at the other end. One of the best balanced cars around .
Re the Miata and Boxster -I am with your son's views.We ordered prior to release and the Mazda was owned for over 10 years -more recently she has had Boxster ( and numerous other model Porsches) . I have often driven "her" cars and seen the look on the faces of people looking at you! A very different look to "my" cars(930,993 TT,996 TT,GT2,GT3) -- I still have a 944 that is used as a sometime "daily" hacker runaround and a track development car for nephews and others. What I still marvel at is this- the car is over 20 years old- still gets approving looks from people-and particularly the younger generation .
To get the best out of your decision--your son has to be happy with decision and feel right about the car.On the track-- all the effort should go into the suspension -- this car can fight well above it's HP rating--when it is driven well!
The 944 has plenty of places to go from DE to racing.
Forget the 928-- even Bill Gates couldn't afford that path!
Quite a few posters with 944's have said they are approximate to you and the smartest thing you can do is the rounds and hear what they have to say--it will save you a lot of money. Even if they do not tell you what you think is right--just listening can point you in the right direction. Equally you need to find a workshop you can trust and believe in that is specialised in the type of car- or is very track centric that is switched on to track needs.
One last note- treat with great caution anyone that wants you to upgrade engine or trans of 944.

Red9

Go the 944 route-- start planning the next real track car and put the money aside that you save for it . If you or your son get to be really good ,and I mean by any standard, there is no reason the next car could not be a Cup Car. That plan will get your son excited!

ps If this was an either or choice I would drive a 944 everyday if it meant I could have the Cupcar!!!!

TR6

C'mon, Mike. When have you ever known of a RL thread to actually stay on topic?

hacker-pschorr

He probably doesn't know a fully raced out Volvo T5 wagon will out run whatever he chooses for a DE car

pmgoodwin

ok this is his son, sneakily typing while hes sitting next to me watching tv, completely oblivious to my actions. he has talked to me about most of the cars mentioned previously in this thread and i went about researching cars that have i become interested in that follow along the same priceline as the ones offered. ones that i have become rather intrigued by were the mazda rx-7, over all seems to be a relitively reliable car and one that is rather popular among racers. another was the s2000, not neccessarily one i researched to much but one that seemed to be relitively easy to mod for the track. something my dad hasn't previously mentioned is that my first car has spoiled me with horsepower. a 2001 audi a6, most certainly a car that in most cases far to fast and powerful for a 16 yr old taking into consideration the dual turbo chargers it is packing. however i have learned much control and my own limitations from it and although i know im still a in expierienced driver and have alot to learn i feel confident despite the concerns about giving 17 yr old a race ready car.

thanks for the input- justin