996 too much for a first car?
10-14-2013, 02:22 AM
#31
Race Director
10-14-2013, 03:01 AM
#33
Instructor
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think it is a terrible idea. If both kids are pretty responsible I think it would be hard to give one of them a 951 then the other a 10 year old Hyundai. I did some pretty stupid **** when I first got a car but I still remember my MGB being one of the cooler cars parked outside the HS.
10-14-2013, 03:32 AM
#34
Drifting
Wow a lot of opinions.
Here is mine. No matter what car you give him he can still do stupid stuff that will put him at risk.
It was not long ago since I got my first car (1988 Volvo wagon) and I did some naughty things but nothing ever out of my control. Given I had been karting prior it was a very easy transition for me.
My suggestion is this. Give him the 911, teach him he to work on it like your elder son. Take him to track so he can get his inner Schumacher driving out at a safe location. In my opinion it helps a lot. Slow or fast car what he needs to learn is car control not just if he wants to explore limits but also make him comfortable of others around him and build confidence to avoid accidents.
It's just like anything, you train, you will get better. Train at the track, he will know where to speed ( at the track) learn proper car control and procedure on how to go fast... The reason why is, no latest how slow r fast the car is... It's just as dangerous. But if you teach him well manners of where to do it and how, it will go long ways.
Here is mine. No matter what car you give him he can still do stupid stuff that will put him at risk.
It was not long ago since I got my first car (1988 Volvo wagon) and I did some naughty things but nothing ever out of my control. Given I had been karting prior it was a very easy transition for me.
My suggestion is this. Give him the 911, teach him he to work on it like your elder son. Take him to track so he can get his inner Schumacher driving out at a safe location. In my opinion it helps a lot. Slow or fast car what he needs to learn is car control not just if he wants to explore limits but also make him comfortable of others around him and build confidence to avoid accidents.
It's just like anything, you train, you will get better. Train at the track, he will know where to speed ( at the track) learn proper car control and procedure on how to go fast... The reason why is, no latest how slow r fast the car is... It's just as dangerous. But if you teach him well manners of where to do it and how, it will go long ways.
10-14-2013, 05:12 AM
#35
Umm an older economical car is definitely safer when considering young driver habits. You won't be able to go as fast and they are definitely easier to control than a high performance sports car. Not to mention the insurance and repairs will cost WAY more if something happens.
I'm glad I grew up on some **** cars like a 95 Ford Contour and made some mistakes on it instead of a quality car. And it makes you appreciate the sports car later on. You give it to him now and he'll never truly appreciate it imo.
I'm glad I grew up on some **** cars like a 95 Ford Contour and made some mistakes on it instead of a quality car. And it makes you appreciate the sports car later on. You give it to him now and he'll never truly appreciate it imo.
10-14-2013, 09:33 AM
#36
Burning Brakes
I taught my sons to drive in my 99 996. Tip. They loved it. But never drove it without me. Each had different skills.
For their first wheels I got the eldest a Ford Ranger stick shift. Low power good to learn on. Sure enough, a few wrecks, one destroyed front fend, many low speed bangs and much parking curb rash later they have both learned to be much better drivers.
I taught the youngest now 24 to heel and toe in a hot rod Carrera 3.2 him and I built together.
One day my wife and I coming home in her car saw him side drifting the Carrera on a curvy back road.
They still don't get to drive my C4 tho.
For their first wheels I got the eldest a Ford Ranger stick shift. Low power good to learn on. Sure enough, a few wrecks, one destroyed front fend, many low speed bangs and much parking curb rash later they have both learned to be much better drivers.
I taught the youngest now 24 to heel and toe in a hot rod Carrera 3.2 him and I built together.
One day my wife and I coming home in her car saw him side drifting the Carrera on a curvy back road.
They still don't get to drive my C4 tho.
10-14-2013, 09:54 AM
#37
Rennlist Member
If I had been driving even my Dad's woefully underpowered Gen 1 RX-7, I would be dead now.
I drove a beautiful but glacially slow '74 Capri (A/T, V-6) and wrecked it numerous times. Built, handled and accelerated like a battleship, but I drove it like an F-15.
I'm teaching my 16 year old to shift on the 996 and he will get to drive it solo. He's very responsible but he simply doesn't have the situational awareness to drive, shift and keep track of the idiots who are trying to kill him on the road.
We're looking at a Golf for his DD when he gets his full license.
TC
I drove a beautiful but glacially slow '74 Capri (A/T, V-6) and wrecked it numerous times. Built, handled and accelerated like a battleship, but I drove it like an F-15.
I'm teaching my 16 year old to shift on the 996 and he will get to drive it solo. He's very responsible but he simply doesn't have the situational awareness to drive, shift and keep track of the idiots who are trying to kill him on the road.
We're looking at a Golf for his DD when he gets his full license.
TC
10-14-2013, 10:33 AM
#38
Three Wheelin'
I think only you know your kid. The rest of us are using our personal experiences to give you an opinion
If you know your kid is mature, humble, respectful and won't let driving a relatively modern 911 get to his head and do stupid human tricks in it - then go ahead
If you have any doubts - get him an older MB or Volvo with under 200hp and let him learn on that. You're his dad - not his friend. And you never want to have any regrets later for not trusting your instincts
If you know your kid is mature, humble, respectful and won't let driving a relatively modern 911 get to his head and do stupid human tricks in it - then go ahead
If you have any doubts - get him an older MB or Volvo with under 200hp and let him learn on that. You're his dad - not his friend. And you never want to have any regrets later for not trusting your instincts
10-14-2013, 10:36 AM
#40
Drifting
Wow a lot of opinions.
Here is mine. No matter what car you give him he can still do stupid stuff that will put him at risk.
It was not long ago since I got my first car (1988 Volvo wagon) and I did some naughty things but nothing ever out of my control. Given I had been karting prior it was a very easy transition for me.
My suggestion is this. Give him the 911, teach him he to work on it like your elder son. Take him to track so he can get his inner Schumacher driving out at a safe location. In my opinion it helps a lot. Slow or fast car what he needs to learn is car control not just if he wants to explore limits but also make him comfortable of others around him and build confidence to avoid accidents.
It's just like anything, you train, you will get better. Train at the track, he will know where to speed ( at the track) learn proper car control and procedure on how to go fast... The reason why is, no latest how slow r fast the car is... It's just as dangerous. But if you teach him well manners of where to do it and how, it will go long ways.
Here is mine. No matter what car you give him he can still do stupid stuff that will put him at risk.
It was not long ago since I got my first car (1988 Volvo wagon) and I did some naughty things but nothing ever out of my control. Given I had been karting prior it was a very easy transition for me.
My suggestion is this. Give him the 911, teach him he to work on it like your elder son. Take him to track so he can get his inner Schumacher driving out at a safe location. In my opinion it helps a lot. Slow or fast car what he needs to learn is car control not just if he wants to explore limits but also make him comfortable of others around him and build confidence to avoid accidents.
It's just like anything, you train, you will get better. Train at the track, he will know where to speed ( at the track) learn proper car control and procedure on how to go fast... The reason why is, no latest how slow r fast the car is... It's just as dangerous. But if you teach him well manners of where to do it and how, it will go long ways.
Not all will die, but a bigger proportion will die in fast cars. If you lived over here you would see the grief that young driver's in very fast, very expensive cars causes; we have thousands of them on the roads.
10-14-2013, 12:33 PM
#42
Racer
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by kcattorney:10827329
Garrett, how old were you when you got it? My 964 C2 had wicked oversteer if you did something stupid, so would not have considered it. I think the 996 C4 is pretty forgiving, but wonder if you ever felt your engine was going to pass you on a cloverleaf ramp.
16 when I got it, 17 now
10-14-2013, 01:00 PM
#43
Drifting
I have done a lot of karting in my time and can honestly say that it bears no relationship to driving a car on a road. Teaching kids on the track teaches them to handle a car at high speed on the track but doesn't stop them thinking that they are Maldonado on the road. Kids are kids, treat them accordingly, let them learn to cope with traffic safely before giving them a powerful car.
Not all will die, but a bigger proportion will die in fast cars. If you lived over here you would see the grief that young driver's in very fast, very expensive cars causes; we have thousands of them on the roads.
Not all will die, but a bigger proportion will die in fast cars. If you lived over here you would see the grief that young driver's in very fast, very expensive cars causes; we have thousands of them on the roads.
My position comes with it really depends on how you educate your kid what are the consequences behind the wheel.
I'm reading a lot of post and a lot of you seem to be nut jobs behind the wheel when you were 16 and crashed..., and others ...with kids, getting into car accidents even with slow cars.
I never had an at fault accident when i started driving. I was a nut job but an intelligent at that, i know the limits of what can and cannot be done. I never show boated to anyone, only to myself. I new what could happen if i drove over my ability. I learned to be very confident behind the wheel, but not an idiot and respecting the laws of physics and understanding them.
That said, my wife, never has been in a car accident. Never crashed her first car, and is not a nut job. My siblings (2 of them) one older and one younger, are not nut jobs and drive like grandmas in my eyes. They also never crashed their first cars when they owned them at age of 16. One had a GMC truck(loads of power!) the other had a mini cooper.
It is all relative on how the person is. If you are concern your son/daughter is going to get into a car accident well maybe as a father or mother you need to train them more under your supervision. Simple. Don't take yourself out of the equation. US PARENTS are the biggest part of the equation on how they end up driving. So my suggestion is not to be lazy, and take them out driving, have them drive more and more and more and more and more and more until they develop a very good base. Takes time, energy and $.
10-14-2013, 03:46 PM
#44
Rennlist Member
I don't think the car itself will be the problem. Even some modern average sedans will rival the power these cars have. It will likely be more of the "image" of a Porsche 911. I can see much more showing off, challenging, and attention from others generally that could elicit more dangerous driving. I couldn't imagine the attention having a 911 in high school would have gotton me, even more so how I would've handled that attention. I was bad enough with my first 2 cars: 1989 944 N/A, and 1989 E30 325i... Both bought for under $1,000 and even the 944 got a little notice.
10-14-2013, 04:07 PM
#45
Three Wheelin'
IMO a 996 C4 would be a great 'performance car' for a young driver. It has the stigma of elite sports car, not much power, traction, stability, safety.
A 10 year old Camaro Z28 makes more power, is faster, less safe, has less traction, and is cheaper than the 996.
A WRX can easily be modded for cheap and WALK a 996 n/a. '02 WRX's start around $5k and are very popular 16-25 year old cars.
My first car was a Grand National, which trapped higher speeds than a 996 n/a, had rear drum brakes, tiny front brakes, horrible suspension, virtually zero safety features. I rear ended a Jeep when I was in high school with it, just driving home in traffic. Then in college I was rear ended in it on my way to an exam. I rebuilt it both times; put a bigger turbo in it, supporting mods, lots of suspension and brake upgrades; and sold the car while in law school.
My friends' with normal cars seemed to do dumber things with because they didn't care about their "beater" cars. My friends' with "specialty" cars seemed to take better care of them and do less stupid things.
My point, your kid is likely to crash the car being a young driver. A C4 is an easily controllable car, with less power than a current Ford Taurus. The C4 is a specialty vehicle that your kid is likely to embrace and want to take good care of and not mess up, but if something does happen, he is going to be safe. Plus it looks cool.
A 10 year old Camaro Z28 makes more power, is faster, less safe, has less traction, and is cheaper than the 996.
A WRX can easily be modded for cheap and WALK a 996 n/a. '02 WRX's start around $5k and are very popular 16-25 year old cars.
My first car was a Grand National, which trapped higher speeds than a 996 n/a, had rear drum brakes, tiny front brakes, horrible suspension, virtually zero safety features. I rear ended a Jeep when I was in high school with it, just driving home in traffic. Then in college I was rear ended in it on my way to an exam. I rebuilt it both times; put a bigger turbo in it, supporting mods, lots of suspension and brake upgrades; and sold the car while in law school.
My friends' with normal cars seemed to do dumber things with because they didn't care about their "beater" cars. My friends' with "specialty" cars seemed to take better care of them and do less stupid things.
My point, your kid is likely to crash the car being a young driver. A C4 is an easily controllable car, with less power than a current Ford Taurus. The C4 is a specialty vehicle that your kid is likely to embrace and want to take good care of and not mess up, but if something does happen, he is going to be safe. Plus it looks cool.