First car + raging hormones + ego + 911 = spoiled rotten kid in traction if you are lucky.

Ditto...Daniel-son needs to learn how to wax-on wax-off, for a couple of chaperoned years, before he wields the big sharp sword.

For what its worth my first car was a 1971 914 that I restored with my dad. Even though I was an honor student who worked, paid for my own car, gas and insurance, I regularly pushed all 85 horses of screaming fury to redline ( 115 with slight tail wind ). I can guarantee you that with your car the temptation would be WAY too much. Every mustang/import jock will want to prove their manhood against your son and his 911 and sooner or later he will defend his honor. It is simply too much car.

Ditto on the mustang. Had a 95 5.0 in lawschool and couldn't keep rear tires longer than a couple of months.

JP

Moses-I'm sure as a parent you know that there is a fine line between doing something great and doing something terrible. A fast car for a 16 year old is a TERRIBLE idea. It's not a matter of whether he's a good kid or not. It's all of the above that has been mentioned-inexperience, spoiling, self worth, etc. Get him in something safer and slower. My daughter is in a minivan without the third seat! She was thrilled to have it even though she's been raised in BMWs etc.

If you want to take him to autoXs or better yet streetwise where he can learn how to handle a performance car-go for it! I plan on enrolling my daughter.

I hate saying "No". But sometimes you have to.

How are you going to feel when he loses the rear end and goes sideways into a bridge abutment going 55 mph because there was a couple of drops of rain on the ground? On a straight road? I knew someone who is now dead because of a similar circumstance in a brand new 911 back in the '80s. She was letting someone else drive her new car, (not a teenager), and she was in the passenger seat that hit the pole.

It is seriously about the dumbest thought that I have ever heard, and I don't care if he's Harry Potter and you've had him neutered. I know you love your kid, but I'm telling you what you need to hear if I was your best friend. A perfect first car for a 16 y.o. is an old Volvo, slow and safe. Let him really develop his pussy chasing skills w/ a *****box car, he'll thank you later. Much later. But at least he will be alive.

I don't think it's a dumb idea, and people are getting a little irrational with some of the above caveats, but my reason against it would be...Jealousy!

And that it may turn him into a bit of a snob too early. Let him become one naturally! :D

I think that any kid good or bad can learn to drive any car as well as anybody else on the road, it's really a responsibility issue. Kid's WILL drink at some point in their teens and is his judgement going to be impaired enough to risk getting into an accident just to get home on time from a party?

Pretty much my favorite quote of the year so far! :D

Whats weird is, a girl I know who's driving is such I would never ride with her - has had zero accidents. I'm incredibly "safe" in how I do things, and my car was totaled... :confused: I've driven through three spinning race karts, two behind didn't make (one was on my tail), my abilties at avoidance are quite good, in racing, my fastest laps may be .02 slower, but I make sure to pay attention to other vehichles, if something bad happens in front of me, I'm fairly instant on taking evasive action. On public roads, rarely had to use that instinct, but in karts, especialy with newer racers, its come in real handy...

Not having met your son, and the same for most of us on this board, I think we are not qualified to make this decisions - that ultimately lies with you and your boy.

We are all going to die - be it at 16, or 70. A car is not as important as a human being. We only have one life, no second chances. Its scary, but wonderfull. We all learn from our parents lives, as I grow older, I see how parents learned things from their parents. Most often by example, some where bad examples, and the kid realised it - and made an effort when they where aprents, to not treat their kids that way. Being homeschooled, I was not stuck in an "age group". So my interactions spread the entire age spectrum. I think thats neat. Soo any stories from those old than me, and I want to remember them all - pass them down to the next generation.

Get him a 912 ! When he grows up, he can still put a 3.0 in it, following daddy`s steps...

Aurel

That is just my point. Teenagers are the persons who get in more accidents. Why give them a full auto to shoot with when you could give them a SA wheelgun?

Phooee or Fui. The point of my post is that good students with good characters get into trouble too. Impulse control and experience are issues, nevermind the also previously stated distractions from having passengers.

I never wanted a Porsche as my first car when I was young. You'd have to have dated a midget to "do it" in the back seat.

i think the 944 idea is a great one......then track time or autocrossing to learn what to do whan he's at the limit, the only way to really learn is to kill a few cones in a big open parking lot.
he needs to experience the physics before he is unsupervised in your 911.......a 944 is even more forgiving than a mustang, and it would be his.

Moses,
Your son sounds like a great guy. That's a LOT of car for him to be rolling in. My daughter is an honor student and never been in any trouble whatsoever. Bed by 9-10 most nights. Outstanding gal and fun to be around. No attitude or quirks. She's had her 91 Mazda MX6 for about 18 months and its been hit 5 times. Once was her fault. I know you said you're not worried about dings or scratches but it will get beat up. Its the places 16-18 year olds go. Mostly the same age group and they'll bump it because they won't see it from their SUVs or 92 Buicks.

Remember, he is male and raging testosterone will get the better of him at some point. I say help him find something you can both wrench or play with. This is a fantastic time to teach him delayed gratification. You being a Doc shows him you did it so now use this example for his sake. He'll be a better man for it.

All this internet stuff is good and all but honestly, we don't know you or your son personally. Only you do and you know what 's best. I think most respondants are just worried about the worst.

I was a spoiled rich kid.....1987, On my 17th B-Day my father bought me a brand-new 16Valve VW Shirocco manual.....

I grew up in the DC Potomac area......1 week later, my parents out of town.......I drink myself silly, and race the car at 3 AM on the 'famed" McArthur Blvd." I flipped the car 3 times....completely totalled the vehicle...

I should be dead, but I made it.

DO NOT GIVE YOUR SON THAT CAR!

SvK

Moses - my 911 is actually his when he turns 16. That was always the plan. In the next 9 years the idea is to work on it together - having him take a real active role in the rebuild. I think we will learn alot about the car and ourselves but I also think he will take extra special care of it if it is something he had an active role in.

Matt, first, let me preface my following remarks by saying that I have no doubt that you are a responsible driver, and, though I've never met you, everything I've read from you and from those who've met you suggests that you are a very level headed 16 year old.

That being said, I don't think it is such a great idea to take a new driver in a 911 on public roads and "teach him a few tricks." Sure, we've all had fun on the twisties and around town, but now that I'm a bit older (about twice your age), I find myself resisting the urge to "push it" on public roads.

What changed me? Track time. After my first track day in a stock '94 325is, I realized that driving over one's head on the street is just plain stupid. The consequenses are just too high on the street. On the track, everyone is either driving with an instructor or has been deemed a worthy enough driver to go it alone. Plus, the traffic is going in one direction, there are flagmen to warn of any potential hazards, and the concentration level of each driver is at its highest: i.e; no stereos, cell phones, passengers, etc.

Moses, I would wait to hand over the keys to your beautiful and fast 911 for a while. Sure, let him drive it with you in the car. I'd even suggest taking him to a DE for teens (BMW CCA has excellent schools, and you can let him drive your Porsche.) I just think that the temptations while he was driving alone would be too great. Not to mention the fact that every kid in his Honda is gonna want to race him.

I'd also reccomend against a Mustang GT. Instead, you could start him out in a V6 Mustang. My girlfriend has one, and I can tell you, that car is umm, uninspiring. ;)

Good Luck,
Jim

I think a 911 is a poor idea for a 16 year old.

Tell the kid to save his money, and buy him a 10 year old Volvo 740.

That would be an 850 - I have a 10 year old 850 and will have it another 10 years.

"I had to walk 5 miles to school, in the snow, uphill, both ways" Make him suffer like we all did. Buy him a 924:cool:

I was like your son 19 years ago. I was a good kid with good grades, and the son of a doctor who drove a sports car. He lent it to me for prom, and of course, I wrecked it. A pristine '88 M3. Only 191 hp, and perfectly balanced, yet I managed to get it crossed up. It was his baby, and I just wanted to kill myself.

I was definitely more at home in my own car at the time, an 81 Spitfire. ~60 hp, cute car the chicks liked, and gave me my first lessons in auto repair. So get him a cheap used Miata, butched up with a rollbar and loud exhaust.

Thank you for the thoughtful posts. I've made up my mind. I'll have my son read this thread. He'll understand why I can't give him the Porsche. I just love him too much.

Thanks again.

I know I'm getting in on this rather late.

Moses, my son gets his permit next week (if he passes the written test). He'll get his license in October, by then he'll be a junior. He has saved his money for years and finally has enough for a good used car. I thought he ought to buy a Volvo 240DL. He was OK with it even though it is slow and handles like a boat. Then I remembered the only accident I ever had as a teen driver.

I had a hand-me-down Chevy Chevette. Very economical, seats 4, hatchback, American. The thing was so slow that I could not move away from the lady who plowed into the rear end. I saw it coming but that freaking Chevette takes half-a-day to reach 55 mph.

Yup, the Volvo is supposed to be super safe and built like a tank. But I think I'd want my son to be able to drive defensively and be in a car that can take evasive action when needed. That's why he'll be driving the MINI (not S). Airbags all over the car, stability control, bright yellow color, run-flats and daytime running lights.

I, too, think a 911 is too much car for a teen. However, my son will be autocrossing my SC at next year's GGR autox school at Candlestick. Best way to learn emergency handling and car control.

It is a joy to read about good kids once in a while. I would supply him with something big, slow, gawky and SAFE. You absolutely want a safe car, with airbags- they are inexperienced and have a higher risk of accidents than they will in a few years. The roads are different, and much more dangerous than when we were kids. Spend some time teaching him how to drive- and I don't mean how to drive to the dairy queen - they need to learn what to do in emergency situations. Autocross is good, skidpad, practice emergency stops in the rain, etc. My son was 16 once, great kid- 1590 on sat, just accepted a 5 year phd fellowship at Columbia, etc. Went to a magnet high school with a bunch of really great kids just like him. Of his closest group of 7 guys- all just like him, really great kids,- MIT, Stanford, Brown,etc- they ALL had an accident of one type or another between 16-20 yrs old. Most, thank goodness, where just small fenderbenders. One car ended upsidedown. I don't care how good your son is- the people around him are normal idiots- half of which are below average at everything. A safe car with every airbag you can imagine will keep him safe, and let you sleep better. A slow car will help keep him out of trouble when he gets momentarily stupid, because he will. A nice gawky car gets him everywhere he wants to go- except maybe in the back seat- and keeps him from showing off when he gets mometarily stupid. Let him drive the porsche at the autoX.
Congratulations on raising a great sounding kid
Gary

A small tear, and respect for you, Moses.

Keep him safe,

Jim

I forgot to say this - its true. My 944 got me out of a few fender benders due to its agility. It has just enouhg pwoer to pull up to the speed limit ok. My Dad was in a loaded van, saw he was gonna get rear ended, and stepped on it, same as you, didn't quite make it.

The perfect response. Good form. Your son will thank you......someday.:)

Excellent reply, and the right decision.

When you taught your son to ride a bike, did you start him out with training wheels, or just throw him on yours? It's a similar situation, and regardless of how responsible your son is, he needs to put in some time. Driving is a skill, and skills require practice. I think the autoX idea is an excellent one, he needs to find his limits, and the street is not the place for it. I totalled 5 cars in my first two years of driving, and they weren't even fast. The reason, pretty well without fail, was a lack of judgement working hand in hand with not knowing my limits. Start him out in something reasonably fun to drive, safe, but not too fast. Let him work his way up to your Porsche.

I know how much temptation there is to give your son the best, mine is only two and I already find it hard to say no, to deny him things that he wants. In this case, just like yours, it's a matter of what is best for him, regardless of whether he realizes it or not. When I was 16 I wanted a '66 Mustang with a 289 that I found locally. Right in my price range, and a decent car for the little money I had. My dad said no way, in fact he said no way to most of the cars I wanted, and I hated him for some time for that. Now I'm 26, and looking back I know exactly what his reasoning was. Even if your son doesn't understand now, he will someday.

Wise decision Moses...you won't regret it.

I think we are going to see an increase in demand for used Volvos...

My son just received his drivers license yesterday. Scored 100 on his drivers test. His first car is a 1996 Honda civic- he paid for half. we just put new struts and a clutch in the car. Strange thing with this kid, he would rather have mom drive than do it himself. We've had to push him to get licensed.

No kidding. That could take a while.

But, after all you're not banning him from the car, just that he doesn't get to drive it everyday, unsupervised (directly).

Let him drive it by himself...around an autocross course or at a DE day. Dont let him drive it on the street by himself, theres probably to much temptation there for him and it wont end good if he went to hot into a corner or some such. Have him get a 944 and help him with matience if he needs it. Less power, most likely more predictable handling (i've never driven a 911 so i can't comment), brakes are great on the car and if he gets an S2 or a turbo he'll have airbags, which do have some merit. I would shy away from a 914 simply becaue they most likely would preform like a tin can in an accident. Another consideration is do you want your son driving your 911 to his school? Highschool and college kids seem to have no respect when opening doors around other cars and most seem to have no ability to park correctly either. Not to mention that the other kids will be jelious and the risk of vandilism to the car is there.

EDIT - Somehow i missed the last three pages of this thread when I posted. You've made the right decession moses, he'll thank you later.

He has a point, HS and college lots are brutal. I don't know what it is, but total indifference seems to be king. My 540 wasn't perfect, but I've gotten to where I quit looking for dings, it's just depressing.

its not exactly a 911 but my first car was a 1987 924S (a mere 2 years ago)

get him a Volvo for the first year...

tell him if doesn't hit anything and gets less then two tickets he can use the 911...

i just don't think kids have that kenistectic sense yet to judge moving objects til at least a year of driving..


this coming from a kid who bought his own 911 at 18 and now has a 3.3T in it at age 20(+one day)

Less than two? My parents said one ticket or accident and my license would be cut up on the spot, car put up for sale, etc.

I vote for finding a well-maintained 944.

I'd suggest you let him "buy" into the Porsche with the money he'd have spent on the Mustang.

That way, he really does have a vested interest in how it is driven, and how it is maintained.

My dad had a 75 911S in 94 when I got my license. My first car? an 86 Saab 900 8v 4 dr 5 spd, that I sold my dirt bike to buy. I learned how to work on a car via that Saab. And boy did I learn. :)

I've raised a daughter. Dunno a thing about sons. But having done so? She now in her mid 30's, a licensed and working R.N. who is wearing out her second hubby? I still wonder what weird thing makes us want to have kids in the first place...aside from the joy of sex, I mean. Generally speaking, kids are a royal PITA! Also, they are expensive. Hmmm, kind of like early 911 cars... ;)

Get him something big and heavy and american for his daily driver. Then get him a 356 or 912 project for the P car factor. You two can have fun together getting it setup for him to enjoy when he is older and insurance rates are more reasonable.