Car Question for my 15 y.o. daughter

[daepp]

So my smart little girl certainly knows how to push her dad's buttons...

She came to me the other day and asked if we could "restore" an old VW Bug for her to drive when she turns 16. Of course, all rational thought went out the window at the thought of the opportunity to get another old VW and to do the project with my daughter. (Reality would of course be that I would do 99% of the work but that's ok.)

My 17 y.o. daughter is driving my 200K mile ML suv. Very heavy and lots of airbags. I bought it with the thought in mind that some day my daughter would need a safe car to drive.

Now my second daughter approaches me with the bug project. Would you want your daughter to drive an old VW?

[id10t]

Maybe a similar car, but not a Bug.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=734462

[berettafan]

no but damn if it wouldn't be hard to say so.

just giving up too much safety on the roads.

[cgarr]

For Sale:

1972 Super Beetle
90K orginal Miles
Owned since 1985
Ready to go:



Opps: did I post this in the wrong forum?

[gprsh924]

Airbags and abs are overrated...day 1 in a 924

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by daepp

Now my second daughter approaches me with the bug project. Would you want your daughter to drive an old VW?

No... IMO, a new driver shouldn't be in something that unsafe.







Tell her you know she'd like one because they're so "cute," but for safety's sake, it'll have to be something else.

Like a Chevy pickup.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I don't think I could say no to that. You'd never forget the experience. What about buying a cheapo Honda for a DD, then restoring a Bug for a fun driver?

Your daughter will make some man very happy someday.

[grudk]

In SoCal? No way. Safe, modern car, or none at all. If she wants a 'bug,' get her the new model. Have to be getting cheap on the used market. Miata? Even that has to be a lot safer, and plenty to toy with

[Schumi]

*cough* 924.

That's what she needs.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by berettafan

no but damn if it wouldn't be hard to say so.

just giving up too much safety on the roads.

My thoughts exactly...she is on the righteous path, however, and needs to be rewarded for her excellent taste in cars

My 16 year-old wants the F150.

[berettafan]

yes, she most definitely IS on the righteous path!

[jyl]

How about buy an old Beetle (like the convertible pictured above) and add a rollcage? Not a full racing cage maybe, but a rollbar, door beams, etc w/ plenty of padding?

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by daepp

Now my second daughter approaches me with the bug project. Would you want your daughter to drive an old VW?

Your daughter sounds lovely. Do the bug project with her and keep it as a family weekend cruiser. Get a modern (safe) car for her DD. I think any contact with a modern car at 25+ mph will be disastrous to the occupants of the bug.

[Burnin' oil]

Originally Posted by daepp

Now my second daughter approaches me with the bug project. Would you want your daughter to drive an old VW?

Yes. My 16 year old wants to do the same thing and as soon as the restraining order expires I'm calling Thom for info.

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

Your daughter sounds lovely. Do the bug project with her and keep it as a family weekend cruiser. Get a modern (safe) car for her DD. I think any contact with a modern car at 25+ mph will be disastrous to the occupants of the bug.

+1, my dad and I did a frame-off restoration of a 73 when I was your daughter's age (around 13 years ago). It was a great bonding experience that led to more restorations, but if you do it I would keep the bug as a weekend fun car rather than the DD. As has been stated, you do not want to be on the wrong side of an accident in the bug.

[911boost]

My first car was the 1966 Mustang I still have. My dad and I bought it together, and it was an awesome experience. I am a DIY'er because of that car.

Lap belts only, and I even drove it from Virginia to Iowa twice a year for college.

My daughter wants a Double cab VW for her first car. Depending on how much room I have at the time, I will most likely buy her an older Volvo, the 240's were tanks, and then the VW to fix up.

Bill

[Steve Carlton]

No way.

[911boost]

More along the lines of this, the 242...

[Zef]

Sure.....

[Don Plumley]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

No way.

My daughter turns sixteen in two weeks. For the last year I point at every 242 I see, especially the beige ones. This elicits that perfect mouth hanging open, eyes rolled back look that she's been perfecting for a decade.

She wants a new beetle. "They are so cute!" Ugh.