Cool story about a Carrera 4
 

My friend just purchased his first Porsche -- a 1989 Carrera 4. Naturally, my son (who is a newly licensed driver at 16) and I went for a visit. My friend tossed me the keys, and said come back when you are bored (I felt badly, and ultimately returned it because I never got bored). Just as we pulled out, my friend rapped on the window and reminded me to let my son drive, too :D

So, I didn't drive my first Porsche until I was well into my thirties. My son drives one at 16!

I think it's great to let your kids use your cars. I used to let my lad drive my Porsches. Let my sons use my M3 now. They know to respect my trust and what the car is capable of in a very short amount of time. They are both very good drivers having raced karts from a young age. Funny, friends who had kids around the same age said that karting would make them hoons. Neither one of them has ever been pulled over or caught speeding. ALL of our friends kids have been busted for speeding.

one of the absolute joys of owning my 964 c4 is loaning it out. Everytime I go away for a few days, I loan it to a friend or family member to enjoy. My wife's friend had it for a week in the fall... dropped her kids off at school every day and LOVED it. I've probably let a dozen people drive it in the past year, and 4 of them have had it overnight for at least a day or two. When I went to pick up a car in Toronto a few weeks ago, I loaned the c4 to my mom... just got it back yesterday, she had it for 3 weeks and put almost 1200 miles on it!

Nice thing about the g50 cars is anyone can drive them, without the "special instructions" that a 915 car often needs. These cars aren't finicky princesses like some other sports cars. They're tough and reliable. My cars accumulated a lot of scratches and dings from ME, so I tend not to be anxious or prissy about other people using it.

I'd let a 16 year old drive my car, but they'd have to be with their parents

I started learning how to drive at 13 in the 356...

Very cool that you share your 911 like that!

My rule for borrowing a Porsche: if you're not willing to drive the 944, then you don't get to drive the 996.

Zoom... very cool story. Getting your son behind the wheel will only increase his appreciation for the car what his dad has done with him, oh and wicked bragging rights.

In opposition...

This is the 3rd season I've had my 911 and have tossed my Dad the keys countless times....HE GIVES THEM BACK! My old man has always been an American Car guy and overall kermudgeon. I don't know what his deal is other than he looks at my car as a "little go-kart"

Maybe it's just me, but I have offered numerous others I trust with my car and nobody will take the keys.:rolleyes:

At first, Will didn't want to drive it -- he was concerned about stalling it and all the other related challenges of driving someone else's car. I told him that if he didn't drive it he'd have to walk home . . .

He's a true gearhead, and has the strongest understanding of mechanical sympathy of anyone I know, so he didn't have any problem at all with the clutch or gearbox.

My own rule is -- if you ask me I will let you drive any of my cars. I do so love it when people drive my Miata -- especially those who generally viewed them with disdain . . .

Loved reading this.

Ditto on loving this story.

I too have offered to let others drive my car but my brother is the only one that has actually driven it. On the other hand, he did let me drive his '68 912 first.

Nobody in my family will drive any of my cars; they're all "afraid" of crashing them or ruining them in some way. I say, that's what insurance is for...

My mom came to visit and take care of some business a few months ago, and I offered her one of my cars to use while in town. Instead, she borrowed my brother's old beater nissan that she couldn't even get to start half the time. Boggles my mind.

Two of my DD cars, a 951 and a 964 are not driven by any others...Unwittingly, I've offered the keys to my sister and father. They both declined before exiting the driveway! Its probably a good thing as the power steering has been disabled in both cars. I actually like the feel and the workout. Guess its the only 1% group to which I'll ever belong.

Diverdan (Popeye)

I offered my Carrera to a visitor to LB who was living in NYC at the time and I was taking care of his house here. I felt pretty good about offering him the car to use.

I felt even better when he declined.

I let lots of people drive my SC. The PO used it as his "loaner" when he had visitors (clutch and 1-2 synchros were gone when I bought it).
I had both my sons driving it while they were on their learners permits. The older boy never really warmed up to it. The younger boy loves it.

He's 18. I just let him take his friend for a ride in it without me for the first time.

My niece at the age of 15 used to get driving lessons in the SC. I said it's quite a big deal to drive a 911, but an even bigger deal when you haven't even got your license yet.

She was actually quite a good driver in it, doing mainly sweeping country roads at about 60mph.