Too much car?

[freeform911]

My daughter will be getting her drivers permit in less than a month and the wife and i are thinking about passing her lexus is350 to our daughter and replacing my wifes car with a lexus gs 350.
My question is, is the is350 to much car for a new drive? Its rear wheel drive and a 300+hp rocketship. Shes a very responsible kid, but i know when i was a new drive it didn't take much for me to get in trouble.
So, would you pass the car down or get something with less power and front wheel drive?
Steve

[fintstone]

Keep the IS (additional spare)...they are great cars. Give her a real beater for a year...and then if things go well, the IS.

[jcommin]

Honestly haven't read your post - but I come from a generation of there is no substitute for cubic inches and I actually still believe it. Power is good.

[look 171]

You have to know your daughter. If you say she's responsible then give it a go. My father will not allow me to own a car with any kind or decent HP. He knew me pretty well. Still, I managed to get in trouble with 96hp. I just kept my foot down.

[908/930]

Nice car, is it possible to reset the stop on the gas pedal? Is there a mechanical limit on the pedal just to detune it a little?

[Evans, Marv]

Generally a kid's first car gets beat up considerably. Not necessarily because they intend it to be that way but because they just lack awareness. I like fint's suggestion if you can go that route.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by freeform911

My daughter will be getting her drivers permit in less than a month and the wife and i are thinking about passing her lexus is350 to our daughter and replacing my wifes car with a lexus gs 350.
My question is, is the is350 to much car for a new drive? Its rear wheel drive and a 300+hp rocketship. Shes a very responsible kid, but i know when i was a new drive it didn't take much for me to get in trouble.
So, would you pass the car down or get something with less power and front wheel drive?
Steve

Does it have reverse sensors/camera? They are good to have, as it makes parking much easier. However, it would be good for a new driver to learn those skills, instead of relying on technology. Get a beater for a year, then upgrade the wife's car.

[bickyd]

you have a daughter. she probably wont be tying to drift. I could be wrong but odds are, she won't. As a father of two boys , I have found they will wreck at least two vehicles each. Front and Side impact is important. the best tires you can afford. I also emphasized that when turning right onto a road , it is not enough to look left. you have to look right to make sure no one is passing a car and is in your lane coming at you. seems obvious but it is not. a pickup is the best first vehicle in my mind. high up and not thought of as a race car. kind of mute because its demise is imminent....... good luck dad..

[plexiform]

Yes it’s too much car for a first car. Even a responsible kid (I’m assuming 17yrs) is going to get in to trouble with a 300hp car at that age. Inexperience is the problem. A new driver not being able to handle a powerful car when trying to maneuver a tough situation would be my biggest concern.

[unclebilly]

Put her in a HPDE with the car or autocross or ice racing if possible. She will learn car control very quickly and be just fine... it’s too late to start her out in go-karts at 5 years old now like I did with my son and will do with my daughter this summer.

Both of these kids won’t have an issue getting into a high HP car when they get their learners licenses at 14... different strokes.

[dewolf]

What year is the IS350?
Teach her to drive. Not just to steer a car. Or send her to someone that can. I said it here before that both my lads are state champion kart racers but I still had them do several defensive driving courses. The best money I have ever spent. Both boys are now adults and have it made through with zero accidents and no speeding fines, and they can both drive very, very well.
They have told me that what they learnt came to their aid on more than one occasion during their teen driving years.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by dewolf

What year is the IS350?
Teach her to drive. Not just to steer a car. Or send her to someone that can. I said it here before that both my lads are state champion kart racers but I still had them do several defensive driving courses. The best money I have ever spent. Both boys are now adults and have it made through with zero accidents and no speeding fines, and they can both drive very, very well.
They have told me that what they learnt came to their aid on more than one occasion during their teen driving years.

I put my older son through this school, and my younger one will be going too. You cannot teach on the street what they will teach them there.


Welcome to Tire Rack Street Survival. Real world. Hands-on.

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by freeform911

My daughter will be getting her drivers permit in less than a month and the wife and i are thinking about passing her lexus is350 to our daughter and replacing my wifes car with a lexus gs 350.
My question is, is the is350 to much car for a new drive? Its rear wheel drive and a 300+hp rocketship. Shes a very responsible kid, but i know when i was a new drive it didn't take much for me to get in trouble.
So, would you pass the car down or get something with less power and front wheel drive?
Steve

You have 6+ months to decide whether she can handle it. Teach her to drive in the Lexus and see how she does. If she is responsible and drives it well then I see no reason not to let her have it. Even after she gets her full license she can't drive after dark in SC anyway for a year, reducing that risk.

[wildthing]

On the good side, a relatively new car will have fewer problems. Peace of mind for you and your daughter. If breaking down at night in a relatively remote area is a concern...

Also check insurance costs.

Not sure if this is of concern too: 2018 Lexus IS, but the newer ones are rated better by the IIHS.

[Norm K]

I'm probably in the old-school minority here, but I wouldn't be giving a teenager any car. Irrespective of our means, all four of our kids had to earn their way to a first car though a combination of grades, civic responsibility and, yes, money. Keep your grades up, give back to the community and get a job so you can contribute to your present and prepare for your future - now we can talk about a car.

_

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Norm K

I'm probably in the old-school minority here, but I wouldn't be giving a teenager any car. Irrespective of our means, all four of our kids had to earn their way to a first car though a combination of grades, civic responsibility and, yes, money. Keep your grades up, give back to the community and get a job so you can contribute to your present and prepare for your future - now we can talk about a car.

_

Old-school minority...can I join ? All kids are different, but I've seen the downside of giving a kid a car far too often....YMMV.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

You have 6+ months to decide whether she can handle it. Teach her to drive in the Lexus and see how she does. If she is responsible and drives it well then I see no reason not to let her have it. Even after she gets her full license she can't drive after dark in SC anyway for a year, reducing that risk.

I'd second that. You our your wife will be driving with her for a while which will give you an opportunity to see how she handles the car. If you were up north, a rear wheel drive would be a slight concern with snow and ice but in SC you don't normally see those things. Let her tell you how comfortable she is driving the car. If she's not comfortable with it, you might consider a different car. The other option would be sell the car outright and get her a car she would be comfortable in with the money you got from the sale. I have found that giving them a choice in the car they drive gives them some pride and "ownership" in the car and they tend to take better care of the car.
I will say I like a front wheel drive for a new driver even in rain. With modern traction control a rear wheel drive car isn't as bad but they can still get tail happy which can cause a new driver to panic.

[freeform911]

I appreciate all the feed back. My insurance company(usaa) made it an easy choice. TO MUCH CAR!!! Premiums would almost double! So the advice they gave was to look for a beater 1999-2005.
To those that say don't get her a car, haha. My only child and i think right now her job is to do well in school and help out in the community. She'll be forced in to the work force soon enough.
Thanks again for everyones opinion.
Steve

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by Norm K

I'm probably in the old-school minority here, but I wouldn't be giving a teenager any car. Irrespective of our means, all four of our kids had to earn their way to a first car though a combination of grades, civic responsibility and, yes, money. Keep your grades up, give back to the community and get a job so you can contribute to your present and prepare for your future - now we can talk about a car.

_

I'd make every male that doesn't have a mental disability earn a car, a female it might be situational.

I do not really think you can find an answer to your question with us as you know more than we do. I do like Fint's suggestion of a beater to learn in, once you see comfort move up.

For some young ladies it might not be enough power...

[vash]

i never understand that question.

too much car for what? we thinking it may overpower the poor kid and she goes careening off the road? in my youth, i would have taken a Yugo and gotten air under all four tires. it wasnt about the power..it was the determination.

bottomline, i think it depends on the kid. will she throttle back?