17 yr old with a turbo

[summer13]

What do you guy think of a 17 yr old getting a 944turbo(951)

[Born2bwild1191]

Well, I'm 17 and am in the process of saving for one. I see no problem with it, probably beneficial to own a 944 or something first though, so you get used to how they handle and such. I can't say I would have enjoyed learning on a turbo, I would have been too afraid to hurt something. I've driven my dads 930 a couple times though and I'm sure i can handle the extra power of a 951. Good luck in your search!

[Aslet]

Death... I would not think a 951 is at all a good car for a kid to start with, and this is coming from a kid who bought his 944 at 17 too (currently 19)... There is so much power in a 951, and it would be easy to get into trouble. I would strongly suggest getting a 944, driving it at autocross and drivers ed, and then upgrading to a 951 after a few years (and knowing how to handle the car). The 944 also has more then enough power and performance for a starter car, and still enough power to get into trouble with.

Just my thoughts, again, I am currently 19 and bought my car myself when I was 17...

[drift a 944]

I agree with above. I bought my first 944 at age 16 for cheap. I used to always drive way too fast, do burnouts and donuts, take it off-roading if I could, and eventually I got into drifting with it. That car tought me a lot about car control, and about handling, which is extremely important at that age.

Now I am 21 and just bought a 951 two months ago. Had I gotten this car at age 16 or 17, I probably would have crashed it because of my wreckless driving characteristics plus the added power.

I suppose if you are a great driver at that age (which some kids surely are) then the 951 would be fine. But how can you know without having experience. If I were a parent, and my 16/17 year old son wanted a 951, I would force him to autocross it twice a month!

[Aslet]

[QUOTE=drift a 944;4409197} If I were a parent, and my 16/17 year old son wanted a 951, I would force him to autocross it twice a month! [/QUOTE]

You would be the worst parent ever! What a horrible thing to do to a kid with a sports car, make them drive it, lol.

I do agree though. I was raise at autocrosses and track, so I have always had a good foundation and knowledge of how to drive. I didn't become nearly as good as I am now until I did start to autocross though, it teaches so much, while having fun. So I cannot say that it would be horrible to have a 17 year old with one, but I can be fairly curtain the car will be driven too fast...

[flash968]

i don't like the idea of a 17 year old driving, let alone having a car that requires skill and precision to prevent from power oversteer

case in point - the 17 year old next door, 2 weeks after getting the license, wrecked dad's mercedes - their fault - following friends, didn't want to get lost - watching them - didn't look the other way - kablam!

all too familiar a tale

new drivers should spend a good amount of time developing the instincts and skills before stepping into a performance car

[porsche4life]

I got my 944 when I was 15. I would wait till you are older for a 951. More maitainence and more possible trouble. Buy a nice 944 for half of what a 951 would cost and have fun with that for a few years.

[Dantilla]

If he has saved his money, and is paying for it 100% by himself, maybe. (Make sure he knows how much a new clutch costs for a 951.)

If Dad is footing the bills, no way.

[Schumi]

I don't see how this would be different than all the kids I remember in high school getting Mustang GT's when they were 16. In fact, since its a Porsche and not a Mustang the kid might be more careful with it. I drive my Porsche slower on average than my Toyota just because I know it has more power and I'm just generally more careful with it since it means a lot to me.

Of course, that could go both ways. Since it's a Porsche the kid may be more likely to fall into some peer pressure to test out that 160mph top speed..

[Techno Duck]

Personally i wouldnt do it. Ive had a 944 series car since i was 17 or so and was lucky to start out with a nice and slow automatic 924S. That car kept me out of racing and driving like a complete dumbass, though i did toss that thing around corners all the time. I stepped up to a 5-spd 944 when i was around 18. This car was faster, but still slow as heck keeping me out of racing. I did start to auto-x with it and do track days and having two consecutive slow cars in a row made me realize there is alot more to driving than just going fast in a straight line.

I bought my 951 at 22 and consider myself to be a very mellow driver and still got myself into trouble with it in March of last year (20mph over on the expressway and fail to signal..). I drive even more mellow than previously now.

I dont care how responsible the 17 year old may be, temptation when you have a friend in the passenger seat and are following your friends is almost impossible to resist. I would say he / she can get one by keeping a clean driving record for a year or two and staying out of trouble in general.

BTW, i wanted a foxbody 5.0 Mustang as my first car and was very close to buying one. Im pretty sure if i had that as my first car in high school i wouldnt be able to wipe my own ass anymore. My friend had one for a little while that i drove a few times. Its one of the few cars that i laughed at while driving because i felt so unbelievably unsafe in it. Horrible suspension, horrible brakes, biblical body roll and one heck of a great engine and transmission .

[Dark Skies]

I think your insurance company is likely to put a stop to the idea before your parents do.

Having said that, it's your money so go for it if you can afford it. When I was 17 I went straight out and bought a 140 mph Kawasaki - everyone said I'd kill myself. I didn't. If I'd gone the 'sensible' route and bought bikes in power increments like the wise old pub experts advised I'd have spent five times the money and wouldn't have had my first decent bike until I was 25.

[Born2bwild1191]

Originally Posted by Dark Skies

If I'd gone the 'sensible' route and bought bikes in power increments like the wise old pub experts advised I'd have spent five times the money and wouldn't have had my first decent bike until I was 25.

I like the way you think

[rmcdonnell]

I bet Dark Skies still fell off the bike a couple of times though
I know I did.

You don't fall off a car until it's way, way out of control, and that happens pretty damn fast too.
I agree with most insurers that young teenagers in fast cars are statistically an accident waiting to happen, and I was one of those too.

I haven't had an accident in the last 29 years. And 4 accidents between 17 and 22. (Not all my fault of course!) Experience slows you down, and practice makes you quick.

My 2p.
Cheers
Russell

[1985porsche944]

Well this is what I believe I said on the other forum, buy the 944 Na. It is a cheaper car for parts. Also buy the Na and drive it for a few years and learn how to control the car, then maybe get a turbo. I will say though I want to buy a turbo but I am still happy with My 944 Na. It's not that fast of a car but then again it still is as far as I am concerned fast enough for now. Well since I have had my car for a bit over two years I have maintained not getting tickets, although I will admit I have been in two accidents, first one was over a year after I acquired my license and second one was about a month or so after that because people did not see me, luckily their faults. Anyways go with the 944 Na and you will be fine possbily get one with ABS for more security.

[flash968]

i am the typical example of what NOT to do - i had wrecked 4 cars before i was 22, all WAY too fast for my skill level - every kid "thinks" he's a great driver - it's a natural thing, but it's ignorance - you don't realize how much you don't know until you screw up - then it's usually too late

if you are dead set on going out to get a turbo, absolutely positively go out and get track driving lessons immediately - don't buy wheels - don't buy stereos - buy seat time with an instructor - even if you never plan to track the car, it will teach you what the car is like when it is at the edge and beyond - this could save your life

[ScoobySteve]

Well, it hasn't been *that* long since I was 17 so I'll chime in here.

To provide some background...I was ultra-responsible in my young days. I got great grades, was in all honors classes, generally a cautious fellow, ad infinitum. If there was one kid you'd never expect to do something stupid and careless, it was me. And then I went and did something stupid and careless.

I was in a far less powerful car than a 951 ('87 BMW 325is w/Yoko AVS Intermediates) and managed to almost kill myself. The nature of being 17 years old is to push the limits. If anything, my good grades and "proven judgment" only fueled my sense of infallibility behind the wheel. I can only imagine how much worse things could have been for me had I been in a powerful, turbocharged vehicle.

This type of thread comes up all the time over on the Subaru forums. 90% of 16 year olds with a WRX crash them...at least.

There are plenty of "fun" cars out there for teens that are far safer. The kid in question will have plenty of time to drive more powerful cars. What it really comes down to is that every kid needs to have their infallibility disproven. For some kids this happens fast (I've never driven the same since I had my wake up call) but for others it takes time. I would never let a kid of mine drive a high-powered vehicle until that had happened. It's just not worth losing your life over.

My advice: 944 NA + autocrossing. Kids should never have their first experience of losing traction be on the streets.

[HondaDustR]

Originally Posted by flash968

i am the typical example of what NOT to do - i had wrecked 4 cars before i was 22, all WAY too fast for my skill level - every kid "thinks" he's a great driver - it's a natural thing, but it's ignorance - you don't realize how much you don't know until you screw up - then it's usually too late

I'm 23 with a perfect driving record, my car is my first one and I bought and fixed it myself, I've been driving it everywhere putting 50,000mi on it in 3 years, and I still don't think I would trust myself in a turbo, at least now not without some autocross experience or something! Especially when it rains, a RWD performance car can throw some scarry tricks if you're not careful. The NA's got enough power to be fun, but it's "almost" impossible to get in real trouble with it around corners unless you do something really stupid. In a straight line, a honda civic could easily get going just as fast, so that's really a problem with any car except maybe a Geo metro. The best thing about the Porsche, though, is it's ability to stop and turn if some idiot cuts in front of you. It's also one of the best handiling cars in the rain I can imagine, as it's so well balanced, as long as you're not stupid with the throttle.

The limits are always a curiosity, especially for anyone young. The road is not a fun place to find them, and while testing them, they jump out of nowhere most of the time unless you're ready and know exactly what to do to counteract the consequences. I'm actually seriously considering trying some autocross this year, as I've been dying to know what it's like driving the Porsche at the limits safely, whithout worrying about anything except learning about the car and how to drive it.

[agent213]

Just buy it.

I had a 300zx back when I was 17, Hell I had a 240Z when I was 15. I got myself into more trouble driving my dad's Suburban then I ever did in my own car.

It's not the type of car your driving that gets you into trouble, it's youthful exuberance - and you can't quell that simply by driving a boring car.

Yeah, it's a Porsche.. but it's still only a car.

[porsche4life]

FWIW My 944 likes to cruise at illegal speeds. A 951 would only be worse. Cruising down the road the other day in a 55 and look up to see red/blues. Look down and booking along about 70. It was a deserted road and he let me off with a warning but it could have been worse. And tickets at this age can get pricey in a hurry. Also liability only insurance for me at 17 is like 500-600 every 6 months. A turbo would be more and if you have to borrow money then its full coverage and easily double my figure.

[John_AZ]

Tell your guardians that you have carefully considered the cost, potential accidents, and physicial harm that may happen with your purchase of a Porsche turbo and have decided to take a year off after graduation and travel through out Europe. I am guessing you graduate in May or June of '09.

There are many Pelican members who have done this and can help you with your trip.

Using this strategy, your guardians will reconsider the initial opposition to your desire to own a turbo and buy a new Porsche for you.

John_AZ