[Aerkuld]

I'm already starting to think about the car I'll help my 13 year old stepson out with. I was thinking about something with minimal seating capacity working on the basis that the fewer people he can get in he car the fewer people there are to encourage him to do something stupid. I also want something fairly underpowered but that he won't mind driving. I did consider my 944, but let me tell you this...

The 944 I have DID require a lot of work when I first got it as it had been badly neglected being owned by a high school student previously who hadn't taken care of it. Once it was to the point where I was on top of things it still needed regular attention, but maybe one Saturday every 8 to10 weeks. The timing belt issue is possible to work around with a much less expensive tool, but you do MUST do the timing belt every three years or 30k miles. Everything on the car is fairly simple to work on, but it won't be maintenence free by any stretch. The good news is that parts are fairly easy to get hold of and there are plenty of used parts around. The tires are also fairly inexpensive. It is a good car and would probably be quite good for a new driver being fairly 'cool' yet not being that fast. It is relatively easy to look after, but it DOES need looking after!

Having been through all that, in my situation I don't see my stepson being prepared to put the time and effort into maintaining a 944 and I have enough to do without doing all the work on it myself. On top of that he wants to be able to take his dirt bike to the track, so I'm leaning towards a late '90's 4 cylinder Tacoma. Limited seat space and hopefully it will be dog slow but practical. Probably not a 'cool' car for your daughter though!