Quote:
Originally Posted by gunlover05
watching this thread, great question i have started thinking about...I also wouldn't mind getting my boy a car that isn't like every other kids 10 year old Honda accord/Toyota camry, but not too expensive and relatively safe. I want to make sure he learns how to wrench on cars in the process, it has served me well over the years. He is only 12 now so I have some time, but he is a car fanatic. I don't have a lot of spare time, but thinking toward getting something in a year or two we can fix up together. He saw a 944 the other day and was definitely intrigued. I also saw a full size bronco (late 80s/early 90s) that I thought was cool.
I think there are several late 80s cars that could be easy enough to work on, relatively safe, and not too expensive.
edit; I would buy an air-cooled bettle in a heartbeat to fix up, but not sure his mother would think it safe enough (e.g. no airbags, etc.)
|
I bought a 944 as my first car.
The single biggest safety issue I have with the 944 today, is interstate onramps. Modern drivers like to roll in at 25MPH to the end of the on ramp, do a "merge" in, then tromp on it up to 80MPH.
The 944 is a sitting duck in that situation. Perhaps the S2 or Turbo its different.
The safety issue of the 120WHP of the 944 compared to what modern cars have these days, and the way modern drivers do not build proper momentum in situations where the 944 absolutely has to, is my single biggest safety complaint.
I also find the 944, gets run over, either drivers don't see it, or they think the little car will get out of the way. This doesn't happen in my bigger XK I got last year, far more peaceful. I was going to have the Xk as the 2nd in line daily driver, but the difference in how other drivers do not try to occupy the same space I do, was a major factor in it taking over the #1 daily driver choice. The 944 only comes out during off traffic times.
Ultimately, its going to vary with your roads and locale.
I also think if a driver cares about their car, they'll be more inclined to make effort to keep it in one piece. If they don't care, show them where the bus stops are.(if you have them)
My cell phone goes to off when driving.
The 944 has higher polar inertia from the rear mounted gearbox, this means that things go wrong in a much slower easy to deal with way. Its harder to make lasting mistakes in the 944.
I know a not so responsible youngin' that put their 944 off road and tore it up from treating the world like their own race track.
I would recommend the 944 for a kid who can learn and respect the limits in a safe manner, and isn't doing a lot of multi-lane road driving.
Once you get into lots of multi lane road driving, to many people choose collision courses that you have to avoid on an almost daily basis. I drive with my headlights on in the 944, yet still have this problem. It wasn't as big a deal years ago, but I live in an expanding area from out of state influx, more traffic density, and more dang yankees.