Would YOU Choose a TR for your Kid's First Car?

[Rivical]

I've included a poll to find out where you folks stand on this one.



I chose not to go this route with my first kid. Just used his allowance backpay (and alot More!) to get him what was my own first love, for his first too. Fly out to get it this weekend.

Personally, it was more a matter of parts depth. 1976 Volare in nice shape with nice options. It's a car we can build off my own shelves right down to a Road Runner package, stripes and all. Hopefully my Love of T-Types will transfer too, and he can bring his own home when he has his own money to build it.

 

[Eticket]

I say no. There's too much uncontrollable torque when the boost comes up and things can get out of hand quick even with a stock turbo.

My first car, I sold to a fellow club member for his son's first car. He wrapped it around a phone pole a few months later.

 

[gnpoweredrail]

Make him pay for it so he appreciates it also make him pay for the insurance and if he gets stupid still take it away.
My father did this with me..71Monte carlo with a 468 big block...I paid every dime and when I did something stupid he still took it.
Made me appreciate it that much more and be repsonsible.

 

[Rivical]

I say no. There's too much uncontrollable torque when the boost comes up and things can get out of hand quick even with a stock turbo.

My first car, I sold to a fellow club member for his son's first car. He wrapped it around a phone pole a few months later.

My thoughts exactly!!!!

I cut up a few friends first cars for parts in the day, Road Runner's, Super Bee's, GTO's, wrapped around this or stuffed into that.
The power of even a mild Turbo Regal just isn't something I want under an inexperienced driver.... MY inexperienced Driver....

 

[Rivical]

Make him pay for it so he appreciates it also make him pay for the insurance and if he gets stupid still take it away.
My father did this with me..71Monte carlo with a 468 big block...I paid every dime and when I did something stupid he still took it.
Made me appreciate it that much more and be repsonsible.

LOL! Covered!

He already knows the deal! I better never see another C in his life! And the 5.9L injected Magnum w/ OD trans, will cost him straight A's !!!

He'll start with the 318 and prove his way up the parts bin.... I haven't even mentioned POSI yet, and I think he knows better than to...

 

[gnpoweredrail]

I didnt get a posi until I had driven the car for 2 years....then when I did get it it happened to be raining the night we got it done...My dad said ok lets go learn how to drive it

 

[gnpoweredrail]

good grades arent good enough!!!!
Make him pay for it or nothing...trust me on this.Too many friends ended up with nice cars because of good grades.still didint appreciate what they had and still dont to this day

 

[6cylboost]

I agree. I spun mine 180 with my dad in it. we hit a crack in the road that was filled with tar. yes i was standing on the accelerator on a test drive. daddyo didnt think it was very funny. this was back in my 20's

 

[charlief1]

Until he gets some time under his belt driving then make sure he's under powered. Not being mean here but common sense. Most males think it's easier and bigger so he'll be trying to bust a nut rather than trying to survive. A Yugo come to mind here.

 

[ZNix]

I may be a bit biased.. But why not? My first car, is the one in my signature. Been driving it for a while now. I only kept the stock turbo for maybe.. 2 months? Then upgraded to all the stuff in my signature. I just turned 18 in September. Been fun . I won't say that I haven't done some stupid things, (uncle Charlie can attest to some of them) but every kid is GOING to test the limits of his or her car, no matter what it is. If you don't want him in a fast car.. I strongly suggest a Jeep with some big wheels and tires, and maybe a lift kit and winch. It is a TON of fun to go out into the woods and off-road. Its also a lot safer of an area to test the limits of the car. Also cheap to fix if something happens. I go with my friends who have Jeeps in my beater Nissan 720 4WD. It keeps up with them pretty well for what it is.

My .02$

Zack

 

[turbo39151]

TR is too powerful. Not sure if even a 318 isn't too much for a first timer...
I'd personally go with a moderately older (1990's) car with airbags and a decent safety rating. Something cheap (ie: $1500 or less)- Something that can be beat on because it's likely it will be beat on. Then once the kid has acquired some basic skills, then he can move up into something more powerful.

 

[pdzz]

I got my first car when I was 15. Mom bought it for me for 250.00. It was a 1974 AMX Javelin with the 401 stick, posi. Only thing, the engine, transmission, parts, were in the trunk and back seat. Took me two years to put it together, with the help of the town gear heads. So when I was 17, I finally got it on the road. It was at least 400 horse!! Way more than any 17 year old should have!!! But, I'd been driving since I was twelve... I promptly spun a bearing the following summer. I had it up to 140mph a couple of times!! So, why not? Keep the boost low. Phil.

 

[Rivical]

TR is too powerful. Not sure if even a 318 isn't too much for a first timer...
I'd personally go with a moderately older (1990's) car with airbags and a decent safety rating. Something cheap (ie: $1500 or less)- Something that can be beat on because it's likely it will be beat on. Then once the kid has acquired some basic skills, then he can move up into something more powerful.

Funny you mention that! In the day, my RT was the beater and my 5-yo Regal the nice car, now he'll be building an old Runner and have something newer for the beater. He has to get himself that newer beater to get the collectors insurance policy on the Volare. We just got a 98 Durango for $650 because of suspension probs. That's where the 5.9 is. Maybe he'll buy that fm me. Dunno. Told him that 5.9 was worth straight A's and word from the adults around town that he doesn't drive like an idiot.

There's nothing particularly snappy about 170hp of 318 in a 3,700lb car. I'll be suprised if he doesn't want more power quickly. He's never getting a posi while under my roof tho. Same reason he isn't getting a TR. Any amount of power over stock and the car's physical dynamics can change too abruptly.

 

[Rivical]

good grades arent good enough!!!!
Make him pay for it or nothing...trust me on this.Too many friends ended up with nice cars because of good grades.still didint appreciate what they had and still dont to this day

I couldn't even begin to explain how great this kid is. Not like me at that age. Very appreciative and helpful.

Working on an idea where he'll have to buy the parts, kinda as suggested. I'm thinkin about a plan where he's gotta make the money, find the market value of what I have and prove that's it's worth, then submit the money to his own college fund.

I know it's not that same as paying for something and the money is gone leaving only the value of the product behind. But it'd still allow him the comparative analysis of what his money can buy, later on. Any thoughts there?

 

[turbo39151]

170 hp is still alot even in a 3700lb car (not for us but for a new driver yes...) I was thinking something little and gutless but economical- Think 50hp Ford Festiva (40-50mpg), 70hp Geo Metro (50mpg), 115hp Honda Civic (36-43mpg)---- Not for purposes of shaming the kid but more of a series of unspoken lessons...

Example:
1. These cars are super cheap- so if there is any damage it's cheap
2. Insurance is cheap (If you haven't gotten your first bill with him on the ins. wait till you do)
3. Registration is cheap
4. Fuel will be cheap
5. Easy to work on
6. When he learns to handle 50 hp, then he can move up to 100 and so on.... Once you can handle a crappy car, you can better understand and handle a more sophisticated car. I'd also make him learn to drive a manual--- I just read that only 10% of cars come out with manual trans anymore...Apparently it's becoming a lost skill.

Additionally, he might discover that driving a cheap beater allows him to drive past the gas station with more regularity- All the money he saves can be used to fund the parts for the "toy".

Finally, he'll probably be asked to drive less if people can barely fit.... Less teens in one car the better off for everyone.

Just my .03

 

[ZNix]

As much as you would like to get this kid a car with 50HP.. I wouldn't. You need something that will get out of its own way. Its much easier to merge on highways, etc if you can actually get up to speed by the time you are at the end of the on ramp. I had a little Pontiac GTP for a while that had decent power and was pretty safe. Another cheap alternative. They can be picked up for little money and parts are everywhere. I still think an off-road vehicle would be your best bet...

Zack

 

[Rivical]

As much as you would like to get this kid a car with 50HP.. I wouldn't. You need something that will get out of its own way. Its much easier to merge on highways, etc if you can actually get up to speed by the time you are at the end of the on ramp. I had a little Pontiac GTP for a while that had decent power and was pretty safe. Another cheap alternative. They can be picked up for little money and parts are everywhere. I still think an off-road vehicle would be your best bet...

Zack

In many ways I'm in complete agreement with you. You sound smarter or more experienced than your years!

With my license in last chance jeopardy from the things I got caught for in many a Chrysler F-Body I needed one of those little crapboxes for a while.
Chevy Sprint-48 brake HP, rolling on lawn mower wheels with tiny brakes. Ugh. I nearly always had a pedal on the floor.
The skill required to maneuver it in traffic, merge, or even manage a pass on two lane hiway's was very challenging even to a reforming street racer.
I don't want him to have too much too soon. But I neither want him to be a danger to himself or nuisance to others by no fault of his own.


We also have several 4x4's of which he'll have availability. The Durango already needs suspension work and if it doesn't get stripped of it's black leather interior and drivetrain it just might get lifted. The '96 Bronco is dependable as the day is long at 219K-mi. And he'll probably learn to shift in my '87 F-150, just like I learned on an old Ford truck. I'm still negotiating with myself over which vehicle I want to risk him learning standard shift on.


Turbo 39151, Ohio no longer allow's multiple teens in cars. It's either 1 or 2-pass limit.
And he isn't getting on my insurance any more than my ole man let me get onto his unless that law has changed too. That's his repsonsibility.

 

[Turbo6inKY]

Everybody's opinion is driven by their own experiences.

My first car was a 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix with the 2bbl 3.8L. 110 horsepower in a 3500lb car. 0-60 in 17 seconds.

I still managed to wreck it a couple of times. I think additional power would have likely made those wrecks worse.

 

[87GNSteve]

Get a 3.8 N/a Regal let them drive it to get used to how it feels, and maintain it then after a few years either trade up or convert it over.