Death Car

[freekintoad]

I had a guy inquire about buying my Cobra. The conversation
got kinda wierd when he explained to me that he was looking to possibly
buy the car for his sixteen year old son, and not himself. Don't get me wrong,
I want to sell my car..but I have to pass on this guy. I explained to him that
giving a ultra-high performance car to a sixteen year old, was like handing
a chimpanze a cocked and fully loaded 45 automatic. 35 years ago
I sold a 67 Camero [327/250 HP.] to a friend of mine. He gave it to his young
son. In less than a week, the boy crashed the car, Paralizing him from the waist down forever. I made up my mind that I would never sell another
youth a vehicle as long as I live. I can't imagine what this guy is thinking.
I felt that I needed to share this with everyone here in case this dude wants to buy your car. He is NOT getting mine.

[52chevyred]

Good stand!

I remember the days of my youth in the 60's. I rode in and drove many cars well over 100 mph and thought nothing of it. I'm just glad to still be here. I still have the "need for speed", but do it on a track, not the highway.

[RICK LAKE]

freekintoad You did the right thing. It's hard today to get kids to listen or understand things. In the old days we had 450hp cars and about twice a month a class mate was either killed, vegetable or organ donor. I was driving a tractor at 12 and trucks on the farm at 13. Needed 2 by 4's on the 3 pedals to reach. I have had 7 accidents, 1 bad and saw GOD, no more drinking and driving. I became the driver for after the parties. To this day I still do this. I am lucky that the core of friends are still ALL alive and well. You have something that most people don't had, COMMON SENSE. The owners father needs his Head examined for brain matter. I think there is some missing. Maybe this father will buy a gun next for his kid Rick Lake

[Tommy]

I won't comment on your decision not to sell, but I do agree with your sentiment. I've said more than a few times that the easiest way to kill a 16-25 year old male would be to give him a Cobra.

[Silverback51]

Well I think it was a smart move on your part.

Problem is that Dad will just find someone else to sell him a car.

My first car when I was 16 was a 66 Chevelle SS 375HP/396. How I survived I will never know.

[trularin]

I think it was the 1971 Transam, 455 SD engine.

More were crashed within the first week of ownership than any other car. Yet parents gave them to their kids.

There are cars that should not be passed to a young driver.

You may have saved that young person's life.

[JTD]

[ Maybe this father will buy a gun next for his kid Rick Lake[/quote]

Must be a NJ thing...is that a problem?

[550FLYER]

I got my car from a guy that had it built for his son. He decided to sell the car, rather than give it to his son. He came to the realization that it was too much car for a young person that still feels invincible.

[63mercury]

I think you did the right thing,and I feel that parents SHOULD NOT buy their children cars, I worked all summer for my first car a 1940 pontiac business cp and my kids earned their own cars also nad really learned how expensive they are. My son got a used Vega for his first car for $100. and later traded it for a Pontiac GP and appreciated the work involved in getting something for himself, kids today EXPECT their parents to GIVE them whatever they want. Just my .02
Carl.

[fsstnotch]

Originally Posted by Tommy

I won't comment on your decision not to sell, but I do agree with your sentiment. I've said more than a few times that the easiest way to kill a 16-25 year old maile would be to give him a Cobra.

So because I am only 24.. that means I shouldn't own a cobra? That's kind of ignorant. I have owned fast cars forever! My last 2 cars were low 11 sec/high 12sec mustangs that I drove daily! I have ZERO tickets and ZERO accidents, PERIOD! I think I will be able to handle a cobra... but I plan to attend a driving school anyways because it will be fun! Maybe the difference is that I am buying the car.. building the car.. and know to be terrified of the car! Rather than a guy who is being GIVEN the car, doesn't know how to build the car, and feels invincible!

I guess I'll be ok though.. I'll prolly be 26 by the time my cobra is fully ready to drive. Since I'll be almost there by the time I get back from the desert.

I think it was a wise choice not to sell the car. There's way too many distractions for a teen to be driving any HP car!

Josh

[double ugly]

The old saying.. "buy your kid a Cobra or a motorcycle for their last birthday" still applies probably even more so today.
John

[vettestr]

I let my baby girl (17 yrs old) drive my car with me in the pass seat in a closed Costco parking lot and then on the street early Sunday morning. After a few miles I traded places back to me driving and she then agreed it was not a car for her to borrow or drive again on the streets. She did ask if we could do the parking lot thing again or maybe a school/track thing.
Good and bad outcome here as the instant speed and response scarred her but she liked it!!!!!!!!!

[fsstnotch]

HAHA, that sounds exactly like my wife in my old stangs. She wouldn't even drive them. I would never let her drive them in the rain as they were quite a handful in the rain. I'll let my wife drive with me in the car, but I know she will be afraid of hurting the car so she won't want to drive much.

[dawger]

Right there with you "freekintoad".....
I had just finished my 1969 Mustang Fastback 4spd car and had not even had 200 miles on the rebuilt 351W (non-stock) and while at a car show some guy kept pestering me all day to buy the car so I shot him a price in the mid $20's and he stated he'd be right back with his wife, son and checkbook which he did return. While getting the checkbook out he made the comment that the car was for his 16 year old son's birthday, after hearing that I backed out of the deal for fear of the kid killing himself or someone else with the car. Granted it's alot more car (sheetmetal wise) than a Cobra, but still more car than a 16 year old needs, specially after meeting the kid. He might have been fine, maybe maybe not....I couldn't do it. Granted the money would have been nice but I didn't want to jepordize someone's child to get it.

Dawger-

[CobraEd]

I let my son drive my Cobra since he was 15 with his leaners permit and obviously with me sitting next to him. He is a very good kid (now 22) and has a lot of maturity. He actually is more sensible than I am .

He has always been a "car guy" and loves cars. He knows about and understands cars. He appreciates what it takes to build a fast car. When he was 17, we bought him a 68 AMX 390. It was a pretty fast car, but we only kept if for about a year or two. Now that he is older, he takes the Cobra out for a ride when he is home. His own car is a modified 03 SVT Cobra Mustang that he has had for about four years now. That car is a handful too!

So, If you give a fast car to a smart and mature kid who is a car guy who understands and respects powerful cars, I think it is OK. If you just buy a fast car for a kid who is clueless with no awareness or understanding of powerful cars, then I think it just becomes a dangerous "toy" that would not even be appreciated.

.

[fastraxsg]

There is a world of difference between kids growing up in the garage and with grease on their hands and saving their own money for a car. Granted that doesn't give a person common sense but it does teach a lot about how things work and what they are worth. I'm with you on your decision, I lost a lot of friends in the 60's before and after graduation to fast cars, mostly kids who parents had the bucks to buy them cars without a bit of work on their part. My first car was a '65 Falcon with the mighty 170 ci. six. My dad made me save for it and wouldn't sign for anything other than a small six. I have thanked him ever since for his knowing more than I would about my driving. FSSTNOTCH, your parents must have done pretty good by you...congrats on HM1104..come home safe...

[RedBarchetta]

I drove a SB '71 Camaro/4 speed/4.10 posi in high school...'nuff said. My 15 year old now has his driver's permit. What did I get him to drive? A 4 cylinder, front-wheel drive Toyota RAV4 that he can only spin the tires on wet days. He wants a '99-02 Camaro, but I'm holding off until he gets considerably more seat time with the 4 banger. Maybe in a couple years...

-Dean

[fsstnotch]

fastraxsg,
Thanks, can't wait! My parents didn't do to bad! I was also one of those guys who had to work to pay for my first car and insurance. i went to school and had 2 jobs. I'd get out of school, go to work till dark (farm) then change my clothes and go work at a resturaunt cooking and doing dishes 3-4 nights per week. My dad was always ASE certified when I was younger before he hurt his back and knees and just couldn't do it anymore. Then he became QC for Dana. I've been into cars my whole life! I agree that is the difference.

I went to an insurance presentation about 8 years ago and they told me that statistically speaking, most people drive like there parents. If your parents get/got alot of speeding tickets and had alot of accidents. tehir kids were also more likely to do the same. My dad has had 1 accident in his life and 1 speeding ticket. Both were while I was in the military. the speeding ticket on his way home from my basic training graduation. Apparently, the speed limit in TX is different at night than it is during the day. The accident, he blacked out with the cruise control set at 55. Went off the road and wedged the truck between 3 trees. He walked away with scrapes and bruises and no memory of the accident at all. He had to undergo many tests and ended up being put on a sleep apnea machine. I guess statistics work in my favor.

Josh

[jon@harrison.ne]

Congratulations to you. My first car when I was 16 was a 51 Anglia. It had a 24 HP flathead and cost me $115, which I earned from my summer job at $40/week. I rebuilt it myself over the winter. It was a great start to a lifetime in the car hobby. I now have a slabside 289 that I built mostly by myself, and a fuel injected 66 Chevy 2 but I still keep my eye out for a pristine 51 Anglia.

[jwd]

Originally Posted by jon@harrison.ne

Congratulations to you. My first car when I was 16 was a 51 Anglia. It had a 24 HP flathead and cost me $115

Lucky I never ran into you back then or it would have been a street race people would still be talking about today. At 16, I had a 57 VW with 36HP. On a steep hill with a strong tailwind I could almost go 60MPH.