HP is irrelevant. CARS are not toys, it doesnt matter if the thing has 50HP or 500HP. Used irresponsibly both are just as dangerous. Drving like idiots seems to happen a lot with young kids. I know I did it when I was 16. I was just lucky that I or someone else was not hurt. And believe me there were some instances where someone EASILY couldve been killed, knock on wood.
It took me numerous tickets and losing my license twice (second time for 4 years), to comprehend that. But lesson learned, I dont screw around anymore. Some peoples asses need more kickin then others I guess.
-P.

 

When I was ~20 years old I rolled a Jeep with 2 good friends inside. Ironically we hadn't been drinking but were on the way to buy beer. I was going about 45 mph, wasn't paying attention to the road, drifted onto the shoulder, and when I pulled it back onto the pavement too sharply the front tire bit the asphalt and it did a full sideways flip - a pretty common accident in the old CJs.

Even though we were all thrown out onto the road with the Jeep hanging in the air above us, no one was seriously injured. However, we all could have been dead; of course no one was wearing seatbelts.

That event changed my driving habits forever. I still drive a little aggressively, but not stupidly, and I am ALWAYS watching the road and other drivers, especially if there is someone else in the car.

The driver was an idiot that night, just like I was 20 years ago. Hopefully he has learned a lesson, albeit a VERY expensive one.

My condolences go out to the family of the passenger.

 

Not quite. I do agree that all cars should not be looked at like toys, no. Even a geo can still run over somebody or get into a crash. But 120hp fwd is NOT the equivalent in danger as a 300hp rwd muscle car. Simply not. It is much easier to lose control with the muscle car simply by touching on the gas a little too much on accident. Whereas a Yugo wouldn't. I miss the Yugo, those should be brought back. The ultimate teenager car, small power and cheap.
And besides accidents, deliberate driving. Knowing you have all that power under the hood eventually you'll take advantage of it. That urge is nowhere as strong with an Aveo or a Sunbird as it would be with a Mustang, Camaro, or Charger.

So the car itself is quite relevant. If you give a kid a nice car 95% of them will try and show off with it. I say that because obviously there are SOME responsible youths, so as not to turn this into yet another "kids don't deserve a Mustang at 18" topics Sorry Mr. Responsible 17yr old, you might be that but the rest of your demographic aren't. Gotta just live with the stereotype, it is there for a reason.

With that said that doesn't mean driving an Aveo suddenly makes them safe drivers. They can still get drunk/high and get behind the wheel and kill somebody or themselves. They need a good upbringing from childhood, taught about responsibility and safety. And if they misbehave to have the backbone to take the vehicle away from them since they obviously don't deserve the privilage of driving just yet.

 

I certainly wont deny, it took a lot of arguements and tears and a lot of proving before I agreed to let Justin have his 02 GT. When he was 16 we bought him an old 89 short bed Chevy truck V8 5-speed (repainted, lowered, nice wheels, very nice truck) and told him that if he wanted a mustang he would have to prove himself worthy and responsible; he did. That boy is a good kid, doesnt get in trouble; doesnt party; goes to school and works 6-days a week at the Ford dealership. Shortly after he turned 17, my husband handed over the keys to his black 02 GT 5-speed and the payment book!! We have not regreted yet and I hope we never do. Now my 14-yr old, that may be a different story (not all kids are the same).

Believe me when I say, I can relate to "the right car" for the kid

 

ya if you gauge the responsibility of the youth you can determine if they should have the privilege of driving a nice car and if you start them with a junky but very safe car the ones not born with it may learn responsibiliy

 

[sm=exactly.gif]

 

Right but the drinking age was lowered to 18 when the states were able to choose their own age, the gov just forces states keep it at 21 or they dont get $. Its a bullsh&t system... I can go to war and fight and die for my country but Im not allowed to sit on my porch and drink a beer. There are some laws in this country that are just ignorant IMO, yet that wouldnt stop me from going overseas and dying if needed, and thank you to those of you that do put your life on the line for our freedoms.

I agree about the part about giving a kid a nice car for a first car. My first car was a pos Maxima, but I still took care of it. I changed the fluids regularly, I washed it when it needed it, I only got 1 dent in it in the almost 3 years I owned and that was because I wasnt paying attention one time while cleaning it. Since then I am much more aware of myself when around my car. Ive never been in an accident and had plenty of power before, the Nissan wasnt the fastest thing on the road but it still would get up and go. I must say the main difference in switching was the FWD and RWD thing, took me awhile to get used to it, especially around corners but Im adapting nicely. When my kids come of age Ill be giving them and older not so powerful car but enough so that they learn to respect it and then (God willing, and money willing) Ill buy them a newer nicer car, hopefully a Mustang (I dont want kids that like imports >.&lt but what can ya do. I dont plan on ever getting rid of my s197 and one day I hope I can restore it with a son or daughter and teach them how to appreciate cars and work on them like I never got to when I was younger. I think that just giving a kid a new car without even letting them build responsibility is irresponsible as a parent. Kids are childish (ya think?) and will never treat anything with as much respect as they will when they have to earn it along with the responsibilty and trust that comes with earning it.

 

IMO its a good thing the drinking age is 21 maybe it should be rased ever higher maybe to 40
I'm only 21 and never have or will drink a beer because the idea that you could lose self control is just bad
and maybe they could change it so that if you serve you can drink

 

You don't have to be drunk and you don't need a muscle car to kill someone, all you need is a stupid driver. My best friends son was killed by doing something stupid. They didn't have a muscle car and there wasn't any drinking involved. They thought they would play the Dukes of Hazard on a country road. They went up a hill, went airborn and when they came down, the car landed sideways into an oncoming car. Needless to say, the passenger side got t-boned and 2 kids died. They were all best friends going out for a ride. To this day, the driver is still having problems dealing with the accident. There was no intention of hurting someone, just trying to have fun.

 

Immaturity + irresponsibility + ignorance = pain and suffering. Its so up to all of us motor heads to set good examples for the young adults who see us and our nice rides. At one point in our life time an adult or some event in our youth inspired us to have these cars and have responsible fun with them!!!