How nice/cool/fast/fun of a car would you buy your kid?

"E. Julius" (soonerfrommi) 02/08/2015 at 15:49 • Filed to: Parenting

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A conversation I had in the comments today made me wonder what Oppo's opinion is on this. Would you let her have something sporty, or would you get her something dull to discourage reckless driving? Would you buy him a luxury car if you had the means, or do you scoff at the idea of heated leather swaddling a teenager's butt? Would you buy her a classic even if it means compromising her safety? Would you even buy the car at all, or would that be his responsibility? Obviously there are advantages and drawbacks to any option, and I think there can be a solid justification for just about any choice made here.

Personally, I think I'd buy my hypothetical child something fun to drive, but not something fast. Definitely not something new, but not so old as to be unsafe. I'd definitely get something reliable, because who wants to pay to fix a car they're not driving. Something like a Fiesta, and maybe a FiST if they were really good.

What about you Oppo? Try and nurture your childrens' inner gearheads with the car of their dreams, or make it that much sweeter when they finally buy it themselves?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 15:50

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See here:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/why-do-parents…

That being said, my parents got me something relatively fast and luxurious, so maybe I'm a hypocrite.

Übel > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 15:54

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Sloooooooow. I know the kind of shit I managed to pull in an '02 Beetle that took 11.4 seconds to hit 60 and topped out at 115, and there is no way in hell I'd want my kid attempting the same shit in something as fast as a FiST. There are plenty of cars that are good to drive but won't do 140mph.

For Sweden > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 15:54

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A old base Volvo

Decay buys too many beaters > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 15:54

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The answer is always Volvo wagon

Safe

Slow

Enthusiast appeal

Cheap

bob and john > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 15:55

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http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/un-popular-opi…

Agrajag > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 15:56

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Like you, something fun but not fast. Age of the vehicle I'm not worried about, and they would be buying it themselves.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 15:56

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Well I learned on a big manual chevy truck and I think being able to drive that early on made me a better driver. It makes you think about the vehicle, I was in the Z the other day and I was thinking about this, kids who never learned on a manual don't think ahead. When you drive a tricky manual you really are concerned with whats up ahead, these new cars make you think you can stop no matter what.

TopSirloin > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 15:58

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Not a panty dropper by any means, but it should be sporty enough to get in to trouble, and is probably cheap to insure... and I think it probably has airbags too. Sorry child, no shaggin' wagon either.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 15:58

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I had a hand me down 3.2TL. WhenI graduate, my parent say they'll get me a GS350 F-Sport, so I guess that's what he/she's getting.

tromoly > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:00

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Something along the limes of a early-to-mid 90s Toyota Tercel or Corolla. Extremely reliable and extremely affordable to maintain (seriously, did a full engine rebuild for a '94 Tercel for ~$1500).

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:00

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An E36. They need to know how to work on a car and be responsible enough to keep it on the road.

Getting them a Civic or Corola or something like those would be failing as a parent.

TheHondaBro > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:00

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Volvo.

Saab.

Old Merc.

StoneCold > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:00

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Inline six Mustang? Inline six Mustang

E. Julius > Übel 02/08/2015 at 16:02

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You do raise a good point. Back in my complete–fucking–idiot days I took my '96 Escort up to 105 on a public highway. I've never driven a FiST so I don't know how fast they are. Maybe just a base Fiesta then.

Thunderface > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:02

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Crown Vic

 > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:02

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My kid would get a "hand me down" whatever car I was driving at a time.

E. Julius > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 02/08/2015 at 16:02

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Good read. What do you drive?

505Turbeaux > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:03

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I bought my first 4-5 cars myself, all air cooled VW stuff. Then my grandma bought me a 16V Scirocco as my first "real" car. Yeah I loved to tell the tale, yes I lost my license a few times, but in the end, now I drive like gramps. Having heat was nice too. Let them make the choice and live with it. Make sure they know if they fuck it up, you wont be there to fix it or replace it.

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:03

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Why not just make them buy it themselves in the first place? My parents let me have what I wanted, so long as I paid for the car, maintenance, and some insurance.

mcseanerson > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 02/08/2015 at 16:04

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That's a good mindset I don't see that often in these questions.

Tipo Stradale Fever > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:05

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I would get her/him a bike. I´m certainly not going to buy a car for her/him.

My (hypothetical) kid needs to work for his/her car. Just like I did. It builds character and a sense of responsibility.

TopSirloin > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna 02/08/2015 at 16:05

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Are you graduating from Harvard as a valedictorian? If not, that's an over the top graduation gift for any highschool kid outside of Malibu.

TopSirloin > Thunderface 02/08/2015 at 16:05

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LOL I'm having visions of scaring the SH*T out of your friends. Extra points if it still has the spotlight.

E. Julius > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 02/08/2015 at 16:08

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I like that, and honestly that's something I wish I had learned to do when I was starting out. Oh well, guess I'll just have to teach myself when I get my next car (because my Civic has had anything wrong for me to fix haha).

Bandit > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:09

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I would do what my parents did with me. They wouldn't buy me anything. I had to buy my own car which put me in the mindset of "Don't do anything stupid to ruin your car." I only had a few requirements: it had to be in my budget and it had to be driven in winter. I bought a 2nd gen Trans Am that is twice as old as I am.

mcseanerson > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:09

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I used to be of the old Volvo mindset but I've seen the older ones don't hold up as well as we all believe they do and I would like them to drive something that gives them a good feel for driving dynamics. Ideally, I'd want my kid to drive a momentum car to learn how to drive so they learn how to really push a car just to keep up with people but most of those are deathtraps so I'm suggesting the next best thing.

A 2004 Mazda 3 base model with a 5 speed stick, no abs, no traction control. They hold up very good in accidents, they're fairly reliable, good on gas, they have good driving feel and dynamics and even the base model is fun to drive. And all that Mazda rust would teach them how to do bodywork,

E. Julius > Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage 02/08/2015 at 16:10

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I think I might be open to a limited version of that. I do think it could potentially be too easy for a kid to get in over their head though, either with speed or reliability.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:11

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As has been said, a Volvo wagon or something of the like. Before I had my 4Runner, I drove my parents Trailblazer and even that had too much power for a 16 year old. If it weighs more than 2 tons and can hit 120 in a relatively short amount of time, a kid doesn't need it.

jariten1781 > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:12

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Depends on the kid. Most kids fall into the "slightly older Civic or equivalent" category. One who was especially responsible and had shown interest in cars for a while could have something like an older GTI or Mustang. One who wants to work landscaping as a summer job could have an older full size truck. One who had been working for a while at odd jobs and planned on getting a full time job every summer and part time during the year could have something newer or fancier if they were trusted to financially contribute to it regularly.

No one size fits all answer.

E. Julius > Bandit 02/08/2015 at 16:12

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That was one of the things I tried to do when I was getting my last car haha

Xyl0c41n3 > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:13

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*Cough* I drive a base model Fiesta. I regularly creep it up to 90 without even realizing it. (I know, I know. But this is Texas, and the roads are long, empty, and fast. And once I do realize it, I back off). It's deceptive that way. It lets in a lot of road noise, but it's also rock steady and smooth at speed. I've taken it up past that speed before, too. *coughs again*

The DCT can make it a little sluggish at times in city driving, but once you get it out on the highway, it's a fairly smooth, fairly zippy little car.

Kumicho > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:13

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Considering the stupid stuff I did in a 1988 Prelude (College, mind you, but still young) I can't imagine giving a kid the keys to something with any sort of power whatsoever (the Prelude had 140hp)...

Sporty, low on power. Miata?

E. Julius > mcseanerson 02/08/2015 at 16:14

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I like your answer the best so far. I drove a 2008 3 for a little while back in the day, and it was definitely a fun car to drive. I only got high 20s for mpg though, pretty bad compared to modern cars in the same segment.

Bandit > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:15

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Haha nice. My kids will grow up learning how to work on cars so hopefully they will have some sort of respect for it,

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > TopSirloin 02/08/2015 at 16:15

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Oh um. I'm in college. o-o

E. Julius > Thunderface 02/08/2015 at 16:16

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Ha I feel like most non–jalop kids would be so pissed to get one of these. My cousin turned down an E32 because it was "an old man car". Naturally I was pissed, but her father was happy to trade her his truck for it.

TopSirloin > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna 02/08/2015 at 16:17

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a $53,000 car is one hell of a gift.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > TopSirloin 02/08/2015 at 16:18

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At least it's one hell of a motivation tool while I'm stuck at school :O

E. Julius > jariten1781 02/08/2015 at 16:19

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Oooh the nuanced answer—I like it! I wish my dad thought more like you. Despite my earnest protestations and far better driving record than my older siblings I fell into the "slightly older Civic" camp.

mcseanerson > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:19

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I had the car I referred to in the same configuration. No traction or stability control, no abs, 5 speed manual, base 2.0 motor. I had the least amount of complicated things you could have on a modern car built in that period and I loved driving it. I actually got into the 40's as far as fuel economy goes but I had a 75 mile highway commute and got pretty good at being gentle. The car didn't do anything I didn't make it do, no intervention to save me. I autocrossed it, I got spit into a ditch in the snow, and I t-boned someone in it. I drove away from all of it. I would have never thought to suggest one before owning one and now I can't think of a better car for a kid to learn with. Makes them actually learn and is tough enough for them to screw up a little.

E. Julius > Xyl0c41n3 02/08/2015 at 16:21

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Ha I forget how nice it is driving new cars. My old Escort would start to get pretty rattly at about 75, and by the time I took it into triple digits it felt like it was going to fall apart. Stupid stupid stupid. I've definitely let my car get some exercises on the long barren roads in Oklahoma though.

E. Julius > Kumicho 02/08/2015 at 16:22

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I could never forgive myself if it flipped and the kid got hurt when a solid roof could have saved him though.

Anon > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 02/08/2015 at 16:22

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Hey now! Civics are just fine! I loved my 2010 civic when I had it!

E. Julius > Bandit 02/08/2015 at 16:23

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I hope to learn enough to teach my kids to work on cars. I was all giddy when I replaced my side view mirror last summer haha.

VonBelmont > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:25

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I want my kids to enjoy getting what their heart wants, within reason, and not what mommy and daddy think is right. Having your favorite car die on you and having a turd forced on you is just a recipe for depression, not a "life lesson".

Klaus Schmoll >  02/08/2015 at 16:26

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I got a hand-me-down Mazda 626 sedan as my first "own" car. Before that we were 3 drivers with 2 cars in the family, my mum didn't need hers to commute, so we could work out compromises. A few months before I graduated school and had to move out for my civil service my dad got his first company car, so I got his old commuter, said Mazda with 200K kms. I loooved that thing. Upgraded the stereo for free with a Pioneer cassette deck, equalizer, and two amps which I got from the junkjard. Perfect first car!

E. Julius > VonBelmont 02/08/2015 at 16:27

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It seems like having the car die on them could definitely be a possible outcome of this situation though. For christ's sake I tried to convince my parents to buy me an old Alfa haha

Klaus Schmoll > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:27

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He got an A8.

Klaus Schmoll > mcseanerson 02/08/2015 at 16:29

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Wait what? They sold cars without ABS in '04?

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:30

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Well, in my opinion, that's a lesson of theirs to learn. I guess it depends on the maturity of the kid in question. When you buy your own car, such as myself, you learn to respect it. When something breaks, you learn to fix it yourself. You learn that, if you're a jackass with it and damage it, it is money out of your pocket to repair it (or if the damage is severe, you have no car).

The way I see it, you can be reckless in ANY car. It doesn't matter if its an old Volvo 240 or if its a sports car. You can push the limits in either, and get into trouble with either. Quite honestly, most kids my age would be much more inclined to be reckless in a $500 Escort rather than the car that is their pride and joy that they dumped all of their money into.

Clown Shoe Pilot > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:30

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If I had a kid and I was going to buy them a car, they're rolling in something probably about a decade old and low performance. It'd be smallish and have as many safety features as I could find. I do not subscribe to the "give the kid a giant vehicle because it's safer" line of thinking because while it might be safer for the occupants, anything they hit will be killed.

VonBelmont > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:31

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I got my brothers' old e38 BMW, which my dad got new when I was little and basically told/assumed it would be my first car. Now I drive a Honda CR-V that smells of cologne and dog hair. Whiny, but also a little irked I didn't get at least explore my options of a used Accord, 330, or S420, all sold by a relative :/

Then I get depressed when I realize I sound like a rich a-hole. Yayyyyy.

Nonster > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:31

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In my experience, the recklessness of a kid's driving is completely independent of the vehicle. Here's a few examples from my high-school years:

A friend was showing off in his E36 BMW and wrapped it around a telephone pole.

One friend's dad had a Dinan tuned BMW Z3 that we took for a joyrides. Eventually he lost control in a turn and went on an offroad excursion.

I did plenty of reckless off-road driving in my Jeep CJ-7, once through a construction site late at night which ended with a stern talking too from a cop in the back of his cruiser and a phone call to some very pissed off parents.

My brother's Jeep Wrangler also caught fire while off-roading and started a pretty significant forest fire.

I had a go-kart that I rolled once or twice.

A friend also took his mom's Honda Element mudding and trashed the transmission

So I would recommend anything that's cheap and easy to maintain but also fun to drive that don't have a lot of power.

Cars that I would have liked to have in high school are Jeeps, a Miata, Mazda 3, Civic, 240sx, etc.

Xyl0c41n3 > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:32

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Oh yeah, near the end of my old '02 cavalier's life, she'd rattle and shake at around 80mph. But I'd done 105-110 on a back country road a time or two when I first got her (new to me at the time, but not totally new). And yeah, stupid, stupid, stupid. I never drove that fast for very long (maybe like a minute or two the couple of times I did it), but it was still reckless. The invincibility of youth, no?

So yeah, don't be lulled by the idea of a 4-cylinder that barely pumps out more than a buck in horsepower. Those little cars can still go.

Sam > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:32

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I'd get my kid a Miata if he/she wanted it. I had one as my first car and it's perfectly fine. Pretty slow, manual requires attention, and can only tote around one friend at a time.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:35

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Depends on the kid. I started in a GTI that wound up being a complete piece of shit (who knew a 6 year old 100k mile VW would be a piece of shit?) and made my way into a 6 year old Mustang immediately thereafter. I did perfectly fine with it, but I was likely an abnormally responsible kid. I could happily put my kid in something similar, not overwhelmingly nice or powerful but enjoyable to drive (if he's so interested), but it's certainly not a given and probably not even likely.

E. Julius > Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage 02/08/2015 at 16:35

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Reckless in $2000 Escort: confirmed. I thin there's a balance to be struck though between nurturing a kid's interest in cars and getting them something that actually fulfills their need for transportation. If they live a few miles from school or work and don't have a bunch of things to drive to, then sure they can get whatever they want. But if my kid has places to be and it's something that frees up more time for other people to not have to drive him places, then that's a lesson he can learn when he's out of the house.

E. Julius > Clown Shoe Pilot 02/08/2015 at 16:36

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Agreed

El Rivinado > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:37

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I would listen to what my kid was interested in, and make some kind of compromise as to what he would drive. It would be older than 2000 (Just so I don't have to deal with electronic bullshit that could go wrong), it would have 200 horsepower or less, if it had more, it would be heavier. Also something that's easier to repair, and something that won't cost me and arm and a leg to fix for him. Also, nothing german except maybe an old merc, and no SUVS or Trucks. Also no hybrids.

mcseanerson > Klaus Schmoll 02/08/2015 at 16:38

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That or mine was broke. I loved it. Trailbraking hard into tight turns and rotating the rear in a fwd car. Super fun.

E. Julius > VonBelmont 02/08/2015 at 16:38

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Eh, not like you're being a dick about it.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Anon 02/08/2015 at 16:40

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But what did you learn from it?

GhostZ > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:49

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None.

If my child buys a car, he does it using his/her own money and they will make their own purchasing decisions. I might give them advice (and help him from buying an obvious scam, lemon, or something that's too rough to actually be road worthy) but beyond that, it's their choice, and they will have to pay insurance and fuel costs. Insurance, fuel, and practicality is what keeps people from buying sports cars, not vague restrictions on how 'nice' a car you are allowed to have. It's important to learn that. If you pay for their car, insurance and fuel but then say "You can't have this, you have to drive what I want you to" you're setting them up to be misinformed and inexperienced buyer and driver later on in life.

Then again, I don't have kids and couldn't fathom ever having them, so there's that.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 16:50

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Whatever the hell they want as long as it's in the budget I give them. Basically what my parents did for me and how my "first" car is an E36 M3.

That or give them whatever I'm driving and get something new.

E. Julius > GhostZ 02/08/2015 at 16:51

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That's funny that you mention that, because I am terrified that the exact scenario you described is going to befall me. I'm doing my best to educate myself to avoid any obvious pitfalls, but having only owned superbly reliable cars I know I'm going to get a huge headache when I buy my first fun car for myself that has less than Civic levels of reliability.

Klaus Schmoll > mcseanerson 02/08/2015 at 16:52

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No warning light?

mcseanerson > Klaus Schmoll 02/08/2015 at 16:54

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Nope.

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 17:07

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Yeah, I'll agree with that.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 17:12

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My daughter will buy her own car, at least partially. I intend to put some money towards it. Maybe something like a w124 300d. She's only 5 right now, so we will see what's available at that time. In a few years, long before she can drive, I want to get something older and more fun as a project for both of us. We will fix it up together and when it's done and she moves out it will be hers.

E. Julius > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 02/08/2015 at 17:13

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I will say this until I die but I wish wish wish wish wish my dad had done something like that with me. We worked on our sailboat together this summer and it was some of the most fun I've ever had. Major dad points for you.

Kumicho > Tipo Stradale Fever 02/08/2015 at 17:23

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I said "Miata", but in all actuality it would probably be something more similar to this. I live in a VERY bicycle-friendly area, and it's possible to get around the city by bike all throughout the year. If he learns how it is as a vulnerable road user, maybe he'd be more sympathetic to them when he gets behind the wheel of a car...

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 17:24

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I'm hoping she will enjoy it, and learn a few things at the same time. And thanks. Hopefully I can actually make it work, as far as money and space are concerned.

Tipo Stradale Fever > Kumicho 02/08/2015 at 17:28

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+1. You´ll probably be a good parent someday Kumicho.

E. Julius > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 02/08/2015 at 17:31

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Best of luck!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 17:32

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2001 A8.

E. Julius > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 02/08/2015 at 17:34

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Cool!

KirkyV > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 17:43

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I'd like to get any hypothetical spawn of mine a base nineties Peugeot, like mine, as a first car—they're fun, practical and supremely cheap to own and buy... But I don't plan on having kids for another ten years, at the very least, and so by the time my children would be old enough to drive, even the newest example would be coming up on forty, and I have to imagine that part availability - at present, a key advantage - would start to become an issue at some point. There's safety to consider, as well—it doesn't really bother me, day-to-day, but I'm well aware that my 106 isn't likely to do all that much for me in the event of a crash. The 306 and 406 are both substantially sturdier, but neither sold as well as the 106, so it'd be even harder to find decent examples.

I suppose, then, that I'd instead have to go for the closest relatively modern equivalent... A Mark 5/6 Fiesta, perhaps? Now, my 106 is a 1.1, and that's the engine I'd go for if I were buying one for any future gene-carriers, but this generation of Fiesta is a fair bit heavier, and so its equivalent engine, power-to-weight wise, would probably be the 1.4.

Patrick Nichols > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 18:06

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Probably do what my parents did. My brother and I are 5 years apart so he got to the good one first, but my dad was putting about 35-40k a year on his car so when he got a new car my brother got his 1999 saab 93 with 175k. I got my moms 1999 suburban (for a brief period before the engine went kaput) with 130k on it. Both pretty safe for their age. Both nearing the bottom of their depreciation curve.

I will give my kid whatever hand me down safe car I have at the time thats not worth much. And for both of us, my parents matched money we saved to an extent. We invested this throughout high school and the beginning of college and when the hand me down cars weren't worth it anymore we used that money to buy a car that was practical for us. My brother moved out west and bought a 2008 Frontier and a year ago I bought a 2008 golf.

As for the argument for project cars, I would let my kid buy a cheap project car with their own money that is less practical knowing they have other transportation. Costs incurred with such a project car could be split between us regarding the cars reliability (i.e. no performance mods). If they want to mod it, designate the car as strictly a track/rally/autoX car in which case I would definitely want to help, but not be too controlling.

Anon > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 02/08/2015 at 18:16

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How to drive something like I stole it? Fuel economy tires are made of lube?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Anon 02/08/2015 at 18:19

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So nothing?

BorkBorkBjork > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 18:28

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This is a very interesting question. As a car person, you would think something sporty/enthusiast friendly would be the best choice, but I'm not so sure.

My father was (and still is) a serious gearhead, but I did not get an enthusiast vehicle until I was able to purchase it on my own. By then I had some significant driving experience, which I most certainly abused.

I'm going to be the bad guy here and say I will get my future children the same car that saved my life: a Chevrolet Suburban.

f86sabre > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 18:29

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I would have them work and pony up for the car. They could have what they wanted...and could afford. Worked for me. Worked two summers and bought a 1968 Mustang when I turned 16 in 1990. I appreciated that car and took care of it. I still own it.

f86sabre > StoneCold 02/08/2015 at 18:30

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that was my first car! Three speed on the floor 1968!

Anon > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 02/08/2015 at 18:30

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Pretty much.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 19:17

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Probably a Chevy 1/2 ton regular cab. That way they can't really get lots of people in there, and they're nice because I'll probably be living in a northern part of the US so the 4x4 will definitely help in the snow. Plus they're reliable.

Sweet Trav > E. Julius 02/08/2015 at 19:37

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anything made pre-1990, with RWD.

Kumicho > Tipo Stradale Fever 02/08/2015 at 20:31

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I'll admit that my view on driving changed DRASTICALLY when I moved out here (age 30 or so) and started riding for transportation. Now I drive like a grandma on busy backroads, because you never know when there's going to be a jogger, cyclist, walker, dog, etc around each corner. Growing up that never existed, so I always just went as fast as possible without getting arrested...

No kids, not planning on any. But thanks for the compliment. :)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E. Julius 02/09/2015 at 11:57

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My list (my oldest is just 8...):

- manual transmission
- used
- reliable
- safe (enough)
- less than ~200 hp
- reasonably practical

The plan now is to tell him that we will match whatever he earns and saves to buy himself a car. I think used BRZ might fit the bill nicely for him. A Mazda 3 hatchback also might work well (I owned an '05 and really enjoyed it).

I definitely agree with fun, but not fast.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > mcseanerson 02/09/2015 at 11:59

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I had an '05 with the 2.3 with no ABS (or side airbags - who needs that crap? Ha!).

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Klaus Schmoll 02/09/2015 at 12:00

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Mine was an '05 and it was an option (which I didn't get).

mcseanerson > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2015 at 12:02

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Yeah, I noticed the lack of abs after my first panic stop locked up the wheels. I honestly love no abs, just another thing to make you focus on driving.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > mcseanerson 02/09/2015 at 12:06

1

That car was light enough, and with big enough brakes, that it was never an issue for me.

mcseanerson > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2015 at 12:08

0

Yeah I had to pretty much be trying to lock it up.

E. Julius > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2015 at 14:03

1

The 3 is perfect. Although the BRZ presents an opportunity for some great teachable moments when it's time for the kids to learn how to correct oversteer!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E. Julius 02/09/2015 at 14:19

1

Ha! I didn't own a RWD car until I was 34, fwiw.

There should be some great options available when we go looking in 7 years.

E. Julius > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 02/09/2015 at 14:34

1

Yeah really! I've never DDed RWD myself but my parents have usually had one lying around that I could flog in the snow.