How many HP to give to your kid.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 24
From: Mt. Lebanon
How many HP to give to your kid.
I am 32 and married but don't have children yet and driving home from work yesterday I saw this kid who didn't look more than 18 driving a new vette.
I live in Pittsburgh which is always congested and there aren't a lot of open highways. During rush hour traffic, this kid was letting a gap open up and then burning them out. I must have watched him do this 10 times while sitting in traffic.
My question is, I think back to my high school days and I can understand the kids excitement even if it's misguided. I use to get giddy when my dad would let me take out the Taurus SHO, ha.
So as I waited in an hour long traffic jam, I thought to myself, what kind of car would I give my son (If I have one) when he's in high school. (And he'd need to have a job to get a car)
I had a 2.2l dodge shadow turbo and that was dangerous.
Just curious what everyones input is on this matter.
I live in Pittsburgh which is always congested and there aren't a lot of open highways. During rush hour traffic, this kid was letting a gap open up and then burning them out. I must have watched him do this 10 times while sitting in traffic.
My question is, I think back to my high school days and I can understand the kids excitement even if it's misguided. I use to get giddy when my dad would let me take out the Taurus SHO, ha.
So as I waited in an hour long traffic jam, I thought to myself, what kind of car would I give my son (If I have one) when he's in high school. (And he'd need to have a job to get a car)
I had a 2.2l dodge shadow turbo and that was dangerous.
Just curious what everyones input is on this matter.
_
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,344
Likes: 3,440
For me, it will be not how much HP but how much it will cost to:
- insure
- purchase
- maintain
- run (MPG)
My first car was a Chevy Citation. Got me from A to B which was the most important thing at the time. Freedom!
- insure
- purchase
- maintain
- run (MPG)
My first car was a Chevy Citation. Got me from A to B which was the most important thing at the time. Freedom!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 182
From: Minnesota
Hyundai for the 16 yr old. Or anything 34+ MPG works. I'd buy my son an entry level sports car like under $25K if he goes to college.
For a kid to be driving a vette, the parents will see a body bag for the choices they make to their kids.
For a kid to be driving a vette, the parents will see a body bag for the choices they make to their kids.
Registered but harmless
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,889
Likes: 1,164
From: Los Angeles, CA
Used Yaris or other HP-challenged, high MPG vehicle.
After the kid completes an accident avoidance/high performance driving course and gets auto-cross experience, I'll help pay for whatever is reasonable-- whether it's a VW Bug, Miata or Corvette.
After the kid completes an accident avoidance/high performance driving course and gets auto-cross experience, I'll help pay for whatever is reasonable-- whether it's a VW Bug, Miata or Corvette.
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Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 24
From: Mt. Lebanon
I agree with your 4 points above, I guess I was just assuming that some higher hp cars(250hp+) can now meet all of those criteria.
I know in the end it's more about teaching driver responsibility but sometimes peer pressure can be a bi$ch if you give your kid a car to tempt fate in.
Best race of my life was with me driving my friends geo tracker with 4 other guys in it. Pulling up next to us was a geo prism with 5 total guys in it. Now the red-light was uphill and this was at 2 in the morning. That race went from 0-60 but took about 45 seconds. Sometimes going slow can be fun.
I had an 1994 Acura Integra when I was 16, and I though that was a little excessive. I had it around the time the B series was hot shit, so yea hauling ass everywhere getting tickets ect. When my childern get older, which will be 10 years from when by the time they are able to drive, cars that time might be in the "low" 200 HP range, so who knows? Maybe a Civic or something reliable
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 24
From: Mt. Lebanon
I had an 1994 Acura Integra when I was 16, and I though that was a little excessive. I had it around the time the B series was hot shit, so yea hauling ass everywhere getting tickets ect. When my childern get older, which will be 10 years from when by the time they are able to drive, cars that time might be in the "low" 200 HP range, so who knows? Maybe a Civic or something reliable
Not Registered
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,831
Likes: 87
From: Virginia
I had a 1980 Trans Am Turbo (210hp) back in high school. The major accidents I remember with other in school was a Dodge truck rollover and a MGB losing it around a turn and hitting a pole. The kids with the faster cars took care of them.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 453
Likes: 3
From: Toronto
My father bought me a classic 1955 TR2, likely to teach me that life is expensive, and that if you want to get anywhere, you have to know HOW to get there -including how to pull sparkplugs when the engine flooded. When I needed heat, I'd lift up the shift boot...perhaps a bit too primitive, because 4 drum brakes barely had one good stop in them - you used the transmission to slow down. Hmmm...it was the '70's.
All people are different, but a manual transmission was just too much for my daughter to handle, on top of everything else. I dumped a 12yr old but much loved, lightly modded, Civic Si (even I could do 1:52's around Mospost in it, top speed 205kph on the hwy), which I'd been saving for her.
The replacement Mazda Protege ES sedan, with autotrans manumatic, seemed to fit the bill for a replacement: affordable, good outward visibility, strong 4wheel disc brakes and ABS, minimal understeer and great steering feel, central door locks and window & mirror controls (I wanted different drivers to be able to easily adjust mirrors), enough room for weekend runs to the cottage - and tough!!!!!! That car survived a major hit at the A-pillar, while the other car was written-off. It's been nailed in the rear bumper 4 times. Parts are cheap enough, and there's enough Internet help around, so my soon-to-be 16 yr old son has helped me rebuild the struts, replace calipers, rotors and pads, oil changes, etc...it's a good car to learn on.
The Mazda's only worth $1,000 as a trade, but the five of us are all glad to still have it. As a car goes, it's cheap enough, so that new sets of summer and winter tires don't seem like a burden.
All people are different, but a manual transmission was just too much for my daughter to handle, on top of everything else. I dumped a 12yr old but much loved, lightly modded, Civic Si (even I could do 1:52's around Mospost in it, top speed 205kph on the hwy), which I'd been saving for her.
The replacement Mazda Protege ES sedan, with autotrans manumatic, seemed to fit the bill for a replacement: affordable, good outward visibility, strong 4wheel disc brakes and ABS, minimal understeer and great steering feel, central door locks and window & mirror controls (I wanted different drivers to be able to easily adjust mirrors), enough room for weekend runs to the cottage - and tough!!!!!! That car survived a major hit at the A-pillar, while the other car was written-off. It's been nailed in the rear bumper 4 times. Parts are cheap enough, and there's enough Internet help around, so my soon-to-be 16 yr old son has helped me rebuild the struts, replace calipers, rotors and pads, oil changes, etc...it's a good car to learn on.
The Mazda's only worth $1,000 as a trade, but the five of us are all glad to still have it. As a car goes, it's cheap enough, so that new sets of summer and winter tires don't seem like a burden.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 24
From: Mt. Lebanon
My father bought me a classic 1955 TR2, likely to teach me that life is expensive, and that if you want to get anywhere, you have to know HOW to get there -including how to pull sparkplugs when the engine flooded. When I needed heat, I'd lift up the shift boot...perhaps a bit too primitive, because 4 drum brakes barely had one good stop in them - you used the transmission to slow down. Hmmm...it was the '70's.
All people are different, but a manual transmission was just too much for my daughter to handle, on top of everything else. I dumped a 12yr old but much loved, lightly modded, Civic Si (even I could do 1:52's around Mospost in it, top speed 205kph on the hwy), which I'd been saving for her.
The replacement Mazda Protege ES sedan, with autotrans manumatic, seemed to fit the bill for a replacement: affordable, good outward visibility, strong 4wheel disc brakes and ABS, minimal understeer and great steering feel, central door locks and window & mirror controls (I wanted different drivers to be able to easily adjust mirrors), enough room for weekend runs to the cottage - and tough!!!!!! That car survived a major hit at the A-pillar, while the other car was written-off. It's been nailed in the rear bumper 4 times. Parts are cheap enough, and there's enough Internet help around, so my soon-to-be 16 yr old son has helped me rebuild the struts, replace calipers, rotors and pads, oil changes, etc...it's a good car to learn on.
The Mazda's only worth $1,000 as a trade, but the five of us are all glad to still have it. As a car goes, it's cheap enough, so that new sets of summer and winter tires don't seem like a burden.
All people are different, but a manual transmission was just too much for my daughter to handle, on top of everything else. I dumped a 12yr old but much loved, lightly modded, Civic Si (even I could do 1:52's around Mospost in it, top speed 205kph on the hwy), which I'd been saving for her.
The replacement Mazda Protege ES sedan, with autotrans manumatic, seemed to fit the bill for a replacement: affordable, good outward visibility, strong 4wheel disc brakes and ABS, minimal understeer and great steering feel, central door locks and window & mirror controls (I wanted different drivers to be able to easily adjust mirrors), enough room for weekend runs to the cottage - and tough!!!!!! That car survived a major hit at the A-pillar, while the other car was written-off. It's been nailed in the rear bumper 4 times. Parts are cheap enough, and there's enough Internet help around, so my soon-to-be 16 yr old son has helped me rebuild the struts, replace calipers, rotors and pads, oil changes, etc...it's a good car to learn on.
The Mazda's only worth $1,000 as a trade, but the five of us are all glad to still have it. As a car goes, it's cheap enough, so that new sets of summer and winter tires don't seem like a burden.
Also, I think my generation is going to have a harder time with car reliability for our kids since electronics are probably the hardest thing to work on with modern cars. I worry that with all the nannies (Which are helpful in many cases) that the cost of keeping a car over 7 years might deter from buying too old of a car for our kids regardless of the mechanical reliability.
Can't say it will be an HP number. Thing is, if my child wants a car, he/she will be buying it, insuring it, and maintaining it. Same way I did. So we'll see what their resources are when the time comes, then pick a vehicle. It will be a while though b/c we don't have kids yet...
Niner Faithful
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 670
Likes: 14
From: Dirty Jersey
First car was a 1989 Chevy Beretta - probably 128 hp? but I got that thing up to 100 more often than I'd like to admit.....doesn't matter really nowadays since almost every car is capable of going 100
3G TL/2G MDX Owner
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 979
From: The west side of the Potomac River
used 5 yr old car under $5-7k that runs, is reliable, and limited worries on whether they have an accident or beat the crap out of it. they want a nice car....go to college, get a real job, then pay for a nice car themselves (IE...earn it with their own cash). they will appreciate it much more. you do the kid no favors by enabling them and buying them $25k+ cars b/c they got into college or graduated from college. haven't you already paid enough by paying the obscene tuition costs??
the kid will learn a lot more if they have to earn and pay for it themselves.
the kid will learn a lot more if they have to earn and pay for it themselves.
My first Avatar....
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 33,118
Likes: 9,142
From: NJ
If you make your kid buy their own car, 95% of the problems will be solved. The kid will learn that:
1. cars are expensive...and in the rush to get a car they will get a less expensive car. OR if they save long enough to get a "nice" car they will certainly know........
2. money has value...it doesn't actually grow on trees.
3. respect THEIR investment...maybe they won't be so quick to trash their car, and therefore themselves.
1. cars are expensive...and in the rush to get a car they will get a less expensive car. OR if they save long enough to get a "nice" car they will certainly know........
2. money has value...it doesn't actually grow on trees.
3. respect THEIR investment...maybe they won't be so quick to trash their car, and therefore themselves.
Mile High
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 229
Likes: 22
From: Denver,CO
My car when I was 16-18 was a 1992 Subaru SVX. H-6 with 230hp and 224 ft-lbs. of torque. WAAAAY more than I needed. I got some tickets yes, but I also LOVED my car and learned to take really good care of it. (This car was handed down in my family from my Dad, to my sis, to my bro, to me)
I might have been a little more reckless because of the extra power but I prolly would have been driving like a bat out of hell in a Geo Metro. Just don't think I would have taken as good of care of the Metro
My niece just turned 13 and all we could talk about at her party is what she would be driving soon. Needless to say her parents want to give her their Kia and she wants a Corvette.
Oderint dum metuant.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,496
Likes: 534
From: Lake Wylie
I bought an '89 Ford Probe in mint condition in 1994 when I turned 16 because my parent's philosophy was this:
The only help I got was my dad got a loan for the car that I paid. Hated it at the time, but appreciate it now. It will be the same philosophy I use if/when I have kids.
The only help I got was my dad got a loan for the car that I paid. Hated it at the time, but appreciate it now. It will be the same philosophy I use if/when I have kids.
Fawkatitle.com
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 256
Likes: 8
From: Noville
My 1st car was a 1984 Toyota Celica GT, biggest rust bucket in the world! But was dependable and never broke down. I see it this way, a kid is going to try whatever it takes to push the car to its limit regardless of what it is. Give them a 50hp car? I bet they will try to (if auto) neutral drop it in Drive just to see the tires burn or shirp or drop the tranny either or but they will try just to impress thier friends! Its just a young kids mentality when they are into cars at a young age.
Registered but harmless
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,889
Likes: 1,164
From: Los Angeles, CA
It's amazing how fun go carts can be at 20 mph. 
I don't think that counts for this thread... Friends and I did that in high school, when we were stuck with autos in various V8s. The guys with the 4 speed manuals were in much better shape-- they burned out clutches first...
I think my first teen is going to get a CVT POS first.
Your Friendly Canadian
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 17,447
Likes: 1,506
From: Toronto, Ontario
A good friend of mine has a 2007 GT Mustang that he didn't pay for himself. Does great in school, and he uses his car just like anyone else. Commutes, goes home every few weekends, doesn't beat up on it at all except for the occasional on-ramp blast.
Another friend of mine has a 2001 Malibu that he bought himself. That thing has been beat to hell and back. I don't think I've ever seen him drive it normally, and it shows.
Just goes to show that the working for it doesn't always mean you take better care of it.
I'd have no problem buying my kid a boring commuter car for $4k, but if they can afford it themselves than I'm all for it.
Another friend of mine has a 2001 Malibu that he bought himself. That thing has been beat to hell and back. I don't think I've ever seen him drive it normally, and it shows.
Just goes to show that the working for it doesn't always mean you take better care of it.
I'd have no problem buying my kid a boring commuter car for $4k, but if they can afford it themselves than I'm all for it.
The Third Ball
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 50,495
Likes: 5,869
From: Los Angeles, Ca
Before the car, I will have my sons in precision driver classes. I hope to have them racing karts when they get to be old enough.
My hope is they already KNOW HOW to drive and handle certain situations when turn 15.5/16.
From there...i don't know, a modest car...nothing fast...but I wouldn't go too slow either...freeway onramps around here...
Hell, its 14 years away...It could all change tomorrow.
My hope is they already KNOW HOW to drive and handle certain situations when turn 15.5/16.
From there...i don't know, a modest car...nothing fast...but I wouldn't go too slow either...freeway onramps around here...
Hell, its 14 years away...It could all change tomorrow.
The Third Ball
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 50,495
Likes: 5,869
From: Los Angeles, Ca
Before the car, I will have my sons in precision driver classes. I hope to have them racing karts when they get to be old enough.
My hope is they already KNOW HOW to drive and handle certain situations when turn 15.5/16.
From there...i don't know, a modest car...nothing fast...but I wouldn't go too slow either...freeway onramps around here...
Hell, its 14 years away...It could all change tomorrow.
My hope is they already KNOW HOW to drive and handle certain situations when turn 15.5/16.
From there...i don't know, a modest car...nothing fast...but I wouldn't go too slow either...freeway onramps around here...
Hell, its 14 years away...It could all change tomorrow.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,213
Likes: 174
From: Portland, Oregon
My first car was my mom's hand-me-down 1993 Toyota Previa LE All-Trac.
Horsepower: 138
Curb Weight: 3,955 pounds
0-60 time: 14.1 seconds
Did I still do stupid shit with it? Oh yeah...like going 95 MPH down I-5 in Vancouver, Washington in the middle of the damn day. Man I was stupid.
But I stand by the belief that if I'd had something like my 2010 Santa Fe, I would not have lived to be 17. Fast cars and teenagers simply do not mix.
Horsepower: 138
Curb Weight: 3,955 pounds
0-60 time: 14.1 seconds
Did I still do stupid shit with it? Oh yeah...like going 95 MPH down I-5 in Vancouver, Washington in the middle of the damn day. Man I was stupid.
But I stand by the belief that if I'd had something like my 2010 Santa Fe, I would not have lived to be 17. Fast cars and teenagers simply do not mix.
Senior Moderator
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 45,641
Likes: 2,335
From: Better Neighborhood, Arizona
When I first got my license I got to drive the family wagon until I could buy my own car.
Giving kids anything but an education is just plain dumb at that age. Make them work for it, even if it happens to be stuff around the house or in the yard.
But to answer the OP, i'd say keep it under 150 hp. And never buy them a new car. Get them a 10 year old family vehicle. It'll be still be safe and cheap to maintain.
Giving kids anything but an education is just plain dumb at that age. Make them work for it, even if it happens to be stuff around the house or in the yard.
But to answer the OP, i'd say keep it under 150 hp. And never buy them a new car. Get them a 10 year old family vehicle. It'll be still be safe and cheap to maintain.
