Teen Driver and Boxster

[fragdude]

Originally Posted by rick3000

I'll add that most bad teen driving I see is when a teen is on a cell phone or driving with 3+ other people in their car. A Boxster can get rid off both of those problems.
If you have a manual you can't really pull off talking on a phone most of the time, and because it only has two seats their is only one person to distract the driver.

I think it is ultimately up to parents to know their kids well enough to decide if they are responsible enough to drive a car like the Boxster.

Just to play devils advocate, every car I personally have purchased has had a manual transmission and it has never stopped me from talking on my cell phone...

However, I basically emulated the habits taken by my parents (father in particular) who always does something while driving. I also learned that there is a limit as to what you can do while driving (mainly because I was scared when he was behind the wheel), something my father hasn't quite figured out yet...

But I do agree that having 1 other seat in the car is less dangerous than 4 others.

Tell him NOT TO TEXT while driving!!!!! Much more dangerous than talking!
and if he does talk pay more attention to the road than the conversation!

[sd_boxster]

You've admitted over the course of this thread to misdemeanor or felony speeding (depending on the posted speed limit for the roads on which you were "chasing" your mom) - indicating that (a) you chose to ignore the law, and (b) you allowed your judgement to be swayed by someone else.

How is this a compelling argument to give a Boxster to a teenage driver?

[PlayersExpress]

Originally Posted by sd_boxster

You've admitted over the course of this thread to misdemeanor or felony speeding (depending on the posted speed limit for the roads on which you were "chasing" your mom) - indicating that (a) you chose to ignore the law, and (b) you allowed your judgement to be swayed by someone else.

How is this a compelling argument to give a Boxster to a teenage driver?

Yes I did. If you read the beginning of the paragraph, I said it would be good to get professional driving lessons and or learn the limits of the car autocrossing. My mom chose to test me and I chose to oblige. Im not saying it was the right thing to do, but it is what it is. You can not say you have not done something of a similar nature with any new car no matter your age. You are spinning the story to suit your point. It is a compelling argument to give a boxster to a teen driver, the facts are there and you just need to realize them. As I said in an earlier post.. who are you to judge others? Who are you to tell them what they can and cannot have? Even from a parents respect they still have no right to force their will upon their teenagers for reason being that they themselves are their own person and not a slave. We all judge other people yet we have no right to.

[Lil bastard]

And here's another one you apparently overlooked:

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=498409&pkw=PI&vendor=Paid+Inclusion&OCID=iSEMPI

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by PlayersExpress

... Who are you to tell them what they can and cannot have? Even from a parents respect they still have no right to force their will upon their teenagers for reason being that they themselves are their own person and not a slave. We all judge other people yet we have no right to.

Actually, the Law has generally always respected a Parent's right to control the behavior of their child... why?

Very simply, the Parent is legally and monetarily responsible for their child's behavior and welfare until they reach adulthood.

I'm not picking at you, we've all been there - high rates, being told what to do (which is really only a problem if you disagree with what you're being told)... it's just part of life.

[sd_boxster]

I'm not spinning the story to suit my point - merely reiterating what you wrote. Within minutes of getting the Boxster, you were driving recklessly in a car you were not familiar with. You're carping about being stereotyped in the same thread where you relate a story of how you behaved stereotypically.

If a car on the expressway had merged into your lane while you were "weaving in and out of traffic" at speeds up to 100MPH, the results would have been life altering...

And yes, I can say I have not done this with a new car as an adult. I drive fast now, sure, but I drive fast in situations where a mechanical failure or poor driving on my part would at worst cause the deaths of me and a cactus. I drove recklessly as a kid, and I was an "good" kid. Thankfully, I was driving a Delta 88 when I had my worst wreck - if I'd been driving a Boxster instead of a massive Oldsmobile, I would have been cut out of that wreck.

The original poster was asking for opinions - and everyone here has been opining. Also worth considering is that everyone here who's shared an opinion has in fact been a teenager and therefore has a perfectly valid point of view, regardless of how dated that view might be in your estimation or how it might conflict with yours.

WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE US FOR BEING OPINIONATED? WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT?

Originally Posted by PlayersExpress

Yes I did. If you read the beginning of the paragraph, I said it would be good to get professional driving lessons and or learn the limits of the car autocrossing. My mom chose to test me and I chose to oblige. Im not saying it was the right thing to do, but it is what it is. You can not say you have not done something of a similar nature with any new car no matter your age. You are spinning the story to suit your point. It is a compelling argument to give a boxster to a teen driver, the facts are there and you just need to realize them. As I said in an earlier post.. who are you to judge others? Who are you to tell them what they can and cannot have? Even from a parents respect they still have no right to force their will upon their teenagers for reason being that they themselves are their own person and not a slave. We all judge other people yet we have no right to.

[coreseller]

Back to the OP....I believe the above banter from both teenagers and older "seasoned" members is pretty illustrative as to whether or not to give / lend / trust your 16 year old with a Boxster. I've got a few kids, they're all different and will be trusted accordingly, none of them will get sports cars to drive right off....period. If they want a sports car they can go out and earn it later in life, it will likely be more appreciated then. Nothing will be given to them with a bow on it either, there will be conditions and rules, violating said rules (if I catch them, we were all 16 once) will result in the forfeiture of their driving my car....period. In Ohio, driving is a priviledge, not a right, if the parent or guardian does not sign off on the driver's license the kid cannot drive until the age of 18. My job as a parent is not to be cool, it is to raise the kids well, provide for them, help educate them and lead by example. Any exposure or experience to sport cars is purely a bonus....lol.

[eightsandaces]

IMO, The correctly chosen four banger can be a very fun car to learn on with plenty of back road spirit and without the temptation of great quickness. The economy helps lengthen the teen's gas cash, (a selling point) and certainly lowers the insurance liability. There are times when people treat every Porsche encounter as a chance to squeak their tires and tell about the time they beat a Porsche in a race with whatever they drive. As an adult, it's easy to watch and laugh as a teen it's easy to chase and potentially cause great harm..Just my opinion but even my 944 was too fast for a teen.

[markzeronine]

I got a Civic for my first car when I turned 16 (I'm 22 now)

I never crashed it, but I broke it every time I tried to fix it. I wore out axels when I lowered it. If the trans. wasn't so forgiving it would have been toast.

I messed up some little things on accident. I'm really anal now, that car got a ton of little dents that would really annoy me if it were a nicer car.



My dad had an 01 Corvette. I'm lucky I never killed myself or anyone else when I took that out.. 150mph +, hard cornering etc..

My dad did however, put me in Kart racing at a young age. That probably did give me the skill to not crash any of the fast cars I've driven while I didn't have much experience.

The Boxster feels pretty slow to me compared to some of the cars I've owned, so at first I was like why not. On second thought, I could have very possibly got myself into some serious trouble if I was daily driving a Boxster instead of a Civic at first.

Just my .02

[gmboxster]

Originally Posted by sd_boxster

You've admitted over the course of this thread to misdemeanor or felony speeding (depending on the posted speed limit for the roads on which you were "chasing" your mom) - indicating that (a) you chose to ignore the law, and (b) you allowed your judgement to be swayed by someone else.

How is this a compelling argument to give a Boxster to a teenage driver?

GOOD POINT. I'm afraid our young friend has lost all credibility. He committed the exact behavior he said teenagers are stereotyped for. LOL. Going 100mph in a totally unfamiliar car that is slightly bigger than a GO-Kart, shows an extreme lack of responsibility. He put himself in danger and EVEN worse he put others in danger as well. Enough said.

[jmatta]

I'm tired out from following this thread! I have two teen drivers; an 18 yo son, a going to be 16 yo daughter and two Porsches. My son has driven the Box S on the street with my supervision and attended an autocross school with Chicago PCA. I've encouraged him to try the 911 (track set-up) but he's not really interested (guess I'm lucky).

When it came time for a car, he choose a slightly pre-driven Jeep Liberty; more his style. Yes, he has friends with sports cars, but most the kids prefer a small SUV. When he's off to college, he can load a lot more stuff in his Jeep than a sports car.

My daughter will probably want to drive the Box; kids!

Hang in there Adam and drive safe, but enjoy.

[Lordblood]

The bottom line here is, use your own judgment. The fact that people are resorting to facts that survey ALL teens and opinions about ALL teens shows that on the whole people are either a) uncomfortable about it or b) don't know enough about the subject.

I for a fact am a teen and I've owned a Boxster for a reasonable amount of time. I also know for a fact that I don't drive irresponsibly, I don't street race, I don't try to beat Mustangs between the lights, I don't take corners at speeds I wouldn't in any other car.

I can't say all teenagers drive responsibly, and that's why I say that its up to your judgment to evaluate how your teen drives, nobody else can make that evaluation other than you the parent.