914 as kids first car? :(, nervous about this one. Options

[Brian Mifsud]

Hi All,

Hypocrite that I am, I'm nervous about my kids desire to own a 914 as his first car. I bought and drove one as a "Step Up" from my hot-rodded '69 Beetle when I was 19. I just feel though that there are a hell of a lot more people on the road driving earth-moving Suburban/lifted 4x4s etc than when I was young (early 80's) and that the likelihood of getting run over/punted in a 914 these days is much higher.

Now, this has no basis on fact, just my hunch, and probably my protective instinct so...

Do you think that a 914 with these mods might be enough to ease my fears?

- Fully caged including door bars to slow down side impact incursions

- Safety harness?

- Added bright LED Brake Light bars

- Fuel Cell to minimize the gasoline-in-the lap fun of VW's and Porsches

- automatic Fire supression system

- Use a '75 or '76 model year for the honking big 5MPH bumper added safety margin

- Better than stock tires and brakes

- Driving school - (Learn to handle the car on wet curvy roads, no ABS, etc)


Okay, clearly I'm a paranoid guy... I really would have preferred that my son drive something forgiving in a crash like a mid/late -90's Mustang

Opinions?

Thanks

Brian

[VaccaRabite]

Does not matter how good your kid is. Giving them a sports car for a first car is bad parenting. Even a low powered sports car like a 914 or a x1/9.

Get them a beater honda or toyota as Andy suggested. Something with airbags that you won't be too upset about when it is destroyed.

Zach

[Brian Mifsud]

Does not matter how good your kid is. Giving them a sports car for a first car is bad parenting. Even a low powered sports car like a 914 or a x1/9.

Get them a beater honda or toyota as Andy suggested. Something with airbags that you won't be too upset about when it is destroyed.

Zach

Just to be clear, while I agree on not allowing him to drive a "sports car" as his first, i won't be "giving" him anything.

He needs a paying job to pay for car, parts, driver education insurance, etc. My dad "allowed" me to buy my mom's Beetle with blown engine, buy all new parts, pay for machining, and he taught me how to assemble the engine and reinstall. I drove the crap out of that car for 3 years, went through the engine I blewup (timing was too advanced) and finally went to the dark side (bought a Wisconsin '72 914... horrible lesson on rust buckets...).

i finally threw in the towel on air cooled and drove a Dodge K-car for college. After college I bought my '76.

Anyhow, I want it to hurt if he damages something he bought with his own money, otherwise he'll be numb to the value of money and hard work.