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

[OU8AVW]

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

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) My son drives a 944. His first car. It stops better, turns better and can get out of the way. He's a hot shot Lacrosse player so his head's on a swivel. As and Bs equal Porsche. A C will get him shotgun in Mom's mini van.

Any kid is going to drive any car they get too fast. I want my son to be able to make the turn, stop in time and get out of the way. I drove supped up VWs as a kid and at 18 I bought my fist Porsche. I worked my ass off to buy that car and I sold it for a profit later on. Cars are an extension of a man's personality. Don't make your kid drive a POS he doesn't love. Let him drive one he does (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)