USA1LT1

Tonight my 17-yr old nephew asked if he could borrow my '95 Coupe to take a date to his Homecoming dance next month.

I said yes, but with strings attached. I didn't get specific on the strings because I need to think about it.

Here is my initial idea: I drop his POS car off in his high school parking lot and pick up the Corvette right after he and his date arrive at the dance. This way he only drives the car to pick up his date, to the restaurant, and to the high school. (A family friend once used this method when his kid borrowed the family's brand new Bentley Arnage for the prom).

I have full insurance coverage ($1,000 deductable on collision) on the car from a top tier insurance company, 4 cars insured on the policy, no moving violations or accidents in over 20 years.

The nephew has (as far as I know) 2 at-fault accidents (one car totaled) on his record in a year and a half of driving.

Is this a disaster waiting to happen?

C4 Bob

It's gonna be difficult, but I would say no to him... 2 at-fault accidents sounds bad. Trust me I'm 18 and most people around my age have no business in anything with more than 100 horsepower. If he had just one accident and had been very careful since then I would let him. In the end it's your decision. Also consider why he wants to borrow it. Is he trying to impress the girl, or does he have a genuine love/respect for corvettes? Best of luck

cv67

Holy chit yes it is!!


My hat is off for wanting to make the kids evening special but maybe now isnt the time for him to be in a Vette.

Youll have to conveniently change your mind...

-"Car is in the shop"
-"Damn Opti went out again kid, sorry"
-"I have a rash."
- "I dont want to have to kill you and date your girl if there is a hint of anything wrong with the car".

Dont do it.
-

ynk1121

I'm getting my 2¢ in before this becomes the usual teenage bashing thread. Age has nothing to do with anything. I've had my 90 camaro since 17 and my 95 vette since 18. I'm turning 22 in November. I drive them both rain or shine and even been caught in a few snow storms. I have no tickets and no accidents.

With the record he has, I'd be loosing sleep over saying yes. I would make the strings attached 'you following him in another car'.

GrFa

YES!

As a relatively young driver (21) I usually tend to side with the other younger drivers, however two at fault accidents makes it a major no-no in my opinion. If he had a clear record I would probably say let him have it for the night and not bother picking up etc. but with two accidents when he has had his license for what, a year?

Even though you have high insurance coverage on the car, what happens if he kills himself and his date?

GrFa

Agreed. Know any of the local law enforcement? Maybe a police escort?

GIMMESOME

The nephew has (as far as I know) 2 at-fault accidents (one car totaled) on his record in a year and a half of driving.

Is this a disaster waiting to happen?[/QUOTE]

YES!!! It's a disaster waiting to happen.This is a no brainer.Rent him a limo.

Milton Fox

No!

VETTEHIGH

NO . Im 31 and back when I turned 16 my father let me drive his C3. Well, it started to drizzle and I punched it on the highway and all of a sudden, the car fish-tailed and I almost had my heart beat out of my chest There is going to be that "moment" that he will want to floor it then.................................... .............. If you say yes, hope all goes as planned

Goldcylon

In short YES this is a disaster wating to happen. With 2 at fault accidents behind his belt in 18 months you have an indication of his driving skill and a legitimate excuse to say "sorry no". If you still feel bad about this hardnosed and adult decsion ask yourself this. How would you feel if he wrapped your vett around a fast tree and killed himself and his date?

JonnyAngle

go for a ride with him driving a few days before the dance, see how that goes first before you make up your mind

jrp

Yeah, that'll tell the story...

With all due respect to the youngsters, we were all teenagers once, and you know as well as we do that mature & responsible teen drivers are the exception & not the rule. To say nothing of experienced. Congratulations on being an exception; if you're tired of the stereotype, then blame your peers.

Compared to my friends & classmates, I was one of the better behaved drivers but there are a few incidents that, at 35 years old, I still hope Dad never finds out about.

To the OP: I wouldn't do it.

Cessnapilot89

I would also have to say dont do it. Being 18 I can side with your nephew, but also seeing how other 18 year old that I know drive, it makes me cringe at the thought of them being behind the wheel of something so powerful.

Midnight 85

Going with him on a test drive isn't going to prove a thing. He will be on his best behavior knowing that his performance will be a deciding factor. My youngest son has a driving record similar to his and there is no way in he11 he would drive my Vette,,, anywhere.

JustinStrife

Don't do it. Unless you don't care about him, his date, or the C4.

Puna

Boys will be boys, no matter what age, temptation to impress a girl, a powerful car & heavy right foot=REMEMBER???

Aquaman92

I wouldn't do it

rons85

I've let high school friends/sons (and a daughter) use My 'vette on four (at least) separate occasions now for Proms. It isn't the age, it's the upbringing - how "responsible" is the kid? And the drivers education - can he actually Drive as opposed to just Operate a car?

Of course he's going to be tempted to show off a bit - wouldn't you? Regardless of how old you are/were? What's the problem with that, are you afraid he can't Drive the car - what's he doing behind the wheel of Anything then.

If you think that he's going to endanger himself, others or the car itself then Don't do it and Strongly suggest to his parent(s) that he should get some Serious driver training (forget the basic high school drivers ed crap - waste of everyones time and a big reason that teen accident statistics are so bad..)

Doug 87L98

A nephew? NO WAY! You don't see you nephew every day. You can see what's on his record, but you have no idea of "near misses" that he has had. Your son would be a different story. You see him every day and you would have a better indication of his maturity level with automobiles as well with other events in life.

Take cuisinartvette's out

-"Car is in the shop"
-"Damn Opti went out again kid, sorry"
-"I have a rash."
- "I don't want to have to kill you and date your girl if there is a hint of anything wrong with the car".

DON"T DO IT!!!

1bdvet

A Big No!!!!!!!