It wouldn't be my first choice, but you could do worse. On the one hand, I wanted my kids to have antilock brakes and an airbag, but on the other hand, a 77 -82 vette is fairly low powered and your kid won't be filling it with other kids and it is very difficult to get a girl pregnant in a vette.

 

That is very true. Every kid I know with a performance car always took care of it. They always knew the limits of their cars. The dumb kids who's parents handed them the keys to pickup trucks, put-puts, and jeeps were always the ones in hospitals or in the ground.

 

Do you want to provide the boy with good, safe transportation? Or do you want your son to become your "buddy"? In my book, a father's responsibility is to do what's right for your family....and that would be to provide him with a vehicle that is reliable, safe, economical and "cool" enough not to draw ridicule from his friends. A 40 year old sports car that transports 2 people [and nothing else], gets less than 15 mpg and is constantly subject to vandalism, theft and jealousy from his peers is not really my idea of what a first car should be. Besides, once you've given him that, what kind of vehicle can he dream about to buy for himself????

 

ferrari testarossa would be next in the stepping ladder
if you don't dream big you wont achieve

 

Any choked out C3 (75-82) that has had the suspension rebuilt with some really good tires, at least in the back. Limited slip is a scary thing to hand over to a 16 year old. But it depends on the kid.

 

Dependable car for getting back and forth to school = Toyota Corolla.

 

All great posts! Very sound advise from every perspective. This is exactly what I want him to have to read. Without getting into our family philosophy on providing transportation for our kids, this is a car that he uses (as long as he is on the pay roll) until he goes to college). But the car is not his unless he buys it with his own money.

Just one question: What is the difference between a teenager getting a 64 or 65 mustang to fix up and drive and a 75 to 80 vette to fix up and use, other than the obviouse mustange vs vette argument. Would you allow your son to drive the mustang but not the vette and if so why not?

Keep posting ideas, he needs to hear all sides.

 

"Responsible" is the key word. I don't understand how low horsepower makes a car any safer. You can get a ticket or have an accident with an L-48 same as you can a ZR-1.

 

funny you ask the vett vs mustang question because my brother bought a 72 mustang when he we 17 and now I just bought a 77 vett at 17. I really don't think there is much differnce in price, but I think the mustang would probly end up needing more work because of having a metal body and being about 10 years older. Both are sweet cars and your son will be happy with whatever he gets.

 

I'd vote for an 80-82 - the bumpers give it a more modern appearance that is more popular among the younger crowds today, but it's still unmistakably a classic. Also being that the bumpers are urethane they will absorb small impacts without damaging the fiberglass (such as another car hitting the corner backing out - your son may be a driver worthy of owning one of these, but I would venture to say that some of the other kids' driving skills may not be worthy of parking near it). Plus the HP of an 80-82 is going to be about the same as the cars other kids are driving - I got my first C3 when I was 19, and you have to understand that everyone is going to want to race him. Eventually he will cave and you don't want him driving something that will get away from him when he slams on the gas.

However with all of that said, I don't see myself ever giving my own son a vette to drive as a daily vehicle. It would be one thing to let him take it out on a date or something, but there is no way in hell I would give him one to drive to school. I wouldn't deny him the right to drive his own, if he saved his money for it and bought it CASH, not financed, and paid for his own insurance.

This is a great opportunity for you to teach your son a lesson about personal finance and personal responsibility - one that will leave a lasting impression with him. The reason I say cash vs. financing is about perception of value - when you finance a car (especially a car that would only have a payment around $200 a month), you don't really "feel it". It's less significant to you, because you aren't putting anything on the line to own it. You have nothing invested in it other than a measly $200 a month, which is nothing these days even to a high school kid. But make him save up $8,000 or so CASH and then see if he even still wants it. It teaches him to set his sights on something and then do what it takes to get it - OR he may decide that it's not that important and buy something a little more practical with his money. This an opportunity to teach him about money in a way he's never seen before ... don't promise to match his contribution either. Because if he DOES bust his hump and save up $8,000, he's going to remember what he had to do to save that money, and whatever he buys with it is going to be appreciated much more and cared for much better. Frankly I don't think any 16 year old should be given a car, Corvette or otherwise. You don't "need" to drive yourself to school - you can take the bus or ride with friends. The lesson of doing it on your own without going into debt is one that if all parents did it, there wouldn't be so many people in this country with financial problems. Personal finance isn't about how much money you make, it's how you spend what you make. Teach him the right way now and he'll thank you for it when all of his buddies are too broke to go out, and he has a few grand in the bank and no car payment.

 

Well I was gonna keep my nose out of it, but since you asked.

I would NEVER buy my kid a car, to own or to drive. I will get him back and forth to school, in my own car, on the bus, public trans, whatever it takes. And if able I would allow him to borrow a car from me from time to time. But if he wanted something to call his and be able to drive whenever he wants...he IS going to pay for it. I would co sign for him, as my parents did for me, if need be. And if he didnt want to work to pay for his own, AND if extreme circumstances (no public trans available to our house etc), then I would offer to buy him a CHEAP, and probably ugly, basic transportation. Of course I would be sure it was safe, but it aint gonna be pretty.
My reason? I have seen a lot of kids that I grew up with who were handed cars, completely disrespect not only others cars but the cars they were given. And everything else for that matter. It doesn't mean anything to them, because they didn't pay for it. they have no sweat equity in it and therefor take it for granted. Often even turn to ridiculing others cars or property. But if he has to pay for it himself, you can be sure he will have respect for it and for what others own, knowing the sweat equity and time that went into paying for it with his hard earned money.

But thats just my opinion

 

when i was 16-20 my dad let me take the 74 out and all that.......well, it's a tough car to keep an eye on...... especially in high school where people like to eggs/scratch/whip cream cars.... plus the rear wheel hop/fish tailing is also not easy to understand when your young....

i almost kissed the concrete barrier in the 74 on the expressway when i hit a pot hole and lost control for a second......

if he wants a vette, have him buy the vette..... but if your gonna buy him a car...get him a typical honday/caviler that will get decent gas mileage..... i had a 91 caliver that i used from 94-2000 and that was when i was in college commuting 20-30minutes 1-way.....

food for thought

 

Fuel costs and safety have to be a consideration these days, and with no air bags or abs, I can't say I regret buying a Focus for my kids to use.

I assume he'll be paying for insurance and fuel.

 

Check with your insurance agent. Corvettes and under-25 male drivers usually equal huge $$$.

But check. Several years ago I began to get a break on regular insurance for my '64. The agent said company policy was "Corvettes before 1970 are not considered fast cars".

Maybe he meant they aren't driven fast on the street any more. That I could agree with.

 

The limited slip differential! My best friends little brother got a C4 for his 15th Bday. He came out of a turn, accelerated too fast to avoid oncoming traffic, oversteered (because that's what happens) then countersteered to correct, the tires caught and the car went through a brick wall. His Dad who was in the passenger seat went to the hospital.

My buddy's 66 Mustang has an open diff, you can come out a turn, slam on the gas and you won't go anywhere, you'll just make a lot of smoke. Open diffs suck but they're safe for inexperienced drivers. I'm sure many first gen Mustangs have been upgraded by now so be careful when shopping.

This is what will happen:
Cobra Oversteer

 

You must be my long lost Dad! Please!

No really, I won't buy my son (14) a Vette. I told him if he wants one he has to save his money he can buy one. I have already bought a 2007 Saturn Vue, that is my current car and told him he better start falling in love with it since he will be driving it. I did that for a few reasons one not much horsepower under the hood, Onstar god forbidd he ever gets in a crash. It has anti-lock brakes, airbags. Mostly safety reasons for his first car. But maybe thats just the mom in me coming out.

He understands why he can't have my Saturn Ion (220 horsepower) or Vette, he knows he has to put in his time behind the wheel of a disposable car. (Anything not a Vette).

He was told as long as he does well in school and follows te rules he will always have a car to drive while he is in school. He is already saving for a vette of his own. He is mowing lawns and doing odd jobs for money. Even his younger brother is saving for his vette. (I AM SO PROUD!) They both help work on my 79 and were told that they car ride in it when it is done.

Hell, I wanted a C3 two tone since I was about 10 and it took until I was 36 to get my C3.

My first car was a 1980 Honda Accord hatchback. Then I moved upto a Chevy Cavalier thinking I was cool then. That Cavalier was my first purchase, and my parents cosigned for me. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have such cool parents.

I still don't have my dream two tone one yet. But I figure I have this one until I find my dream car and then I will give this one to the husband.

Good luck, in your choice, and remember most of the guys are just jealous that your not their dad. Remember I am your long lost daughter in Florida. You don't even have to buy me the car just fund the repairs.

 

My thoughts are the same as many above. If my teenage son wants a car to drive then he can take on the responsibility of owning and driving a car by working, paying for the car, insurance, fuel and maintenance. He will have a lot more pride in ownership knowing he had to sweat for it while his friends are still riding around on bicycles.
Just the learning curve of driving bouncing into the odd curb, parking lot scrapes etc I would start him off in something cheaper to insure,drive and maintain.

This car was at a local car show yesterday where the owner had written "This is what happens when you let your teenager drive your baby"

 

my son drives a 79 L82 everyday to high school, just be prepared to spend some $$ on it, it is maintenance intensive. everything will eventually have to be gone through. although it has been a great bonding and learning experience for both of us. if he doesnt work on it, he wont appreciate it. i bought his when he was 15, and we spent a year rebuilding most of the car. just be prepared for anything. purchased it for 8300, i guess i could of bought him a 30k dollar vehicle like most of his friends have. and as for insurance it really didnt increase that much, they really didnt care it was a corvette because of its age, its just listed as a 79 chevrolet. good luck on your decision.

 

Make sure whatever you get him it has an airbag!

 

I have not read any other post so I don't know what anyone else has to say, but are you serious? I don't care how responsible, how mature etc you think your son is, you are only asking for trouble by giving him a vette. Even one with the lowest HP would be ill advised. A vette screams look at me I’m so cool. Other teenagers will want to race him. My son is 17, in MN they can have their license at 16, we made him wait until he went through a winter with us before he could get his license. He is also finishing up on his Eagle Scout rank. He is a responsible kid, but he did total my explorer. It only took that one moment of inattentiveness and crash, car gone, no one seriously hurt. Your insurance may be more since you have a young driver in the house that is driving a vette. My point is putting a vette in the hands of the 16 year old is like giving a bottle of booze to the alcoholic. I am sure there are others out that disagree, but in this case I had to put my .02 in.