advice needed
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 509
Likes: 8
From: Livonia Michigan
advice needed
My son is going to the homecoming dance tomorrow with a girl he likes. He asked me two weeks ago if he could drive the Vette to the dance and I said no.
Well he has been helping me wrench on the car and wants to learn all about working on Vetts, he is got a 3.6 gpa and he is going to church leadership classes. I think he's a responsible 17 yr old and I'm thinking of susprising him and giving him the keys just before he leaves the house tomorrow (along with a stern lecture about being responsible) what do you think? Am I being to nice of a dad?
Well he has been helping me wrench on the car and wants to learn all about working on Vetts, he is got a 3.6 gpa and he is going to church leadership classes. I think he's a responsible 17 yr old and I'm thinking of susprising him and giving him the keys just before he leaves the house tomorrow (along with a stern lecture about being responsible) what do you think? Am I being to nice of a dad?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Rolla Missouri
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St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Only you know your son well enough to decide that.
As you know, peer pressure can be very strong. If you've raised him right, he should know how to handle it though.
If he's never driven the Vette before though, I'd have to say no.
This is not the time to be out with it for the first time.
As you know, peer pressure can be very strong. If you've raised him right, he should know how to handle it though.
If he's never driven the Vette before though, I'd have to say no.
This is not the time to be out with it for the first time.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Hes 17, out with a girl in a Vette. Nope.
If he doesnt like it, ground him to his room and take her out yourself -As you know, you are the voice of experience and all and the boy should listen and stuff....
Really...take him out early one Sunday and the two of you trade off driving it on some empty road somewhere.
If he doesnt like it, ground him to his room and take her out yourself -As you know, you are the voice of experience and all and the boy should listen and stuff....
Really...take him out early one Sunday and the two of you trade off driving it on some empty road somewhere.
Last edited by cv67; Oct 12, 2007 at 10:03 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 495
Likes: 31
From: Fort Wayne IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
Does he want to drive your vette because he really appreciates the car or does he just want to drive it to impress his date? If it is to impress his date, then I would say no because teenagers can make some very stupid mistakes when trying to impress their date. and you dont want that stupid mistake to effect the safety of your son and your vette.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,039
Likes: 0
From: CA
No your not being too nice,as long as you can sleep with yourself thinking about the paramedics cutting the shattered bleeding bodies of your son and his date from the wreckage of your car.
Why are you asking this?Listen,only you know your son,not us.He sounds like a very respossible kid.Who of us knows if he's gonna try and impress his date by hitting the go pedal too hard?
Buddy,I know this is hard,I've been there,but with my daughter,not a son.You gotta have faith in him and how you raised him.Their kids,and bad things can happen in any car not just a Corvette.Like I said,only you can answer this,and I hope eveything turns out OK.
Why are you asking this?Listen,only you know your son,not us.He sounds like a very respossible kid.Who of us knows if he's gonna try and impress his date by hitting the go pedal too hard?
Buddy,I know this is hard,I've been there,but with my daughter,not a son.You gotta have faith in him and how you raised him.Their kids,and bad things can happen in any car not just a Corvette.Like I said,only you can answer this,and I hope eveything turns out OK.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 509
Likes: 8
From: Livonia Michigan
No your not being too nice,as long as you can sleep with yourself thinking about the paramedics cutting the shattered bleeding bodies of your son and his date from the wreckage of your car.
Why are you asking this?Listen,only you know your son,not us.He sounds like a very respossible kid.Who of us knows if he's gonna try and impress his date by hitting the go pedal too hard?
Buddy,I know this is hard,I've been there,but with my daughter,not a son.You gotta have faith in him and how you raised him.Their kids,and bad things can happen in any car not just a Corvette.Like I said,only you can answer this,and I hope eveything turns out OK.
Why are you asking this?Listen,only you know your son,not us.He sounds like a very respossible kid.Who of us knows if he's gonna try and impress his date by hitting the go pedal too hard?
Buddy,I know this is hard,I've been there,but with my daughter,not a son.You gotta have faith in him and how you raised him.Their kids,and bad things can happen in any car not just a Corvette.Like I said,only you can answer this,and I hope eveything turns out OK.
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From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
If you were going to let him have it for the evening, I wouldn't make it a surprise.
I'd let him drive it with you in the car beforehand to get familiar or re-familiarized with it.
Your call.
I'd let him drive it with you in the car beforehand to get familiar or re-familiarized with it.
Your call.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,215
Likes: 7
From: Lafayette LA
St. Jude Donor '09
let him
Im 18 and my dad let me take his C5 to a lot of the dances. I never did anything too too bad in it. So I say let him take it, cause your only in high school once.
So I say let him take it, cause your only in high school once.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Ive been driving the 84 since i was 16... As im almost 20 now, DO let him take it, it would mean alot. BUT, like they said, dont let him go blind, take him out, test the waters, and have a good talk. One night will be all fine. Come on, your gonna have to trust him sooner or later. Just my 2 Cents.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 630
Likes: 2
From: BEMIDJI MN
I say let the boy take it. Most here on the forum know the story of my plan to surprise my son with a C-4 upon his return from Iraq. He was killed before he ever saw or knew about it. I would give anything to hand him the keys and say have fun son.
-----
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Virginia
-----
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,165
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From: Virginia
My sincere condolences on your great loss.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 442
Likes: 24
My spent the week burying my 16 yr old niece. i always said my son wont drive my vette alone.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?se...cal&id=5697155
story behind my niece's death is they went to the mall and instead of the owner driving the car, she let her boyfriend drive it. my niece was in the middle back seat.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?se...cal&id=5697155
story behind my niece's death is they went to the mall and instead of the owner driving the car, she let her boyfriend drive it. my niece was in the middle back seat.
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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Don't do it. You have nothing to gain and alot to lose. 17 is too young. I've seen too many wrecks with kids. When he is a little older and has worked for his own Vette that is the time.
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11
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From: Jacksonville NC
unbelievable
Since I bought my first Corvette a little over a week ago, my husband and I have been (seriously) toying with getting a C-3 or, preferably (if we can find one), a C-4 for our son, who is 25 and is doing his third tour in Iraq. Your post feels like a cold fist wrapped around my spine. It also gives me great cause to re-approach my husband, your terrible experience in hand, and re-invigorate our search...as well as tell Jason what we are doing for him. He's always been a model son, never into any trouble whatsoever. No son ever deserved such a rich reward as he.
I am so deeply touched and sorry for your terrible loss.
Binx
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 509
Likes: 8
From: Livonia Michigan
Yes, I kept the Vette locked up and he drove his Escort to the dance. Heard a few minutes ago that my son's best friend got into an accident this morning and totaled his Crown Vic and got a ticket for careless driving.