As long as they can afford it and can drive responsibly, who am I to stand in their way. More power to them on getting a C5 at an early age.

 

I'm not sure what insurance rates are on the tricked out WRS, and Celica's and similar, but I CAN tell you what it would cost to put my brand new 16 year old behind the drivers seat of a Corvette.

$7500 / year

Like most people, we all hate insurance companies. But, when you are look at the hundreds of millions of cars and years of stastics, they obviously must know something.

My kid JUST got his 1st and unrestricted license last week. It's not a power monster. It was choosen based on (among other things) insurance crash statistics and cost. He's driving an Eclipse 2000 vintage, because, in part it was one of the few in that price range I could find with steel post in the doors AND side air bags.

I don't worry so much about his driving. What worries me is his inexperience of learning defensive driving....Judgement.. Anticipating what someone else might do and taking evasive action to at least try to avoid it.. Simple stuff.. Sitting at a red light -intersection. .WHen the light turns green, he just goes - didn't look left or right.. simple little mental mistakes like that. ONLY experience and wisdom can teach those ongoing learning the ropes of driving and acting responsible.

A sort of friend (very remote) of his turned 16 not to long ago. His parents have money to burn - literally- 12,000 sq ft house on the golf course, succesful, and what did the get little Junior? A F*ing VIPER. On pretty days, he takes the Ferrari to school. Otherwise, it's the Viper. I've lamented that if that kid ever hurt anyone by doing something stupid, they should put BOTH his parents in the slammer. They don't see him anyway..they are to busy with their high-roller lifestyle. It's DISGUSTING.

I think I have opined myself adequately

 

I may propose legislation in North Carolina prohibiting operation of any vehicle with more than 200 hp by anyone younger than 21 years of age so that all of the "kids" flood the market with used C5s. I may be able to pick up a second Vette cheap

All of this with the additional benefit of raising hell in this forum

 

I myself am now 18 at the time and when I got my learners permit my dad had just gotten his 2nd vette an 01 6spd. I basically learned how to drive it and from time to time he would let me step on it a bit so I could see what it could do and learn some respect for it. When I got my license by no means was I allowed to drive it, sad I know but very smart I must say. After about 6mths of drivin a purchased a 94 camaro 6banger and then about a year later I bought a 90 Mustang 5.0 yeah its a ford but the price was extremely right and its a solid car. And now I get to drive the vette on weekends sometimes or out on dates and the what not. I will not lie I will jump on it and rip it and/or spin the tires. I will be honest I have scared myself before but I do agree having active handling is better then not haha. But if my parents let me drive it on my own from day one I would probally be dead by now. Hell I had scarey moments in the 6banger camro over driving my skills. I now have far more respect for the vette then I ever did before the power it has is insane and I dont know why anyone in there right mind would by there kid one although I wouldnt mind one. I find that purchasing my own cars and learning how to handle them and brake stuff on them gave me much more respect for them then if my parents just handed me a powerful car. If you yourself have the money then hell buy it, i am saving for a C4

There is a little vette in all of us

 

I have a suggestion for a law you could propose....

How about a mandatory driving test, identical to the one you take to get your license, for everybody who wants to drive past their 70th birthday, and a re-exam every 2 or 3 years after that. Then, once you hit 75 you are only permitted to drive on some type of 'restricted' license that prevents you from driving when it's dark out. IMO a law like that would make the roads much safer

 

Ahh... I guess that I'm one of the mommie boy's. My parents bought me my 2000 FRC 7 months ago. I don't pay for the insurance nor the gas. My parents own thier own business and I work for them when not at school. I'm 17 years old. My first car was a 1989 Buick that got wrecked when some idiots in a brand new Cavilier hit me (not at fault). Then I got a 1992 Sable, then after an agreement with my parents I talked them in to getting me a vette. I have to do eveything they say.... everything. If not I have no vette. I belive that after learning how to drive the 6spd vette I became a much better driver. Yes every now and then I mess around. But I have learned alot of respect for that 345hp. I know how to handle my car, I plan to learn more by trying an autox event, and going to the drag strip this summer. I understand that all of you had to work hard to get your vettes and I have alot of respect for all of you. When I'm older I will buy my own corvette.

Now I think it has alot more to do with maturity, then age. I've see older people wreck. I've seen younger people wreck. Maturity is the key you can be young and be mature and not drive like an *** and hit a tree, but you can be old and not mature and hit a tree.

Can't we all get along?

 

Geez, here we go again. WGAS

 

 

Not a bad idea, but to avoid the wrath of AARP and the like, I would propose something else. I suggest that every drivers test and subsequent renewal include some sort of reflex and eyesight test, regardless of age. This system is age neutral and doesn't raise the spector of discrimination, at least not directly. Some would argue that older folks are more likely to fail this test, but at least it weeds people out based on ability and not age. This should pass scrutiny. Of course, there may need to be some allowances to accommodate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Drivers should be able to retain a license if they can compensate for disability or deficiency with technology or some device.

I know where you are coming from, and I think the general idea is good. I spent a summer in Florida when I was 16 driving my grandparents around. It was dangerous. Nothing like dodging large and out of control white Oldsmobiles and Buicks

 

i agree...painfully disturbing

 

Hey, I'm young too...my wife tells me that I'm like a 19 year old kid with a new toy (the Vette)... among other things...

 

I'm pretty sure CA already has a law like that. I know my mom lost here license at 76 when she couldn't pass the test. However, all license tests should be tougher than they are now. There is hardly any skill required to pass any states test.