Confused
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 995
Likes: 24
From: Las Vegas NV
Confused
Ok...I've only owned by new '07 (man. trans) for about 4 months. My daughter (21) who's never driven a stick before wants to learn how to drive the vette. Now she's got a 3.0+ GPA and is in her 3rd year at college...she's a great girl. She's lived with mom since 14...so we've only spent weekends together...I'm always looking for ways for us to bond...she has her own car (automatic of course). She understands my reluctance but I know she really wants to drive it. What should I do??? I know it'll go along way in building our father/daughter relationship...but at the same time I can't imagine listening to grinding gears as we start, stop, stall, start, stop, stall and wondering if she's ruining the trans. And then if I were to teach her...could I really toss her the keys so she and a friend can kick it here in Vegas. A little advice please...
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,939
Likes: 448
From: CHOCOWINITY NC
Just to go for it! When my daughter wanted to learn, we went out together and went through the Basics. She got it pretty good, then said Dad, I need to go out on my own to really figure this out....She came back an hour later saying she was "one with the car"....
She can drive anything now...
Course this was in a Miata...You may want to spend a little more time with her before you cut her loose!
She can drive anything now...
Course this was in a Miata...You may want to spend a little more time with her before you cut her loose!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
OY, one of these again...it'd be nice if you could find a rental car, even if it's an older one and foreign, to let her learn to drive a man trans. If it's going to grind you to hear her grind yours, it's not worth it.
As to tossing her the keys, would you toss her the keys to a Ferrari, a Porsche, how about a '68 Shelby Cobra 500-KR, etc.? If not, why the Corvette?
Cars are easy to drive, not easy to drive well. And some have quirks that can put one in trouble a lot sooner and more severely than a Kia or Focus.
We've had a few, very candid folks right here on CF state their case very well about how they lost it with their C6 and lived to tell about it. It takes a humble and wise person to be able to say it.
You decide; it's your daughter. And car. The importance of the two is in that order, if you ask me.
As to tossing her the keys, would you toss her the keys to a Ferrari, a Porsche, how about a '68 Shelby Cobra 500-KR, etc.? If not, why the Corvette?
Cars are easy to drive, not easy to drive well. And some have quirks that can put one in trouble a lot sooner and more severely than a Kia or Focus.
We've had a few, very candid folks right here on CF state their case very well about how they lost it with their C6 and lived to tell about it. It takes a humble and wise person to be able to say it.
You decide; it's your daughter. And car. The importance of the two is in that order, if you ask me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,753
Likes: 210
From: North Western Connecticut
... If she doesn't any experience with a high performance sports car send her to HP driving school. It's well worth the money spent. She will become a much better, safer driver too. You'll have piece of mind that she has more ability to handle a car like a vette without getting herself into trouble. Heck if you haven't attended any HP schools make it a father/daughter deal.... that's a win win! Just remember... learn from an amateur, drive like an amateur... learn from a pro drive like a pro....... 
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
... If she doesn't any experience with a high performance sports car send her to HP driving school. It's well worth the money spent. She will become a much better, safer driver too. You'll have piece of mind that she has more ability to handle a car like a vette without getting herself into trouble. Heck if you haven't attended any HP schools make it a father/daughter deal.... that's a win win! Just remember... learn from an amateur, drive like an amateur... learn from a pro drive like a pro....... 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,814
Likes: 0
From: Some where in Amerika, sadly watching how is turned into a Socialist Republic.
I hate to think what would happen if she panics with all that power. Let her get the hang of the clutch in a low power car, and the gears. then teach her how to drive the Vette. She sounds like a great kid she deserves it.
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland Ohio
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Westfield MA
Wow, this brings me back about a month when I asked the forum about my 92 y o dad driving my Vette.Most folks said let him. I did and it was great. My thought for you is take a good look at her car. Is it clean and no dings in the body. If she doesn't take good care of her car I'd say no. If her car is well taken care of then most likely she'd respect yours. The clutch adds a new wrinkle though. I like the idea of father / daughter driving school. As for taking the car without you I don't think so for now.Good luck.