Certain ages for certain cars?

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Josh

Josh

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I figured I'd bring this up here since it's always brought up over at other forums I go to.

Do you think there should be age limits on certain cars? You know what I mean. Should kids be allowed to drive expensive, high horsepowered cars - whether or not they pay for them?

Should you not be able to drive something with more than 200hp until you're 18? Nothing over 300 until you're 20? Etc.

At all the forums I go to you're a spoiled little ***** if you have a nice car unless you're over 30 with a wife, and kids. I just hate people telling me my parents are so ****ing irresponsible, or how I'll kill myself sooner or later because they would have killed themselves with 470rwhp car at my age.:rolleyes:

The following is a post I made in a thread on another board where a bunch of old tight asses were *****ing about young people having 2003 Cobra's: "Meh. I'm 18. Pay for every single thing relating to my Cobra. Whether it be payments, insurance, gas, tickets, mods, tires, etc. No help $$$ wise from my parents on this car. I bust my ass 8 hours a night, 5 days a week, loading over 3,000 60+lb boxes into the back of 53ft semi trailers. Although my parents could easily have bought it for me, they didn't. Sometimes I think my Dad regrets co-signing my loan. After he watches videos of these cars, and rides in mine, he just kind of gets a scared look on his face, and tells me to be careful. My mom cries just thinking about it. That's why I drive like I have some ****ing sense. I don't do burnouts, donuts, etc. I'm not out to impress anyone. If something were to happen to me in this car it would devastate my parents - especially knowing that they helped me get the car by co-signing.

Everyone - whether you be my age, or older - stay safe with these cars. They'll bite you in the ass hard if you're careless. -Josh"

So, I don't really bust my ass that much. I usually only work that much 1-2 nights a week when our regular associates don't show up for work. That's not important, though. I still work full time, and go to school full time. And I still pay for every god damn thing even remotely related to the Cobra. Should I, and others my age, not be able to have such a car?

BTW- I'm not talking about for a first car, either. And, uhh, hopefully this makes some kind of sense.
 
My opinion is that it boils down to the 18/19/20 year old in question. If that individual is mature enough to know the limits of their driving ability, to know that a fast car is to be respected when driving it and is responsible enough to know that fast cars dont grow on tree's, then I am all for it.

The problem is 16/17/18 year old ricers who think the sole purpose of a fast car is to do burnouts, donuts and race every other car on the road. They are the one who end up wrapping their cars around tree's and hitting pedestrians.
 
Well, they have those high tech tracking stuff that you bolt on to the car so you can monitor your kid and even show vid of what they are doing. I don't know how well this product has done but I figure there's a way people get around this. As for limiting age? not really? It's kinda like how people drive even though their license is suspended or get a gun without a license.
 
Originally posted by Mike Rotch
My opinion is that it boils down to the 18/19/20 year old in question. If that individual is mature enough to know the limits of their driving ability, to know that a fast car is to be respected when driving it and is responsible enough to know that fast cars dont grow on tree's, then I am all for it.

The problem is 16/17/18 year old ricers who think the sole purpose of a fast car is to do burnouts, donuts and race every other car on the road. They are the one who end up wrapping their cars around tree's and hitting pedestrians.
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And this is what mucks it up for the rest of us. Because of all these idiots it would cost me in the range of £3000 to insure a MKI MR2, I mean for god's sake it's not that fast. I have a clean licence, no tickets and no convictions. But because i'm 20, going on 21 i'm in the (young driver who is irrisponsable) bracket, which is not true. I do drive fast on occasion, but I have never attempted to race anyone or do anything remotely stupid.
 
I,ve gotten to drive a 400hp car,(BMW M5) and i'm only 17, and because I know my limits and dont drive out of my comfort zone...It was easy and a good experience, and my buddy, who is also 17 drives it all the time (its his dads car), and we have never even got into a scary stuation, but some people are very iresponsible....:banghead:
 
One of the problems in any scheme like that is defining what a fast car actually is.
If you want to define it by HP (200 or say 150 kw) then you're ruling out a bunch of family cars, that lots of people learn to drive on. There's also power creep - cars get more and more powerful as time goes on.
It's also useless in that 'fast' cars often rely on low weight, so it doesn't rule out cars such as the lotus for instance.

By cylinders or volume have problems with forced induction, rotaries and other high-specific output engines with few cylinders.

One of the major problems in the scheme is that athough cars get faster, they also get safer - you'd probably be safer crashing at 100km/h in an AMG, then at 40km/h in a VW beetle.
Also, cars slowly get better grip and handling, thus avoiding situations in which slower, older cars might crash.

When it gets down to it, I think that regardless of the car if you really want to go fast you can. (Or a semblance thereof if you happen to actually own the afformentioned beetle.) No matter the car some idiot learner is going to put it into a tree after going around a corner too fast, imitating Colin McCrash, rather than Alan Prost. (or other suitable non-crashing racing hero)
 
It depends really.

An 18 year old may be a new driver with street racing in his mind but an 18 year old can also be a responsible driver and skilled too(may be a race driver).
 
I would have to agree with most people here by going with, it depends on the individual. I'm 18-years-old, soon to be 19 in July, and I think I'm pretty responsible with the Rex. I'm never speeding, I'm never racing, I'm never driving wrecklessly, etc. But I also went through a lot of growing up. I was a much horrible driver behind the wheel of the Accent. I sped (ticket) and drove wrecklessly (ticket), etc. Now, I realize it's stupid, and pointless and just costs money.

I think a lot of it is who pays for the car too. Like you, I pay for everything related to the WRX (gas, payments, insurance, etc.) by busting my hump six days a week, full time (entering school in May too). Kids that have their parents buy their cars probably don't realize how good they have it, and think it's almost a disposable car (not for everyone, but some). Even though this is a bit off topic, I know driving my car around is much more enjoyable to me than the kid cruising around his M5 that mommy and daddy bought for him.

You seem like a mature 18-year-old (I thought you were older until now) and I'm sure you'll be fine with Cobra. Tell the rest of them to eff off. Jerry Springer style to, like, "YOU DON'T KNOW ME *BEEP* YOU *BEEP, BEEP, BEEP*." Then through in some punches, and a midgit love triangle, and they should shut up.
 
I think teens should be able to, just cause I laugh my head off when one of them wrecks or screwes up thier BMW/Mercedes/Lexus.

I'm not jealous of anyone driving an expensive car, it just shows that their image is #1 over everything else in thier lives.
 
Everyone should drive a 1.1/1.0 for a year after their test. That way they learn patience and don't make stupid ass overtaking manouevres.

And if they don't, they crash at lower speeds and may only kill themselves (because they're in a crappy 1.0/1.1 car, built like a wet cardboard box) and not the people they plough head-on into.
 
As a group, young people are less safe than their older counterparts. This is a matter of statistics and not especially open to debate. But I don't think the law should make distinctions when it comes to what kind of cars they can own. Young people are already paying a premium for insurance and that weeds out a majority of the gofastermobiles. Such a proposal would not only be unfair, but prohibitively expensive to legislate and maintain.

I do think higher levels of driver training should be mandatory across the board, however. The US in particular is abysmal with regards to driver standards: any half-wit can get a license here. If people want to get serious about reducing fatalities, training length, quality and testing standards need to go up.

Enforcement should also shift focus from speed to other offenses far more dangerous; poor lane discipline, tailgating, distractions, aggressive manuvers in dense traffic, etc.


M
 
People over 45 are worse drivers than 17-18 years old, if you ask me, mainly because 30 years ago, requirements to have a license were much less strict then they are today.

Of course, the media always make things look worse than they are. They generalise everyone in the same bracket, especially after the stupid movies that came out. Teens today don't seem to drink and drive much, either, which isn't the case with the aforementionned 40+ generation, who tend to be the main "suspects" in that category.

I'm 23, and I'm on my 10th car already. I realised pretty early it was better to take it to the track. I believe a track session should be mandatory with your license. People who road race, or Auto-X a lot can confirm, it definitively improves on your reflexes and car control, which, of course, can make you a safer driver on the streets. You tend to see a lot of stuff you normally wouldn't see, you tend to judge the roads better, judge the traffic better, take less risks, etc...
 
Originally posted by MazKid

I'm not jealous of anyone driving an expensive car, it just shows that their image is #1 over everything else in thier lives.
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What?!

Ever think maybe it's because not everyone wants to drive an old busted ass car when they could easily be driving something nice, and new?

I thank everyone who's replied to this. I appreciate your opinions.👍
 
Originally posted by MazKid
I'm not jealous of anyone driving an expensive car, it just shows that their image is #1 over everything else in thier lives.
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Or they can afford it, and they wanted that car because they enjoy driving it. Either or. :rolleyes:
 
Personally i do not think that it will make a difference wether or not age restrictions are put on certain cars. INdividuals who drive wrecklessly and without thought drive that way in any car they can get there hands on... Sure the temptation to go even faster in a cobra than in say a daihatsu exists, but driving wrecklessly in any car can be done.
 
Originally posted by Famine
Everyone should drive a 1.1/1.0 for a year after their test. That way they learn patience and don't make stupid ass overtaking manouevres.

And if they don't, they crash at lower speeds and may only kill themselves (because they're in a crappy 1.0/1.1 car, built like a wet cardboard box) and not the people they plough head-on into.
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:lol: Good idea. But nowadays, 1.0 cars are pretty good.
I'd say they make do with a smart car or a PERODUA KANCIL(we have a 660cc version with 31hp over here).
 
When I saw this today, I immediatly thought of this thread.

I was cruising around, just putting more miles one the WRX. I was stopped at a stoplight and I looked to my right, there was a beautiful blue M5, and then I saw a blue 350Z coming up. As the 350Z passed I saw that they were kids my age. A little shocked, but I figured that the 350Z was either a gift from Mommy and Daddy. He gets next to the M5 and revs at it. The M5 driver was more mature than this and just sat there, thinking they were idiots. The light turns green and the Nissan guns it, even though the light ahead of it was turning red. He stops, suprisingly. Then when there was no traffic going through the intersection a few seconds later, he guns it through the red light!!! I just sat there, thinking to myself, "Idiot."
 
Driving is driving. There should be no age restrictions on certain types of cars. I'm over 30 with a wife and a house and a kid, and I look forward to his enjoyment of great cars when he's old enough (like more than one 1 yr. old). Not all 30+ people are tight asses.
 
I'm 14 years old and I can't wait to get my license. I'm not what some of you refer to as a "ricer", but I'd consider myself more as a young enthusiast. I'd take any car that runs & moves. But I think what sets me apart from most other kids my age is that I know the difference between the track and the street. I know not to use the Garden State Parkway (closest major highway) as a top-speed test course, which, by the way, is virtually impossible during the summer.



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Originally posted by MazKid
I think teens should be able to, just cause I laugh my head off when one of them wrecks or screwes up thier BMW/Mercedes/Lexus.

I'm not jealous of anyone driving an expensive car, it just shows that their image is #1 over everything else in thier lives.
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Wait a minute I have a nice car and I'm young. Its not that I really care about my image, its more of the fact that I want a truck that I like. And if I got a dime for every time someone told me that my truck looked stupid for being lowered, I'd have a lot of dimes.
 
Originally posted by ///M-Spec
The US in particular is abysmal with regards to driver standards: any half-wit can get a license here. If people want to get serious about reducing fatalities, training length, quality and testing standards need to go up.
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Well in Maryland you have to pay for your learners, driving school(Must do to get license no matter your age), and license which totals to around 320$. Not to mention the wait for the DMV since you have to make appointments. Most of the idiots I see dont have their license and are driving their parents car when they are out :banghead:
 
i personally believe new drivers should start off with a low powered car (below 140hp). the reason i say this is because i got a friend (a few years younger) that has rich parents and he is spoilt, he has only had higher powered cars (to keep up with us who has already had low powered cars) and i must say he is a bad driver because of it. he has crashed because he couldnt handle the power. he cant keep up with us (me and my other friends) when we do hills runs (private roads) and we dont want him to try
 
another dime, there is nothing wrong with a lowered truck.
 
Horsepower means nothing to those who know a thing or two about cars. Some people wonder why SRT-4's can beat an Evo 8. Well, the SRT-4 is about 600 pounds lighter. Also, Ford Probe GT's have about 160 HP and my brother beat a Non-Turbo Supra with about 215 HP by about 2 cars at around 100-110 MPH from a 25 MPH roll (So no excuse about Supra's bad starts). Ford actually didn't expect the Probe to be as fast as it turned out. It's a great car for beginner drivers.
 
I actually like Famine's idea... sort of like extended driver's training, in a way.

The real problem isn't the car though, nor "kids" in general... the problem lies in people, kids or not, who don't realize that they don't have a damn clue how to properly handle a car. Of course, people around the 16-20 age bracket have higher rates, because they're less familiar with driving a vehicle, but so will a 40 year old man who's never driven before.

I'm kind of going in circles here, but the point is that every person is different, and every person has different capabilities (or mentalities) for handling a car, and therein lies the problem. It's a tricky issue.
 
Originally posted by SpeedKrazy620
Horsepower means nothing to those who know a thing or two about cars. Some people wonder why SRT-4's can beat an Evo 8. Well, the SRT-4 is about 600 pounds lighter. Also, Ford Probe GT's have about 160 HP and my brother beat a Non-Turbo Supra with about 215 HP by about 2 cars at around 100-110 MPH from a 25 MPH roll (So no excuse about Supra's bad starts). Ford actually didn't expect the Probe to be as fast as it turned out. It's a great car for beginner drivers.
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Your post really doesn't have a place here. We're talking about driving habits, and being safe, while you talk about car's performance. Your friend racing the Supra is a good example.

By the way. The SRT-4 is about only 300lbs lighter, but it dyno's just about the same horsepower as the rated horsepower. So it's probably only about 15-30hp short of the Evo.
 
Originally posted by SpeedKrazy620
I guess you wont have to worry as much about flipping it. :) (That is if you like to do donuts)
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I've have mad more donuts then Tim Hortons. Plus I've beefed up the stablizers and there is next to no body role.
 

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