Looking for a good looking forgiving car for my 6year old son

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sprplay
Hello GTP-Forum,

perhaps you can help me to find a proper car for my 6 year old son.

The selection should only be based on easy driving instead of
racing abilities.

Yesterday he asked me if he could do a practice-drive on the Ring :eek: after
he saw me doing that track. Before he occasionally had a ride on the daytona
oval. So we went through my garage to find a vehicle and we ended up with a
stock Volkswagen V.

Allthough I never thought he would manage to finish a single lap, he completed with some guidance ("Next corner slow down, ..., don't do full speed, break, break, br---- too late" ;)) and spin-offs in 16:## minutes. 👍
Skid Recovery: ON, Aids: ABS 1, AT

So perhaps you have some additional ideas which cars we can choose for
future drives. The candidates have to be
  • limited top-speed to prevent too late breaking in corners and spin-offs
  • limited acceleration to prevent tyre spin
  • cool looking :dopey:!!! (as the VW Golf doesn't and driving a lambo looks much more desirealble)

Thanks for your help

sprplay
 
Hm, if only we could downtune cars (put that VW engine in a Lambo).

But what about race modding the Suzuki Cappucino (one of the two), it looks relatively cool as a race car, but is still as slow as a lawn mower. You can lower its max speed as it has a customizable final gear and you can buy it racing softs so its glued to the road.

My son is just 3, so he is happy as long as he has any red car (Lightning McQueen) and doesn't mind crashing into walls anymore as he's figured out how the reverse works now.
 
Hi there, can't think of a specific car off the top of my head but i can offer a suggestion.
I would imagine it being wise to try find a 4WD car to aid with an tyre spin, and i would recommend buying him some better tyres to assist with braking and steering dynamics.
As for looks, that's entirely your's and your son's preference.
Top Speed - Something between 125-200hp
My two cents :)
 
cappucino is a good idea.

A 4wd car is probably the best, easiest to handle.
Maybe an untuned rally car with racing softs
 
Have you tried the Volkswagen Kubelwagen. Max speed is no more that 45 or so, slow acceleration, turns pretty well and you need minimum breaking to slow it down. Just get ready for some long laps!

I know it ain't "cool" looking but my kids love the funny way it looks!
 
I think a yellow Fiat Panda would suit your 6 year old, not a Nissan GT-R, he maybe thinks he could get a car like that one day, and that is unrealistic.
 
I would also suggest the race modified Cappucino.
 
GT300s like the Cusco Dunlop Impreza are very forgiving and good looking.
 
RM Cappuchino
Lupo Cup Car

They both look good and are easy to drive/keep on the road ...
 
Agree with the Cappuccino suggestion.

The Lupo GTI cup car is great also. It does get up to 200-ish, but it's so light and small that a quick dab on the brake is enough for much of the ring!

FF is very forgiving, and unlikely to spin, though understeering if he's going too fast through a corner might be an issue...
 
+1 on the Cappuchino RM here. With racing softs, stock power and maxed out downforce, the car becomes a rolling safety feature, sho it should work out okay.

The AZ-1, at stock power, with racing softs might get the job done as well... With the body kit and wing, it doesn't even look that bad, in my opinion.
 
ae86 and get him to practice in the rain, in no time he'll be the next takumi =D
Cappuchino is good to drive.
 
Volkwagons Lupo Cup Car is supposedly good for practice and beginners... :) very neutral car.
 
Maybe the gsx r concept fron the online dealership, handles great, not toooo fast either, full upgraded mine goes about 160. So stock maybe 115-130?
 
My daughter who is 6 years old, uses the Cappuchino RM around the Nordschleife and she usually makes a clean lap every time. It's a good car to get started with, very forgiving and reacts very fast regarding steering inputs..
Might be worth a try I think 👍
 
Wow,

thanks for your input. We'll give the cappuchino a try.
I think, this one also meets the request for a 'looks like a racing-car' best.
 
Wow,

thanks for your input. We'll give the cappuchino a try.
I think, this one also meets the request for a 'looks like a racing-car' best.

And it can be painted if he doesn't like it white, the livery will still be there after the paintjob ;)
 
Yeah, Cappucino sounds good. Either that, or an RM NSX perhaps? A little powerful for a 6 year old maybe, but it's glued to road.

Good on you guys for training 'em young 👍
 
For ease I'd say the new Fiat Cinquecento, for coolness maybe go for a 458 Italia with race:soft tyres and a race transmission with the max speed set WAY up.

It won't accelerate too violently and will grip will... and look awesome :D
 
Wow,

thanks for your input. We'll give the cappuchino a try.
I think, this one also meets the request for a 'looks like a racing-car' best.

And when he want something a little faster, try the Integra Type R '04 RM, 242 Hp with no other modifications and soft racing tires, it's one of the easiest car to drive in the game to me 👍 And it's beautiful!
 
How about the stock BMW 1 Coupe tii. Not to fast to make him dizzy and it handles really well.
 
Pretty much any car with full driving aids on (SRF, ASM, both TC and ABS at or near 10, steering assist, racing line) will be so tamed that just about anyone could drive it.

My suggesting would be the RM Tuscan Speed 6, max downforce and reduced top speed via transmission setup. Even without any driving aids, you have to go out of your way to spin that car through a corner - drives like a FF car.
 
I'm going to suggest the Motul Civic, surprised no one else has so far... But, you could always give something like a 458 Italia a try, as has been said with all the aids on it'll probably be tame enough.
 
I personally wouldn't go with something like the GT300 cars, or a 458 with all assists and the like. They might be easy to drive, but due to the speeds they achieve they still require a lot more braking and a better reaction time than some really slow cars.

The slower, the easier, the easier, the better, in this case ;)

Why don't you just wait for him to grow up?

In motorsports (even if it's just virtual stuff) it's best to start at a really yound age :D
 
My little guy (6) loves the Camaro SS '10; painted yellow with the black stripe, just like Bumblebee.

He races on the city courses, where wall bouncing can cover for late breaking. He uses the racing line, and I still have to coach him to slow down for the tighter corners.

I think the car is stock and the driving aids are default, but I'm not 100% sure.

In the garage the other night, he paused and took a good look at my 787B, but continued on saying 'Bumblebee's the bestest car, right dad?'
 
Great suggestions so far, especially the RM Cappuccino, the Motul Civic race car (ugly as sin, but easy to drive), and the Lupo Cup car. There is also a Nissan MM Cup car that is a great driver, really nice little race car, and might have some appeal for a 6 year old.
 
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