How to talk my 17 year old son out of buying a camaro

[CPA]

Your son sounds pretty responsible. He has a job, and saved up his own money to do this. Unless he has a bad driving record already, I think you should let him choose.

He's almost grown up. You've done all you can, it's time to let him fly (no pun intended ).

This. He's 18. He can choose for his own.

 

[DrPizza]

Car safety is the difference between life and death when he eventually gets into an accident, over here we have very strict codes on that.

You could drive a modern mini straight through this car and while everyone in the Camaro would be dead the people in the mini would all be ok.

It's like getting anything over 1000cc's for your first bike, you won't have the experience to control it and once you do crash you are going to crash real hard.

Get him a used Volvo or Audi, it might save his life.

Pretty much this, but I think this is what the OP knows. I'm almost amazed at the number of people who post "he turned 18, he's now an adult and should be able to make his own [stupid] decisions." As if 18 is some sort of magical age where some sort of zen thing happens. As a parent, your responsibility is to still encourage him to make the better choice.

I'm not sure what type of sadistic asshole of a parent would say "aww, heck, let him spend a small fortune (to him) and learn from his mistake." I'm glad that a few of you posting aren't parents yet.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Pretty much this, but I think this is what the OP knows. I'm almost amazed at the number of people who post "he turned 18, he's now an adult and should be able to make his own [stupid] decisions." As if 18 is some sort of magical age where some sort of zen thing happens. As a parent, your responsibility is to still encourage him to make the better choice.

I'm not sure what type of sadistic asshole of a parent would say "aww, heck, let him spend a small fortune (to him) and learn from his mistake." I'm glad that a few of you posting aren't parents yet.

A parents work never ends.

 

[pontifex]

Should have raised him better. It's too late now.

i thought this was the standard atot answer? surprised it took so long

 

[Doppel]

I'm almost amazed at the number of people who post "he turned 18, he's now an adult and should be able to make his own [stupid] decisions."

Well, most of these people don't have kids and are too young to see the world as a parent would.

How idiotic to learn from the mistake of crashing a car, an injury that can leave you dead or easily permanently disabled.

OP is right to not let his son get this Camaro. I recommend trying to convince him and if he stonewalls simply forbid it. He will hate you for it because as he's been at work making money he has this dream about his life as it will be driving the Camaro, but your concerns are entirely valid and it's an awful car for somebody his age.

Being 18 and having a job doesn't show responsibility behind the wheel. In fact, an 18 year old with a Camaro who doesn't drive like a fvcking maniac probably never had his testicles drop.

 

[RearAdmiral]

Eww.

 

[OverVolt]

Tell him you know the Camaro is cool but it is way more expensive than he thinks and that you aren't wiling to fork over money for an 18yr old 1994 money pit (the car, ahem to clarify).

I figure if he does work himself on the car he will be pretty level-headed while driving his baby and hell he might actually learn some useful skills, and if he doesn't it won't be in working order for very long. He should be able to see the light though.

He obviously wants a sporty car though, driving everyday FWD is so much better so if the money issue doesn't work try to convince him to get a FWD sporty car.

 

[RearAdmiral]

Make him pay for race school too. Maybe that might backfire though...

 

[Sinsear]

Let him get it. Once he gets whacked with a bunch of tickets he'll lose his license and won't be driving it anyways.

 

[DirkGently1]

Does he live with you?

Your house, your rules.

 

[SunnyD]

The world's gonna happen dude. Get over yourself.

 

[squirrel dog]

Long as it doesn't have a Z28 badge on it,he should be ok.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Love the rolling eyes icon. You think you're real smart don't you? I suppose you think I'm real dumb too right?

Here, you could learn a lot from a dummy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcTf78b8WfY&feature=related

Notice how the dummy in the blue car hits his dummy head on the A pillar even with the front airbag going off.

I'm still alive to roll my real eyes at all the real dummies out there.

the was about federal mandates of stuff (backup cameras are now part of that ever-growing list, yay...), not toward you. Chill out.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

Does he have any idea how much insurance is going to cost for that thing?

I think when he realizes that he works 2 weeks a month to pay insurance and another week a month for gas he'll reconsider.

 

[preslove]

Show him the results of this thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?p=32853427#post32853427

 

[Number1]

Ill prey for him. prepare yourself, it's never easy losing a young family member.


Or like Dr Pizza said, help him make a good decision and get into a safer car. At least he will have a better survival chance when he crashes it.

 

[desertdweller]

Between the ages of 17 and 27 I had three v-8 Mustangs that spent plenty of time at the drags strip, three four wheel drives that I took 4 wheeling as often as possible and I still managed to survive....

If a kid wants to drive irresponsibly, he is going to do it no matter what he is actually driving. Seriously, I have a friend with a 12 second Honda. No one wants to loose a child, but at the same time, you can't protect them forever.

 

[CZroe]

Lets see a Civic do this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSPjC1Ek7vA

The driver survived, which is a testament to the safety of these cars regardless of their power.