I find it odd that parents go out and buy cars...

[mrzed]

Originally posted by: exdeath

And no, speaking from experience, if I had kids I wouldn't buy them a ub3r car just because I didn't have one in highschool. I'd help them find a good job or hone their skills so they could do it themselves.

What goes around comes around. Simple as that.

QFT. This is the point I've been trying to make. The best a parent can do for their kids is give them the tools to succeed. A car is not one of these tools, values are. For some, a car is a barometer of success. If my kid ended up like that, fine. I'll try to give them the attitude and work ethic they need to get good work. What they choose to spend their money on won't be up to me anymore.

 

[tersome]

Someone at my school drives a Bentley Continental GT. And it hasn't been keyed yet.

It's crazy what parents will buy for their kids.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: exdeath
And no, speaking from experience, if I had kids I wouldn't buy them a ub3r car just because I didn't have one in highschool. I'd help them find a good job or hone their skills so they could do it themselves.

What goes around comes around. Simple as that.

WHAT THE F is a good job in HS for most? I was lucky to work at a bank due to my father. Still I had a $40k car he bought.

No kid is going to be able to buy the car they want unless they turn to crime.

Originally posted by: exdeath
Not to gloat on people dying or anything, but fitting end to that story. He was probably being a dick and wasting people left and right with crappy cars and paniced when someone actually stepped up and could take him so he pushed the limit out of desperation to not get served, and he paid for it.

All the money in the world can't buy brains.

you have some pent up rage...perhaps this happened to you younger or now. Most that are driving those kinds of cars are only in serious street races...not that it's right, but there is a lot of serious performance on the road today.

I see this a lot, it's sad actually. Hell not even with my Cobra. Not even with me involved, just watching the way other people drive. But here is an example that I was involved with.

We were driving home from phoenix one day in the '06 Avalon with 4 of us and luggage in the car (bone stock 280 HP V6 3500 lbs, just a 4 door cruiser, nothing sporty, aggressive, or fancy).

When out of nowhere this black Lexus GS with tinted windows and gold trim blows by us, gets in our lane in front of us with a foot to spare and puts on his hazards (popular ricer thing to claim victory or some ******). So we are like wtf hell no. We eventually maneuver around him and it?s just us and him and my woman guns it after I assure her that we have the upper hand, knowing the specs of both cars. You hear him winding it out trying to pass us again but failing to do so.

We are in the left lane, he is in the right. There is a semi in his lane and it's clear we are pulling away from him and he can't muster up the acceleration to get by us at all let alone before he gets boxed in by the semi. So all of the sudden he does the unthinkable. The Lexus goes flying off the shoulder passing the semi on the right doing like 90. He catches up to us while we are busy giving him the 'OMG WTF idiot' look, then traffic becomes open and clear for the next mile at this point, and we just go WOT and leave his ass, him also WOT and falling back despite his best effort to keep up or pass us. Doing well over 100 mph now and quickly approaching upcoming traffic, we back off and figure he learned his lesson. Nope, he comes doing the ricer blow by again, this time desperately and aggressively hopping lanes a few cars in front of us for the next half hour to make sure we don't have a clear shot to waste him again (and we don?t really care at this point either). We don't bother, figuring this idiot is going to kill someone, and he already felt his car get wasted at wide open throttle. He knows his car ?sucks? and now he?s just throwing a fit, upset that his precious bling bling Lexus got spanked by a mere boring looking Toyota.

So what happen? Some punk in a brand new Lexus thought he was hard and was probably out picking on everyone and showing off. Upon meeting his match, rather than back off and concede defeat he starts pulling dangerous maneuvers, obviously exceeding the capabilities of his car and himself. This is exactly what I am talking about. Their ego gets to them and they loose all sense of mortality. Desperation kicks in; they throw a fit and get desperate to do anything to not have to concede defeat (as evidenced by passing on the unsmooth and questionable shoulder at 90+ instead of backing off or changing lanes behind us). There were sharp rocks and all kinds of litter all over the shoulder. He could have had a high speed blowout, and the only thing in his mind was that Avalon. He wouldn't have been prepared to handle a blowout, or anything for that matter. The street racer tunnel vision had kicked in.

And these aren't even high performance cars. Imagine that same punk in a Viper out hot rodding and showing off his new ride that daddy bought him. Imagine his surprise when he picks on the wrong person who can royally spank him. What desperate maneuvers is an inexperienced spoiled brat kid, who is used to getting his way all the time, going to do when he fears his self inflicted humiliation?

In my '03 Cobra, I can pretty much waste 99.9999% cars on the road in about 2 seconds. It's painstakingly obvious. I don?t street race, I typically blow someone away without effort, and only if they ask for it. For alot of people it's their introduction to the legendary '03 Cobra and the revelation that Cobra's are not the Mustangs they are used to hanging out with. My personal policy is that anyone still with me after blowing through first and second, has GOT to have something serious going on (the Cobra is easily an almost 9 second car and I break 55 in first gear). This means that I acknowledge that they have a respectable car and that rather than a quick stomping, continuing further would result in a prolonged drawn out high speed road race. This is where I back off while signaling my intent, and we meet down the road, discuss mods, and agree to save it for the track. Fortunately most people in this league of performance are older and more responsible due to the combined money, experience, and knowledge involved (I don't know any kids with built up Z06s)

 

[themusgrat]

Originally posted by: mrzed

Originally posted by: exdeath

And no, speaking from experience, if I had kids I wouldn't buy them a ub3r car just because I didn't have one in highschool. I'd help them find a good job or hone their skills so they could do it themselves.

What goes around comes around. Simple as that.

QFT. This is the point I've been trying to make. The best a parent can do for their kids is give them the tools to succeed. A car is not one of these tools, values are. For some, a car is a barometer of success. If my kid ended up like that, fine. I'll try to give them the attitude and work ethic they need to get good work. What they choose to spend their money on won't be up to me anymore.

Well, not really. Cars are kind of required to succeed in most fields, no? And my dad bought me a Land Rover when I was 18, but it didn't spoil me, I go out of my way to park far off, cuz of people like you. Some people, like you, see the Land Rover, and suddenly I'm a little brat. Besides, he got it for uber cheap, less than half market value. And he is like you exdeath, he had no money for college, so he started his own fence building company and worked a buttload, and went to school part time till he graduated. But you are right in that the most important things he ever taught me were about honor and responsibility, not really by teaching them, but by being them. Anyways, try to not make too many generalizations.

 

[d94]

back when i was in HS a few years ago there were a few M3's, lexus suv's for the ladies, hummers, blah blah blah
during the summer i saw 2 lambo's and a ferrari in the lot

and while it may be silly, if im loaded when i have kids..ill spend 50k on their cars
******, its only $$$
if ya got it spend it

ps i drive an rs4
and no i (deffinetly) didnt pay for it, but my parents got $$$ up the ying yang
and i got the grades to get the car

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: themusgrat

Originally posted by: mrzed

Originally posted by: exdeath

And no, speaking from experience, if I had kids I wouldn't buy them a ub3r car just because I didn't have one in highschool. I'd help them find a good job or hone their skills so they could do it themselves.

What goes around comes around. Simple as that.

QFT. This is the point I've been trying to make. The best a parent can do for their kids is give them the tools to succeed. A car is not one of these tools, values are. For some, a car is a barometer of success. If my kid ended up like that, fine. I'll try to give them the attitude and work ethic they need to get good work. What they choose to spend their money on won't be up to me anymore.

Well, not really. Cars are kind of required to succeed in most fields, no? And my dad bought me a Land Rover when I was 18, but it didn't spoil me, I go out of my way to park far off, cuz of people like you. Some people, like you, see the Land Rover, and suddenly I'm a little brat. Besides, he got it for uber cheap, less than half market value. And he is like you exdeath, he had no money for college, so he started his own fence building company and worked a buttload, and went to school part time till he graduated. But you are right in that the most important things he ever taught me were about honor and responsibility, not really by teaching them, but by being them. Anyways, try to not make too many generalizations.

It's more than the car, it?s the attitude and aggressive driving. If I see a Lexus or BMW and some kid is driving it I assume it?s their parent?s car. If it?s got after market rims, appearance packages that only teenagers would want, and they've got shades, pierced ear, spiked hair, etc. and are blasting music with the windows down and revving and just generally acting stupid, I assume they are a spoiled brat. It?s all about how they carry themselves. Are they humble and respect their fortunate situation or do they flaunt their parents money like it?s theirs?

 

[mrzed]

Originally posted by: exdeath
We eventually maneuver around him and it?s just us and him and my woman guns it after I assure her that we have the upper hand, knowing the specs of both cars. You hear him winding it out trying to pass us again but failing to do so.

You lost me there bud. In my country, you and your woman could be charged with a felony if the other guy killed someone.

Personally, I don't think racing with someone on public roads is responsible driving, even if you do have the upper hand, you may know how to control your car, how fast is too fast, how much room you have to stop. You can't assume the other guy does. Fair bet the idiot would not have passed the rig on the shoulder doing 90 if you hadn't taken him up on his challenge.

 

[themusgrat]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: themusgrat

Originally posted by: mrzed

Originally posted by: exdeath

And no, speaking from experience, if I had kids I wouldn't buy them a ub3r car just because I didn't have one in highschool. I'd help them find a good job or hone their skills so they could do it themselves.

What goes around comes around. Simple as that.

QFT. This is the point I've been trying to make. The best a parent can do for their kids is give them the tools to succeed. A car is not one of these tools, values are. For some, a car is a barometer of success. If my kid ended up like that, fine. I'll try to give them the attitude and work ethic they need to get good work. What they choose to spend their money on won't be up to me anymore.

Well, not really. Cars are kind of required to succeed in most fields, no? And my dad bought me a Land Rover when I was 18, but it didn't spoil me, I go out of my way to park far off, cuz of people like you. Some people, like you, see the Land Rover, and suddenly I'm a little brat. Besides, he got it for uber cheap, less than half market value. And he is like you exdeath, he had no money for college, so he started his own fence building company and worked a buttload, and went to school part time till he graduated. But you are right in that the most important things he ever taught me were about honor and responsibility, not really by teaching them, but by being them. Anyways, try to not make too many generalizations.

It's more than the car, it?s the attitude and aggressive driving. If I see a Lexus or BMW and some kid is driving it I assume it?s their parent?s car. If it?s got after market rims, appearance packages that only teenagers would want, and they've got shades, pierced ear, spiked hair, etc. and are blasting music with the windows down and revving and just generally acting stupid, I assume they are a spoiled brat. It?s all about how they carry themselves. Are they humble and respect their fortunate situation or do they flaunt their parents money like it?s theirs?

Ya, I totally understand that. Sad world we live in today, people look for self confidence in so many stupid things.

 

[mrzed]

Originally posted by: themusgrat

Originally posted by: mrzed
QFT. This is the point I've been trying to make. The best a parent can do for their kids is give them the tools to succeed. A car is not one of these tools, values are. For some, a car is a barometer of success. If my kid ended up like that, fine. I'll try to give them the attitude and work ethic they need to get good work. What they choose to spend their money on won't be up to me anymore.

Well, not really. Cars are kind of required to succeed in most fields, no?

No.

Well, I have not ever done the math on "most fields" but I would still have to say no.

Delivery driver, race car driver, you could even make a case for any field requiring you to be on call at a moment's notice. I would guess most fields success has nothing whatever to do with car access. Many jobs require a drivers license. Mine does. Doesn't mean I have to have a car.

Some people, like you, see the Land Rover, and suddenly I'm a little brat. Besides, he got it for uber cheap, less than half market value. And he is like you exdeath, he had no money for college, so he started his own fence building company and worked a buttload, and went to school part time till he graduated.

I suspect you are replying to exdeath here, but I assure you I try not to judge people by what they drive. I say try, because unless you are a true zen master, we all judge people on external things. Either way, I know too many nice people with expensive cars and idiots with no cars (and vice versa) to make too much of it.

 

[themusgrat]

Cool. But you really think that most people will walk to wherever they work? I know that in Memphis, or in Texas, everyone drives, it isn't practical to walk. Car access is required for the majority of American workers.

 

[Pepsi90919]

there were no windstars in 93

try again

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: mrzed

Originally posted by: exdeath
We eventually maneuver around him and it?s just us and him and my woman guns it after I assure her that we have the upper hand, knowing the specs of both cars. You hear him winding it out trying to pass us again but failing to do so.

You lost me there bud. In my country, you and your woman could be charged with a felony if the other guy killed someone.

Personally, I don't think racing with someone on public roads is responsible driving, even if you do have the upper hand, you may know how to control your car, how fast is too fast, how much room you have to stop. You can't assume the other guy does. Fair bet the idiot would not have passed the rig on the shoulder doing 90 if you hadn't taken him up on his challenge.

Hence why we only went WOT only after it was clear. The speed limit was 75 so we weren't totally pushing it IMO. We'd actually backed off once we caught the semi. He got butt hurt and decided to maintain course into the shoulder on his own accord, rather than back off and stay behind the semi or us. We didn't make him do anything.

 

[Karchiveur]

Originally posted by: buck
My parents didnt get me a car, they did for my sister though. So i got a job selling marijuana, then i got a car on my own.

I hear ya. Thats how I got a mx-3 and put AWD into it... min wage job? never coulda did it with that.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

As long as the Mom & Dad are driving $100K+ cars, I don't see a problem with kids driving $50K cars. What's the point of being rich if you don't share the wealth with your family? It still is a little extreme but I guess if you have a million dollar home and a great retirement fund, how someone spends their money is totally up to them.

My Dad has this rule: your kid's car shouldn't cost more than 20% of your own car.

Edit: There are a lot of kids with expensive cars in my campus. And very few of them are pimped out and driven by spoiled brats. It really depends on the individual person, I think. Parents should be the judge of that. If your kid is the type who might indulge in a little drag racing to make some extra coin...probably not a great idea.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: exdeath
For alot of people it's their introduction to the legendary '03 Cobra and the revelation that Cobra's are not the Mustangs they are used to hanging out with. My personal policy is that anyone still with me after blowing through first and second, has GOT to have something serious going on (the Cobra is easily an almost 9 second car and I break 55 in first gear). This means that I acknowledge that they have a respectable car and that rather than a quick stomping, continuing further would result in a prolonged drawn out high speed road race. This is where I back off while signaling my intent, and we meet down the road, discuss mods, and agree to save it for the track. Fortunately most people in this league of performance are older and more responsible due to the combined money, experience, and knowledge involved (I don't know any kids with built up Z06s)

hate to break it to you but the 2003 Cobra for one, isn't really legendary...two is not a close to 9 sec car if you are talking the 1/4. Speeds you hit in any gear just reflect your gearing nothing else except for the one you can hit your top speed in.

Also I have never heard of two cars commonly come together for a street race, each backing off to head down the road and discuss mods and 'saving it for the track'...if either were track racers only, they'd not be showing intent on the road.



Seems a lot of people

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: exdeath
And no, speaking from experience, if I had kids I wouldn't buy them a ub3r car just because I didn't have one in highschool. I'd help them find a good job or hone their skills so they could do it themselves.

What goes around comes around. Simple as that.

WHAT THE F is a good job in HS for most? I was lucky to work at a bank due to my father. Still I had a $40k car he bought.

No kid is going to be able to buy the car they want unless they turn to crime.

Originally posted by: exdeath
Not to gloat on people dying or anything, but fitting end to that story. He was probably being a dick and wasting people left and right with crappy cars and paniced when someone actually stepped up and could take him so he pushed the limit out of desperation to not get served, and he paid for it.

All the money in the world can't buy brains.

you have some pent up rage...perhaps this happened to you younger or now. Most that are driving those kinds of cars are only in serious street races...not that it's right, but there is a lot of serious performance on the road today.

I see this a lot, it's sad actually. Hell not even with my Cobra. Not even with me involved, just watching the way other people drive. But here is an example that I was involved with.

We were driving home from phoenix one day in the '06 Avalon with 4 of us and luggage in the car (bone stock 280 HP V6 3500 lbs, just a 4 door cruiser, nothing sporty, aggressive, or fancy).

When out of nowhere this black Lexus GS with tinted windows and gold trim blows by us, gets in our lane in front of us with a foot to spare and puts on his hazards (popular ricer thing to claim victory or some ******). So we are like wtf hell no. We eventually maneuver around him and it?s just us and him and my woman guns it after I assure her that we have the upper hand, knowing the specs of both cars. You hear him winding it out trying to pass us again but failing to do so.

We are in the left lane, he is in the right. There is a semi in his lane and it's clear we are pulling away from him and he can't muster up the acceleration to get by us at all let alone before he gets boxed in by the semi. So all of the sudden he does the unthinkable. The Lexus goes flying off the shoulder passing the semi on the right doing like 90. He catches up to us while we are busy giving him the 'OMG WTF idiot' look, then traffic becomes open and clear for the next mile at this point, and we just go WOT and leave his ass, him also WOT and falling back despite his best effort to keep up or pass us. Doing well over 100 mph now and quickly approaching upcoming traffic, we back off and figure he learned his lesson. Nope, he comes doing the ricer blow by again, this time desperately and aggressively hopping lanes a few cars in front of us for the next half hour to make sure we don't have a clear shot to waste him again (and we don?t really care at this point either). We don't bother, figuring this idiot is going to kill someone, and he already felt his car get wasted at wide open throttle. He knows his car ?sucks? and now he?s just throwing a fit, upset that his precious bling bling Lexus got spanked by a mere boring looking Toyota.

So what happen? Some punk in a brand new Lexus thought he was hard and was probably out picking on everyone and showing off. Upon meeting his match, rather than back off and concede defeat he starts pulling dangerous maneuvers, obviously exceeding the capabilities of his car and himself. This is exactly what I am talking about. Their ego gets to them and they loose all sense of mortality. Desperation kicks in; they throw a fit and get desperate to do anything to not have to concede defeat (as evidenced by passing on the unsmooth and questionable shoulder at 90+ instead of backing off or changing lanes behind us). There were sharp rocks and all kinds of litter all over the shoulder. He could have had a high speed blowout, and the only thing in his mind was that Avalon. He wouldn't have been prepared to handle a blowout, or anything for that matter. The street racer tunnel vision had kicked in.

And these aren't even high performance cars. Imagine that same punk in a Viper out hot rodding and showing off his new ride that daddy bought him. Imagine his surprise when he picks on the wrong person who can royally spank him. What desperate maneuvers is an inexperienced spoiled brat kid, who is used to getting his way all the time, going to do when he fears his self inflicted humiliation?

In my '03 Cobra, I can pretty much waste 99.9999% cars on the road in about 2 seconds. It's painstakingly obvious. I don?t street race, I typically blow someone away without effort, and only if they ask for it. For alot of people it's their introduction to the legendary '03 Cobra and the revelation that Cobra's are not the Mustangs they are used to hanging out with. My personal policy is that anyone still with me after blowing through first and second, has GOT to have something serious going on (the Cobra is easily an almost 9 second car and I break 55 in first gear). This means that I acknowledge that they have a respectable car and that rather than a quick stomping, continuing further would result in a prolonged drawn out high speed road race. This is where I back off while signaling my intent, and we meet down the road, discuss mods, and agree to save it for the track. Fortunately most people in this league of performance are older and more responsible due to the combined money, experience, and knowledge involved (I don't know any kids with built up Z06s)

Sorry no, the cobra isn't a 9 second car. Heh, I know a guy who got a dream car of his, a 2006 or 2007 cobra, paid like 45k for it. He runs 12sec quarter miles with that thing, I wouldn't call it a 9 or even 10 second car...

 

[imported_griffis]

This is a thread where I wholeheartedly agree with the OP

 

[archiloco]

Yeah some private school around it was like a porsche dealership, just cayenne after cayenne after cayenne followed by H2's and BMW cars....in my high school it was really hit and miss, but there was plenty of beat up cars along with tahoes, jeeps, Lincoln Navigators, mustangs.

 

[NicePants42]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
for their kids... It's weird, I usually either see this poor kid driving a beatup '89 taurus or '93 windstar minivan that is probably going to puke and choke on it's own vomit at the worst time and then I see these kids driving H2s, Mercedes SUVs, and other high end vehicles, while the middle car seems to be a lot less common. Am I the only one to find this odd? Remember I've seen beatup cars exit hs parking lots right after a row of fancy cars that are clearly driven by kids..

Another thing, what makes a parent believe that their child should be driving a brand new vehicle that costs more than some people's houses? $50K vehicle for a kid in HS is absurd, anyone agree? Sure you can say 'it's not my money' but I think it's a bit ridiculous considering that starting your kid off with expensive things will only set them up for failure..

Ever notice how a lot of people who are rich are also total jackasses? Getting rich in the corporate American world is rarely a result of good personal qualities, but rather the result of screwing your competition at whatever cost.

I tend to think that the kids driving Hummers and Benz's have parents who are at best trying to hide/distract/disguise their inadequacies by being 'generous' and 'making sure their kids have the best', or at worst simply trying to make their kids an extension of themselves (for bragging rights, relief of personal feelings of failure, etc.)

 

[Queasy]

Link

An Atlanta woman was killed Wednesday night when her car was struck by another car driven by a teen in Buckhead, police said.

The crash occurred about 8:30 p.m. on Roswell Road near Lakemoore Drive, about a half-mile north of Piedmont Road.

2004 Mercedes C-240 northbound on Roswell Road when she crossed the center line, hitting a southbound 1999 Daewoo.

The driver of the Daewoo, 28-year-old Nancy Salado-Mayo, died at the scene, Polite said.

Salado-Mayo's 6-year-old daughter, who was was in a child safety seat, "escaped with remarkably little injury," Polite said. The child was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite for treatment of fractured ribs, he said.

The teen, whose name has not been released, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. Polite said her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Polite said charges are pending against the teen.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: goku

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: exdeath
And no, speaking from experience, if I had kids I wouldn't buy them a ub3r car just because I didn't have one in highschool. I'd help them find a good job or hone their skills so they could do it themselves.

What goes around comes around. Simple as that.

WHAT THE F is a good job in HS for most? I was lucky to work at a bank due to my father. Still I had a $40k car he bought.

No kid is going to be able to buy the car they want unless they turn to crime.

Originally posted by: exdeath
Not to gloat on people dying or anything, but fitting end to that story. He was probably being a dick and wasting people left and right with crappy cars and paniced when someone actually stepped up and could take him so he pushed the limit out of desperation to not get served, and he paid for it.

All the money in the world can't buy brains.

you have some pent up rage...perhaps this happened to you younger or now. Most that are driving those kinds of cars are only in serious street races...not that it's right, but there is a lot of serious performance on the road today.

I see this a lot, it's sad actually. Hell not even with my Cobra. Not even with me involved, just watching the way other people drive. But here is an example that I was involved with.

We were driving home from phoenix one day in the '06 Avalon with 4 of us and luggage in the car (bone stock 280 HP V6 3500 lbs, just a 4 door cruiser, nothing sporty, aggressive, or fancy).

When out of nowhere this black Lexus GS with tinted windows and gold trim blows by us, gets in our lane in front of us with a foot to spare and puts on his hazards (popular ricer thing to claim victory or some ******). So we are like wtf hell no. We eventually maneuver around him and it?s just us and him and my woman guns it after I assure her that we have the upper hand, knowing the specs of both cars. You hear him winding it out trying to pass us again but failing to do so.

We are in the left lane, he is in the right. There is a semi in his lane and it's clear we are pulling away from him and he can't muster up the acceleration to get by us at all let alone before he gets boxed in by the semi. So all of the sudden he does the unthinkable. The Lexus goes flying off the shoulder passing the semi on the right doing like 90. He catches up to us while we are busy giving him the 'OMG WTF idiot' look, then traffic becomes open and clear for the next mile at this point, and we just go WOT and leave his ass, him also WOT and falling back despite his best effort to keep up or pass us. Doing well over 100 mph now and quickly approaching upcoming traffic, we back off and figure he learned his lesson. Nope, he comes doing the ricer blow by again, this time desperately and aggressively hopping lanes a few cars in front of us for the next half hour to make sure we don't have a clear shot to waste him again (and we don?t really care at this point either). We don't bother, figuring this idiot is going to kill someone, and he already felt his car get wasted at wide open throttle. He knows his car ?sucks? and now he?s just throwing a fit, upset that his precious bling bling Lexus got spanked by a mere boring looking Toyota.

So what happen? Some punk in a brand new Lexus thought he was hard and was probably out picking on everyone and showing off. Upon meeting his match, rather than back off and concede defeat he starts pulling dangerous maneuvers, obviously exceeding the capabilities of his car and himself. This is exactly what I am talking about. Their ego gets to them and they loose all sense of mortality. Desperation kicks in; they throw a fit and get desperate to do anything to not have to concede defeat (as evidenced by passing on the unsmooth and questionable shoulder at 90+ instead of backing off or changing lanes behind us). There were sharp rocks and all kinds of litter all over the shoulder. He could have had a high speed blowout, and the only thing in his mind was that Avalon. He wouldn't have been prepared to handle a blowout, or anything for that matter. The street racer tunnel vision had kicked in.

And these aren't even high performance cars. Imagine that same punk in a Viper out hot rodding and showing off his new ride that daddy bought him. Imagine his surprise when he picks on the wrong person who can royally spank him. What desperate maneuvers is an inexperienced spoiled brat kid, who is used to getting his way all the time, going to do when he fears his self inflicted humiliation?

In my '03 Cobra, I can pretty much waste 99.9999% cars on the road in about 2 seconds. It's painstakingly obvious. I don?t street race, I typically blow someone away without effort, and only if they ask for it. For alot of people it's their introduction to the legendary '03 Cobra and the revelation that Cobra's are not the Mustangs they are used to hanging out with. My personal policy is that anyone still with me after blowing through first and second, has GOT to have something serious going on (the Cobra is easily an almost 9 second car and I break 55 in first gear). This means that I acknowledge that they have a respectable car and that rather than a quick stomping, continuing further would result in a prolonged drawn out high speed road race. This is where I back off while signaling my intent, and we meet down the road, discuss mods, and agree to save it for the track. Fortunately most people in this league of performance are older and more responsible due to the combined money, experience, and knowledge involved (I don't know any kids with built up Z06s)

Sorry no, the cobra isn't a 9 second car. Heh, I know a guy who got a dream car of his, a 2006 or 2007 cobra, paid like 45k for it. He runs 12sec quarter miles with that thing, I wouldn't call it a 9 or even 10 second car...

Hence, 'almost' implying low to mid 10s, quite common with these cars. You also seemed to miss the part about my car being modified. Yes you are correct a stock '03 Cobra is a mid to high 12 s car. Pulley, tune, and some slicks will get you 11s all day, while a KB or Whipple twin screw, intercooler upgrade, and MAF meter and supporting fuel system upgrades will net a 10 second car.

http://www.dragtimes.com/Ford-Mustang-Timeslip-7826.html

10.15 ET, or 'almost' in the 9s (9.99s is a 9s car in drag speak), and note how much of the engine is stock, including fuel system, granted he?s running 116 octane to support that boost level on the stock fuel system; fuel systems upgrades and a good tune on a street car can supplement high boost levels with 93 pump gas. That's also with the 2.2 blower. I have the 2.4 which lets you get away with even more boost with the same octane due to higher efficiency and cooler discharge.

Sadly the '07 Shelby GT500 is not all it's cracked out to be. It's a bloated pig that weighs almost 500 lbs more than the '03 even without the independent rear which was supposedly discarded to save weight and cost (neither of which we see in the final car), and while it has the 5.4L instead of the 4.6L, reports are that the internals aren't as great (generic cracked rods vs. Manley H beam forged rods), which makes the '03 engine have far greater potential for aftermarket performance enhancement despite the displacement disadvantage. Most Cobra enthusiasts are eagerly hoping SVT will make another Cobra because of this.

The '03 Cobra is one of the more phenominal cars on the road today. I don't say this because I have one, this is the reason I got one in the first place. From the factory you get a hand built 6 bolt main iron block with forged and balanced internals. $25k can get you the car and with $1500 add ons you get 550 HP at the wheels and with $2000 in suspension and braking parts can net you over 1g skidpad. Supercar performance for under $30k. Not bad for a chassis designed in the 70s if you ask me.

I'm in the process of restoring my car to stock form with a few exceptions (leaving the blower so I can get the new 2.8) so I can sell/trade in my convertible for a coupe and reuse my parts. The novelty of a convertible has worn off and I'm more concerned with weight and strength now. Might even finally replace the stock shortblock with a warrantied 1500HP built Teksid aluminum block. It never ends...

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: exdeath
And no, speaking from experience, if I had kids I wouldn't buy them a ub3r car just because I didn't have one in highschool. I'd help them find a good job or hone their skills so they could do it themselves.

What goes around comes around. Simple as that.

WHAT THE F is a good job in HS for most? I was lucky to work at a bank due to my father. Still I had a $40k car he bought.

No kid is going to be able to buy the car they want unless they turn to crime.

Originally posted by: exdeath
Not to gloat on people dying or anything, but fitting end to that story. He was probably being a dick and wasting people left and right with crappy cars and paniced when someone actually stepped up and could take him so he pushed the limit out of desperation to not get served, and he paid for it.

All the money in the world can't buy brains.

you have some pent up rage...perhaps this happened to you younger or now. Most that are driving those kinds of cars are only in serious street races...not that it's right, but there is a lot of serious performance on the road today.

That's what I'd like to know. I sure didn't have one, but there were plenty of kids at my highschool making $20/hr ($41k a year for a highschooler), so they must be out there. That's over $2,200 a month after taxes for someone living with their parents with absolutely no expenses! What's worse is even when they no longer have that job, they have a lead on you on their resume before they are even out of highschool. What kind of car can you lease/buy with $2,200 a month to spare with parents co-signing for the credit rating? Most likely they are being hooked up with the job, which they may or may not be qualified for, by a family member in the business who can pull strings. While I admit there is severe jealousy and resentment there, and its basically 'cheating' in the game of life (like MMORPG twinking), it's far more acceptable than having the car handed to them outright while they party all week instead of working in dad's office 40 hrs a week.

These kids are the first to fail in the real world it seems. I admit I feel a little, no, ALOT of retribution knowing that now 9 years later I have the better job, nicer car, and bigger house while the majority of my high school 'superiors' are now struggling and wondering what the hell happened. That song 'How do you like me now!?' comes to mind lol. I don't like to initiate bragging or flaunting since I came from the other end myself, but the wounds are still fresh and I am very passive aggressive in that if you start it with me first or pick on someone else of obviously lesser status I will strike you down defensively with the equivilent of my bringing a nuke to your knife fight. In a way, I thank them. If not for the animosity and vengeance they instilled in me to 'get even' I might not be where I am today.

Two lessons here:

1) What goes around comes around
2) All the money in the world can't buy brains

On a related note, it's similar to trailer trash that win a lawsuit or the lottery, go out and buy new cars, big screen TVs, buy a brand new trailer, etc, and brag about it, and years later they are broke again...

 

[forfor]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
Sure you can say 'it's not my money' but I think it's a bit ridiculous considering that starting your kid off with expensive things will only set them up for failure..

Generalizations... sure... failure, cause he must be spoiled and dumb! :roll:

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: acemcmac

Originally posted by: puffff

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
for their kids... It's weird, I usually either see this poor kid driving a beatup '89 taurus or '93 windstar minivan that is probably going to puke and choke on it's own vomit at the worst time and then I see these kids driving H2s, Mercedes SUVs, and other high end vehicles, while the middle car seems to be a lot less common. Am I the only one to find this odd? Remember I've seen beatup cars exit hs parking lots right after a row of fancy cars that are clearly driven by kids..

Another thing, what makes a parent believe that their child should be driving a brand new vehicle that costs more than some people's houses? $50K vehicle for a kid in HS is absurd, anyone agree? Sure you can say 'it's not my money' but I think it's a bit ridiculous considering that starting your kid off with expensive things will only set them up for failure..

who are you to judge how people spend their money? buying nice things for children and teaching them the value of money are not mutually exclusive.

They almost completley are, IMHO.

The concepts aren't... the practices usually are.

 

[roguerower]

I know what ur talking about since some of the kids I went to HS with had some nice cars, but I drove a '01 dodge neon that was completely stock i.e. no abs, maybe an airbag here and there, and an engine that got me from point a to point b. god i loved that thing.