-=Hot|Ice=-

Why do parents feel the need to buy performance vehicles(think M3,C63) for their 15/16 year old children as their first car? I personally started with a 2000 Toyota Corolla, Picked up a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, couple years later an 08 Toyota Camry, then finally, an 08' BMW 328xi coupe. I have 8(Will be 9 years March of 2012) years of driving under my belt with no tickets(thankfully) and no accidents(thankfully). I would of killed myself with cars like that and that much power available to me and I have JUST ordered my first performance vehicle. Maybe I'm doing it wrong?

simranD

really depends on the kid man, i started with a 2008 acura tsx and just picked up a 2012 C63 im only 20, just because your young doesnt necessarily mean you dont care about your life

Carac

Depends on the kid I guess. My first car was a 8 year old 1990 BMW 750iL V12, 95000miles, worth about $10-12k at the time. I was taught to respect the car, respect other drivers, and know when its appropriate to hit the loud pedal. My dad was self made doctor, didn't come from money, so I never took what I was given for granted. It's nice to know you have the power if you need it, but I don't feel the need to make sure everyone around me knows it too. That's why I have had idiots pull up to me at a stoplights when I was growing up, think I was going to race them, watch them peel out...and on two occasions, see them get pulled over. Even moving from a 2002 M3 to a used 2008 (the first car I bought myself), the power is not an issue if you respect the car, and have decent pedal control (track time in the E46 M3 didn't hurt). I have driven everything from the 170hp 3-series to a 563hp SLS and respecting the car and the power is key.

It's why 5% of Dodge Vipers were wrecked on the way home from the dealership, no respect for the car and no knowledge of your limits. When I have kids, their attitude and level of responsibility will determine what they get more than anything, I'm not below giving them a Volvo Estate.

simranD

honestly has to do with respect, if you respect your car doesnt matter how old you are.

-=Hot|Ice=-

But the TSX helps you get a feel of driving, helps you make mistakes. Making a mistake in a MB would be costly. I see where everyone is coming from though. You've got to know the limits of the car and where and when you can have some fun.

simranD

every car can be dangerous if driven like an idiot

DuaneC63

Lucky their parents bought them a car at all. (I had to buy my own...a used 68 Dodge Coronet 500 with a 383-4bbl, overpowered, underbraked and no handling). What their parent should buy them is some serious driving classes (none of this "we guaranty you pass driving or it's free" schools). Something like 40 hours of class time and 40 hours of driving time with professionals, followed by a real driving test. My first professional class was at Bondurant (still at Sears Point) after I had been driving for 7 years. This was just a 2 day beginners street driving course. What an eye opener. Ditched the American iron and bought a 78 911. I took the 5 day track course later the same year. In California we passed laws to cut down on teen accidents but never bother to enforce and keep wondering why we find a BMW full of dead 16 year olds rapped around a pole at 2am.

togaclk55

Young kids with performance vehicles as their first cars is not a good idea. Kind of like getting a 1000cc bike as your first bike.

gthal

True... but, it is FAR more tempting to drive like an idiot in a 400+ hp C63 or M3 than in a Honda Civic. The temptation and desire to show off is hard to resist at 17 regardless of how mature one is.

I think parents buy these cars because a lack of common sense, the desire to buy love or approval from their kids, to brag about their own wealth or to keep up with the Jones'. Having wealth does not equal having brains/common sense... ESPECIALLY when the wealth is family money and not self made.

Justin4586

Its only the kids that was born with a silver spoon in their mouths. Im not gonna lie, I got a brand new STi back in 02 but thats because I did good in High school. I'm a firefighter, as a matter of fact last month a 16 y/o and his best friend got killed in his 335is when he lost control of it at 90mph, we responded to the call. After the Sti I bought my X5 on my own, then my GS300 and now I'm about to buy a W212 E550.

mrwolf

The fact of the matter is, its the parents' decision. They are paying for it. It is their responsibility as a guardian and parent. If they want to buy their teenager a high performance car, good for them. IF they think their child is responsible enough to own and care about a car of that calibre then why not. Some kids will kill themselves, some will take care of their car better then some ppl twice their age. Its all relative.

When im spending time in Dubai, I see young kids with supercars all the time.... ferraris lambos porsches u name it. I also see a lot of accidents. 1 + 1= 2

On the flip side, if you know your child is a speed freak (like I was), he can hit 150km/h in a toyota corolla albeit without being as safe as he would be in a car thats got better brakes and better handling. Everyone is different, some ppl value their possessions, others dont care at all. Some ppl think things through, others dont have time and just say yes or no.

This is life. Anyway I love my c63.

hyperion667

I also think it's partially the parents thinking they can afford anything they want.....it's all about the status in our country you know? and showing it off.......
"yeah, my son is driving a rolls royce" or "yeah, we picked up the new s65 for our little princess"
yeah, it's their right to buy the kids expensive cars, it's also their responsibility to teach them how to drive it.....and to respect the other lives out on the road.....
kids brains are still in development and need constant reminders and guidence you know???

C230Kompressed

I hope by the time I have a 16yr old kid, that there will be gopro cameras that automatically turn on/off to watch my kid. I'll make sure they respect my hard earned money!

SonnyakaPig

Man, if I would have had this car when I was 16-yrs-old, well, first of all, basically, it would have been the fastest car around (think 1996). And I would have needed new rear tires every month. No joke. I used to do standing burnouts in my 96' Impala SS all the time. I basically worked to pay for my car maintenance.

I wouldn't buy my 16-year-old kid a car of this value. I think it's better to wait a few years before you step up to a car like this. Many parents can afford to buy their kids a 60K car but I would never do it. Then, what does the kid have to look forward to? A 120K car?

Anyway, each family is unique. So, I wouldn't hate on a 16-year-old with this car. I would just advise to be responsible and to never show off and to never let a friend drive it, no matter what. And if I was the parent and I heard of any abuse of the laws while my kid had this car, I'd sell it within a week.

dkhm3

I disagree- Most of the parents that buy these cars for their kids do so because they are trying to compensate for something. i.e. they were not home a lot, they did not spend much time while the kids were growing up, etc.

they are blaming themselves for something missing in their kids life... I highly doubt that people would just buy their kids a corvette, or a AMG just for the heck of it.

Even though some kids are mature and respect their vehicles, and the money it takes to buy them- you have to learn valuable lessons on the first car and with that much power comes that much more responsibility. It is unfair to give them an opportunity to their mistakes magnified.

Merc63

C63 = 600CC
Formula 1 car = 1000cc


Either way, you shouldn't learn to ride on a 600cc either. Max danger.

arctichaze

More like

c63 = a honda accord
Formula 1 = Bugatti Veyron

They don't even belong in the same league or sentence

nlpamg

parents don't know anything about cars. kids read the forums, get excited, nag their parents to buy them the car. parents with money say "oh if you do well in school, I'll buy it for you as a reward." or, parents of parachute kids say "I'll wire you some money." kids feel entitled to them b/c "I'm a good kid, I stay in school, don't do drugs." continue nagging...

kids get car. kids think they're the best drivers in the world. turn ESP or DSC off. crash into wall.

/done.

Justin4586

Cant be better said ^^. I admit, I was kind of like that. I damn near shat my pants when I spun out getting off the highway on a exit ramp with the TCS off in the wet but I was cocky because I thought the AWD could handle anything but it obviously cant.

Thaa kiid Jlee

i see this all the time where i am from. i cant really talk my parents bought me a c300 but i respect the car. i learned to respect it more after a terrifying experience. but a lot of my friends ( i dont get in the car with them) drive around 5 series and g 35, 37, 3 series etc.. on the other side of the road, cutting cars off, running red lights and it is mind boggling. i guess not many cherish there life they rather look good dyingg.. just my two cents

AMGFTW

I got a 94 Ford Ranger that I had to pay half for haha. But by god I appreciated it and everything I have bought since with my own money.

Here is a funny story. Kid that went to high school with me got a brand new $50k+ Dodge Ram Cummins Dually (grew up on a farm haha) and it was the epitome of being big time where we were from. His parents had money and loved to flaunt it.

Fast forward the story to a couple of years ago. This guys parents get caught up in some "bad business" tax evasion etc and guess what? The golden nipple that this guy had nursed from his entire life up and vanished overnight. He had no real job, no education and to my knowledge is working a job making less than $25k a year now.

Moral of the story is. If Mommy and Daddy spoil you don't be a douche and expect hand outs your entire life. It may just come back to bite you in the a$$.

6.3AMG

The parents are being irresponsible for putting their teenage kids in high performance cars regardless. I know its their decision to do what they want, but what about the innocent person that gets killed because johnny decides to show off and lose control?

asuri

i disagree, coming from my point of view ( 17 years of age ) i think i would be much much more careful in an expensive c63 compared to a honda civic. I mean... I've seen crazy drivers with expensive cars, but i've seen so many riced up civics that just drive insanely fast and dangerous versus the luxury performance cars like the c63. Also, your parents would buy you an expensive car not because it's fast or anything but it may be more safe versus the lower-end cars. But then again, any type of car can get yourself killed if either party does anything stupid whatsoever. Everything here is just up to what their parents think. If they wish to buy them a high performance sports/luxury car, then let them. People learn from mistakes, but some people don't get the second chance they wanted. just my thoughts.

wankeldude

I did things in my 88 tercel that would make your mothers cry

dkhm3

LOL! I hit a pole at Mcdonalds in my MAZDA MPV!