Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

[joe166]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

I would not let her drive it alone for quite a while, but with you, no problem.

The problem isn't with the kid, it is with the peer pressure. Someone gets in the car and starts about "How fast is it? How well does it corner?" etc etc and no 17 year old (well not many) can resist showing it. The next thing you know, there is a tragedy that no one can comprehend. It happens all the time and that is why the statistics are so terrible about accidents with inexperienced young drivers.

I was just lucky as most people are, but the odds are really against you.

Let her drive with you, there is plenty of time for solo work later on.

[BlackShadow]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

NO...................................... Thats why its called a Personal Roadster, cause its my car.............. To much power and temptation for a young driver .............. Just my personal opinon and I do have 2 teenage girls who drive with no tickets or accidents

[HKS]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

I second that notion.

I will do that with my granddaughter when she is older. She is 14 now. I will wait for top down weather also.

HKS

This is turning out to be an interesting thread! Thanks so far. Hmmm. So far I'm inclined to wait for another year or so but perhaps let her take the wheel for a spin while I'm in the passenger seat.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

Hannah3,
One other thing - VERY IMPORTANT - since you have a teenager driving, make sure your auto liability insurance coverage is sufficient.

[catb1rd]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

Jim,
My 16 year old son just got his license. I have been teaching him to drive various cars since he was 13 (starting of course in very rural areas) & so I allow him to sometimes drive my T-bird. He has so far proven to be very responsible. I'm teaching him the value of ownership also. One of the conditions for him to drive the car is that he must keep it washed & vacuumed. I taught him how to properly wash the T-bird by hand & clean the interior properly. He also helps me service it (change oil, cabin air filter, rotate tires, etc.) & he knows that any screw-up on his part while driving the bird (accidents or tickets) will mean that his relationship with my car will be severed for a long time. I know that other drivers do pose a threat even if he is driving responsibly, but the same thing could happen to me today while I'm behind the wheel. I guess what I'm saying is that the lessons, skills, & responsibility that my son gains from being associated with my T-bird is truly priceless to me.

-Mark

My father did the same thing for me when I got my license. I had been taking care of his Mercedes 350 SL Convertible from the time I was about 12 washing, waxing and vacuuming. He told all of us if we proved we cared and respected the car we could drive it. Well my brother and sister never once washed, waxed or vacuumed that car and they were sorry when they were old enough to drive as they were never able to drive it. I learned to drive in the car, when I was 16 I was able to drive it with my dad id the car and also once I turned 18 was able to take it for day trips as long as it came home every night. I think my father gave me my love and respect for fine cars which is why I love my T-Bird so much. I have no kids but have seen the way many of them drive and I would have to say that they should have a fews years of driving under their belt first. I don't think I would've been as prepared at 16 for the full responsibility of the car and I often was nervous driving it. At 18 I felt much more comfortable with it.

[CMCruisn]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

I have let both my 20 year old son and 18 year old daughter take my bird out for short drives. They have both proven responsable, and as was said before it is only a car. Both are good students, no tickets, and are all around good kids, but still kids. I do have a umbrella liability policy to go with my normal auto insurance.

[MintTbird]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

well..... my mom has always wanted o drive my car... i told her she wasent responsible enough yet...

[SKIPIFE]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

My daughter Hannah (17) has her licence and has been driving my 5 year old Accord around for 6 months with no problems. She obviusly would love to drive the Bird but so far I have refused. What say you all? (she was three when I registered my first handle on my first web site-therefore Hannah3)

I have seen a lot of "NO's" but if, like others have said only when you go with her, why not do that, you are already paying the ins. premium regardless of what she is driving and if she is involved in an accident she would be a lot better off in the T-Bird then an accord; another idea comes to mind, sell the import and get another T-Bird for her to put around in

[CarolinaTKE]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

I was barely 20 when I got my Thunderbird new in 2003 and I have not yet, as of five years later, (knock-on-wood) had any accidents in the car. I think it depends on the individual and their sense of responsibility. Perhaps it even has something to do with the car itself. I did some not terribly bright things when I was in high school with my 2000 Mustang convertible, but I've never even pushed the gas all the way down in the Thunderbird.

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

sell the import and get another T-Bird for her to put around in

Some of the 2002 and 2003 Thunderbirds are dipping below the $20,000 mark. I had seen a blue 2002 Thunderbird online at CarMax about a month ago. I liked the looks of it even though the last thing I need is a 3rd Thunderbird. However I drive by CarMax everyday, so on my way home this evening I checked it out. I spotted a couple of minor rock chips but nothing that takes away from the overall good looks of this car. Interior was clean and doesn't appear to have been smoked in. No boot cover or hardtop stand but the hardtop wrench was in the glove box. 25,000 miles and priced pretty nicely at $19,499.

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/...6-1ee0a11c99e9

[Bradford]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

This has all been interesting. I was one of the 1st NO's. Mainly because of the traffic and others on the road and what I see daily. It was quite different when I was a teen. being from Mississippi, my Dad was teaching me to drive at 12 & 13. I got my learners permitt at 14, and got my drivers license the day I turned 15. I also got a brand new 1974 Pontiac Firebird 400 for my birthday the night before. In addition I had my own set of keys to every car in the family, at the time that was a 70' Olds 442 conv. with a 455 ci engine, a 72 Mercedes 280 SEL, a 73' Linclon Mark IV, a 73' Olds 98 Regency. I drove them all, it was one of my chores to always clean them and take them in for service. The Mercedes dealer was 60 miles away, for it's service, I would go to school in the car and then straight to England Motor Co after school to get it serviced. I was always a very responsible kid, and learned to drive early. It was also 34 years ago. Like I stated my my earlier post, thats a tough one. With everyones post since, it reminded me of my days as a teenager with a car. It would still be a tough decision, but probably does depend on the individual. I never wrecked, but got lots of speeding tickets. I still get the speeding tickets. My Dads philosophy was always be careful, cars could be replaced, his children couldn't. He had 3 independent kids who were a handful when I look back.

[Ediron]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

When my older son got his license (17) our ins. broker told me "let him have his own car and insurance.He will have an accident and he will get tickets".He was right ,I had to do it and both of my sons had to ins. there cars.Neither one drove my cars .

[catb1rd]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

Some of the 2002 and 2003 Thunderbirds are dipping below the $20,000 mark. I had seen a blue 2002 Thunderbird online at CarMax about a month ago. I liked the looks of it even though the last thing I need is a 3rd Thunderbird. However I drive by CarMax everyday, so on my way home this evening I checked it out. I spotted a couple of minor rock chips but nothing that takes away from the overall good looks of this car. Interior was clean and doesn't appear to have been smoked in. No boot cover or hardtop stand but the hardtop wrench was in the glove box. 25,000 miles and priced pretty nicely at $19,499.

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/...6-1ee0a11c99e9

When I was looking for my Blue T-Bird I had considered going to Las Vegas to check that car out or pay the $149 that Car Max wanted to have it transferred to the Burbank store. Car has been there for almost two months, maybe you can talk them down a bit since it has been there a long time. Car dealers generally want the cars off their lot as quickly as possible.

[Figaro]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

I'm proud of my car , I'm proudest of my kids! When i let my daughter drive my car I go with her. The car has two seats and even if people want to come along, they can't, It's just me and her. She enjoys the drive and I enjoy the time with her. And you know, somehow we always have a great talk and although we drive until we get lost, I find out that she knows 'where she is going'. Those nights I get a bigger hug before she heads off. I LIKE the car, I LOVE what the car does. Don't miss that.

[4thTBird]

Re: Should Hannah Drive the Bird?

I don't see a problem letting her drive, as long as you go w/ her. I would stay away from heavy traffic until she gets used to the car.
Our daughter was 16 when we got our bird. She has driven it a few times by herself, but she also knows if something happens (her fault); BIG TROUBLE.
After all, it is only a car & it can be replaced.