18 yr old boy, should I let him drive it.

[dallas_]

Originally Posted by WillisT

I don't know about your particular insurance policy, but mine does not allow anyone under age 26 to drive.

x 3. Check your insurance policy. He probably isn't covered so if you have the ability to pay out of pocket any potential lawsuit amount, then do as you see fit.

[Mastiff107]

You already know the answer. My grandson is only 4 and I know the answer. First clue is I have never let my son-in-law (his father who is 34) drive my Cobra. Depends on the kid. When I was 16 I was driving my dad's '61 Impala with a 409...good times! At the time I was working every summer at a lumber mill on the "green chain" and worked after school at a gas station. I worked like a "man" and was treated by him as one. I did get some tickets but I paid them as well as my insurance and learned a valuable lesson. Looking back I know one thing, it's the girls you have to watch out for, not fast cars!

[Sawdust]

Not knowing his driving experience I would agree with others on this. You NEED to be in the Cobra with him. Preferrably in a huge empty parking lot until both of you are comfortable.

[G-Pete]

No, better for both of you.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

No, better for both of you.

I agree. Jason, at 18, if I had been given access to my Cobra I have absolutely no doubt I would be dead as a doornail. If you let him drive it, make sure you are in the passenger seat -- maybe even with a deadman's switch in your hand that goes to the ignition. Then, once he's had a taste of the drive, you will need to keep the keys hidden from now on, or a kill switch on the ignition in a place he doesn't know about. I know he's a "good kid," but so was I....

[Silversmith]

I guess it all depends on your son. His driving skills, his respect for what these cars can do!! We were driving & romping @ 17 yrs old in csx 2058, csx 2372 & CSX 3116. Not to mention GT 350's & 500's, Jag's, Vette's, 300SEL's. We were blessed with acess to a awsome collection of rides & also damm lucky to stay alive on more than one occasion. Yes, we lost a few tires & engines racing. But we never racked one up into a tree etc. If you believe your son is ready after a little self teaching on the merits of a AC & you feel secure in his skills. Let him try a short day cruse & progress from there. Good luck to both of you.

[Bryan Wilson]

I let my son drive it with limits. he wanted to use it as the wedding car when he got married I said ok cause he had driven it many times with me riding shotgun.
So being the trusting parent I am I set the rev limiter to 2000 revs which leaves it drivable without letting it go fast.

[itstock]

Originally Posted by Bryan Wilson

I let my son drive it with limits. he wanted to use it as the wedding car when he got married I said ok cause he had driven it many times with me riding shotgun.
So being the trusting parent I am I set the rev limiter to 2000 revs which leaves it drivable without letting it go fast.

2000rpm is still well over 400rwtq for many of us. Plenty to get in trouble

Most accidents in these cars are from one of two things....

spinning the tires at low speed
hitting the gas around turns

A 2000rpm limit might help some, but it won't stop a car from getting out of control while doing one of those two.

[smccobra]

I let my 24 year old drive and he asked if he could get on it a bit while rolling along at 8-10 mph. The car broke loose with both back wheels and started to spin. I barked out "EASY" and he let off at the right moment. It made me realize just how short coupled a Cobra is and that it could happen to anybody. I wouldnt let a teenager use my car alone. Just my 2 cents. A driving course for a sensible kid seems like a good idea

[RodKnock]

No. Not enough driving experience in my opinion and the accident statistics are OVERWHELMINGLY against him.

Read here about the national statistics for teenagers: Teenage Driver Crash Statistics

[PatBuckley]

I wouldn't let ANYONE drive my car.

I think that covers it.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

No. Not enough driving experience in my opinion and the accident statistics are OVERWHELMINGLY against him.

Read here about the national statistics for teenagers: Teenage Driver Crash Statistics

Yep, my brother actually stumbled upon this one. Ferrari teen driver dies from injuries in Alpharetta crash | www.ajc.com

[john chesnut]

I let my son take my Cobra Tribute to the Prom when he was 17. But, I followed him in a chase car and I picked it up from the parking lot before the prom was over. Since then I let him drive the Cobra on day trips through the mountains of New England and Up State NY. But, I am the passenger or following in my Miata. My Cobra is pretty mild (405hp LS6) and has great brakes, and handling.

He has raced go karts since 10, different classes of sprint cars and asphalt late models. I haven't had to pay for racing the past few years as he has had rides offered to him.

He's 19 now. He's never had a ticket or accident. From the beginning he needed to be with me when we worked on the karts/cars, be respectful to others and the vehicles, and get great grades. And, all aggressive driving is done at the track. Not on public roads. Driving the Cobra is a reward earned as well. A reward that we enjoy together.

[Joey.S]

My kids will not ask to drive my Cobra because there scared of it.

[jopper]

No don't let him drive the cobra

[ACademic]

Jason, I let my oldest drive the Z06 with me in the passenger seat at 18 and he has solo'd in it the past three years. He respects it but he also knows you can have fun if you never forget that fact. He refuses to try the Cobra, even after tossing him the keys. LOL

Ride along with him until you're both comfortable with a solo effort. He will respect you (and love you) more for that. ;-)

[Donunder]

Originally Posted by john chesnut

I let my son take my Cobra Tribute to the Prom when he was 17. But, I followed him in a chase car and I picked it up from the parking lot before the prom was over. Since then I let him drive the Cobra on day trips through the mountains of New England and Up State NY. But, I am the passenger or following in my Miata. My Cobra is pretty mild (405hp LS6) and has great brakes, and handling.

He has raced go karts since 10, different classes of sprint cars and asphalt late models. I haven't had to pay for racing the past few years as he has had rides offered to him.

He's 19 now. He's never had a ticket or accident. From the beginning he needed to be with me when we worked on the karts/cars, be respectful to others and the vehicles, and get great grades. And, all aggressive driving is done at the track. Not on public roads. Driving the Cobra is a reward earned as well. A reward that we enjoy together.

I've been reading through this thread looking for a reply I totally agreed with.

This is it.

[ERA2076]

If he meets this - sure (track only) - else, no.

Originally Posted by john chesnut

He has raced go karts since 10, different classes of sprint cars and asphalt late models. I haven't had to pay for racing the past few years as he has had rides offered to him.

He's 19 now. He's never had a ticket or accident. From the beginning he needed to be with me when we worked on the karts/cars, be respectful to others and the vehicles, and get great grades. And, all aggressive driving is done at the track. Not on public roads. Driving the Cobra is a reward earned as well. A reward that we enjoy together.

[MaSnaka]

I taught my 16 year old how to drive a clutch and shift in my car. Yes there were some moments of regret but I was always in the passenger seat. Hey it's only a clutch. They can be fixed.

One day coming home from a drive with him at the wheel we are stopped at a red light and this crotch rocket pulls up next to us. I jokingly said something like your not going to let him get ahead of us are you? Holy crap when the light turned green my son took off after that bike and scared the crap out of me.

There is a great picture of him driving us through the snake at Mulholland in Colin Comers latest book , Shelby Cobra Fifty Years. Bottom line is I would like to be passenger to supervise. Good luck!

John

[Snake2998]

Fortunately I don't have that problem but if I did I would not do it until the kid had had proper high performance driving tuition and lots of skid pan use, and shown promise in handling high performance cars - and then only allow it when I was in the car with him.

I would also discuss this with his mother and get her opinion.

I would also join him on all the driving courses as a father son bonding exercise and to up my skills.

I would also severely limit throttle travel the first few times we went out together and then ease off the limit as he became more trustworthy over the next ten or twenty outings.

I could think of nothing worse then the guilt of losing him in the car as no matter whether you were right or wrong in allowing him to use it, you and your wife will blame you for the decision - most probably destroying your marriage and your happiness.