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 14Likes
11-15-2013, 08:56 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rancho Cucamonga,
ca
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF 239
Posts: 820
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Not Ranked
18 yr old boy, should I let him drive it.
I am now facing the “should I let him drive it” struggle. My son is a wonderful, near 18 year old, senior in high school, good decision maker, who is beside himself about not being allowed to drive the Cobra.
I know how I would have felt it that car was in the garage when I was 18 .
I have no fear of his mechanical ability to operate the pedals safely. But….I have tremendous angst thinking about the yahoo in a new Corvette or Porsche or Honda with a fart pipe, that pulls up and sees a teenager behind the wheel of that snarling, rumbling thing. I know I would not have been able to keep the testosterone floodgates closed.
I certainly want him to enjoy the fruits of life, but I’m restrained by the “im your dad, not your friend” protectionist mentality.
I kinda feel like he is being punished, for how I was as a young man and my though process now.
Lets hear your thoughts
thanks
Jason
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11-15-2013, 09:02 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Carlsbad,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF 2932 with 438 Lykins Motorsports engine. Previous owner of FFR 5452.
Posts: 2,617
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Not Ranked
Sure, let him drive it.
With you in the passenger seat!
__________________
Jim
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11-15-2013, 09:07 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Las Vegas,
NV
Cobra Make, Engine: Shelby CSX4005LA, Roush 427IR
Posts: 5,632
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Not Ranked
What is his experience level? What kinds of cars has he driven? Certainly if he's never driven a manual transmission car as a primary vehicle I would be reluctant to let him solo it. The high HP/high TQ combination of a Cobra is instant spin for an inexperienced driver. So, with you along for a while, sure why not. Solo? I'd think not.
Note also that the temptation to downshift into a turn is high, and without the ability to easily throttle blip (most brake and accelerator pedals are not aligned to make this easy) is an easy way to put it into oversteer. He needs to learn how to handle this platform. It's not the same as any other vehicle he will ever drive.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony
CSX4005LA
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11-15-2013, 09:08 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR
Posts: 388
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhv48
Sure, let him drive it.
With you in the passenger seat!
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Exactly what I was going to say. Cheers. |
11-15-2013, 09:11 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Lodi,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #773, 482 stroker, cross ram stack injection
Posts: 95
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Not Ranked
Hooked On Driving has a performance car training course for street cars on local race tracks. Would make a great father/son outing...
__________________
Drink no wine before its time
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11-15-2013, 09:26 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR
Posts: 388
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Not Ranked
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11-15-2013, 09:26 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,313
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Not Ranked
Both my boys got 3-4 hour drives in the country as Christmas presents when they were 19-21 years old. One manged to do a complete 360 right in the downtown of an unnamed town leaving a BBQ joint. I reminded him what I had been telling him over and over, don't give it gas unless you are pointed straight ahead. They both enjoyed it alot.
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11-15-2013, 09:28 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Waddell,
AZ
Cobra Make, Engine: Alum bodied CSX4266, fuel injected alloy 472, 663 hp Engine built by Dralle. Suspension by Tom Barnard
Posts: 938
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Not Ranked
NO! Not until he has some experience behind the wheel of a normal passenger car OR after he successfully passes a course in driving a car of this type. After that, you need to ride with him!
__________________
Don't underestimate the predictability of stupid!
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11-15-2013, 09:34 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Scottsdale,
AZ
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR Mk III 427w, dual quads
Posts: 61
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Not Ranked
I don't know about your particular insurance policy, but mine does not allow anyone under age 26 to drive.
There's a reason for that.
HTH,
Will
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11-15-2013, 10:02 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Fox Island,
WA
Cobra Make, Engine: '66 Shell Valley, Original "K" Code 289
Posts: 210
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Not Ranked
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!
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11-15-2013, 10:13 AM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: SF Bay Area,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF #1019
Posts: 1,657
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by WillisT
I don't know about your particular insurance policy, but mine does not allow anyone under age 26 to drive.
There's a reason for that.
HTH,
Will
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Mine, too, and I've told my kids since day one that my insurance does not cover anyone 25 or under driving. They have never questioned it. |
11-15-2013, 10:22 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas,
tx
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR track car, SL-C track car
Posts: 1,262
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by WillisT
I don't know about your particular insurance policy, but mine does not allow anyone under age 26 to drive.
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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. |
11-15-2013, 10:57 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Brisbane, Australia,
Q
Cobra Make, Engine: Contemporary CCX3117 427FE
Posts: 4,381
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by CowtownCobra
One manged to do a complete 360 right in the downtown of an unnamed town leaving a BBQ joint. I reminded him what I had been telling him over and over, don't give it gas unless you are pointed straight
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Maybe I'm missing the point, but wouldn't the introduction to a high powered car for a young driver be all about the feeling of cruising down the road with the wind in your hair and the sidepipe rumble in your ear?
If it's to remind him to only gas it in a straight line, take him to a drag strip.
__________________
Craig
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11-15-2013, 11:32 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: North of Toronto,
Ont
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance #1950, Roush 402R, TKO600
Posts: 552
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Not Ranked
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.
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11-15-2013, 11:54 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Allen,
TX
Cobra Make, Engine: Werk77 289FIA
Posts: 1,295
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Not Ranked
No, better for both of you.
__________________
Scratch build 289 FIA see the Scratch builder forum on CC - sold
DRB GT40 MK1 red #49- sold
FF5 Mk4 #7733 302/T5/IRS - dark blue - sold
FF5 MK4 #7812 427/TKO/IRS - Guardsman Blue - sold
FF5 MK4 #8414 501/TKO600/48IDA Ollie the Dragon #91 - sold
FF5 Daytona Coupe 347/TKO/IRS Homage CSX2299 Viking Blue - sold
SPF 2063
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11-15-2013, 12:22 PM
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Half-Ass Member
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 22,025
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by G-Pete
No, better for both of you.
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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....  |
11-15-2013, 12:45 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Redding,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR chassis and suspension, Mr. Bruce 289 FIA body
Posts: 1,066
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Not Ranked
I let my 18 yo son drive my GT40 without me in it. Never had a problem
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11-15-2013, 01:07 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rancho Cucamonga,
ca
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF 239
Posts: 820
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Not Ranked
My insurance is good, no restrictions. And we are all on the same page as far as experience, Id never let him out alone until I was sure he was competent on the operation and control side. Funny, I have no problem putting him in my RS4 and it makes 420hp. But it sissy HP, its easy, all wheel drive, big brake blah blah. just doesn't charge the glands like the Cobra.
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11-15-2013, 01:46 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Ocala,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: SMC 67 Cobra/302
Posts: 16
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Not Ranked
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
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11-15-2013, 02:17 PM
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CC Member/Contributor
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 445
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by twin turbo
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If this doesn't prove that 50 year olds should NOT be driving Cobra's than I don't know what else will. On second look, perhaps he SHOULD have let his much younger passenger drive.
Oh, that wasn't the question.
The Cobra is a car. If he respects the pedal, uses the clutch, and doesn't hit the gas around turns, he will be fine.
Last edited by itstock; 11-15-2013 at 02:29 PM..
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