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

Sawdust · #1 (**permalink**) 11-15-2013, 10:32 AM

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 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-15-2013, 10:54 AM

No, better for both of you.

patrickt · #3 (**permalink**) 11-15-2013, 11:22 AM

Quote:

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 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-15-2013, 04:02 PM

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 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-22-2013, 05:58 PM

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 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-23-2013, 07:57 AM

Quote:

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.