I'm not going to get into the debate about telling or suggesting to you what car you should have. Nor, am I going to get into the debate about the difference in parenting styles and the inevitable outcome of that child. (It's those that pulled the great cartoons off the air for 'violence', those that removed fun toys like Jarts... those are the people responsible for soceity today)

I'll just speak to your drivng....no matter what car you drive.

If you're serious about learning how to drive, one of the biggest things is paying attention to what's ahead of you, and planning, constantly, what would happen if... that car pulled out, if that car changed into your lane now... or now... or even now, if there's someone on the other side of that truck that is about to cross the road.

One of the better ways to become a better driver is to get into what is called 'Autocross'. A safe environment to learn the limits of your car, learn avoidance maneuvers and receive, for the most part, free instruction on the weekends, all while doing something fun and hanging out with other car enthusiasts. It's all the stuff your folks told you never to do with your car on the street.. but in a safe and controlled environment.

Seat time is king in driving. The more seat time, for the most part, the better driver you'll be.

Head to http://www.scca.com and find your local region. Click the 'Find A Region Near You' button at the top of the page, go to their site and find out when the next auto-x near you is. And you can do it in whatever car you have.

One thing I need to ask... how does one maintain a 4.2 GPA? Have things changed in 10-15 years where more than a 100 exists?

 

i appreciate your tranquility.. it forces me to pay attention more rather than just becoming frustrated, like some of the other comments some people have made... i do agree with you that practice does make perfect (or near perfect)

as for the 4.2 GPA, if you take an Honors or AP (Advanced Placement) class in high school and you pass that class with an A, you receive a 5.0, if you get a B, you get a 4.0, and so on...

 

Ahh OK. When I grew up, 4.0 was the limit... And that's the way it'll be in college...

 

I'm 18 and I have mt rx-8 gt
since I go to private school, I don't have parking lot problem
(some kids have g35, 350z, rx8, wrx, mustang cob)
just buy it
you won't want to race anyway,
because you will realize your rx8 is the slowest sports car

 

exactly. there is nothing wrong with letting your parents buy you a great car. just don't pretend like you really bought it yourself.

 

if you really planed on buying this car youself, than answer me this, you have a 2002 Dodge Intrepid. that is probobly a more expensive car than 95% of 16 year olds drive. did your parents buy you that car?

 

I agree that it's very common for teenage guys to be reckless., if not destructive. However it is not universal. Someone who's been working hard since 14 stands a good chance of being outside the curve. Fuirthermore, society has decreed that 16-year olds are capable of driving solo. If you really think that all teens are incapable then you should be arguing for the driving age to go up to 18 or maybe 21. Yeah, I do encounter lots of young punks pulling off stupid stunts in their cars, but then again I encounter lots of middle-aged ******** on the road EVERY DAY as well -- tailgating, stupid lane changes, cell-phones to their ears , total lack of situational awareness. In other words -- CLUE-LESS. Somehow 20 or 30 years on the road has not improved their skills, comprehension, or maturity. If anything it has only given them false confidence.

 

Nooooo, promises are meant to be kept. That's what makes it a promise.

If you can force your parents to do anything, then you are far worse than just some punk with too much money. If you would actually try to force your parents to do something for you that is against their better judgement, then it’s obvious you have no respect for them. In which case, I pitty them.

Oh dude, bad kharma… Pretty sure of two things. One: that in spite of the fact that you have a lot of money, you have no concept of it’s actual value. And two: That you will eat those words someday.

My son used to say that to me when he didn’t like what he heard, but he stopped doing that at age 3. Regardless, bring it! If you hit anyone, seems that it would be them that no longer needed to worry about retirement. I sure would love to get my hands on that 20k+, and that retirement fund of yours. But why stop there? You’re a minor, so, uh, how much money do your parents have?

This is classically known as “projecting”. YOU are jealous of adults with nice cars, and YOU cannot accept the truth. Your inability to deal with your true feelings regarding this matter causes you to tell other people that they are feeling what you yourself cannot admit you feel.

Lastly, did it ever occur to you that your parents don’t want you to have this car because they love you, and would worry about you? Probably not. Kids often don’t understand that their parents pretty much worry about them all of the time. And even if they do, they have no concept of what that feels like to a parent, until they actually have kids of their own. Me? I finally got it. The moment my son was born, I thought to myself, “oh, ok…” The first free moment I had after my son was born, I apologized to my parents.

Dude, get a civic, have sex with girls, go to college…

 

Personally I've found that the 2nd item in that list requires more maturity than driving a car does, if one is to experience the benefits while avoiding the pitfalls

 

I'd rather get into an accident than to get a girl pregnant or catch some STDs. :P

Just get a civic, fix it up like a Lego toy, go to college, get a nice career after graduation, buy a few Rotary cars for your collection, get the supermodel girlfriend that only likes you for your money, THEN have sex with her and her friends.

 

Dear Lord. This is an interesting thread.

I'm 19, going to college, working during the summers, and hoping to buy an RX-8 with my own money once I reach the end of school. I have a few pieces of advice that I might suggest to you. The first, is that college is invaluable. Whatever happens in your life, your education will always be something for you to draw on. Secondly, regardless of whether the money is yours or not, getting a performance car at 16-17 is foolish. Even at 19, with 2 more years of experience than you, I don't think it would be prudent if I were to buy an 8. It is not a matter of not being able to handle it, as I have driven a litany of high-performance cars (996 911, '99 M3, '02 M3, Saleen Mustang, Boxter S, 400hp Supra TT). Rather, it has to do with appreciation and responsibility. I have not gotten any tickets, into any accidents, or put myself in a dangerous situation. I'm lucky to have gotten this far without an issue. Also, take heed of the statistics for our age group posted earlier in the thread. You and I may be lucky (responsible?) thus far, but don't take that for granted.

One last thing for you to ponder. My dad happens to be a funeral director. He often buries people who die in car accidents. Young drivers are much more common. Just last week, an 18 year old brother of a family friend was killed going to work at 10am in the morning. There was no substance abuse, and no sign of reckless driving. It is suspected that he was innattentive while at the wheel, crossed the double line, and struch the tree that killed him.

I would be peeved a little if I were in your position, reading the majority of these responses. I can understand the desire to go out and spend your money on something that's beckoning you (trust me, I know...I can afford a used FD now), but take a step back and look what it is that you have now. You have a new(er) car, and a lot of money saved up. Save your money. Appreciate what you have, or try to at the very least. Few are as lucky as you are. When you pass 20, and have a few more years of experience under your belt, then maybe the RX-8, or by that time, hopefully the RX-7, would be something for you to consider. But I implore you, don't buy the thing now, or any higher performance car. Like someone said earlier, you'll appreciate it more later if you hold off now.

 

I have one question whats worse having a pretty safe nice great handiling $28 grand car or spending 3 grand for a 70's chevy thats very twitchy not very safe in crasher, 4 more grand on adding parts that bring your car up to 400 hp. So which would you rather see a small safe sporty looking car on the road with a teen in it, or an unruley 400 hp beast of a car which can destroy your car and you much more than the 8 with the crumple zones.
So truly which would you rather see. Prefarabley I also would rather see teens in smaller cars than these huge escalades and blazers. Those are definatley more scarier than seeing a teen in a 8. That was my .02 so please any one who is older than me rebut.

 

I am probably older but, you didn't say how old you are. Actually, I have no problems with a young person having this car. And when this thread began, felt rather neutral about the whole thing. It was only after reading this kid's varoius responses that made me feel like it might be a bad idea.

 

Yes, I see what you mean by having some people on this forum/thread being very vicious and rude. I am 16 going on 17 and will be working with my father, as soon as high school is over. I live in the worse state to have a nice car NEW JERSEY!!!
But, I love the 8's styling. I read that one post where a sti owner who was young made fun of us cause we wouldn't race him thats cause hes a jerk a lot of people go through there lives being jerks that is how the world "unfortunley" works.

 

Wow. Some of the youth of today has an interesting take on reality. Some think that they're entitled to a paid education (by their parents), cars, gas, insurance, help with downpayment on house, etc... Whatever.

When I was 16 my parents did buy me my first car and I thanked them for that. I had to pay for my own insurance, and my own gas. I put myself through college. Not because my folks wouldn't foot the bill, but because I wanted to be independent and do so.

When my kids grow up, I'll likely buy them cars when they're 16. I won't pay for insurance. I won't pay for gas. Depending on what they decide to do schoolwise, I may help them pay for college, but I will not pay for it all. If they want it, they'll have to earn it.

If my son was to save the $30K (or so) needed to by the '8 I probably wouldn't let him do it until he's 18 and can have a car registered soley in his name. It's not that I think the car is too high performance or anything like that (because you can drive any car dangerously), but rather because I think it would be an extreme waste of money on his part at that time in his life. I'd rather buy him a $15K car than have him spend $30K of his own money on one.

I guess one of the themes of this thread is how much the very young don't understand the value of a buck. Driving around a $30K car when you make an adult salary is no big deal. Driving around a $30K car when you make $10K/year is foolish.

That's just my two cents.

 

I guess everyone has there own take on life. Some people value horde or act meiserly towards money, on the other hand some people dispense it like it was just leaves during fall. I would say if you have chances in your life that dont have to big of a pit fall added in take them you only live once. Hell I feal that way and I'm only 16. Is something wrong with todays society and morals towards possesions. I could be happy with a small town 1 block a way and a bike. But I also like to have things. I donno what I'm even trying to say anymore but, the point is its not the cars fault that it hit you or that the car wasn't mature enough it was the driver who wasn't paying attention. If we drove riding lawnmowers to work and so forth we would still have accidents don't you think?



Oh and also I will never take advice from a town drunk...... Sigh look at the last posters name

 

:D

 

HAHA, i'm 21..my parents convinced me to get the RX...they love it as much as I do!!

 

I'm 15...not getting an 8 for a few years, but might when I graduate (at 17), or turn 18, or something like that. But the chances of me gettin' it at 16 are slim to negative...but when I get back to the US from summer vacation and get my permit(nope...don't even have that!) I will get a cheap-mobile...something like an old and used Chrysler LeBaron...or maybe even a new(I highly doubt this. alot.), yet cheap car (Scion xB, Mazda 3, etc.)...I'm a very good driver, but I don't think I'm responsible enough to get an 8 till I'm at least 16 and a few months old...but I already have some preety good experience from driving offroad with compact cars(say, rally-esque...only no 500hp engine...like a vw golf or something)...but over the summer, I'm going to practice alot, my father is getting me a jeep wrangler or any car good enough to practice with, and setting up a "track" or a closed area or something for me to drive around in. I'll be in Brazil over the summer, and we have alot of land there, also, cars are much cheaper(well, at least the economy/compacts types...don't go buyin a luxury there thinkin to get it cheaper...)
well...that's all I had to say...good luck on finding maturity and excuses to get your 8....

 

oh yeah town drunk just a joke nice to know you took it hte right way. lol

 

I congratulate you for having the forsite to open and fund an IRA as a teen, I know my kids will (if I ever have them). But remember, just having an IRA doesn't mean you have a complete financial picture. If you have 20K+ saved at your age you are in a position to begin setting yourself up for a life of financial health. And still get the car you want in a couple of years. I am not trying to deny you, just advising you to allocate things differently. Financing PART of the purchase price(with good rates) can be a tool to better credit and the preservation of much of your net worth. You can discount what I say, I don't care. I learned these lessons making similar decisions. Maybe Mommy and Daddy are well off and will give you support, I didn't and don't have that catch all.

 

I know at your age all you can think about is the here and now. I remember being 16 and wanting to have the cool car to impress my friends (and make new ones). If that is why you are thinking about getting one, I suggest you don't. I was a great student and about an average trouble maker in my day. I tried to impress my friends with my mom's 20 year anniversary gift, a red Sebring Convertible, and ended up flipping the car into a ditch. I lost my license for a year and almost killed my friend. It has been 11 years since that day but I can tell you this... you do learn from your mistakes. But do you really want to learn yours with a new car that you spent all our money on. Your life is just beginning... wait until you are through college and have a great job and can afford a second car as well (you are not going to want to drive it in the winter with your lack of experience and you are not going to want to take it to any college campus because it will get damaged). Like the guy above said too... cars are not investments. I do not think I would ever want to spend all my savings to buy a car (not matter what type a car it is). I believe it is better to put just enough down to get the monthly payments (3 -4 years) were you can afford it... that way you stay ahead of the loan and can sell it at anytime if you want to get rid of it. Never do a 5-6 year loan for a car. If you can't afford a 3-4 year schedule then you probably are buying outside your means. Take it all with a grain of salt... use you brain, not your heart.

 

Typical teenager comment. I'd be saying same thing if I was in your shoes. I'm not sure jealousy is the right word. I was definitely jealous of my spoiled friends back in the day, as any normal person would be. I just wish the youngsters would express more appreciation for their oppurtunities, and just be a kid who's thankful for what he gets handed to him. I know what it's like. We want people to think we are more independent then we really ar at a young age. Truth is, your parents hold the key to your entire life until you move out on your own. The fact that they bought you a 2002 Intrepid, it's understandable you see no other way in life then to get the best things at a young age. None of you teenagers driving an rx8 can have that experience of driving that car and knowing that you earned your hard earned money for. It's just an age thing, but in time, if that day comes when you are an adult and you pay your own bills, you'll really have a true appreciation for the finer things in life. For me it's a double edged sword. Had my parents spoiled me, I would not be the person I am today, and many of my current values would certainly not exist. At same timewhen reading these posts, I flash back to my younger years, and just try to imagine having a car like an rx8 when in HS. WOW, that must be quite a rush, but at same time how can you not act spoiled. Just enjoy your new car and live the good life for as long as you can.

 

Neither. They're both too much for the 'novice' driver.

 

But see thats the point there are a ton of gear heads in my school they buy old stangs vettes and chevys from the 70's and they start dropping in preformance parts in. I rather see them and myself in a 8. and imp next time try actually answering a ques. and not being a jerk bout it ur like the person who pick or when they get 2 choices u can have a stick of gum or lashing ...... il have or dumby



yeah i know this was all a bit imature.

just read ur bio off ur site pretty cool. No disrespect srry ;0