Camaro... good idea as 1st car?

[GameOver620]

I've been reading the different threads for a while and I noticed that many kids seem to be interested in a Camaro as their first car. Do you guys think it's a good idea? How young is too young?

[The_Blur]

15 is too young. Everyone should have a car that they enjoy so long as they can enjoy it maturely. Don't drive like a punk 16-year-old to avoid getting ridiculed for having such a nice starter ride.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by GameOver620

I've been reading the different threads for a while and I noticed that many kids seem to be interested in a Camaro as their first car. Do you guys think it's a good idea? How young is too young?

Well depends on who you ask what kind of answer you will get. Most younger people will say Yeah sure why not, while most older people that have either had one themselves when they were your age or had a son or daughter that got one will say nope get some experience in a non sportscar first. My opinion is in between... as long as it isn't a Z28 or other high powered Camaro then any V6 would be a good starter car.

[diddiyo]

Not a good idea imho. They should practice for a few months (at least!) with something less powerful, there are more important things to watch out for on the road than just putting the pedal to the metal, which quite frankly most kids wanna do.

[dchase]

I wouldnt say first car no. I'm 18 started out driving a truck, and yah i ragged it out, petal to the floor and burnt the tires up. But once your dad tells you that your paying for it, everything changes. I started saving for my camaro now but going to wait cause insurance will kill me. I think some kids can be responsible. My dad trust me driving his porsche around, so i guess im responsible enough. (Think he loves it more then me though so i extremely careful)

[pinkcamaro10]

I think everyone should start out with a piece of crap car, so they will appreciate something nice and new like a camaro.

[Nexus6]

Originally Posted by pinkcamaro10

I think everyone should start out with a piece of crap car, so they will appreciate something nice and new like a camaro.

I agree with that.I started with an 82 2.8 v6 POS Camaro.About a year later when i had enough for a good down payment,I graduated to a 90 forumla 350(17 yrs old).By that time i had enough experience under my belt to mature when driving when needed. But i also come from a family where all the guys have muscle cars.

[Mr_Draco]

Imo a new car is NEVER a good idea for a new driver. They already have outrageous insurance due to them being new drivers for the 1st 3-4 years so it's not really a good idea to add an extra $200 a month for insurance on a new car not to mention the monthly payments. Plus the statistics of a new driver being involved in a wreak is really high and as much as new cars cost to fix now a days, I don't see how someone still in school can afford the costs.

I would have to say that 20 is about the youngest imo to buy a new car. This way they have gotten the discount from the insurance company if they didn't have a wreak or ticket their first 3-4 years and are hopefully at least a sophomore or a junior in college and has more spare time to get a decent paying job to pay the costs.

[headpunter]

bought my 1st car when i was 18, i didnt even have my license yet, brand new 30k msrp truck for 24k (GMS)

[kashtrey]

It is really hard to set an arbitrary number of who is too young for a new car or certain kind of car; just like it is hard to say that at a certain age someone is a good driver. I mean a lot of 40 year olds are worse drivers than some teenagers.

I for one am buying the car next year probably around October (around my 20th B-day) or around the summer of 2010 depending on if $15,000 will be a good enough down for a SS/RS loaded. It will be my first car in terms of ownership.

[radz28]

My first car was a '95 Z28 and I was 20 at the time (I borrowed my parents' cars up to then and/or rode my enduro bike to work) and although I did have a '76 Chevy van I drove for a few months, in retrospect, I'm on the fence. I didn't always drive safely but I did most of the time. I was always taking off from lights fast though, and although I never engaged in a game of tag on the freeway, I did have some brief unplanned freeway runs away from traffic.

My point is, that I felt responsible for my car because I was paying for it, therefore, I knew there were consiquences that would effect me directly if I didn't drive responsibly. I don't know there are many young people mature enough to respect a brand new car, that they don't have to pay for, let alone a car like this - even a V6 model. Could I drive a car like this responsibly back in the day? Maybe I shouldn't but probably would've wanted to.

IMVHO, not everyone is the same, but the majority unfortunately, probably isn't responsible enough to have any sports car as a first...

[pruettfan]

I think as long as the kid is paying for it they should get what they want. I had a 69 Camaro in 1982, paid for it myself took good care of it and never drove like an idiot because if it broke or I wrecked I would have to pay for it. Went to school with many rich kids who drove like crap because they had nothing invested personally. Kids like that will treat everything like crap.

[kashtrey]

Good point, it's hard to respect something that was just given to you. Though I would love to have rich parents to pay for my car, I will be proud to say that I bought my brand new Camaro myself.

[headpunter]

really it all depends on how your raised, not every kid that is given or is helped by thier parents to get a new car is going to treat it the same.