[jaffles]

Originally Posted by philth

Whatever you get them, go out with them and teach them car control in said car (or any cars of your own). Teach them how to emergency brake, oversteer, understeer, calm reactions/not to violently turn the steering wheel when faced with a sudden quick manoeuvre, etc…

No matter how responsible and ‘mature’ you think your TEENager may be, they WILL push that car to its limits at some point or another. Be it peer pressure in a vehicle full of teenagers or just by themselves, limits will be tested.
The cooler the car, the higher the cars limit will be, and the more invincible your teenager will feel (to themselves and their friends).

Teenagers make mistakes, it’s what being a kid is all about. Make sure to mitigate whatever risks you can by being a responsible teacher.

This is a huge part I think parents are aware off but often miss.

My wife's advise is slow down as you don't know what's around the corner, so she drives 47 km/h in the 60 as the head of the snake and drives everyone nuts behind her. Then passes comments about drivers doing suicide overtaking maneuvers around her. She won't even smash the brakes to realise her car will stop in about 3.5 meters at 60 km/h. Has no idea if she rips the wheel left then right to miss an animal the cars responds instead of spearing off the road or going sideways like they once did. Modern safety features have transformed a car from the basic pigs they were in the 60, 70, 80s to quite a remarkable box of safety. Of course choosing the cheapest tyres one can find dictates much of the outcome.

Where its only a few hundred dollars to take the kid to advanced driving school where a third party (not the uncool parents) teaches them emergency braking in the wet or in corners, oversteer, understeer, calm and violently reactions, inertia on a skin pan with and without traction aids, or things like simply getting off the gas and roll with traction rather than brake. Sure you can try and teach it on public roads but on a skid pan the speeds can be higher and nothing to hit. Limits are tested and taken out of their system so to so peak.

I think however, well down hear, there is a reluctance to do so as authorities and parents think you are arming the young with info to drive faster. The official response is lower speed limits and more speed cameras as its all to do with safety right.

[Alfisti]

I'd be a little reticent to hand a kid a proper SUV, bit tipply and also a bit, i dunno, adult and boring. Ideally the sort of half breed thingies like the CX-30 or original X1 would be good. Subaru thingy, Crosstek. Don't suck all the joy out f their lives yet, they will be boring adults for along time.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by jaffles

Where its only a few hundred dollars to take the kid to advanced driving school where a third party (not the uncool parents) teaches them emergency braking in the wet or in corners, oversteer, understeer, calm and violently reactions, inertia on a skin pan with and without traction aids, or things like simply getting off the gas and roll with traction rather than brake. Sure you can try and teach it on public roads but on a skid pan the speeds can be higher and nothing to hit. Limits are tested and taken out of their system so to so peak.

On that note, I'd highly recommend the Street Survival program. I had both my kids do it and they both found it very useful.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by TXGrey

Update for those curious.... we took a few hours to go "sit" in some Mazdas yesterday... quickly learned at my son's height of 6ft-1 (and still growing), the CX-3/30 are really tight (and assuming the Mazda3 would be the same if & when we find one to sit in). So, we went and sat in a CX-5. MUCH better fit for him, and he liked it. So, will probably swap the CX-3/30 for a CX-5 onto the list of possibilities. The CX-50 is oriented a lot differently than the regular 5; it's interesting. Much lower in your seating position, and it’s much wider too. Really cool CUV though… I kind of liked it. Oh, and something most of us already knew... Kudos to Mazda for still making a solid interior. Nothing fancy, just a driver-focused well-layed out design. Why so many other companies don't understand this is baffling to say the least.

Good choice. The CX-50 is a sweet little lifted small wagon. Odd that your son didn't fit well in the CX-3/30. My 6' 1" son and myself at 6' 2", both with long legs and slim builds, fit great in his 2020 Mazda 3. The A pillar design is a little odd though. Pretty easy for a tall person to bump their head climbing in due to the aggressive rake of the windshield A pillar.

[Alfisti]

Little? The CX50 is a family SUV.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

On that note, I'd highly recommend the Street Survival program. I had both my kids do it and they both found it very useful.

I've always taken my kids to a empty business park on Sundays and taught them threshold braking, ABS sensation though the pedal, max acceleration from a stop, avoidance/hard lane change, parallel parking, snow driving, etc.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

On that note, I'd highly recommend the Street Survival program. I had both my kids do it and they both found it very useful.

Thanks Phillies
Down under the lad is booked into Skid Control next month, 5hrs $300 in their car. His looking forward to it and I feel it will be a good eye opener for him. There are multiple levels I understand so see where it goes, but his keen to use his car and save $100 after the first session.

Reckon I'm at opposite poles hear to most parents having encouraged the purchase of an E92 with 240hp. Not saying my kid is any different to another, but we talk a lot about stuff, ego, peers, money etc. He doesn't know it yet but we'll drop in to the spinal ward at the hospital at some point, or where car crash survivors recover. Just another snippet of reality to help him make good decisions.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by jaffles

Thanks Phillies
Down under the lad is booked into Skid Control next month, 5hrs $300 in their car. His looking forward to it and I feel it will be a good eye opener for him. There are multiple levels I understand so see where it goes, but his keen to use his car and save $100 after the first session.

Reckon I'm at opposite poles hear to most parents having encouraged the purchase of an E92 with 240hp. Not saying my kid is any different to another, but we talk a lot about stuff, ego, peers, money etc. He doesn't know it yet but we'll drop in to the spinal ward at the hospital at some point, or where car crash survivors recover. Just another snippet of reality to help him make good decisions.

We Yanks had "The Dukes of Hazzard", then go emulate. Worked great!

[Efthreeoh]

Not to mention, "Smokey and The Bandit" on the big screen...

[jaffles]

Haha well if the lad came home with a Daisy Duke things wouldn't be all that bad, reckon he might be in with half a chance with an e92.

[Phillies8008]

[Southern Drawl] THEM DUKE BOYS! [/Southern Drawl]

Haha well if the lad came home with a Daisy Duke things wouldn't be all that bad, reckon he might be in with half a chance with an e92.

Sorry, Daisy's strictly a Mopar girl. She's a catch, but not a catch worth the Stellantis tax, lol.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Little? The CX50 is a family SUV.

It's a compact SUV. It's marginally larger than my son's 2020 Mazda 3 hatchback when it comes to front passenger room / dimensions. It does have about 4" more rear legroom but it's still pretty short. The CX-50 does have a bit rear cargo and expanded capacity with the seats folded flat. I certainly wouldn't want to travel long distance in a CX-50 with a family of four though. Super sweet little SUVs though. Very good looking and a steal for the money. Why someone would choose a RAV4 or Forester or similar over it is beyond me.

[Alfisti]

Only in America (well Canada too).

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by jaffles

Haha well if the lad came home with a Daisy Duke things wouldn't be all that bad, reckon he might be in with half a chance with an e92.

Out where I live there is a Dukes of Hazzard memorabilia store/museum. Originally started and owned by the actor who played Cooter (Ben Jones). Every year there was a Dukes of Hazzard event. Barbra Bach, who played Daisy came to one some 10 years back now, for a cast reunion. She didn't age well...

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

It's a compact SUV. It's marginally larger than my son's 2020 Mazda 3 hatchback when it comes to front passenger room / dimensions. It does have about 4" more rear legroom but it's still pretty short. The CX-50 does have a bit rear cargo and expanded capacity with the seats folded flat. I certainly wouldn't want to travel long distance in a CX-50 with a family of four though. Super sweet little SUVs though. Very good looking and a steal for the money. Why someone would choose a RAV4 or Forester or similar over it is beyond me.

The CX-5 is almost identical in size and just as good. I've "sold" (i.e. recommended) four of them over the years, three just between October and January 2026. No commissions from Mazda LOL

[thebmw]

We were going to buy Mazda 3 and CX-3/5 but acceleration was incredibly anemic and they were priced the same as a used 3 series and X3. So we bought a manual 3 series and an X3. The kids can drive stick, cars are still in the BMW family (so I know what is needed for maintenance and repairs), and the acceleration is more than adequate. I have family members that have Mazdas. They like them, but they have just as many issues as BMWs.

Kids already learned on our cars that had 500hp and did numerous car control and safety clinics so getting cars in the 200-300 hp are relatively anemic, but not like Mazda's 184hp. Most of all, they were brought up correctly. Kids can get into trouble with any car that has been made in their lifetimes. It's not the HP in the car that is the issue, it is HP in their brains that powers their skills and decision making.

[Alfisti]

If we are talking sprightly raised hatches, a base Stelvio is a fucking steal right now. 20K buys one in great shape and they really do stand out and drive well.

i still say SUV is an odd choice for a kid though, feels too adult, a well looked after, low mile ORIGINAL X1 would be absolutely ideal IMHO.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by thebmw

We were going to buy Mazda 3 and CX-3/5 but acceleration was incredibly anemic and they were priced the same as a used 3 series and X3. So we bought a manual 3 series and an X3. The kids can drive stick, cars are still in the BMW family (so I know what is needed for maintenance and repairs), and the acceleration is more than adequate. I have family members that have Mazdas. They like them, but they have just as many issues as BMWs.

Kids already learned on our cars that had 500hp and did numerous car control and safety clinics so getting cars in the 200-300 hp are relatively anemic, but not like Mazda's 184hp. Most of all, they were brought up correctly. Kids can get into trouble with any car that has been made in their lifetimes. It's not the HP in the car that is the issue, it is HP in their brains that powers their skills and decision making.

Well done, not all kids are the same, not all are silly. 4 months ago I helped the son buy an e92 330d. He wanted it to snap crackle pop, wake the neighbor hood, and drift like it owns him money. His mates who have petrol cars are all busy with pop off valves, sports air cleaners and what not, where my kid has developed an appreciation for factory standard, engineered performance, and appreciation for what he has. Just now I asked him about a budget LSD I think I have stumbled on, he said not I like it as is. Seems chatting to drifters, discussions on reality, earning his own money, he has matured in a way I think will see him proud.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by jaffles

Well done, not all kids are the same, not all are silly. 4 months ago I helped the son buy an e92 330d. He wanted it to snap crackle pop, wake the neighbor hood, and drift like it owns him money. His mates who have petrol cars are all busy with pop off valves, sports air cleaners and what not, where my kid has developed an appreciation for factory standard, engineered performance, and appreciation for what he has. Just now I asked him about a budget LSD I think I have stumbled on, he said not I like it as is. Seems chatting to drifters, discussions on reality, earning his own money, he has matured in a way I think will see him proud.

That is great. They will become adults sooner than we want, so sheltering them is not the way.

Another reason my kids stay in check with the cars is they know that if there is even a scratch on any of the cars, I will be very unhappy! They know that "their" cars are not theirs, they are owned by the parents and we can revoke them at any time. We have no tolerance for childish behavior behind the wheel and elsewhere.

That said, if there is an opportunity to have a little supervised fun, like donuts in the snow in a parking lot, or accelerating on the highway with no one around, great. They have to have some fun and it is a good opportunity to gain experience in a safe manner.

[TXGrey]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

If we are talking sprightly raised hatches, a base Stelvio is a fucking steal right now. 20K buys one in great shape and they really do stand out and drive well.

i still say SUV is an odd choice for a kid though, feels too adult, a well looked after, low mile ORIGINAL X1 would be absolutely ideal IMHO.

I love Stelvios & Giulias (I know, blasphemy on this forum). I attempted to buy a Stelvio Quad three different times; all three deals fizzled out (one over a lousy $1500 that I prob should have just ate). They drive fantastic, and as you stated, can be found for an absolute steal these days. But the issues are so glaringly hit and miss (and horrible to deal with, i.e. dealer/mechanic support) it scares the daylights out of me. IF, and that's a big if, we decide to go the route of getting something only for the high school years (here around town), then that would open the door back up for something like the Stelvio. But if go down the path of one car, and that's it (college too), then he needs to be in something practical and that can be fixed & maintained more easily than an Alfa. Trust me, I have YEARS of research on this topic because I wanted the Quad so badly. That SUV is absolutely ridiculous... I've driven several of them, and each time you get out of the car with a massive $hit-eating grin. The sounds alone will make you forget about any issues that come with ownership.

[TXGrey]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

The CX-5 is almost identical in size and just as good. I've "sold" (i.e. recommended) four of them over the years, three just between October and January 2026. No commissions from Mazda LOL

We also went and sat in Subaru Crosstrek(s) yesterday... we really liked them. A bit more "sporty" than the CX-5, but same interior head/shoulder room (more or less). The Crosstrek is definitely on the list now.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by TXGrey

I love Stelvios & Giulias (I know, blasphemy on this forum). I attempted to buy a Stelvio Quad three different times; all three deals fizzled out (one over a lousy $1500 that I prob should have just ate). They drive fantastic, and as you stated, can be found for an absolute steal these days. But the issues are so glaringly hit and miss (and horrible to deal with, i.e. dealer/mechanic support) it scares the daylights out of me. IF, and that's a big if, we decide to go the route of getting something only for the high school years (here around town), then that would open the door back up for something like the Stelvio. But if go down the path of one car, and that's it (college too), then he needs to be in something practical and that can be fixed & maintained more easily than an Alfa. Trust me, I have YEARS of research on this topic because I wanted the Quad so badly. That SUV is absolutely ridiculous... I've driven several of them, and each time you get out of the car with a massive $hit-eating grin. The sounds alone will make you forget about any issues that come with ownership.

The QUAD and the Base 2T are very different vehicles. The QUAD is magnificent but can have issues with turbos going bad and other high cost items.

The regular 2T cars are much more affordable to run and at 280HP and aggressive gearing, are good fun without breaking the bank. Our 2T Stelvio is now entering it's 7th year with us and only issue has been a power draw if a USB cable if left installed overnight.