3 more days...

dlw

New member
Only 3 more days til my son turns 16 and will get to solo in his pride and joy. Just got the new muffler installed that he wanted for his birthday and got it all Z'd and it's sitting in the garage with the car cover on it waiting for Thursday. Man, does this bring back memories of when I was a kid!

Prelude_rearangle_final.jpg
 
dlw, just make sure your wife has plenty of alka-seltzer and mylanta, not to mention tylenol and asprin, available for that first drive he takes by himself...... I guarantee you'll be scared half to death the first time you see him pull out of the driveway by himself....



but hey, its all fun!!
 
I highly advise a daily beater for 16 year olds. I gave my son an '87 Caddy that drove like a boat and protected him like a tank.
 
Yep, know all about the new license jitters for parents. I spent a full year with him in parking lots driving and the last year at his side with his learner's permit, plus driver's ed. If a kid has ever had safety pounded into his head, he's the one. I lost a sister, a brother-in-law and a nephew in car crashes. I had 3 sisters and none of the folks we lost were from the same immediate family, so I'm a real stickler for following the rules. My son has been with me in the Vette many times when guys tried to tempt us to race, so hopefully, he learned a bit about making the right choices. All we can do is lay down some tough rules and hope and pray for kids once they get out on their own. My youngest daughter turns 15 in about 3 weeks and she's also had over a year in parking lots dodging milk carton cones and parallel parking, so one more to go! I went through this same new driver experience before.....16 years ago next week. My oldest daughter is now 32. Her first car was a brand new Geo Storm. She drove it for 122,000 miles, got her through college and her first 2 kids. Now her and her husband and 4 kids have a bit larger vehicle!

Prelude_final_rear.jpg
 
hmm..... another one comming along - whats the next project vehicle going to be?? :D :D



I still can't get over how totally gorgeous that prelude is......
 
My youngest daughter is a total car nut, so her car will be interesting, I'm sure. I've already ruled out her first two choices, an AMC Pacer and a '69 Datsun 2000 sports car that my son-in-law's dad has in his former body shop, along with about a dozen other fantastic classics. Had to rule both of those choices out due to total lack of safety equipment. Dual air bags and ABS are requirements for any of our cars. I gotta admit, the Pacer with fat tires and alloys would rule the parking lot at any school!
 
Dual air bags and ABS are requirements for any of our cars



I dont see whats so bad about non-abs cars? I agree an airbag is a good asset when combined with proper seating position and seat belt use, but driving with no abs isnt much different. Just requires a brain between the ears. I learned to drive on a non-abs vehicle and currently drive one w/o it as well. It just takes a little more concentration. I suppose if it is a typical teenager driving it, they would get distracted easily talking on cell phones, playing with the radio, or what not.



My .02 cents
 
cell phone in your car slow capri? Thats one of the things I will not allow in my car. No food, drink, pets, makeup being applied (unless you really need it) and no cell phones.
 
Lower it, take off the blue emblem and is that just a muffler or a full cat-back exhaust? Shiny car, lucky kid like me :)
 
DLW:



Tell your son he's a verry lucky one.



Wish him best of luck and many carefree miles.



This brings back memories : my first wheels were not that great + Had to wait 'till I was 21!!!



:wavey
 
Heh, I'd kill for that prelude your son has. Im only 16, I'll be turning 17 in a little less than a month. My father was a real "head pounder"(i guess) on following the rules also and I drove with him alot when I had my permit. Your son is lucky to have a dad thats into detailing and cars. Although its not mine, Im driving a 99 accord dx. My sister had it before I did but she went off to college, but once she did the car was designated to me and shortly afterwards I got my license. Before she came back we got a 2002 civic which she now drives. Im right now in the process of getting a job so I can save up for detailing supplies and car mods. Im lucky enough to not have to pay for anything(car, gas, insurance).



Heh, I have to get a job to get stuff like zaino and souveran, and I really want a pc. The money I used to buy the products I have now are from mowing lawns.



I was really into imports maybe 6 months ago and that usually goes with street racing. But I've read so many different forum posts about people being in races where their friends have died, or know someone who was killed streetracing. I think thats the one thing that made me realize that its not worth it and its dumb. "But if you must, keep it on the track" as most say. Hopefully your son doesn't get into that, but that might help him realize how dumb it is.



Heh, enough about me, your son's car looks great.
 
rufuz - might I suggest a christmas list to put detailing supplies on?? (who knows, you might get a zaino kit or a lowes-version PC under the tree if you're lucky....)
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
I predict at-least a V6 4th gen f-body in your near future, DL...... (if not a V8 that is...)



:D :D



Very nice looking Honda. :up

A V8 fbody for a 16 y.o is asking for trouble. Too much too soon for the unexperienced driver. Bad things happen much too quickly and with more force in a V8. Thank God my parents did not buy me the brand new Boss 302 as my high school graduation present. Not that they did not trust me ( 5th in class headed to Brown) I guess they knew that would be too much to handle at 16. My new 4 banger Super Beetle was plenty fun with the hot rodding mods at that age.

Good luck and happy solo motoring to your son dlw. It is fun remembering that first car and waiting its delivery to the dealership and the fun of owning your own car. Many sleepless nights from anticipation.:xyxthumbs
 
When I turned 16, my father and I did some car shopping. All of the vehicles I looked at were non-ABS and non-airbag equipped but would have been plenty fun to drive.



- 1970 Chevelle SS 396

- 1971 GTO Convertible

- 1974 Nova w/a 350 (Pops was scared it would get away from me) that I wanted to build up into a street rod of sorts.



However, I wound up driving a customer's '77 Cutlass with a 350 in 1986. I got infatuated with that particular car that my parents bought me one for my 19th B-day. Yes, it had a V8, but it was a smaller displacement. :D



BTW, the old man taught me how to drive, but I still managed to pick up a lot of his bad habits. :D
 
blkZ28conv - yeah I agree, but I think that control can be taught in one of those cars.....



besides, you could always get one of the late 3rd gen cars ('90 IROC for instance) with the TPI motors.... those were crap when it came to the horsepower and "actual get-up-and-go"..... plus when daughter's not lookin, dad can install a speed limiter at 100MPH...... ;) :D



but thats just me..... I can understand a level of concern, especially from the parental standpoint of it.... I know I wouldnt want to let someone unexperienced on the road loose in a vehicle like that, not only because of the expense of the actual vehicle, but also the danger in a crash (its common knowledge that in several situations, due to the design and lack of structural rigidity of the t-bar roof, these cars tend to not fare well).



My $.02 :wavey
 
Pretty sweet ride for a kid. Hope he respects it! And the responsibility that comes with it. Good luck!:xyxthumbs
 
Brad B. said:
Pretty sweet ride for a kid. Hope he respects it! And the responsibility that comes with it. Good luck!:xyxthumbs
Amen to that! My attitude towards this issue can be summed up in two words:



Chevette automatic :D



Very nice Prelude dlw.
 
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