[s-cars] Teen car

[Brian Armstead]

The scenario I posted was just that Peter, a scenario.  I could have 
painted it many different ways.  The point I was trying to make is that 
it takes time to be able to reflexively choose the proper gear to 
accelerate or decelerate for that matter.  We can do it blindfolded, as 
we have many years of driving experience.  I even choose the wrong gear 
sometimes but through experience I instantly know to do it over.  Young 
drivers may not immediately realize an improper shift.

Shifting manually takes one hand off the wheel, and in a emergency 
situation where you must do an evasive manuever and shift to get power, 
most young drivers would not have the experience to put all the pieces 
together.   Your "water bottle" test is good, and just reinforces my 
point - that young drivers need TWO hands on the wheel, not one on the 
wheel and one on the gear lever trying to remember what gear they need 
to get out of trouble...

I totally agree with you and Taka the distracted driving is a big killer 
of our youth.  It is my opinion that rowing through a gearbox is another 
distraction for young drivers.

Peter Schulz wrote:
> Brian:
>
> I can't support your opinion - cutting in front of the Escalade was 
> probably one of many poor decisions along with texting or talking on 
> the cell phone, turning their stereo or subwoofer up to 11, drinking a 
> supersized soda, forgetting to wear seatbelt, blah blah.
>
> Your scenario tells me something about the driver, namely they are 
> really not ready to drive alone.
>
> Teaching a new driver how to drive a manual transmissioned car will re 
> enforce from day one that there is more to driving then turning the 
> key, turning on the radio and putting the car into drive.
>
> I support teen and new driver clinics for my local ACNA chapter, and 
> we re enforce the importance of not driving while distracted by having 
> the student hold a water bottle in one hand while navigating a slalom. 
>  It tends to be an eye opener for the driver.
>
> -Peter
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 8, 2009, at 9:28 AM, Brian Armstead wrote:
>
>> Regarding teen cars, they need a certain amount of power to be able to
>> get out of trouble. Merging onto a highway in a slow car when everyone
>> is busting 80 mph is no treat for a young driver. That being said, folks
>> are pretty dumb to buy high performance cars for young drivers.
>>
>> Taka, I disagree with the manual for teen concept, though I agree it
>> would 'help' to keep them occupied.  Young drivers have enough to focus
>> on besides wondering if they've chosen the right gear to accelerate out
>> of the way of the Escalade they wrongly pulled into the path of...
>>
>> Brian
>>
>> Taka Mizutani wrote:
>>> I'll second that one- the FWD 850 non-turbo or the S70 is a pretty 
>>> solid car
>>> that is too slow to get yourself in trouble but very safe.
>>>
>>> I would actually advocate getting a teen a manual transmission car- it's
>>> much harder to talk on your cellphone or do other stupid things if 
>>> you have
>>> to worry about shifting gears as well.
>>>
>>> Taka
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 11:56 PM, erikaddy at yahoo.com 
>>> <mailto:erikaddy at yahoo.com> <erikaddy at yahoo.com 
>>> <mailto:erikaddy at yahoo.com>>wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Don't have this problem (yet), but if my daughter needed a cheep car, I
>>>> would be looking for a naturally aspirated Volvo 850/70 series.
>>>>
>>>> Erik Addy
>>>> Sent from a mobile device.
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>
>
> -Peter Schulz
> Chelmsford Ma, USA
> http://www.naaclub.org/
>
> 1995.5 S6 Avant Emerald/Ecru
> 1995.5 S6 Avant Silver/Platinum
> 1991 90Q 20v Q Red
> 1991 90Q 20v Indigo
> 1991 CQ silver  (eS2 recipient) 
>
>
>