Coupe GT or 4000Q for a teenager?

[William Elliott <William.Elliott@mail.mei.com>]

I have attained the pinnacle of "cool".  According to my 14-yr-old stepson, all 
the teens in our small town have decided my 85 UrQ is the "coolest" thing 
around, far surpassing the cherry GTO Judge and 68 Corvette Roadster which 
previously held the title.  Several times in the last month, I've had teenage 
boys ask if it was a kit car and if the rumors of 500hp were true.  

Anyway, my stepson who had indicated a desire to restore an old 914 or 924 (or 
possibly an MG or Corvair convt) to drive when's he's 16, recently saw a late 
model Coupe GT.  When he asked about the differences between that and my car, 
that naturally brought up the subject of 4000Q's.  Since either car would be in 
the same basic price range as the older sports cars he'd been "considering", he 
thought either car might make a reasonable alternative. (In fact, he saw the 
'84 4KQ go on E-bay for $500 or so and was very disappointed I didn't buy it!) 
After I explained the tradeoffs between the cars, he said he simply didn't 
understand why Audi didn't offer the Coupe GT with Quattro in the US.  (A 
14-yr-old can see the logic, but AoA couldn't..... but his argument that I 
"deserved" a new Boxster and he'd "settle" for my old UrQ didn't fly. )

Anyway, next he asked a question which I found amusing.  Which car would be 
"better" for a first car? Not wanting to start a war between the Coupe and 
4000Q camps, but thinking the question was thought provoking, I pose the it to 
the list.

My thoughts:  while I'm strongly biased against sedans and love the Coupe 
styling, I would prefer a 4000Q for my own use, the quattro system far 
outweighing any other personal preferences.  But then I thought about "learning 
to drive".  

For a new driver "performance" driver, I've been a big believer in simple.  And 
low power.  IMHO, a weak car with a simple suspension allows you to develop 
good driving techniques while lots of power and/or roadholding can mask bad 
habits.  Take somebody who learned to race well in a Datsun B210 and put them 
in a great car... and soon they'll be running rings around the driver who 
started in a great car.  

I'm thinking the same may apply to a new driver.  Since there are less 
"dynamics" in a FWD car over an AWD, I think a new driver might more easily 
learn basic concepts like proper cornering and weight transfer.  (For a great 
lesson in weight transfer, try a Corvair sometime!).  Even as an experienced 
driver, I've had to learn new techniques for the UrQ since the driving dynamics 
are far different than any FWD or RWD car I'd previously driven.  And I 
surmised the lack of AWD might dissuade a new driver from "getting in over his 
head" in dangerous driving situations.  (If you're 16 and stuck in the 
driveway, you really didn't need to be out driving anyway!)

I'm interested to hear opinions or BTDT's from the list.

Bill Elliott
Lake Mills, WI
May soon be in the market for a "restorable" GT or 4KQ...