Re: 4KQ for a teen, yes

[Brett Dikeman <brett@pdikeman.ne.mediaone.net>]

>Why not get a 4kq for your teen?  What kind of other car would you
>consider getting them?  Please dont say a hyundai or a neon.  4kq's stop
>fast, are all wheel drive, they arent that fast, and are very
>forgiving/predictable.  Why not get them one.  Its a safe car compared
>to most.  The best idea is having a good handling car so you can try to
>avoid getin' in an accident.

In my opinion, an AWD car would be a semi-mistake.  Why?

#1:If the weather is bad enough for AWD/FWD to make a difference, your butt
probably doesn't belong out there.  Adults can't handle AWD/4WD vehicles in
a mature manner(many of the accidents out on really bad snowdays around
here are SUV's, subarus, etc.)  What I'm referring to is the "oh, my car
can handle that snow" decisions.
#2:(related to #1):in snow/etc, unless you train your son/daughter in how
to drive an AWD car, it will be MORE difficult for them to handle in a
panic slide than a FWD car(I am repeating what I have heard from the list.)

Having recently(3 years ago) been through the whole learning-to-drive
routine, I would seriously recommend _against_ giving a Quattro car to a
new driver.  Further, start the person on an _automatic_.  Why?  It's much,
much more difficult to learn to drive and learn to operate the car at the
same time.  Starting on an automatic made things much easier for me; I
could focus on cars around me, navigating, etc. and less about how to
shift, do the clutch, etc..._then_, I started driving the stick after I had
been driving for several months on the automatic.

I do strongly agree with keeping the car in the best possible shape,
brake-wise and suspension/handling-wise.

Speaking of teenagers+driving, some 16-yr-old jackass took a bunch of
friends for a spin in a new hyundai sedan; they were pulled over.  Cop
asked for a license, driver gunned it(because he didn't have one), sped
off; before the officer managed to follow, they hit a brick wall and then a
telephone pole; estimated speed was 62mph.  Rear driver's side passenger
was killed instantly; last I heard, another passenger was in intensive care
and not expected to make it(ie, a vegitable.)  Both doors on the driver's
side were completely and cleanly snapped off.

Anyways, I digess...that's my advice, having just been through the whole
driving thing 3 years ago.  I'd also say that, having watched younger
friends, having several friends in the car can be _very_ distracting and
should be avoided until they've been driving for at least a few months with
their license.

Brett

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Brett Dikeman
brett@pdikeman.ne.mediaone.net
~)-|
Hostes alienigeni me abduxerunt.  Qui annus est?
Te audire non possum.  Musa sapientum fixa est in aure.
Ita, scio hunc 'sig file' veterem fieri.
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