17 Year Old Taking F430 to Prom?

So here's the challenge. I told my 17 year old son yesterday that I am buying an F430. His 1st question was, can I take it to the prom? As a 16 year old he took my Porsche 911 Twin Turbo to the prom and brought it back in the same condition he took it. The Ferrari is about 3 X's the cost of the Porsche. He's a good kid, good grades, never in trouble, goalie for the H.S. hockey team.
Should I do it???

 

Dad...Put yourself in his shoes...Do it...Sharing with your son is what it is all about.....He will always remember the experience .......

 

As long as the thing is insured there isn't a big deal. Just tell him that pushing the pedal down in a F430 is a different sensation of speed, hence faster, than the 911.

 

Sure, if you trust him to be responsible and resist the temptation to try to access all of the car's capability.

Definitely go out with him the first time he drives it though to make sure he's aware of the dimensions and blind spots for car park manoeuvring, general handling characteristics, etc. I'm 28 and that's what my dad did with me for his Triumph TR3A and Porsche 911 (993). In any case (age aside too), I still think it's helpful to get a little introduction to the car from the owner if you're borrowing something you're completely not accustomed to driving regularly.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Green light here. Going to do the same for my son.

 

I'm 17 and drive my Dad's 997 pretty often. Part of the reason he bought it was to share with me, because we both have a passion for cars. It's really nice to be able to share that passion with my Dad. Sounds like you've raised a great kid. As long as he's been accustomed to the car and it's power/capabilities and you trust him, I'd say go for it.



Only thing I will say is that you know if your son is responsible enough, but how about his friends? Never know what friends will do.

 

Not to be a killjoy towards your son, but...

We were 17 at the time, borrowed a Biturbo Maserati, and rolled it up a mountain side.
It could have been worse, perhaps down the mountain side.

Of course all kids are not created equal, but please remember that showing up in a Ferrari, may become the center of focus for a number of his friends.

So, In my opinion I would have to say NO. I will also, state that I have two sons and two 360's. I would rather take my boys out on a 2 hr trip to wherever, and let them enjoy it, but certainly not alone. Sorry, cost (not the car) benefit analysis says NO.

 

You son being a goalie is a tell. One of my sons was same. It says to me he can go his own way from the crowd and stand alone when he chooses to, and it doesn't bother him. So if you can extrapolate from that he will withstand the peer pressure from someone asking him to floor it, I'd share it.

But only on prom night. Or maybe his birthday.

Mike

 

Personally, I'd say "No Way". Chances of the car getting keyed are enormous. Not your son's fault. Chances that the date would resent sharing attention with the car are also pretty high. Let him drive it sometime if he is truly a responsible kid, but prom night is the wrong time.

 

Mi nephew is taking the 360 to his prom. I took him out in it so he was comfortable .

 

Thinking back to my prom, I would say no, and I think I was pretty responsible at that age. Having a car like that surrounded by a bunch of teenagers, likely drunk, just spells trouble.

You sure about that? When those turbos spool up, that car goes like a bat out of hell.

 

id follow him in it...i wldnt let my 17 yrs sold drive one alone...call me crazy

 

and btw with all due respect driving a 997 is like driving a regular car, atleast where i live. a 430 gets attention no matter where u live...a 17 yr old driving a car that EVERYONE is going to be looking at and trying to get next to isnt a good combination, dont care what anyone says....follow him in another car, make sure he knwos ur there....and hope for the best...

 

Well, I'm going to be the fuddy duddy here. I say no. Rent him a limo. It's probably more impressive, less stress on everyone, and just plain safer.

I could care less what happens to the car. It's the occupants who matter.

He sounds like a good kid. He'll understand.

 

Prom? So he can be seen driving Ferrari? His level of maturity, integrity and character are not in question~

Nope.

 

It's absolutely crazy IMO. Not even the most mature teenager is remotely mature (it's a fact, especially on males), and able to control peer pressure and attention. Honestly, you're not doing the kid any favors; the odds of him doing something stupid with a 500HP car are enormous, and if something happens to him, it'd be ALL YOUR FAULT. If you parents are willing to live with the consequences if a disaster happens (it happens all too often, and the parents probably thought it'd never happen to them either), go right ahead. A 17-yr-old shouldn't be dealing with those decisions; the parents are supposed to be the mature ones. Sorry for the negativity, but I've seen this myself many times. Good day.

 

I would say no--not the right night for it.

 

Big NO. He does not need a Ferrari to make him special or stand out during the prom. He needs to learn to rely on his own ability or personality and let that shine through, and define the man he really is. He does not need to rely on accessories.

 

My High School senior took my CS with his date to his friends house before the prom. I followed with my wife in the Audi S4 Cab and once he arrived and the pictures where done we brought the CS home. It is not that I dont trust my son, it is the other people that could ruin the evening.

 

When I think back to my prom night many years ago--------I am glad my dad did not own a Ferrari. Instead I drove the fleetwood. Lets face it, No matter how responsible a person is there is always that "one time" we screw up, and I would not blame him for it either if it did happen. With that said, the limo is the way to go. It will keep him and his date safe to live another day.

 

Disagreed. People usually like us for superficial reasons at first. It might be our looks, our sense of humor, the fact we're on the right teams or clubs, that we have a military uniform, a pilots license, or that dad let us take a Ferrari out.

I think there's a valuable lesson in learning how to use the appearance of wealth to his advantage while being able to sort the fake people from the ones who legitimately care about him. And high school is as good a time as any since the stakes are so low.

Plus, it would be the coolest experience ever. In 20 years when the 430 is an entry level FCar that memory will still be fresh. Now what you might want to tell him is that here isn't enough room in the car to easily have sex, it's possible I guess, but a Limo or an SUV would be much better (assuming you're not going to let him use the house as well)

 

Best advice from bdelp. LIMO is the way to go. I'm sure he's a great son. He'll have PLENTY of ops to drive your car.

I took my fathers S class to my prom (back in the day) and I was sh!tting bricks hoping nothing happened to it all night. My friends and I didn't drink back in High School so that wasn't the issue. It was the other morons in High School that did stupid ****, that's what I was worried about all night... even at the hotel after the prom (if you know what I mean). LOL!

 

It makes no difference how well behaved or well intentioned the kid is. The frontal lobe of the brain provides impulse control and judgement. This part of the brain isn’t fully developed in ANY 17 year old. You give him the keys, you’re taking a terrible risk with his life and possibly others.

 

+1 First of all, the prom is to have fun with all your friends and would be achieved much better in a limo than by yourself with your date in a 2 seater. Also as others have said your kid can't watch the car all night and it is like a magnet for drunk kids showing off to do something to it. Its not like the prom is a red carpet where everyone sees you drive up and the valet parks you up front. Most of the time it is in some hotel and people arrive at all different times so the "pimp" status of arriving in a ferrari would be minimal. I would let him take her to dinner in it one random night before sending it to the prom but everyone has their own thoughts on it.

 

It's really about trust, responsibility and his life. The car is replaceable - his health, life, future and those of his date cannot.

You know his friends and classmates - we do not. If you don't see any potential issues with those kids (sober or drunk), then it might be okay.

Any risk of him running into trouble where you live with the locals? Young kid in a tux with a prom date is bound to get some attention and potentially attract some trouble.

That said, given the fact that you're even considering it, I would present these options:

"If you take the 430, you can pick her up, go to dinner, go to the prom, go straight back to her house and come home - or you can take a limo and stay out until her curfew."

You don't have the car yet, so who knows? Maybe he thinks the answer is "no" and he was just asking you to see what you would say. And if you say no, I'm sure he'll understand, as others have already stated. If not, then you raised a spoiled brat! LOL

I know what my answer would be, "Hell no!"