I'll be honest with you... if I were the Dad of his date, I would say "Hell no!".
It is just a car and it is insured. Memories. I am sure you read my post about my son taking the R 8 last week. Funny, my son plays hockey also. Will be in Hartford next week for the USAH Tier I Mid Minor National Championship but he is a forward.
I am curious what you decide! I was 30 when I got my first F car and it only lasted 3 weeks before I totaled it. I don't think I was mature enough at the time. The cost of the car is not the question. It's only money. The fact to take in consideration is what the car is capable of. If you fully trust your son then let him take. However, like someone else stated if anything does happen its going to be 100% your fault! As for the person that posted that there is a good chance it get keyed? I have had other nice cars in my life but I have not met one bitter person about the Ferrari. I think the chances of one being randomly keyed are next to nothing. Anyhow I am definitely curious in what you decide!
Ditto. To give him one of the fastest cars in the world, at his age, without proper training and/or experience, and expect him not to press the right foot down, is like tossing a lighted match into a room of gas fumes and expecting nothing to happen. Heck how many experienced drivers have we seen twist up a car? You are able to take the risk for your car, maybe for your son, but not for the date. Limo - sure - 200 mph car with a date? Not a chance. I've seen way too many crosses where I off-road for that to happen. My $.02 Edit: Worst thing I know of: One parent let his responsible 16 yo take an off road vehicle out with two family friends (one 15 yo, one 8 yo) they stopped at a RR crossing while the train passed. The train passed and they did not wait for the arms to go up, they just went around them. The reason for the arms not going up was the train coming the other way. Three crosses still stand there. I can't imagine how any of the parents felt, or feel to this day.
I'd say no. I asked to take my brothers modified 3000GT VR4 to prom and he said no. He wasn't necessarily concerned about my ability to drive it as I had driven it many other times, he was concerned with everyone else that was there and all the other drunk kids. What was the first thing my date and MANY others did the moment we arrived to prom? Started drinking.
My father always let me drive his cool cars.. where ever, when ever.. Now that he is dead, I think about him all the time. I always think about how great that was that he shared these super special cars with me and the trust and stress that it took to do so. I will always remember my father for this single repetitive gift. It is this that kept me away from trying hard drugs, and disappointing him. I would think of all the great times i had driving his exotics to school and to proms. When cocaine would come up with friends. I thought how much that would hurt and disappoint him, and what he has done for me. thats when i would leave and silently make him proud without him knowing about it. you bet you should let him drive it. Even if he ****s it up or gets it keyed. You will give him something that will last forever, and maybe like me always want to make you proud even when youll never find out.
20 years ago I told the kid next door, if he helped me clean out my garage and clean my 328, I'd let him take it to the Prom. I watched him grow up and he was a great kid. He'd always come over and really enjoyed my cars. I owned several Porsche Turbo's. I took him to several track day events with me to help out. I always paid him. When he got drivers license, I paid for him to drive a few events. He did a great job cleaning my car. As the big day approached, he came over and said his Dad wouldn't let him take it. I worked a deal out with him, and met him at the mall and gave him the car. He had a great time and i met him the next day and got my car back. 10 years later, we had moved. We were invited to his wedding in Dallas. Nothing had ever been said about this. At the bachelor party, his Dad was there, the stories started to come out. Then the pictures. I had never seen any of these before. The excitement on his face was as fresh as the night I gave him the car. He was still a star in the eyes of his of his buddies. They talked about this for 20 minutes. Later that night back at the hotel bar, his dad came over and bought me a drink. He looked me in the eye's and thanked me for disobeying his orders. The life long memories will last forever. I know one day, Joe will be in the same kind of situation and fulfill a dream for someone else. This is what life is truly about....
I have two exotic cars on Prom Night/Home Coming stories. For my senior prom I rented a red Lamborghini Countach, all the other kids rented Limos, it was so unbelievably cool!!! Totally pissed off my girlfriend because all my friends were bugging me about the car. Yes I drank and yes I drove the car... fast. I was a bit reckless as a kid. Story 2, Back in High School a kid I knew dad let him take the Ferrari 308 to Home Coming, he wrapped it around a pole. He was ok, so was his date, he tried taking a turn too fast. No insurance on the car either. So I would say no... I was renting the Lambo and was super worried about it the whole night, I was also driving fast and showing off, the rental was for 24 hours so I really got my money's worth! Sidenote* my mother used her credit card and insurance to rent the car, I paid her back.
I had much more fun in the huge backseat of my '72 Impala after the dance at my prom than I could have had in the front bucket seats of a sports car.
Well I wish some of you guys were my dad, even though prom was still pretty awesome in my POS civic. Actually it's probably for the best as I would of stared at the car all night and my date would of hated me for it. I'd be worried for the most about him drinking and driving if I was in your shoes, but if you trust him then why not? Honestly haha as an 18 year old my first thought was: "but you can't have sex in a ferrari."
The last thing on my and my friend's minds on Prom night was "responsibility". My opinion is that this just isn't the right setting for this car to be in. I have a lot of great memories about Prom that will stay with me my entire life, what we were driving isn't even on the list. The most important value to teach here is the correct use of resources. Renting a Rolls Royce seems more appropriate, equally as effective and much safer to me. In regards to the Porsche Turbo vs. F430...it's much easier to keep the AWD Porsche Turbo planted safely on the road than the F430. It's not as sure footed and take a lot less effort to get into trouble and a ditch.
I allowed my son to take my 348 to his girlfirends home for pictures - and then return the car back home. Many of the other kids showed up to taker thier prom pictures in front of the Ferrari. I trusted my son but was afraid that someone may damage the car if left parked somewhere for the evening.
Going to agree with the "limo" side of this. Prom is a great night, and the limo is part of that experience. It's safe and it provides an extra pair of eyes just in case (the driver) I agree that prom is just not the right night for it.
My own step daughter is out tonight in a limo (stretch escalade) with 8 friends for her 16th birthday.... that makes me nervous enough. Just my 2 cents.... Jedi
I think some things are simply reserved for "later". Taking a Ferrari anywhere at 17 just doesn't seem like good judgement. I was once a responsible 17 year old. Being responsible and making mature decisions are two different things.
All I can say after reading your question is.. Perhaps your ego is a little out of control . Any father that would let a 17 year old drive a 430 to a Prom is a clown , Yes, I know he's a great kid, great student and loves small animals . HOWEVER , Prom night is over saturated with Testosterone and young macho men . Not to mention Alcohol. It will surely piss off many of the less then young males and who needs that ..I have to ask is this any relation to you ? This father lent his daughter his VETTE thinking he was being a buddy DAD End of story. By the way I used to keep my 360 directly in front of where this crash happened at Van Nuys airport.... Be curious if an Insurance company would even pay for an accident with a 17 year old driving a 430.... Your child Your call Enjoy http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/05/08/driver-identified-fatal-van-nuys-crash-killed-4/
IMO, showing off in high school is risky; he'll be a hero for a night but it will only breed jealousy and contempt from fellow classmates which is never a good idea. My das droopped me off in his Rolls once and I never heard the end of it. Let him take his girlfriend out to dinner in the F-car one night and avoid the circus.
Rent a limo as suggested for prom - he, his date, and the car will have a safer night. Then give him the keys on another day and have him take his date out. Sounds like you have a great son. I can't wait to share the Fcar with my son one day. I just hope he ends up as good as your son.
Has he tracked the car? has he tracked any car? I know I could not handle the responsibility of a 500 hp exotic when I was 17. My father used to say that nobody could be considered a good driver until s/he had 100,000 miles under the belt. He would also say: what does the kid have to look forward to? Just too much responsibility for any 17 year old IMVHO.
Thank you all for your responses. I pretty much knew my answer before I posed the question but wasn't totally decided. As I respect so many of you on FCHAT I wanted to hear what your thoughts would be. I have 4 children. Each one is special in their own way. My older son took the Lotus Elise to prom 2 years in a row. It was a special treat for him and thank God everything was fine. Big difference between 190 HP in the Lotus and nearly 500 HP in the 430. My 1st concern without question is his and his dates safety. A 17 year old with a 430 is just asking for trouble. I could not live with the consequences if something went terribly wrong. A limo IS the way to for prom night. Plenty of other opportunities for him to drive the 430, like with his dad in the passenger seat. He may be disappointed when I tell him but deep down I think he will be relieved. Way too much pressure for a 17 year old. Again, thank you all for your comments. I truly appreciate it........
From an 18 year old's standpoint- maturity and trust aren't the values that are in question- just every other idiot on the road. Exactly how my old man put it "Treat everyone like idiots and you'll do fine" Just don't use it as insult LOL
Is the Prom in Montpelier? Yes, show him the love. The Biturbo was a horrid car, short wheel base, high boost on torque making it difficult if not uncontrollable with its manual steering. This wart of a car nearly killed Maserati who have heritage far longer than Ferrari by 20+ years. Ever wonder why 99% of them ended up in the heap and why their depreciated costs today are at $1500?
