I'm one of these young stang owners, at 17. Before I had this car I was allowed to drive my Dad's G35 sedan. I pretty much learned my limits on his car, but when I got my car I tried some of the same maneuvers I could get away with in my Dad's car. Let's just say I was lucky no one was on the street and I flew into across three lanes(including the emergencey lane) and I learned my limits real quick. When I first got the car I'll admit I was more reckless, but over time I guess you could say I matured and don't do as much as I used to. My driving suits my surroundings, I definetly don't do stupid crap in parking lots to show off.

 

Interesting thread.. ALot of people ask this on car forums

Back when I was a teenager my father let me drive his cars all the time. He would always let me drive the newer cars, with modern airbags and brakes. But it was always special when he let me take out whatever classic cars he currently had. I'm in college now, and I currently am only allowed to drive the 64 Vette and 56 Tbird during the day, and these cars are far from being completely restored. But if it wasnt for him and his friends letting me drive their cars I dont think I would ever have gotten so heavily into automobiles.

If it wasnt for my uncle letting me drive his 05 Saleen, I would never have decided on a new mustang.

Basically, I look at it like this, the new mustang is a pretty safe car, and I would let them drive it. Any car can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and if your kid is responsible he will be able to handle the new mustang or brand new m5.

 

I let my 15 year old daughter drive (with me). she has her learners permit. She did pretty good. But I wont let her drive it alone (at 16), no side airbags. I think her jetta is safer for her, it has side airbags.

 

My dad has let my drive his trucks since I was probally ten. It has always been in safe conditions (cottage road) but this year he let me drive it on a deserted highway for a bit. His current vehicle is a 6.0L 325HP beast, and I am gratefulk he has let my drive his cars, becuase it has given me the experience I need for the future when I own (hopefully) a Mustang or any other performance car. HE has let me drive trailers as well, and the time behind the wheel he has given me will help me for the rest of my life.

 

So Sleeper - Are you implying that the Stang could not pull the same moves
as the G35 sedan? In what conditions/stunts is one car better than the other?

 

I catch a lot of crap for being 17 and having a mustang, people think i can't handle it, but I love to drive, i don't want to do anything that would stop me from driving so i am extra careful and alert. as soon as i got my permit i drove my dad everywhere, whenever we both went somewhere i was driving and when i got my license i drove around an old volvo beater and then his '73 and he thougt i was responsible enough for an 06 (which i help pay for)

 

I'm 18 and I've got a Saleen....learned how to drive a stick in it.

 

double post...just ignore

 

I don't let my dad drive my 'stang

 

i let a teenager drive mine....me, im 18 and before u ask no my parents didnt buy it i bought it myself

 

I let my 18 year old take my Mustang to his prom when it was brand new (also gave him a $100.00 bill), he is very responsible. My 15 year old is learning to drive and he has driven my Mustang (with me in the passenger seat) and he knows if he makes good grades and proves he is a responsible driver he will get the 2002 SVT Focus sitting in the drive!

 

I took my 19 year old son out in my torch red 05, around our house, to teach him how to drive stick. He was getting the hang of it with me nxt to him. He wanted to see if he wanted to drive a stick, but I dont think he liked it much.
I will only let my wife drive mine with me next to her. This is my first new car, and only really cool car, and Im 50 so, yeah Im like overly protective. I park way out in parking lots away from anyone cause I dont mind walking and dont want any Bozo's opening thier doors on my car.

I was at a store sitting in my car, I had parked away from everyone, but of course a Bozo in his BMW parked on my right. So I'm sitting in my car and feel a bang on my passenger door, look over and see Mr Bozo in his BMW, he's looking at me with a dumb expression saying sorry, as he slams his door in a hurry to leave. Never fails when you get an idiot in a hurry parked next to you, they are going to bang your car, BMW or not. So I park way out now , which is why my wife dosnt like to go with me , she of course likes to park as close as possible like all women do.

 

Depends,

Some 17 year olds are more responsible that some 40+ year olds...

I would not let anyone ( regardless of age ) drive the car if I thought they were not responsible enough or physically able to hand the car. I really do not see what age has to do with it...

My wWife drive it all of the time, and I would not have it any other way. I have let most of my friends and family drive the car because they mean more to me that any car could....

 

Well I'm 16 and own an 05 gt. I have to say I would not trust any of my friends with my car but I do very well with it. My dad put a lot out there trusting me with this car but I don't plan on letting him down. Also, some of you might not have kids now, but when your priorities will change and you'll find your car not quite as importang as it once was. I love my car but care about the people in it more.....but let's not lie, I love my car.

 

I'm 18 right now and bought a 05 (Auto V6) back in April when at that time, I was 17. I'm paying everything on it such as the actual car payment, gas, insurance **gulp**, and property taxes. I'm living proof that there are some "good" teenagers out there.

 

lol same here jay.....there really are some responsible teenagers out there....im paying EVERYTHING!! only thing my parents helped me with was getting the loan...everything else is all me. props to u bro

 

i let my girlfriend drive mine...

 

My 15 yr old nephew asks me to drive mine every time I see him...I just have to laugh.

 

I am 19, and the Mustang is my college car. I have never gotten a ticket or been in a wreck. The only reason I was given the car is because I am a very careful driver, and I got a scholarship to college (so part of what was going to be my college money went into the car).

That said, I would expect that if any of my friends had this car, it would be totalled within a week. You really have to go on a case-by-case basis with this. Lack of experience has something to do with it, but I really think its the lack of maturity in some teenagers that earns the rest of us a bad reputation. There are many teenagers who are incredibly dangerous drivers, but there are also many who are very good drivers. Everyone matures at a different rate.

 

I have 18 year old twins, a boy and a girl, and if it were up to me, I would let them drive the Mustang (on occasion). However, my wife thinks differently, and will not let them drive it at all. Selfishly, I'm glad that she has laid down this rule, since it keeps the mileage down on the Mustang, and more importantly, there's no chance that they'll get it into an accident. (Also, it doesn't have a single nick or ding on it yet, and I am super-**** about keeping it that way as long as possible. I know for sure that neither twin would be as careful as I am about parking, brushing against the car, etc.)

Neither twin knows how to drive a manual yet, so I would like to teach them, but I'm not really crazy about them learning with my clutch. I did take my son out once about a year ago in my previous car, a 5-speed '95 GT, teaching him to drive a stick in a parking lot, and it was a bumpy experience. I could smell burnt clutch at one point... Lots of jerking, bucking, stalling, etc., but after 10 minutes or so, he was able to get the car moving fairly consistently.

So, at some point, I will probably teach them both to drive the manual using the Stang, but I will have to be in the car with them whenever they're driving it, according to the house rules.

As far as others in this thread saying that 16-17 year olds can be responsible with a Mustang GT, I'm sure that may be true in many cases. I can't imagine what the insurance premium would be for a new driver with a Mustang GT, but no doubt it's astronomical - and for good reason - the statistics show that drivers under 20 years, especially boys, are much more likely to get in an accident than experienced drivers. That doesn't mean that all teen drivers are immature or irresponsible - but even the most responsible teen driver does not have the experience of an older driver who's been on the road for years. Experience counts for a lot.