I was just wondering, is the XLr a good teenager's car? My friend was just wondering for her son? Should she buy it or not? Thanks! :jester

Depends on the age and level of maturity of said teen - some are ready and some are not - if its a teen's first car perhaps something less expensive and less distracting makes sense. I also like something with some metal around it for a new driver like a larger SUV - just for added protection. My 2 cents.

This is a JOKE right!!!!!! You are going to give a kid one of these as his first car???? :nono
If you do please send me his full name I am going to take out a LIFE insurance policy on him. I will have a better chance with it that then playing the lotto.

Blaise

Why shouldn't you? I have a friend who gave her son a SL500! What's wrong with luxury cars for frist cars?

Not that kids will not be killed in slower cars but to give them one that will do 155 mph is just asking for trouble. I am sure there are a few that will obey the speed laws " not that I go 55 MPH all the time" but 16 year old kids will be kids. For a kid it's not to much fun going very fast if you don't have someone to watch you. So they don't go fast when they are on a long straight road with NO one else in sight or that could be hurt or killed. No it's - lets go down town. There is too much street racing now. There were two killed last night in Houston. When they get a little older say 20 I think it might work.
The really bad thing will be that if the kid is killed the parents will be the first to sue the city, state, & GM because it MUST be there fault there kid was killed doing over a 100 mph on a city street and THEY should have done something to stop it.
Then we ALL pay for it.

Why don't we turn this question around a bit...

Of the present owners/drivers, who would have been mature enough to drive the XLR when they were 17?

My own answer is that I may have been mature enough but certainly not experienced enough in driving skills. I really think you need to learn some about driving first. Besides my friends would have been all over the XLR. My Ford Escort was probably the right level at that time :)

Andy

Jeeeez.. Somebody's gonna be lucky... Personally, I think a teenager, unless he/she is REALLY mature for their age, should get used to driving something a little more "practical" at first. Let them get some of the 'kicks' out of driving beforehand. Maybe a ding or scratch here and there...

Maybe...Ill tell her. She's a millonaire. Her dauget,16, just got a SC430 for her birthday. Kids eith expensive cars probaly wont be going fast, enway.

Hi XLR Roadster,

With all that has been said it just seems to me that any house hold that has sufficient funds to purchase and XLR for an offspring's first car needs to take into consideration the following:

1) How can I help my child become fully functional adult?
2) Learn the value of a Dollar and the related costs of living on this planet
3) Avoid sticking a silver spoon in the child's mouth because you may find that later you will be asking yourself why doesn't this person have any perspective of what things cost etc.
4) There has never been a case where someone has been given the opportunity to earn there why, rather then it given to them, doesn't turn out to be a much better person, in all perspectives.
5) I fell sorry for the child that is given a new car for a first car. Especially if it is a highend luxury car because what is life all about if you hand our the golden ring at the start of the trip down life's highway. And, are the parents expecting to be there for the child from craddle to grave?

6) A first car can provide a boat load of maturing real world experience and without a lot of it being seen as a character builder and a text book lession. This is if you want your child to become a confident, independent individual, who will learn the cost of ownership, taking care of something, insurance, responsibility and when the child is standing amoung the others that got their cars for free, your's will be able to say I got here on my own.

Money can buy a lot of things but it can not buy pride, experience or maturity.

I would say no to an XLR but I would say lets go find something better suited for a first ca (used and basic) and talk about what the scope of responsibility the child will have to be holding to with even a bare bones kind of a car.

If you run your own household you it will not matter if a child's friend is report to having received a brand new fancy car and that is why you are now considering an XLR for your youngter.

Just remember, this is not the time to be concerned with keeping up with the Jones'es. It's time to give your young adult to the tools and opportunities to grow into adulthood to survive on their own, not on the money you have.

Sorry for the long winded message.

Good Luck,


DFXLR

Great message! Ok, I will tell her..... But what is the child has earned there money and wwants to buy a luxury car? What if the child get's 100,000 dollor paychecks in the mail?

Is that child available for adoption?

What do mean?

I think money was on most of our minds..I think the question was, " Is the XLR a safe car?" To that I say yes... I bought my son a 1994 Trans Am when he was 16. Speed was a factor in my decision but you have to look at each situation differently. In my case I made the right decision.

Does anyone think a learjet is a good first jet for my toddler also?

Does anyone think a learjet is a good first jet for my toddler also?


hehehe....... :glol

My son's first car was a 5 year old Escort - standard transmission. My daughter's first car was a yellow Geo Metro affectionately named "Chiquita." (also a standard.) Local transit only, no freeway driving permitted.

The "primary mission" of a first car is to teach the lad or lass to drive in relative safety, to teach them how to exercise good judgement behind the wheel.

What should not be considered:

1) Cars that establish parents of said child as "cool parents" at the expense of "primary mission".
2) Cars that are a status symbol at the expense of "primary mission".
3) Cars through which parents can live vicariously through their children at the expense of "primary mission".

We all want to do what is best for our children, but giving them their every desire does them no service. Being a millionaire is no excuse for bad judgement.

More Texas wisdom: The value of something is directly porportional to the sacrifice required to attain it. "Giving" a child an XLR (and 16 is still a child) is a recipe for disaster.

Or maybe I'm just mean....

Right on, the truth man has spoken.

XLR Roadster,

If the Child has earned the money I am impressed, however, you need to, at this early age, teach the child the difference been "need" and "want". Currently there is a significant percenate of our American Citizens spend nearly 20% in excess of their take home pay, which is mostly due to not being able to make the distiction between "need" and "want". In the case of a child that is fortunate enough to be making big money does indicate that some maturity in present but at the age of 16 I have to assume that there is additional maturity to be aquired and some significant lessons to be learned. And all of the above is even in light of the Child getting $100,000 paycheck in the mail, especially the case if they are coming from a trust fund in which case they are not paychecks.

I guess what I am attempting to say very much along the line of what AVIATOR stated in his message.

Best of Luck,


DFXLR

You'd have to be nuts for all the obvious reasons. Beyond those, how about teaching a kid the value of money. A person should get a car like an XLR when he or she earns it. It shouldn't be a sweet 16 present from daddy.

Maybe...Ill tell her. She's a millonaire. Her dauget,16, just got a SC430 for her birthday. Kids with expensive cars probably wont be going fast, enway.


Hello? Did you just say kids with expensive cars won't go fast anyway? Okay. Sure. Let's just pretend every teenager doesn't get the urge to test the limits. I know I did and my first car what a who do! Sorry, I just think any kid, rich or poor, need to learn some responsible driving before we go handing them $77, 000 cars. Maybe I was raised different.

Wonder what color he/she would choose (grin) - XM or no XM<smirk>

I got my first corvette 2 years ago and just got a XLR for my Bday. The vette is a awesome highschool car since you only have one other seat you dont have to worry about people asking for rides. Not to mention, you never take your car out at night because no party room therefore no need to worry about drinking and driving. I love both of my cars and I didnt work for them. I rarely abuse them and when I do so what because I know you do to! haha either way I think she should get the car for her son cause if it does anything it will get him a girl. oh yea definately go to zippos and get a radar detector installed cause they pay your speeding tickets. :nopity

I got my first corvette 2 years ago and just got a XLR for my Bday. The vette is a awesome highschool car since you only have one other seat you dont have to worry about people asking for rides. Not to mention, you never take your car out at night because no party room therefore no need to worry about drinking and driving. I love both of my cars and I didnt work for them. I rarely abuse them and when I do so what because I know you do to! haha either way I think she should get the car for her son cause if it does anything it will get him a girl. oh yea definately go to zippos and get a radar detector installed cause they pay your speeding tickets. :nopity


How about posting some pictures of your XLR. What color did you choose?

I got my first corvette 2 years ago and just got a XLR for my Bday. The vette is a awesome highschool car since you only have one other seat you dont have to worry about people asking for rides. Not to mention, you never take your car out at night because no party room therefore no need to worry about drinking and driving. I love both of my cars and I didnt work for them. I rarely abuse them and when I do so what because I know you do to! haha either way I think she should get the car for her son cause if it does anything it will get him a girl. oh yea definately go to zippos and get a radar detector installed cause they pay your speeding tickets. :nopity

Aviator's highly personal Fall 2004 To Do list:

1) Introspective: Learn to be more accepting of foreign cultures.

2) Exculpatory: Compose mea culpa to grown children for the automotive deprivation they endured during high school and college.

3) Health & Well Being: Discuss need to be more "progressive" with analyst.

4) Practical: Stay off the roads on Friday and Saturday nights, and out of controversial forum discussions.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++

So-o-o 19wnewvette-
How 'bout that new XLR? How did your friends react when you got such a fabulous car? And I'm a little just curious, where in the country do you live?

I am willing to bet a large sum of money that this Kid is just stirring the pot and a lot of wishful thinking.

First, of all dont hate me because I have the same car at 19 that most of you people had to work your whole life to get. Second, my XLR is the crimson red color and I am from North New Jersey. Third, I can post wherever I feel because I am just sticking up for the as you would prob say "young wippersnappers generation" when it is needed. Lastly, my friends or I are really taken back with the caddy yes its a nice car but come on there is still alot nicer. Nevertheless, I started high on the ladder and I can only expect better now. :cuss

First, of all dont hate me because I have the same car at 19 that most of you people had to work your whole life to get. Second, my XLR is the crimson red color and I am from North New Jersey. Third, I can post wherever I feel because I am just sticking up for the as you would prob say "young wippersnappers generation" when it is needed. Lastly, my friends or I are really taken back with the caddy yes its a nice car but come on there is still alot nicer. Nevertheless, I started high on the ladder and I can only expect better now. :cuss


It's known as crimson pearl, something an owner should know. And I woud not make the assumption that we had to work our whole lives to own these cars. Making such an ignorant assumption at your early age only proves our suspicions about you and your true motives.

At this point a picture of you and your two vehicles would be the only way I'd take you seriously.

At any rate good luck with your stable of vehicles. :thumbs

Originally Posted by mswaim
At this point a picture of you and your two vehicles would be the only way I'd take you seriously.

Agreed :yesnod

Now THAT's a little exreme, donchathink, Jersey? Methinks you are projecting something on us that you may have heard somewhere else? Or maybe you are trying to make up for something? ??

Why on earth would you think someone here hates you? :confused

My first car was beat up '56 Chevy that was stolen the first day of my Junior year in High School. My second car was a '63 T-Bird, (390 cid) that was easily one of the top 3 coolest cars on campus. It was 1968. Cost $1200, a tidy sum in those days. And I bought it myself.

Later, my brother had a 1971 Shelby GT 500, (450hp) which he also bought himself . He totaled it after running into someone's house. :nono :smash :smash

I've probably had more cool cars than you are years old, Junior. And that doesn't even include my cool airplanes. And yes, I've had to work for every single one of them.

19wnewvette,

By now you may have wished you hadn't jump into this issue. Sorry to say by all normal standards of coming up through the ranks of life you will never come out ahead. To start with you turn 20 on the 24th of Sept., just 4 days away. At this young age I hope that you are paying as much attention to preparing youself for the next 60 to 80 years you have left to on Earth. I say this in that we, humans of all type and kinds, only learn our lessons of life from adversity not from prosparity.

If we are exposed to some if not more of these "Lesson Learning Periods", at an early age, its a fact that we have less need for them later in life. i.e., the silver spoon more than likely will make a lesser than desireable adult or at least one that needs to go through a few more corrections that are tougher later than sooner.

And, since your were given your currently fleet of cars you have no ideal of the value of a dollars bill and, since you suggested that a boy should be given one to get a girl tells me that there is a values standard problem that needs to be visited. True and meaningful relationships can not be purchased, they can only be earned.

Bottom line, life is not about money, it is what you can bring to the parade of life making this place, Planet Earth, better for all and helping others to become an asset to our society.

Best Wishes to you in Finding Something Meaningful in Life,


DFXLR

19wnewvette,

PS - I'm very sorry for overlooking;

My Very Best Wishes to You For A Very Happy Birthday on September 24 and a Great Big Welcome to the Adult World!!!!!

DFLR

If any of this insanity is true, it looks pretty bad for the empire--I think we are starting to rot.

Amen to all of the sermons above--I chose not to live in Scarsdale, NY, after the RE broker joked: "Don't even think of sending your kid to high school without a cell phone and a BMW."

Cruising past the high school parking lot, I saw that she wasn't joking.

Irvington, NY, 2 towns over seems a bit more "sane". Kids don't even get to park at the high school (small lot).

Only time will tell. Mine are 11, 4.5 & 3, and they'll be driving slow, used tanks, just like I did.

Maybe when they try to see if they can "pin the needle" ahem, like Dad did at 17 in a 1976 Chrysler Newport w/400 cubic inch 4 barel V8, they'll survive too!

I can't figure out if I should tell them my exploits, to point out how stupid they were, or if it will encourage "just like Dad" behavior.

--Dadonator

Actually, the studies show that telling them what you did, that it was bad and why, and giving examples actually works.

Hence the current anti-drug campaign that advocates telling them no, even though you tried it.

Just don't make a funny story about it, or hear them telling (boasting) to your friends.

By the way, my 1963, hand me down, 8 year old Chevy Bel Air was one of the few cars in the "student" parking lot at my high school. I only hit 115 with it - but it was stupid. The only hot car was a Corvette that our Dentist bought his son for winning his event in the state swim championships (Dad had his own plane and flipped it over once - what do the say about doctors and Beech Bonanzas?)

Sounds like reasonable advice.

Back in 1958 My Dad bought a Chevy 348 Convert. Shortly there after My dad let me take the car to the dealer for and oil change. With the instructions to and from the dealer only. However I took a detour to a small part of the 101 Freeway that had been completed in Woodland Hill. Put the pedal to the metal and a pair of red lights were in the mirror a short time later. Turn out the LAPD cop that pull me over lived accross the Street. He didn't give me a ticket. He waited until my dad and I were working on my 49 chevy. He then (the cop) came accross the street and ask me if I had told my dad what I had be doing with his NEW CAR. Need I say more.

For whatever it is worth, I started with a 1983 Ford Escort in college. Graduated to a 1987 Cadillac Cimarron (gasp!), then a 1989 Olds Trofeo (with touchscreen), 1997 Olds Aurora, 2002 Infiniti Q45 and then the XLR. The toys keep getting more expensive :-)

Andy

I started at 16 with an 1981 Mustang hatchback. It was actually bought new in 1982 as it was a hold over. 6K was the sticker but I think my Dad paid 5K. Interest back then was like 18%.

I had to share it with my sister until she went off to college (which worked out because she was 19 and had lots of hot friends that needed rides). I thought I was cool. It had absoluetly nothing on it. No air, manual steeting, no radio, 4 cylinder engine, although it did have wire wheels. Got caught drag racing the first night against my buddy in a 1977 camaro. The cop actually laughted that I would race a car with that small engine. The car would not go 90 down hill in a hurricane. But it was new, looked cool and being a hatchback, it doubled as a camper with the rear seat folded down which came in very handy.

Forgot to mention that my dad had a Saab 900 turbo. When he was out of town me a buddy (who owned a very cheap radar detector) took it out and got it up to 130. Then the cheap detector signaled radar (which was false) and I slammed on the brakes which sent the car in to a sideways drift. I was very luck to recover as we were on a large 4 lane (mostly deserted) highway. After that we cleaned out our pants and drove home at 55mph.

I have had my XLR up to 137 in a straight deserted section of highway were I live. The new 19" wheel and tire combo makes drive at this speed very easy and comfortable. You really don't feel like you are going that fast.

I upgraded to an XLR from my 1994 Mazda MX-6 which I still own, but for sale!....any takers out there!!
migsgig :D

I upgraded to my 2005 XLR (Raven Black) from a 2002 Vette (Millenium Yellow convertible). As much as I love the ride in the XLR I miss getting pushed back in my seat when I hit the Vette's accelerator.
Maybe one day I'll have both Bowling Green products in my garage.
Rick

OK, OK... I have to chime in. I'll pass over the hand-me-downs and not worth mentioning cars and only discuss my roadsters.

At about 19 in college, I got a Fiat 850 Spyder. I think it was a 73. No guts but such a nice looking car. So much fun to drive. Actually got it up to 105 once... downhill. Many (oh so many) years later I resurrected my youth with a 1997 Z3. Loved that car, hated the service people. Sold it and got a 1999 SL500. When the Neiman Marcus catalog came out with the XLR, we got lucky and got one. Never thought we'd keep it, but after driving it, sold the SL and the rest is XLRating!

I usually don't let the dealers put their names on my cars. However, bought a 1 year old (1991) Corvette in OKC some time back. The exotic used car dealer's name was

Toys for Big Boys

Needless to say, I let them put their decal on the bumper.

Expensive, toys, boys, where does it start and end?

At least you can drive a car - what do you do with jewlery?

I guess that's the best thing about this forum: the extemporaneous bunny trails we seem to go down when the topic dries up.

19wnewvette seems to be long gone - pouting, no doubt over the lack of respect he received from our crusty, hardscrabble forum crew. We do seem to relish our "humble" beginnings, eh?

I will freely admit, however, that first '63 T-bird opened my eyes to the benefits of having a cool ride. In the fall of 1969, after having just moved into Houston's notorious East End from the innocence of bible belt West Texas, I went from the anynomous new kid, to instant high school campus celebrity status: babes, criusing, etc. I really think that changed my perspective.

From that day onward, I HAD to have at least one cool car in my stable. Later rides: a 1968 T-bird, a '65 Chevy Malibu (350hp 327),some really tricked out VWs, a 1958 MGA, a TR-6, a TR-7, a Z-28 Camaro, a Miata (too small), two 5 series BMWs, two 3 Series BMW cabrios, a Deville, an Allante, an STS, the Mercedes ML-500, the XLR and now the '05 Escalade. That's just what I can easily remember. In retrospect, I guess my beginnings were not that humble.

And maybe there's something Freudian about the "cool car syndrome" to which we all seem to be so willingly "infected". Said infection drives us to excel in other areas of our lives so as to maintain the habit.



At least you can drive a car - what do you do with jewlery?

What is it Tom T. Hall sang back in the mid seventies C&W hit, "The Cowboy and the Poet"?

"Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money..." and the motivations to obtain them?

Eyedoc - regarding your query, jewelry is needed to obtain that other all important thing that no man has...." ;)