geez, i don't check the boards for a day or two and everybody goes nuts...where's all the drama when i am here to check it?!

anyways, i couldn't agree more with the above statement. i have to admit, the person who posted this was really just asking for all the older drivers on these boards to come at you. being criticized for driving an expensive sports car when you're that young is going to happen, no matter who you are. it doesn't matter if you got it deservingly from your parents for getting good SAT grades (although the two of you on here, congrats on the great scores) or if you bought it yourself through your hard work like i did. i'm 24 and i still get smack from alot of people...ignore them if you feel like you deserve your car

for all of you who didn't do a damned thing to get your car and your parents gave it to you because you are a spoiled boy or girl (and you know who you are)...go get a job and at least pay for your insurance. and noone can thank your parents enough for putting yet another inexperienced driver with a high speed sports car on the road...again. and for the love of pam anderson's *****, if you say something stupid or profane and come across as an immature moron, then shutup already and do us all a favor by NOT posting on the boards...kcobean is given a "pass"

 

Damn, I know I'm thinking about the Z too much when I'm reading posts and see SAT as 5AT.

 

kcobean, you have no freakin' clue

 

Oh, I'm sure I don't. That's why we have highly enlightened folks like you on the board.

 

The above is your highly intelligent response to kcobean's carefully worded, logical post? How disappointing.

Seriously, though. You've got some ***** coming here as a newbie and acting exactly like the immature kids we've been talking about on this thread. I don't see anything wrong or controversial about his post - basically, his point was that understanding and respecting the value of things is an important part of life which many (not all) young people don't do today.

Instead, it's the "go for it, you only live once, damn the consequences" attitude that the majority of people, young AND old, have that is responsible for the record credit card debt, loan defaults, foreclosures, and bankruptcies we have in this country today. Being impulsive isn't a bad thing, but being impulsive without considering the possible consequences and/or responsibilities is one of the stupidest things you can do in your life. And the younger you are when this happens, the more you will pay in the future.

 

you guys may think im crazy but i just got a 350z and im only 18. I have straight A's in high school and have been working for the last 3 years while also playing baseball. i learned how to drive on a 5-speed manual 99 honda civic si and then a year later my dad let me drive his BMW M3 b/c i was doing so good with the civic so i sold the civic and i am now driving a 6-speed 2004 nissan touring 350z and i know how dangerous it is. i am extremely careful in the first 1200 miles and im at 789 miles MY POINT IS THAT DRVING THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I ALWAYS KEEP MY FOCUS I LOVE IT TOO MUCH TO LOSE FOCUS!!!!

 

I don't think that anyone here on this forum would knock someone extremely fortunate enough to be given a sports car by his parents. Especially if that someone understands how truly fortunate he is.

What people here on this forum have a hard time with is someone who is so fortunate and seemingly wanting in very little, showing little humility about his good fortune.

Let's face it, would we all have jumped on this kid's back if he started his thread with "I've got the most wonderful parents in the world..." ???

 

I personally don't think you're crazy at all. Like you, I worked about 30 hours/week all through H.S. while maintaining grades (not straight-A's however ) and extra-curricular activities. I doubt that your income alone is paying for your Z, but that's ok because it sounds like you're pushing yourself pretty hard. Good for you, seriously. Glad to hear that you take driving your car seriously. So many people forget that a car is really a 3000 pound weapon in the wrong hands.

 

thanks, yea i work 35 hours a week as waiter at Carrabba's Italian Grill from july to march when im not playing baseball. all the money i make goes toward the z, i dont regret it at all. driving the z makes all the hard work worthwhile

 

I was only talking about kcobean not having a freaking clue about his comment about how I financed my vehicle and being in huge debt.

He doesn't know me or my financial situtation. How can he assume I financed my 350z. Is he the only one here that thinks he can pay for one in cash?? I understand completly and logically about his first comments. My point was to just lighten up a little. kcobean sounds quite irritated that he had to work his *** off to get one and irritated when someone just gets handed one.

All I am trying to say is that people in this world have different social-economic levels (or status'). 35,000 is alot of money to some people, while on the other hand 35,000 is nothing to other people. I have never attacked kcobean about his financial status. But then he goes and assumes about mine. THAT IS WHAT I MEANT about saying kcobean has no freakin clue. The cost of a 350z doesn't even compare to my racing budget. Do I have quite a bit of expendable income? Sure, but that is my business and mine alone.

 

You never attacked my financial status??? You called me a lazy middle-aged wussie that can't provide nice things for my family (in so many words). If that's not an attack, what is it?

And in fact, the blatant assumptions about peoples lifestyles were started by you with that very comment. See, that's your problem. You (like so many other people) assume that it's all about jealousy (see my earlier post). You think that if I choose not to put my son in a sports car, I must financially incapable of doing so and am therefore jealous of parents who can and do. The reality of it is that I think MOST (not all) parents who buy their kids sports car as a first car are completely insane. It has nothing to do with my capabilities in relation to theirs, and in fact about that YOU have no freakin' clue. But YOU were the one to cast the first stone, weren't you. At least I had the courtesy to clarify that my generalizations didn't apply to 100% of the people 100% of the time.

Additionally, I don't need to lighten up because in a forum such as this, ESPECIALLY where the original poster ASKED for my input about the animosity towards younger Z owners, I think my post was EXACTLY what he asked for. He wanted my opinion, I gave it to him. He didn't ask me to be gentle or to lighten up, so what's YOUR problem?

Did you ever stop to think about why insurance rates are so high for a teenager with a sports car? The *general* principle is that they were given the car, they think they're invincible, and they don't respect their mortality, the car, or those around them when they are behind the wheel. That behavior is in part due to the fact that they have sacrificed nothing to reap the rewards of having the car, so why would they stop to consider the consequences of their actions in the car. Again, that is a big generality and may not apply to people like Ben (sins4u33), but when you're in the business of paying out large sums of money to survivors of accidents caused by your policy holders, you play all the factors into the equation.

We live in a world of stereotypes. You do it, I do it, it's just the way we humans are wired. What the original poster was really asking for was "Why do people address the young Z owner stereotype the way they do?" I answered that question as it applies to me. If the sterotype doesn't fit you, then don't tell me to lighten up, address the stereotype and show the forum that you're an adult.

 

...i don't mean to pick sides...but kcobean is sort of right about some of the stuff he's saying. i don't think many people care about people's status symbols or financial situations. i think what he is pissed about and what alot of other people on this thread have a problem with is the way you are coming across. some of the comments you made previously i have to admit are kind of pompous and arrogant...and don't really show any sense of maturity. i have to say, you did start it with the name calling...and telling people to "get off their asses" while it is most of the younger drivers that are the ones that are getting freebies and 35k 'hand me downs' that some of younger drivers simply don't deserve.

 

Okay, I've finally read through all of the post on this thread. Time for my .02.

*get's on soapbox*

First, I’m an old man & have kids your age. (I’m sure 2/3s of you will stop reading now.)

Second, I (and all of us ‘old people’ here) don’t hate anyone because of your age. It’s just we’ve seen more of life than you have and time & experience is the ultimate teacher. And from time & experience comes maturity, which 99% of teenagers lack. Is that a stereotype? Yes, but true. How can I say that about you if I don't know you? Because immaturity in teenagers is a universal truth. I was VERY IMMATURE at your age, my son was VERY IMMATURE at your age, and my daughter is IMMATURE now.

Whether you like it or not kcobean’s post is 100% correct.

Actually I don’t blame you for any of your statements or opinions regarding Z ownership, etc. It isn’t your fault; IT’S YOUR so-called PARENT’S FAULT. The main responsibility of parenthood is raising mature, self-sufficient, responsible ‘kids’ to become adults. And frankly, giving a 16/17/18 year old a new Z isn’t responsible parenting.(Or to even allow a kid to buy one if they have the money,IMO. --flame away)

My 16 daughter drives a hand-me-down ’92 Civic Si. I used it as a daily driver for 8 years, then my son drove it, and now we have passed it down to my daughter. I COULD have afforded buying them NEW cars, but that is not (IMO) responsible parenting. A 12 year old car is all she NEEDS.

But don’t worry about it; it’s something you wouldn’t understand. You’ll ‘get it’ in about 20 years.

*get’s down off of soapbox*

Drive safely, remember, the life you save maybe mine.

Kids *sigh*

 

Come on now, you dont want her to feel like the queen of the world. I feel like a king cruising my Z.

 

This comment only goes to reinforce the fact that youngsters are immature. If you feel like a king when you drive your Z you most likely drive like one, demanding everyone get out of your way because you are the king.

But you can't help yourself because it is only human nature that the young of our species are immature. The only cure for immaturity is years of experience and education, if you survive to achieve it.

 

Believe it or not, I consider myself a very good driver, I am not pushy, I drive the limit, etc. Occasionally I drive like a bat outta hell. And, yes I will race anything that wants to race.

I consider myself mature in some aspect, but in reality I agree with you, I am still very immature. Not until "mommy" stops paying for stuff, and I pay rent, have a family, etc will I consider myself fully "mature".

 

Isn't this subject dead yet?

 

Actually, my daughter isn’t “into” cars. My Z doesn’t impress her. She has driven it, but recognizes it is a little “too much” car for her and isn’t comfortable driving it. She loves the Si because of the size & maneuverability.

Plus she plays for gas & car insurance out of HER own pocket. So the Civic is all she can (wants to) afford. As stated before, when a kid starts paying for things, their priorities change.

 

marhot--all I can say is BRAVO for holding both your kids to the same standards.

When I was 16, I bought a 94 single cab, 2wd Chevy truck from my dad's company. Granted is was previously leased and an insanely good deal for me, but I still had to pay for it myself. It was SLOW, held up well when I was broadsided by an uninsured driver, but it was ALL MINE and I was SO proud of that little truck. And if I didn't pay for the insurance and gas, I didn't drive, plain and simple.

Financial status changed quite a bit for my dad when my younger sister turned 16, and she hasn't paid a single penny for a car yet. Currently, she drives a 2003 Porsche 911, and has been through 6 cars prior to this one. She's 21 years old.

What my dad seems to think is jealousy is, in fact, serious concern that the way he's spoiling her is going to severely warp her sense of value and her sense of reality.

I just hope that when I have kids, I will always remember how much I learned from paying my own way and I won't let them skip out on the lesson by spoiling them with expensive cars and a completely free ride, no matter what my husband's and my financial situation may be.

 

Pic of 04_silverstone