Dual airbags are in many cars today. Insurance companies are expensive on premiums for children and for good reason. They know how crashes and high speed go hand in hand with children. Its hard to believe you monitor your child speed when your not in the car with them. We cannot control our children safey at all times. But we can do our best in trying.

Why the crap ( save very cursing) are you going to purchase a 275 hp sport car for your child then try to "limit" there speed ???? There are v6 availble and they have air bags!

When you talk about safety, airbags, rev limiters etc. then the word "high performance sport car" and for a "child" comes up....... I feel a persons intelligence just dropped about 80%


By the way, I purchased that p.o.s. Toyota and paid the insurance on it myself. Whats next, a gun? You said that this sport car "prepares them for the future". I see mommies and daddies purchasing cigarettes, beer, tatoo, for their children. What kind of future are they preparing their children for ...... rehab?

 

I knew this might be a controversial post, but my goal was not to do a poll on whethere teenagers should own sports cars. I was looking for information on the degree of programming that can be done on these cars. Or information on tattle tails that were available on the market.

I certainly wasn't looking to start a pissing contest with other members of the board. However, now that my intelligence has been questioned by "thebadone", I feel the need to respond...

Thebadone, I'd put my intelligence up against yours any day, but I'll let an excerpt from one of your posts sum it up -

"Lets face it, we buy these camaro for what they are....sport cars.... Run the crap out of all of them and have fun. I have yet seen one that was more than a three years old that was "dependable "For all of you hp and torque junkies buy a jet. You can get so wrapped up in numbers you forget how fun these cars really are. I have a cbr600f4i, you want power....... try 1/4 mile in 11 seconds with 3.55 seconds in 0-60."

The 94 that I bought my son has 106k miles on it and it's a cherry. Yes it has a few dings on it, but it's clean, mechanically in great shape, and hasn't had the "crap run out of it". In other words, the previous owner didn't abuse it, respected the power it has and took good care of it.

You also ask the question "what's next, a gun?" The answer is, no, all my children already have guns - hunting guns. Did I just give them to them and walk away? Hell no. They have been through firearm safety schools, they have watched dad, grand dad and their uncles hunt for years before they were given an opportunity to even touch a gun. They also watched the same men gut, clean and cook everything they killed. When they finally did get their gun, they handled it very carefully, as safety is always first in our family. When they finallly killed their first animal, they had to gut, quarter and clean that animal themselves. They are safety conscious, enjoy hunting, and understand the responsibility that comes with a gun.

This car comes with the same expectations from me and my wife - along with a ton of rules that are unbending. My son pays his own insurance, maintenace/upgrade costs, and does the work on it himself. If his grades aren't there, I catch him hot ******* the car, if he stays out past curfew, I catch him drinking, etc. then the car is mine.

He's also been there to help me work on my '69 Camaro (another testiment to not "running the crap out of it") and has been with me to the drag strip. I've tried to show him by example that racing is for the strip, not the street.

So at the end of the day, I'm not one of the parents that you refer to. I take an active role in my kids lives. They aren't typical of the kids out there today and in fact, most of their friends love being at our house because we are a real family (their words, not mine).

Do I trust them 100% to do the right thing all the time? No, becasue they are kids and are subject influences, brief losses of good judgement, etc. But I would put them up against most any other kid - because they are respectful, intelligent,, understand consequencies and in general have good heads on their shoulders.

It's my goal to make sure that I do all that I can to make sure that they continue in this direction, but it's also my responsibility to stay involved in what they are up to and help them in any way I can to become responsible adults. And as long as they live under my roof, they will live by my rules and accept the fact that I'll do everything within my ability to keep tabs on them at the same time.

 

Ditto BigKid

I could'nt have said it better myself, sounds as if thebadone needed to drive a pos toyota to get to the level we think our kids may already be. I don't want to get this out of control either but the way I bring up my children is my business and no one elses, has nothing to do with this thread. I want my kids to have some of the things I would like to have had when I was growing up if I am correct to say there are alot of imports out there that are putting a hurt on some of the big HP cars without as much saftey, a 100 shot in a pos toyota can be a dangerous thing as well thebadone I don't buy drugs or beer or anything like that for my child and would advise you to do the same, by the way what does that have to do with this thread I did not say this was preparing them for the future did you even read my post? I said when they Mature there is a difference, also the insurance and the upkeep will be my sons responsibility as well as paying for the car.

 

You can get tuning software like Tunercat and LT1edit and a ALDL cable and set the rev limiter and top speed......I did just that with my daughters 95 Z28 which she got when she was 16. Ive told her I can pull up info on driving habits which is a lie but hey its worked so far....no problems. I trust her....but I know how temptation can be when your out with your friends.

She also knows if she want to race the car she can go to the track with me and we will take the limits off and make some passes with me in the car too. Heck her friends have even come out to watch.

 

What hillbilly track lets a driver take a passenger down the track at the same time ?? You wouldnt get away with that here. So if she crashes hte car into the wall you both die instead of one ? hmmmmmm wonderful logic

 

My son got in all kinds of trouble with a Mazda 626 (4 banger to boot!)
Warn him ahead of time (something I didn't do) and tell him that the car is history if he breaks your rules. He's probably more computer savy than all the PCM programmers you can think of. I don't think it'll work.

 

Every track I know as long as the et is above 14 sec........and I suppose your logic follows for any situation where an instructor is in the car with you....keep on talkn and we'll see who's the fool here. Anyway if you have more to say lets take it private...PM me.

 

I answered your question but from another end. So, why purchase a camaro with 275hp , that gets 0-60 in 5.7 that gets crappy gas mileage....(as a daily driver for a teenage son) and then try to limit the rev limiter? That is an oxyMORON question that was fun to answer!

Why not trade the car in for a v6, with airbags, and tell your "responsible" son to keep his foot out of it? You sound like you got the money...oh with the help from your working son

There is no way you can justify your question, that is why I answered it the way I did. I race these cars ( legal) and ride sport bikes. They are for fun and I (and others) run the crap out of them, that is what the are for....end of story..... When I want to save on gas, dependablity, etc. I drive my Nissan.




"if thebadone needed to drive a pos toyota to get to the level we think our kids may already be"

My pos toyota had almost 200,000 with just oil changes and tires and plugs, wires. I have had my camaro for two months and she is already needing maintence. Get the point? And you ask where my intelligence is......jezz

 

Who cares what you think The Question was " Are there other ways to use the existing computer on the car to set limits and/or record speeding, etc?" That is what this thread is all about, Why trade for a v6 when you can actually make the lt1 run like a v6? Talk about an oxyMORON, I am glad you get good service from your Toyota I am sure it has served you well, I personally know that alot of camaros and firebirds get 200000 miles as well so you are not by yourself with your toyota. I have seen many F body cars get mid 20's in gas milage even with 275hp lets see your toyota beat that! My son will be paying for his car so he will appreciate it instead of it just being given to him I see nothing wrong with that. I am glad you have nothing better to do than to see if you can stir something up. You must have a boring life but there again you sound like the nerdy type Next time try answering the QUESTION instead of voicing your opinion when it was 'nt ask for. GET A LIFE Your Wasting this one.

 

http://www.apexvalue.com/DriveRight_...ng_Systems.htm

Scroll down to "The APEXS V-COUNT II (Vehicle Speed Monitoring)"

I don't know if this is necessary with your kids, but THIS might be good so they can see what the consequences of their actions will be BEFORE they do it.

http://www.smart-track.net/GPSsolutions/

This is a GPS based system, but I'm not sure if the program is up and running yet.

Hope this helps.