The point of the thread has been that he's NOT afraid of his son wrecking it ... as for the V6 f-bodies, they (especially the 5 speeds) run decently and get good gas mileage (30 mpg highway for the 5 speed) and 3800 is easily a 200k motor. Figure on probably having to do a window motor, headlight motor (on Firebirds) and intake manifold gasket if you keep the car for any length of time. I'd imagine you can find a lot of nice ones cheap in FL.

 

I'll play devil's advocate. IF your son is a responsible young man who respects what kind of trouble a high horsepower vehicle can get you into, I think he would be ok. When I was 16, my first car was a 72 Duster which never got me into trouble other than equipment violations(glass lift off hood with 5" snorkle) with the cops. It was a built 360, 13.5-1 comp, big cam,4.56 gears, built 727 tranny, big TC, bigs and skinnies in front. The car ran high 11's. The weekly gas bill was ugly, but I did have the fastest car in school

 

i got my license in april. at that point i took posession of my dads 04 accord ex. i drove that thing like there was no tomorrow. as soon as i didnt have any cars in front of me, it was 100 mph. about 2 or 3 weeks ago my parents bought me an 02 camaro (sixer). i have only taken it over 90 once, and that was just testing it out. i know that i will get pulled over if i go fast because its a sports car and cops think that im a spoiled kid who drives a sports car. the accord is a great car though. i would suggest the v6 if you want something quick, but the 4banger does the 1/4 mile in 17 seconds, so its not overly slow for an econo sedan.
i keep bottoming out with the camaro, and i hate parking it. if i were you i would go the way of the accord.

 

I know this issue has been talked about i'm 19 and have my first f-body.. i've done all the work myself.. its a 95 (looks like an 02) LT1 and i'll admit i'm glad I didn't have something like this when i was that age.. There is a good chance I wouldn't be typilng this message...

Shift kit.. i'll have to agree to it being a bad idea. .. when it's wet out side and my car shift between 3&4k i know i've felt my rear start to slip and TC kick in.. For a new driver this odd feeling could be scary... My GF'a first time driving my car on drive pavement about shat herself when the TC caught her getting on it.. Limiting the rev to 4k good idea... but still alot power going up to 4k... you could tune the timing this will tame that beast... it won't even feel like the same car...

 

a V6 F-body actually is a good idea, IMO. Lets them experience what its like to own an F-body with all the quirks, etc associated with them, and still doesn't point him down the road to ricedom

Plus a 93-97 V6 costs like nothing nowadays...

 

I'm glad my parents went the V6 route when I was 16. I was mad at the time, I wanted a v8 so bad. I know now, if I drove the car I have now at 16 I would have killed myself. I learned a lot of valuable lessens driving my v6 firebird.

 

Yeah, I've decided to go the V6 route, as well. Saving money isn't near as important as his well-being. And thinking about how I drove when I was a young teen, well, it's tem miracles I'm still here.

 

Sometimes I seriously wonder how at least 25% of the male population didn't kill themselves at the age of 16.

 

I would not let a teenager drive a stock LS1, let alone a modified one, I just do not think they are mature enough to understand the ramifications.

SteveC

 

Most 16 year old's don't think they can get hurt. They think I'm young so it won't hurt me. I don't know you or your son but I have met more than my fair share on the side of the road, in ditches, trees, and even under an 18 wheeler trailer. We all like to think that our children will do what's smart but a young EGO will hurt them. 4000 rpm limit will still get you in trouble quick on a wet road. With this being said I will say this I'm not saying that all 16 yo can't drive. Just make sure that YOU can TRUST him with the car. If you can then go for it. The small town thing don't always hold true either btw My parents were shocked when I took my car to the track and I told them it was much more room there than on the street where we has been racing. 4 yrs and no one told.

To answer your question it won't in my opinion make it any easier/harder to drive with the trans-go in it just put one washer in it now and more later if you want.