A few thoughts I've gleaned as an auto journalist and author of a book that
includes advice on safe, fun driving.
Autocross experience: Terrific way to learn car control. Doesn't teach
everything, but provides more sustained opportunities to practice than one-day
schools.
Advanced street driving (sometimes called "survival driving"): terrific
because most schools include crisis braking (with ABS brakes), and obstacle
avoidance, but little chance for sustained practice.
Put the two together and you get the best of all worlds.
Good idea I heard from the editor of Consumer Reports driving tests: "We
spend literally hundreds of thousands of dollars raising and educating our kids
through college, so why is it that when we provide them with cars, we give them
the hand-me-downs to save a few thousand bucks? We give them cars that are
unsuited to their needs (check out any high school parking lot and note the
number of five-year-old SUVs) and that aren't equipped with up-to-date safety
and
handling gear."
Good example of what TO buy: Ford Focus ZX4 ST. Kicky car, perfect for high
school/college needs, comes standard with ABS and traction control. Head and
torso front air bags available. Costs less than $20,000 -- about one semester's
expenses at many colleges.
Oh, as to the tracking electronics? If you're going to do it, tell him/her
you're doing it, so when friends suggest going outside the parameters of
acceptable behavior, he/she can say -- "My dad's a jerk and has installed these
electronics. I screw up, I lose the car." And if he/she does screw up or gets a
speeding ticket, jerk the keys.
Just my six cents -- three thoughts there; pay for what you get.
Cheers
Gary
|