Chevrolet SSR

[COPO]

My son is 16 and we are trying to decide on an appropriate vehicle for him. One thought was a 2005 or 2006 SSR truck. I've seen a few in the $30K-$35K range with 10,000 or fewer miles. Anyone have any experience with these and would it be a fun, reliable, and somewhat unique vehicle for a 16 year old? I don't know much about them other than the '05-'06 had the better engine.

[70 Forest Green Zee]

Oh, that's what I think every 16 year old needs is a 35k vehicle. Are you out of your freekin mind or what????

[@wot]

From experience: start out with something cheap, and mundane. Most kids want to run a car to its limit, and, at some point have one or more accidents. After a few years, things sart to calm down. I drove hopped-uped cars in the sixtes, and its a miracle I am still alive (in the country with no traffic!)

Do the right thing.

[Tim Penton]

COPO, The SSR is probably too much vehicle for a 16 year old unattended. Believe me I have seen more than my share of fatality crashes involving kids and fast vehicles. IMHO I plan on getting my son a relatively mundane good gas mileage every day vehicle (small truck, etc.) when he is old enough. I'll do like my dad did me and keep the muscle cars for nice weather cruising and car shows. Nothing wrong with racing at the track either once he gets some experience under his belt.

[Fast67VelleN2O]

WOW, i got my licence when i was 17 in the year 2000 and my FIRST daily beater was a 4-door 66 Chevelle with a 6 cylinder nad 65K original miles.... Wrecked it twice, bent the frame and kept fixing it. It ended up with a 283 V8 (when i over revved the 6 banger) Trust me get him a beater until he proves himself.

[StriperSS]

I have to agree with the majority. Get him something with much less power to start with.
Let him earn his way up over time. If he takes care of that one and stays ticket and collision free, then go in stages from there.
If I'd had that much power in my first car, I may not have been here now.

John

[Xplantdad]

I tend to agree, too!

My first car was a Nova with a 250 inline six...after awhile, that came out...and in went the 402

[Born30YrsLate]

Yeah - give him a nice mid '90's Chevy Monte Carlo to learn "the tricks of the road"...although I can't say much - my dad let me by a '69 Camaro with a nice 350 and 4 speed the day after I got my license...he did let me drive it home but then made me park it for a year before letting me take it out on the road again - I guess he preferred that I "put miles" on his car...

[427king]

Charlie, Can you adopt me.

[Born30YrsLate]

Chuck - I'll adopt you...