My 17 year old son just asked to take my car to prom

jaedub

I remember asking my mom for her Porsche during my prom. She handed me her key without any hesitation. She trusted me and I made sure I didn't disappoint her.

I'd do the same for my child later on even if I had my dream car (Ferrari)

YzGyz

I don't have a kid but I probably would give my kid the keys. I would tell him once and once only how much it's worth, not just $$ wise but the work hours I had to pull to get her the way she is. Give him $40 for gas and send him on his way. If you can't trust your own kid then your in trouble. You have bigger things to worry about.

The speak before the key hand off would go something like, "You know this is my baby right? You know how much OT I had to do right? You know that handing you this key is like giving you 40k cash to flash around in public right? ect."

PedroVonSmith

I say let the kid have his day. But before he takes it, ask him to help you wash it and detail it. Use that time to express the trust you will put in him. Its more than just the car, its a symbol of trust. My step-dad, the man who raised me let me take his 1967 Firebird to my prom. I grew up worshiping that car. First time driving it was on the way to pick up my date for the prom. I will never forget it. Looking back I have no idea why he let me take those keys. But I drove that car like it was a grandma car. I knew what it meant to him.

Ubetit

If you raised him right and he's been a good kid, at some point you need to trust the job you did.

I did and had things my friends in high school couldn't because I had a nice high paying job. Because I was responsible with my job and school, my career military-man father gave me a lot of rope .... and I never hung myself.

Mt Tam I am

I did not have a high paying job, just a minimum wage job, but the rest applies to me too.

Reiterate your feelings and expectations to him regarding the car, and things should go well.

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ElVee

Only you know your own kid and situation.

For me, I agree with anyone who says:
1) prom comes maybe once, let him have a moment
2) at some point, we all need to improve our trust in children or friends/coworkers, and that will always mean moving out of our comfort level a bit. The end result could very well be a closer, better relationship.

He's 17, going to prom, and supposedly is a good kid. It's time to start treating him like he's about to enter the adult world.

BeemaaZ

I never put so many "like" in one single thread like this one.

It might be too late to change your mind about letting your son takes the car to the prom.

What I would do if I were you is to let him drive the car with and without you on the passenger seat several times before the big night.

Are you going to tell him about the 4k rpm / 60 mph limiter? I am sure he will find out and think you don't really trust him.

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JWillis72

I told him I did it and he didn't care, I didn't want him to freak out and think he broke the car and never come home again!

mrthomr

I wonder how many other 17 yr old drivers will be on the road that night....hope they decide not to drink as well. I remember what I got into that night long ago....oh my oh my.

Elan

Good of you OP! It may be only one night but it's the memory that will last a lifetime.

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1slow370

My parents told me to go rent a nicer car if i wanted to drive something nice to prom, wasn't a trust issue or anything they just had an "if you want something nice get a job and pay for it yourself" corvette rental was $365 a night so I drove my beater.

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DatsunFTW

I remember my prom. I treated my father's M3 just like it was mine if not better. When he would come home in the evening from the hospital (doctor. In case of confusion), he would wake up in the morning to a freshly washed and shiny car. Although he rarely gave me the chance to drive it with him in the passenger seat, he trusted me completely with it. When I asked him for the keys to the prom, he gave it to me with no hesitation. That morning I took outside and washed it down, emptied out the inside, and made sure it smelled nice. Drove it like I was taking a driving exam although I would rev the hell out of it .

He's your child and no one should dictate the decision. If he's an all-around wreckless little kid then deny it. I would definitely give up my keys. Prom is one of the most important moments of an adolescent's life and to remember picking your date up in a sweet whip and having all of the other guys envy you for it, makes it a whole lot better.

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synolimit

I took a neighbors new bmw 535 or something to prom back in the day. Drove the piss out of it all night. Even looked down once and saw the coolant temp off the scale. Had to call it quits after that. I'd be most worried about him turning the traction control off and going nuts. Gotta put a no break tape seal over the button or something so he can't push it without you knowing after you tell him not to. I these cars are to over powered RWD cars for a noviced.

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Codename067

17 year old pulling up in a 370? Bad *** :]

lt_370z

I remember when I went to my senior prom (2005) and asked my big bro if I could borrow his Acura TL to take my date in. I was driving an old 94 Honda Civic at the time and even then I was so happy I got to take a nice car. I can only imagine how ecstatic your son is going to be on the big day driving an SC 370z. Props to you for being a trusting and considerate father. Lets just hope he doesn't try to impress his date by showing what the car can do.

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