FRS fatal crash on HWY9 friday

[MurderousPandas]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Really sorry to hear that, my thoughts and prayers to the family.



My youngest son (now 20) drove mine when he was 16. Even took has driver's test in it. Parallel parked it like a boss (of course he learned to parallel park in our Suburban so that was a piece of cake).

Accidents happen. There have been folks a lot older and experienced than this 16 year old that have lost their lives in a Prius. Let's not pile on the to family's grief with forum guilt.

But giving a new driver a RWD car? It's easy to give it too much gas and go sideways, i did so just the other night and did a straight line drift between a car and a wall on accident in the rain.
Glad the two passengers got away though. Whether or not is was the driver's fault, the passengers shouldn't have to suffer because of the driver's choices. I'm sure they'll be great drivers in the future after this experience.

"Chasing speed with patience"

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by MurderousPandas

But giving a new driver a RWD car?

Beating @Tcoat to this, but your grandmother, great-grandmother and maybe your great-great grandmother all learned to drive in RWD cars, as did pretty much everyone else before about 1975, and there was no traction control.

All 3 of my sons learned to drive in rear-wheel drive cars or trucks, and are no worse for the wear.

[fang_gt86]

RIP to that kid... It's always sad to see story like this.

What were the parents thinking when they decided to give the kid the FRS? Teens, new driver, RWD, friends and speed usually means one thing.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Beating @Tcoat to this, but your grandmother, great-grandmother and maybe your great-great grandmother all learned to drive in RWD cars, as did pretty much everyone else before about 1975, and there was no traction control.

All 3 of my sons learned to drive in rear-wheel drive cars or trucks, and are no worse for the wear.

This^


All the "this car is no good for young people" and "It is RWD be careful" stuff just perpetuates the myth that RWD is somehow more difficult to drive. The same thing could have happened in a Corolla, Civic, minivan, or even a freakin' Yugo. There is not one word of that which would indicate that RWD was even a slightly contributing factor. Does everybody scream "damn RWD" every time somebody that crashes a pickup truck? These cars are perfectly fine as a first vehicle and it doesn't mater if you are 16 or 70 if you drive them safely they will be safe as any other vehicle out there. Drive them like an idiot and you run the risk of death.
Drivers kill people RWD does not kill people.

[fang_gt86]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

This^


All the "this car is no good for young people" and "It is RWD be careful" stuff just perpetuates the myth that RWD is somehow more difficult to drive. The same thing could have happened in a Corolla, Civic, minivan, or even a freakin' Yugo. There is not one word of that which would indicate that RWD was even a slightly contributing factor. Does everybody scream "damn RWD" every time somebody that crashes a pickup truck? These cars are perfectly fine as a first vehicle and it doesn't mater if you are 16 or 70 if you drive them safely they will be safe as any other vehicle out there. Drive them like an idiot and you run the risk of death.
Drivers kill people RWD does not kill people.

It's true that anyone, new or experienced driver can wreck with anything with an engine and wheels. But let's face it, which kid would likely to speed more if one is driving a beat-up civic and the other with FRS?

[86Boyz]

Originally Posted by fang_gt86

It's true that anyone, new or experienced driver can wreck with anything with an engine and wheels. But let's face it, which kid would likely to do speeding if one is driving a beat-up civic and the other with FRS?

Watch out now. They get a civic and it will have a fart can and a big spoiler just whispering in their ear to go fast and furious. I recommend a Lada as a first car.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by fang_gt86

It's true that anyone, new or experienced driver can wreck with anything with an engine and wheels. But let's face it, which kid would likely to speed more if one is driving a beat-up civic and the other with FRS?

I drove more dumb in beaters cuz I didnt care about them

[fang_gt86]

Originally Posted by 86Boyz

Watch out now. They get a civic and it will have a fart can and a big spoiler just whispering in their ear to go fast and furious. I recommend a Lada as a first car.

Lol.. At least big spoilers and fart cans only kills eyes and ears not people.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

This^


All the "this car is no good for young people" and "It is RWD be careful" stuff just perpetuates the myth that RWD is somehow more difficult to drive. The same thing could have happened in a Corolla, Civic, minivan, or even a freakin' Yugo. There is not one word of that which would indicate that RWD was even a slightly contributing factor. Does everybody scream "damn RWD" every time somebody that crashes a pickup truck? These cars are perfectly fine as a first vehicle and it doesn't mater if you are 16 or 70 if you drive them safely they will be safe as any other vehicle out there. Drive them like an idiot and you run the risk of death.
Drivers kill people RWD does not kill people.

I agree. The reason I said it probably wouldn't be my first choice for a new driver is:

1. With my kids (raised 4) they all destroyed their first car, either by crash or from the inside out. They all had an older first car.

2. I feel a kid is less likely to drive too fast and show off in a regular car then a flashy sports car. I've never heard of someone egging on a yugo owner saying, "show us what it can do". But yes, driving unsafe can lead to disaster in any vehicle.

[PRKR8NGR]

wow... my coworker was the first Ranger on scene at this accident and saw the car burst into flames. I was not on that day but had my work radio on and heard the whole thing at the time I didn't know it was an 86, so sad RIP

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by fang_gt86

It's true that anyone, new or experienced driver can wreck with anything with an engine and wheels. But let's face it, which kid would likely to speed more if one is driving a beat-up civic and the other with FRS?

Both! Not one over the other. Speeding is not vehicle dependent it is the driver. Not like a 16 year old will jump into an old Corolla and think "Oh wow boring car I will just drive slow". That is not reality.

[fang_gt86]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Both! Not one over the other. Speeding is not vehicle dependent it is the driver. Not like a 16 year old will jump into an old Corolla and think "Oh wow boring car I will just drive slow". That is not reality.

There's a good reason why the FRS score 3rd place in the most ticketed car in the US..

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Both! Not one over the other. Speeding is not vehicle dependent it is the driver. Not like a 16 year old will jump into an old Corolla and think "Oh wow boring car I will just drive slow". That is not reality.

Agreed. I drove my first car (1964 Dodge Polara w door boat anchor) much more dangerously than I ever have driven the FR-S. Drag racing through the middle of Main Street (literally) at midnight and knocking the back bumper off my buddy's pickup should have probably killed me.

This could have just as easily been me in the VW Bug belonging to my high school girlfriend. It would go this speed (at least downhill).

Regardless of the car, this was obviously a tragic accident fueled by a good kid doing what good kids sometimes do, stupid (or at least beyond their capacity) things.

Did the 86 give him more (false) confidence in this situation than another car, maybe. But in the end, he may have done the same thing regardless.

About 6 months ago a good friend of mine lost his son in an accident where the kid was running away from the cops for speeding, and ran smack into a wall, 5 minutes after the cops stopped chasing him. He is driving a Corolla as I recall. Any car can carry enough speed to put you in a bad place.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by fang_gt86

There's a good reason why the FRS score 3rd place in the most ticketed car in the US..

Skewed survey is skewed. 1,000 fix it tickets for no front license plate does not mean that every young driver is ripping up the road with them. None of those "most ticketed" rankings break out what the tickets were for and are invalid for this debate.