He should be fine if he takes it slow at first and learn the mechanics of driving a manual (rev-matching, smooth engagement, heel-toe, etc.).

Then, after he gets those basics down, he should do a few autocrosses to learn the balance of the car on a faster, higher level and the limits of the tires.

Just stress to him that he try not to succumb to peer-pressure and do something stupid. Inform him of the various safe ways of learning to drive the car, and remind he has nothing to prove to anyone.

I remember I got some flack for doing my first three track days with the VSA on, but I just reminded myself it was my first rear-drive car, my DD, and I wasn't to that level yet where I felt comfortable de-activating it. I got better and now I feel confident and turn it off.

Since he is looking for used he will more than likely have to go '05 or older, so he will just have to be a lot more mindful of what he does and try to learn a bit quicker.

 

Yeah words to live my friend

 

I don't think age is the issue when considering an S. I would say a driver is better off having some experience before getting one. The S has some big blind spots with the top up. That's something hard for a new driver to completely integrate in their driving. Other cars allow you to turn your head to look. Not so much with the S. There are workarounds such as convex mirrors, etc.

Performance isn't an issue to me for a first car. Any driver can do to stupid things. Sure, it's easier in a S to get there. That's not going to stop someone in another car from finding/exceeding the limit, too.

 

That's it in a nutshell. Inexperineced drivers who don't have the sense to respect the car they drive can and will wreck a Civic just as quickly as they'd wreck an S2000 or an Enzo. Frankly, if I could not trust my daughter to drive an S2000 safely, then I'd be an idiot to trust her in ANY car, because they're all more than fast enough to get foolhearty people in trouble. Plus, cars that are overly forgiving tend to foster and promote bad driving habits (like inattention). I learned in sharp handling cars with respectable performance, and to this day I'm convinced that this is the best way to go. Driving an FWD car for a few years will lead one to expect an S2000 to be far more forgiving than it actually is. Better to start with the S2000 while one is still cautious/aprehensive.

Definitely go with an AP2 with stability control, or if that's out of his price range, consider something else with sharp handling and RWD (Miata's are great "starter cars").

 

[QUOTE=an_other,May 31 2008, 07:42 AM]I don't think age is the issue when considering an S.