The fact you have to ask....

You want something a teenage girl, playing with her phone, talking about some boy band with her friends while flying down the freeway with other drivers... and have a reasonable chance of surviving a crash.

While the S2000 crashes well, it doesn't get run over well. Which is what most full size SUV's do.

Let her drive it, and tell us how well Darwin's laws work.

 

This thread is 95% filled with "No" and I almost guarantee the OP is going to do it anyways.

First car for a boy or a girl - I'd recommend something different.

Like everyone else, there's a reason 99% of kids get a hand-me-down beige sedan for their first car. They're safe, economical, cheap, practical, and predictable.


The S2000 (mine at least) got 24MPG on a good day and required premium fuel. In high school I feel like my backpack and sports bag for cross-country would fill up the trunk entirely.

 

She could pick up more boys with the S2000 ,all fine responsible lads,for sure

 

As stated, I would definitely would not for a first car no matter what gender. She's only 16 and learning to drive.

Get a beater and save the headaches.

 

At her age, she just needs to drive. Not learning how to "really drive." Sure let her drive it against so she can say she's been behind the wheel of an S2000 but how about a civic for a first car as others have. You get to keep the S2000 to yourself

 

Is the OP in the states? Big difference if he's in Europe etc.

 

A 2003 AP1 as a first car? My recommendation is no, you're just asking for trouble. If she encounters that snap oversteer she'll panic and crash it in the first week if she doesn't have any prior experience with a rwd car. For a first car get her something that is an automatic, fwd and easy to drive and move up from there.

 

plenty of people drive cars and they dont push em, they buy em for looks, and cruise round in em. Now kids are kinda funny, they can be an angel at home and the devil when there out with their friends. just make sure she doesnt let any boyfriends drive it, or anyone inexperienced. that could be big mistake, that

imo, if you want to do it, the S has a 5 star crash rating. its safe for what it is.

But, if she was my daughter, i'd get her to do at least 5 autocrosses and be able to drift a figure 8 before she's allowed to take it out alone in bad weather.


BUT one thing that everyone overlooked is that this is an ap1. does your daughter have the discipline to check the oil every other time she drives the car? if not, you're going to need a lot of bearings and fast.

 

The more I think about this topic the more I realize back when I was in high school there were plenty of first timers driving in new Mustangs, Camaros, and Firebirds and as far as I know they survived. Now me personally I wouldn't do it because I know better but if the OP wants to be the cool dad and doesn't mind paying an astronomical insurance rate then by all means got for it!

Just out of curiosity what would the insurance hit be for a 16 yo first time driver in an S2000?

 

are you trolling us? C'mon. You're trolling us.