Honestly, before putting any mods that would increase performance, i would recommend doing ANY fixes to the car. anything that looks like it could use replacing or anything that would increase reliability.

That way, your car is in better shape overall. Another point is it has been two weeks of driving manual. Probably not the best idea yet. Play it careful for a while. Once you notice that you no longer have to think about what you are doing while driving, especially when you have to react quickly, then start to do small power mods as you go.

 

Ok, here's my take on it.

Are all 16 year olds bad drivers? No. A majority? Yes. However its not necessarily their fault, it just has to do with the lack of experience. Not every young driver is going to be a Colin Braun but that doesn't mean they cannot be taught.

I agree that the FD can be handful. I've had my fair share of pucker factors at the track in the car. To be honest, I was much worse behind the wheel when I was 19-20 then I was when I was 16. At 16 I was too nervous to do anything crazy. At 19, I thought I knew it all.

IMO, if a young driver is going to get a sports car; in the least they should attend something like the Evolution AutoX school or even a SCCA day at a track. Either will give instruction on controlling the car to help the young driver learn about control.

 

I think all the traction control and the lessons won't change the fact that it is NOT a good car for a young driver.Obviously you can do what you want reguardless but it is a very bad idea.

 

don't do it. it's not worth it. Get him something that is unpredictable, but cheap as hell to buy/insure/maintain/wreck. I had a 5 speed, extended cab, V6 ranger throughout high school. With bald tires. Driving that bitch in the snow/rain taught me how to control slides. I taught myself how to catch unexpected oversteer. I was one of the better drivers at my high school, but EVERYONE that is around that age does stupid ****. I jumped some railroad tracks at 85 in my ranger. If you do do this, history has shown that it will come back to bite you (and his parents) in the ***. Like everyone else has said, get him a FC or FB. I own a FB, and the thing is a riot. It has enough power to get me into trouble with speed, but not enough to spin the tires going through the turns. They are cheap to buy (i got mine w/ RB exhaust, RB Holley 465, msd, etc) for 1k, with a ton of spares. They are cheap as hell to insure ($37/month for me), and are reliable to boot. Just make sure to go over the car with a fine tooth comb before you buy it, or else you'll end up with the nightmare that is my car. Good luck, but my advice echos everyone else's. Persuade his parents to not get him a FD as a DD as his first car. If they have already gotten him the FD, make him EARN driving privelages, and make him drive a beater the rest of the time. FORCE him to go to driving events with the FD so he can learn in a CONTROLLED environment. ONLY put on a Radiator, DP, and aluminum AST until he learns the car VERY well.

 

Bad idea. Very bad idea. I can remember all the stupid stuff I did as a teenager behind the wheel. Luckily I didn't have a car that was capable of doing what an FD, Corvette, or other high horsepower car was capable of. I might have killed myself.

Even though I never wrecked, I had my fair share of close calls. It's a bad idea. Give him a FWD beater and have him learn on that.