Team Camaro Tech banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

18 and a Camaro, is it possible ?

Jump to Latest
21 - 38 of 38 Posts
#21 ·
Is it possible?...yes. Is it easy?...depends on your resources and motivation.
I was able to have my camaro on the road and driving when i was 17. it was not fully finished at that time, but it was enough to make me happy and get me hooked.

Insurance on my camaro is actually way cheaper then it is on my daily driver...but thats because i use a classic car insurance company and they know its not daily driven. also the car is titled under my fathers name to keep the cost down.

check out my first thread for some motivation and proof that it can be done. http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=118701
 
#22 ·
I would never give my son at 18 a Camaro. My first car had a 350 V8 and i know what i did with it. I would suggest less power for a 18 year old. Insurance will also be super high.
 
#23 ·
okiemark said:
there's also a HUGE difference between an 18 year old that built or helped build a motor and is aware of the power than just giving the keys to an 18 year old that may be feeling that power for the first time.
Click to expand...

I think this statement is VERY true. Anyone that has spent years slaving to build or afford a nice car, they are alot less likley to send it into a tree because they know how hard it was to get that far. vs the kid who spent 5 minutes begging for the keys and doesn't know the real value or potential of what they have. The same can kinda be held true for adults sometimes...easy come, easy go.

I do see where you guys are coming from about giving the keys to someone young though, I wouldent trust giving my keys to many of my friends my age because it wouldn't last a week. they just are not responsible enough, but there are a select few hardworkers that i would trust giving them the keys for a month without worrying.
 
#24 ·
The insurance rates are higher for certain age groups based on statistics...of accidents. It will be expensive to drive a first gen Camaro.

Some do drive responsibly...key word, "some".

You have to ask yourself... what is the main reason that you want to drive a muscle car...this will answer a lot of questions for you, and about you.

capt
 
#25 ·
camarofrom69,
I hope you are getting some idea about what's involved in classic car ownership. After re-reading the post.... I believe that Belgium would have a totally different insurance system than we do here in the states. Even my friend in Canada has a national system, not private carrier type. I'm not saying it's better or worse, just different.
Since you have a few years to work with, here's what you might want to ask yourself before you head down that path:

-can you afford a fixer to work on, or a driver, or a completed car?
-can you afford the price of the car AND the import expense?
-Will your insurance be reasonable at 18 or "through the roof?"
-Is anyone in your friends/family circle able to help you with it?
-Do you want it so bad you can taste it?:D (I know @ 18 I did!)

These seem to be the important things to think about for a guy in your position! Look into the insurance locally and ask an agent if they can run some numbers for you. Ask someone to look into importing costs from here to there. Also, don't forget to look on the internet for one in Belgium. I bet it might be cheaper to find the car there and have parts shipped over than shipping a whole car!
I'm not wanting to discourage you, I would like to see more young guys getting into the hobby. Just want to make sure you understand that owning one isn't all fun n games... Believe me, I learned fluent French by working on one 12 years ago :D
Dano:beers:
 
#26 ·
fredd7924 said:
I think this statement is VERY true. Anyone that has spent years slaving to build or afford a nice car, they are alot less likley to send it into a tree because they know how hard it was to get that far. vs the kid who spent 5 minutes begging for the keys and doesn't know the real value or potential of what they have. The same can kinda be held true for adults sometimes...easy come, easy go.

I do see where you guys are coming from about giving the keys to someone young though, I wouldent trust giving my keys to many of my friends my age because it wouldn't last a week. they just are not responsible enough, but there are a select few hardworkers that i would trust giving them the keys for a month without worrying.
Click to expand...

BOOM! WINNER! If they work for it HARD, then they will know the real value of what they own. You just give junior the keys and CRASH, The Camaro is in a street racing crash with some kid's honda civic or something.

I also have to wonder of ALL THE STORIES I'm hearing, of guys buying all these 1st gen. Camaros and other things along those lines at 12,13,14, etc. all by themselves makes me wonder. First, how old are the guys saying this stuff? If this happened in 1987 or 1972 or something, then NO WONDER, they were still relatively plentiful and cheap way back then. Things have changed. Cars have been parted out, sold, modified, rusted away, or crushed and sent to china by the thousands in the past 25 years. I just thought I should add that statement.
 
#27 ·
Elias,
I have AXA insurance on my 69 Camaro. I pay 120.00 Euros a year. Its an Old Timers policy, Theres a limitation on the kilometers driven per year, car must be stored in owners garage. Basically the same as it is in the States. Keep your eyes open for Car shows this Spring. I was at a car show near Rotterdam this past year and saw a lot of American muscle. Heres a website you may want to look through. http://www.oldtimer-info.de/
 
Discussion starter · #28 ·
captcanuck68 said:
The insurance rates are higher for certain age groups based on statistics...of accidents. It will be expensive to drive a first gen Camaro.

Some do drive responsibly...key word, "some".

You have to ask yourself... what is the main reason that you want to drive a muscle car...this will answer a lot of questions for you, and about you.

capt
Click to expand...
MY main reaseon is simple : I want to drive one not just because of the status, but of everything that's special about American Muscle cars : the style, the sound, the feeling of driving one, the old,...etc.

fredd7924 said:
I think this statement is VERY true. Anyone that has spent years slaving to build or afford a nice car, they are alot less likley to send it into a tree because they know how hard it was to get that far. vs the kid who spent 5 minutes begging for the keys and doesn't know the real value or potential of what they have. The same can kinda be held true for adults sometimes...easy come, easy go.

I do see where you guys are coming from about giving the keys to someone young though, I wouldent trust giving my keys to many of my friends my age because it wouldn't last a week. they just are not responsible enough, but there are a select few hardworkers that i would trust giving them the keys for a month without worrying.
Click to expand...
I really WILL NOT get involved in any race. The only one I'll participate in is an official drag race. And I don't think about a Camaro that 'it's just a car' it means a lot to me and I really have a band bewteen me and the car. And I would be the same for me to see someone die as to see a Camaro crash, as a matter of speaking..

MrDanB said:
camarofrom69,
I hope you are getting some idea about what's involved in classic car ownership. After re-reading the post.... I believe that Belgium would have a totally different insurance system than we do here in the states. Even my friend in Canada has a national system, not private carrier type. I'm not saying it's better or worse, just different.
Since you have a few years to work with, here's what you might want to ask yourself before you head down that path:

-can you afford a fixer to work on, or a driver, or a completed car?
-can you afford the price of the car AND the import expense?
-Will your insurance be reasonable at 18 or "through the roof?"
-Is anyone in your friends/family circle able to help you with it?
-Do you want it so bad you can taste it? (I know @ 18 I did!)

These seem to be the important things to think about for a guy in your position! Look into the insurance locally and ask an agent if they can run some numbers for you. Ask someone to look into importing costs from here to there. Also, don't forget to look on the internet for one in Belgium. I bet it might be cheaper to find the car there and have parts shipped over than shipping a whole car!
I'm not wanting to discourage you, I would like to see more young guys getting into the hobby. Just want to make sure you understand that owning one isn't all fun n games... Believe me, I learned fluent French by working on one 12 years ago
Dano
Click to expand...
- I'll probably buy the whole car and maybe if I get to know someone in that states who can do this for me, change the engine and trans to a 427 and M-22 because cars who have it already are often too expensive..
- I'm working already every vacation for it.
- I don't know, have to inform..
- Everyone ;-)
- I want is so bad ! It's insane, I wake up with Camaro, I go to sleep with Camaro.

parkbrau said:
Elias,
I have AXA insurance on my 69 Camaro. I pay 120.00 Euros a year. Its an Old Timers policy, Theres a limitation on the kilometers driven per year, car must be stored in owners garage. Basically the same as it is in the States. Keep your eyes open for Car shows this Spring. I was at a car show near Rotterdam this past year and saw a lot of American muscle. Heres a website you may want to look through. http://www.oldtimer-info.de/
Click to expand...
Where do you live, and thanks for the site !

Thanks all for your posts, I really want this to get a big topic because for every upcoming C. driver, it's important to know this side of the story that comes with owning one !

Elias
 
#29 ·
ace's68 said:
For some, it is, for some a 80rwhp honda with a fart can is too much.
Driving a '68 with 400hp since 15yrs old and no accidents, I think some of us can handle it :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
True, I've had my car since I was 14 which I'm only 20 now but I've done alright in it so far. With my few different setups I've had anywhere from 300-500 hp in my car. I've also had alot of experience driving though, alot of people with anymore than 300 hp behind the wheel can be very dangerous and stupid. The hardest part about driving a performance car when your young is learning not to show out everytime one of your buddys or people at school want you to, thats when most people tend to take it too far and wreck or mess something up.
 
#31 ·
Me and my dad are restoring a 68 camaro, and supposedly he will let me drive it my junior and senor year of highschool. It's gonna have a 350, and were hoping for 300+ hp. It's going to be insured under his name. As far as me driving it, I would say I will drive it safe rather than to be sorry. I'm in the Auto Body coarse so I will have free safe parking in a gated private parking lot, which is nice.

I know the time spent, money spent and what it means, I worked on it half my summer vacation and after school/weekends, so I think I understand more than someone who is having the keys laid out. Which I wouldn't want, because I don't think I would deserve it. I mean I know this car better than the back of my hand. However I'm afraid I will get into a no-fault accident or maybe just a fender bender, which will cause me to be extra cautious.

But, What kind of insurance is this going to have to be, and price wise, compared to me having a 1980s camaro under my name? This car is never going to be raced, but driven almost daily between me, my dad and other brother.

Thanks and cool to see you other schoolers here.
 
#32 ·
Steiner said:
I can't speak for your location but in the US the rate mostly comes down to who is listed as the primary driver. If there are three cars in your household and three licensed drivers, usually each person must be listed as the primary driver on one of the cars. So, it is beneficial to list the youngest drivers on the oldest or smallest engined cars although any driver can drive any car.

So, if you still live with your parents you could be listed as primary driver on the lowest cost car to insure in your family and your mother or father could be listed as primary driver on the Camaro.
Click to expand...
As far as the way laws work where I live, I have to say that this is very, very bad advice. The reason insurance companies want drivers listed, is because if something happens to the car, and a non-listed driver wasn't behind the wheel, then they don't have to payout.

If you are living under the same roof as your parents, then you need to be listed as a driver on their policy. Insurance companies aren't dumb and they know if it was that easy, then everyone would be cheating the system to save money that way.

usually the only way someone doesn't need to be listed on a policy, and still be covered in an accident, is that they don't live at the same address. insurance companies don't worry about that as much, because it is much less of a chance of something happening with them, than someone living with the insured.

I guess I'm just trying to say that if you want to buy an old Camaro, just work hard and do things the right way. 90% of the time that young kids are led through life by their parents holding their hands, they don't learn the value of a dollar, amongst other life lessons. If a child is taught how to try to beat the system at a young age, how do you think they are going to be when they get older?

Ok, I feel better, so I'll get off my soapbox now
 
#33 ·
Basically the day I got my lisence my parents insisted I had my own car with my own insurance.They didnt want me on their policy.If I didn't have my own car and my own insurance I would have to go on theirs and it would run the rates up on their good cars.I got a $200 car as my first car,that lasted a month,then a free car my father's friend gave me just because my parents wanted me to have insurance,I blew that up a month later,then I got my 73 Camaro for $600{nice car back in 89} while I was still 17.I actually owned a nice 19 foot bowrider boat that I bought when I was 15,and wanted to sell it to buy the Camaro.My father didnt want me to sell the boat because he used it so much{he has a bigger boat and the little boat was fun to kick around} so he gave me $600 for the Camaro and I still have it to this day.Almost all the kids I went to high school with had 73 thru 79 camaros,but that was back when they were beat up and cost less then $1000 for a good running car.Everybody had minimum liabilty insurace{what did we have to loose?},which typically ran about $425 a year.I still carry only liability on my old cars,but it is much more liability now.All my new cars have comprehensive because of I wreck one I need to have another car to drive paid in full the next day.With the old cars,I dont drive them all that much,so I dont worry if one is layed up for a while{actually my 73 Camaro has been layed up since 1991}.LIabilty insurance on any car over 10 years old should be the same regardless of make model or engine power.Pretty much they are rating the driver,the car is just a worn out old clunker that probably hardly runs let alone goes fast.Little do they know.
 
#34 · (Edited)
Northeast Rod Run said:
As far as the way laws work where I live, I have to say that this is very, very bad advice. The reason insurance companies want drivers listed, is because if something happens to the car, and a non-listed driver wasn't behind the wheel, then they don't have to payout.
Click to expand...

Never said not listed as a driver.

Not listed as primary driver.

Just like there are different rates when you list the primary usage of the vehicle.

Our insurance company automatically covered all household drivers on all vehicles, however the base rate was based on primary usage and primary driver.

Both my sisters and parents had cars and I had an old pickup. The Camaro was the sixth car in a family of five licensed drivers. As such, my father was listed as primary driver on it while everyone else was primary on their vehicles so the rate on the Camaro was primarily based on a 60 year old man with no accidents yet everyone else in the household was an approved driver and that did affect the rate some. If it had been based on either myself or one of my sisters as primary driver with everyone else as approved drivers, it would have been much more.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#35 · (Edited)
I say go for it!!!! Like other guys in this thread my parents could not afford to buy me a car. So I worked all summer after junior year saving my money and then worked 4 different jobs during my senior year to buy my first car. I had it for about a year and half sold it to buy of all things a 92 mustang lx convt 5.0 triple black. Was a nice car only had it for about a year before had to sell it to get my Camaro. Bought my 97 SS in Aprill of 99 when I was 20:hurray:. Still have it today. I was actually looking for a 67 but my father would not let me buy one, said it would be to unreliable and we did not have a garage to work on the cars. I definitely treated my car different then some of my friends who's parents bought them there cars. Insurance was killer..about 3k a year with no accidents and no tickets!!!! Good luck and start saving!!! Do plenty of reading on here.

Derek
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#36 ·
Steiner said:
Never said not listed as a driver.

Not listed as primary driver.

Just like there are different rates when you list the primary usage of the vehicle.

Our insurance company automatically covered all household drivers on all vehicles, however the base rate was based on primary usage and primary driver.
Click to expand...
sorry, my bad:thumbsup:
 
#37 ·
Nice to see that you are thinking about going into this situation with both eyes open, as shown by your responses. But you have two options for obtaining a car. One is to purchase one that is finished, with little to be done on it... which will cost you a fair bit.. even in today's down prices...or two, to pick up one that needs work... and this can be a money pit,, much more than a lot of prospective buyers don't anticipate. This is especially true in your case as you will have extra costs in terms of shipment overseas.

Then, there is the cost of maintainance and operation, as the petrol in your part of the world is pretty darn high, and insurance will not be cheap due to your age.

I don't want to deflate you car dream...but wouldn't it be better to put your money towards a suitable education that would allow you to purchase what ever vehicle you would want in future years?

However, if your pockets are deep enough, or the family financially independent enough to support you... then go for it!

capt
 
Discussion starter · #38 ·
Haha, actually, it all comes to money ;(
Bloody hell, I'm going to work for it until I fall to the ground !
But it'll probably take 4-5 years for a really good education, and I can't wait to have one.
I just can't ^^

Thanks guys!

Keep up the posts ;)
 
21 - 38 of 38 Posts
About this Discussion
37 Replies
23 Participants
Last post:
Camarofrom69
Team Camaro Tech
posts
2.4M
members
90K
Since
1998
A forum community dedicated to 1st generation Chevy Camaros owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, builds, restoration, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, reviews, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Bench Racing Engine Body Shop Performance Brakes, Suspension & Steering