Stupidity (18 yr olds and a BWM M5)

[elsdfr]

Or awesomeness? You decide.

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[HackerX]

This one is doing the rounds at the moment:
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This is just plain stupidity though

[rwyatt365]

Call it jealousy, but no one should be able to get an M-Series until after I do!

(when I become king of the world...)

[tf1]

not a bad way to go..





tf1 added to this post, 37 minutes and 32 seconds later...

This one is doing the rounds at the moment:
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This is just plain stupidity though
you suck at the internet..

[pavman]

Not a huge fan of the M's Sure they're neato but they're dinky. I like the 7-series myself (own an '01 740il). I do NOT like the new Japanese body-styles. If I wanted a Japanese car, I'd go buy a Japanese car, not a German car. Ironic how both Infiniti and Lexus built their brand off of imitating that German squareness, and now BMW is going more rounded Japanish.

I looked @ a used Mercedes SLK 230 AMG, but even if its got a 4-cylinder engine and is fast as hell (0-60 in 3.5s), I couldn't justify $32K on a 4-cylinder, 2-seater (may have been a 6-cylinder). No way. No how. Been thinking of getting one of those Chrysler Crossfires. They're fast, small, and cheap!





pavman added to this post, 7 minutes and 37 seconds later...

Call it jealousy, but no one should be able to get an M-Series until after I do!

(when I become king of the world...)

You can't become king of the world when I'm already king!

[rwyatt365]

How 'bout a Honda S2000, or a Miata (*nudge, nudge - wink, wink*)? the S2000 has decent power out of the box, and the Miata can be turned into a real giant killer (no jokes about "secretary's car", I have one).

You can't become king of the world when I'm already king!
Then do SOMETHING about those damned 18 y/o with BMW's!! :irked:

[slut poacher]

How 'bout a Honda S2000, or a Miata (*nudge, nudge - wink, wink*)? the S2000 has decent power out of the box, and the Miata can be turned into a real giant killer (no jokes about "secretary's car", I have one).


Then do SOMETHING about those damned 18 y/o with BMW's!! :irked:
I would own a miata in a heartbeat. If only I could get into one.

[Vayate]

Well look at it this way: now the world has a couple fewer. :3 The guy posted at that forum, and if you read his posts you'll find that he didn't even know how to drive it. Just some stupid kid with more than he could handle; this outcome is unsurprising.

[HackerX]

tf1 added to this post, 37 minutes and 32 seconds later...


you suck at the internet..

Fixed... you suck at behaving :)

To be honest, my link isn't the same style of thread as the M5 one... mines more of a guy who just shouldn't be driving any sort of car.

[elsdfr]

Anyone who doesn't want to read the M5 thread the general jist is...

A kids posts a topic about how his BWM M5 is not performing as he thinks it should. People start to question why an 18 year old is driving a 500HP luxury car. He said it was his and gives the performance settings. These cars are akin to an fighter jet as far as performance options go.

One person points out how his setup might be wrong. People are questioning if he is a troll or not and want pics. The kid is pretty mature about it all. He goes quiet after being given better settings.

A couple of posts later people wonder where the pics are and someone in his area notice an accident in the news involving and 18 year old and an M5. They put it together an it is indeed the kid who asked questions. Here is one of the news links To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

He managed to launch the car 100m's and split it in two while driving it on a gated communities air strip... the whole thing is kind of sicking now I think about it but still kind of amazing.

[rwyatt365]

Anyone who doesn't want to read the M5 thread the general jist is...

A kids posts a topic about how his BWM M5 is not performing as he thinks it should. People start to question why an 18 year old is driving a 500HP luxury car. He said it was his and gives the performance settings. These cars are akin to an fighter jet as far as performance options go.

One person points out how his setup might be wrong. People are questioning if he is a troll or not and want pics. The kid is pretty mature about it all. He goes quiet after being given better settings.

A couple of posts later people wonder where the pics are and someone in his area notice an accident in the news involving and 18 year old and an M5. They put it together an it is indeed the kid who asked questions. Here is one of the news links To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

He managed to launch the car 100m's and split it in two while driving it on a gated communities air strip... the whole thing is kind of sicking now I think about it but still kind of amazing.
I know this is going to sound cold-hearted, but…the kid had no business whatsoever in a machine like that. He obviously had no idea of the car's potential and he lacked the maturity (or wisdom) to recognize that. I won't categorize all teens in the same way, because some will take the time to learn about their car (or bike) and approach its limits with caution.

I don’t have a problem with people driving fast. I appreciate anyone that can do it skillfully and intelligently without endangering others. I do have a problem with people that have more money than brains and spend their way into vehicles that they have no idea how to control. And shame on any parent that will buy their kid a 500HP car without first sending them to a performance driving school to learn how to use that power. Hell, you've spent $30K, why not spend $1,500 more and keep your kid alive!

[elsdfr]

I know this is going to sound cold-hearted, but…the kid had no business whatsoever in a machine like that. He obviously had no idea of the car's potential and he lacked the maturity (or wisdom) to recognize that. I won't categorize all teens in the same way, because some will take the time to learn about their car (or bike) and approach its limits with caution.

I don’t have a problem with people driving fast. I appreciate anyone that can do it skillfully and intelligently without endangering others. I do have a problem with people that have more money than brains and spend their way into vehicles that they have no idea how to control. And shame on any parent that will buy their kid a 500HP car without first sending them to a performance driving school to learn how to use that power. Hell, you've spent $30K, why not spend $1,500 more and keep your kid alive!

Yes, harsh but true.

Good to see natural selection is still at work though.

[Rei]

I dunno.
Considering there are 19yo Nascar drivers (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)... I don't see what's so *gasp* about 18yos with high performance cars.

I do think it's disgusting if they're not buying them with their own money though.

[rwyatt365]

Here's a thread (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) from the Miata forum that I frequent about this (if you're interested). The consensus opinion is "Darwin won!".

(PS - I don't know if you can read the thread if you're not registered)

[rwyatt365]

I dunno.
Considering there are 19yo Nascar drivers (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)... I don't see what's so *gasp* about 18yos with high performance cars.
(To me) it's not about 18 y/o's w/ high performance cars, it's irresponsible individuals coddled by their parents who endanger the lives of others, giving a bad name to more responsible youths and mature hi-perf vehicle owners.

[Rei]

(To me) it's not about 18 y/o's w/ high performance cars, it's irresponsible individuals coddled by their parents who endanger the lives of others, giving a bad name to more responsible youths and mature hi-perf vehicle owners.

For me, I find it disturbing that 18yo's have hi-perf cars simply because none should have enough money to buy one, and at that age they shouldn't be asking their parents to buy them anything.

I don't think it has anything to do with the "name" of "more responsible youths and mature hi-perf vehicle owners" because I see each of these three groups of people as completely different.

Which leads me to ask, isn't it just as irresponsible (to drive 'dangerously') if the person was say... 40? (if not more so?) Not to mention that it is irresponsibility on the person's parents' part as well. If the matter rests on the person's skills in relation to the person's age, then the 19yo professional racecar drivers just proved that irrelevant.

[Vayate]

Which leads me to ask, isn't it just as irresponsible (to drive 'dangerously') if the person was say... 40? (if not more so?) Not to mention that it is irresponsibility on the person's parents' part as well. If the matter rests on the person's skills in relation to the person's age, then the 19yo professional racecar drivers just proved that irrelevant.

Driving irresponsibly is a bad thing no matter how old you are. That said, if I screw up and have a kid, s/he is going to get professional racing/driving lessons and something that makes at least 300HP at the wheels. Getting a performance-oriented car is actually a lot safer than an econobox, since with an econobox your only choice to pull yourself out of a dangerous situation is to brake. The vast majority of the time, braking is the wrong way to handle a dangerous driving situation -- more often you need to get out of the way, regain traction or correct with the wheel. All of those require a responsive throttle.

That said, the M5 driver made me laugh. "halp, I don't know how to use the paddle shift properly!" Stupid kid couldn't even shift right using a button. Darwin: 1, M5 kid: -1 (loses point for suicide).

[elsdfr]

Not to mention that it is irresponsibility on the person's parents' part as well. If the matter rests on the person's skills in relation to the person's age, then the 19yo professional racecar drivers just proved that irrelevant.

True but they have probably also been driving Dads pickup since they could walk. Granted we know nothing of the kid or his previous experience or exactly what cause his to launch him and his buddies to their death but it does touch on an issue that bothers me. That is seeing young exuberant drivers in cars that are death traps for the inexperienced.

Hell, you've spent $30K, why not spend $1,500 more and keep your kid alive!

They are 30K in the US? I've seen them quoted at 80K. Here in Aus a current model is pushing 200K :(

[Rei]

True but they have probably also been driving Dads pickup since they could walk. Granted we know nothing of the kid or his previous experience or exactly what cause his to launch him and his buddies to their death but it does touch on an issue that bothers me. That is seeing young exuberant drivers in cars that are death traps for the inexperienced.

Okay THERE is the problem. People pushing the limits of their luck by pushing a car they do not know how to handle. Some celebrity in Asia crashed a Porche (while running from the paparazzi) because he didn't know how the break on the thing worked!

BUT, being young doesn't really equate to inexperience. That's why the title of this forum (and some things being said) bugged me.


EDIT: Also, inexperience doesn't always equate to less knowledge.

[elsdfr]

Sure if I titled it "Stupidity = 18 year olds" maybe I'd understand. But its in relation to 500HP cars. Trust me, I don't think they are all stupid as I was once 18 and also invincible :cheesy:

[Rei]

Sure if I titled it "Stupidity = 18 year olds" maybe I'd understand. But its in relation to 500HP cars. Trust me, I don't think they are all stupid as I was once 18 and also invincible :cheesy:

Well when you put something in brackets after something else, one would usually assume the former is an example of the latter. I just don't really think 18 yr olds and a BWM M5 is necessarily "stupidity"

[elsdfr]

I'm guessing you know an 18 year old who drives an M5? If not have you tried to drive a car with 500HP at the wheels? Your average 18 yr old male is going to put his foot down sometime. Whether or not he's able to survive it just comes down to common sense or maturity I guess and unfortunately that is not so common.

The stupidity is just as much on the kids part as it is on the parents in this case.

[Rei]

I'm guessing you know an 18 year old who drives an M5? If not have you tried to drive a car with 500HP at the wheels? Your average 18 yr old male is going to put his foot down sometime. Whether or not he's able to survive it just comes down to common sense or maturity I guess and unfortunately that is not so common.

I guess that could be true. I'd just like to think that there's possibly someone out there who is not a moron.

[elsdfr]

I guess that could be true. I'd just like to think that there's possibly someone out there who is not a moron.

Haha oh I'm sure there is but you'd probably find better odds in having two INTJs meet in a nightclub (random thought) than a 18 year old who can drive 500HP at full throttle... ahh finally the weekend is here, home time!

[rwyatt365]

Which leads me to ask, isn't it just as irresponsible (to drive 'dangerously') if the person was say... 40? (if not more so?) Not to mention that it is irresponsibility on the person's parents' part as well. If the matter rests on the person's skills in relation to the person's age, then the 19yo professional racecar drivers just proved that irrelevant.
It is irresponsible to drive dangerously no matter what the age. It is irresponsible to place a high-powered machine in the hands of an inexperienced operator (no matter what the machine, no matter what the age of the operator). And skill is not directly related to age, skill is related to experience. There are 14 y/o kids that could handle the M5 (take a kid that's been racing karts since he was 6 and is used to handling high power/weight ratio vehicles and knows about race car dynamics), and there are 30 y/o's that shouldn’t be driving at all!

However, driving dangerously and driving quickly are not synonymous. People always trumpet the mantra "Speed Kills". Speed doesn't kill, it's the sudden stop that gets ya!

Driving irresponsibly is a bad thing no matter how old you are. That said, if I screw up and have a kid, s/he is going to get professional racing/driving lessons and something that makes at least 300HP at the wheels. Getting a performance-oriented car is actually a lot safer than an econobox, since with an econobox your only choice to pull yourself out of a dangerous situation is to brake. The vast majority of the time, braking is the wrong way to handle a dangerous driving situation -- more often you need to get out of the way, regain traction or correct with the wheel. All of those require a responsive throttle.
Brakes are not the only means to avoid danger (and, as you said, not the best way). "Situational awareness" on the road is something that most drivers don't have, but should. Knowing what is happening around you, where you are in relation to other drivers, knowing the road conditions and having "escape routes" for anticipated circumstances is what will make one a better driver. Most people drive in a fog. I don't know how many times daily I think, "Didn't you SEE that?!", while driving. This is the best thing to teach a new driver.

My wife is always terrified when riding with me, not because I drive crazily (I slow down considerably when she is a passenger), but because she sees every other car as a threat. A car merging onto the freeway makes her jump, a brake light causes her to panic. Those things are just a part of the "fabric" of driving – anticipate them, have a plan to address them and act when necessary – no problem.

True but they have probably also been driving Dads pickup since they could walk. Granted we know nothing of the kid or his previous experience or exactly what cause his to launch him and his buddies to their death but it does touch on an issue that bothers me. That is seeing young exuberant drivers in cars that are death traps for the inexperienced.
According to info that I've seen the car was doing several "top speed" passes on the runway airstrip. The M5 is good for 150MPH+ in stock trim, and can probably get close to 200MPH if the speed governor is disabled (which I think that kid was incapable of). Evidently he misjudged the end of the runway and hit the embankment at speed. The car launched 30 feet through the air (I think it was 30 ft), and clipped a tree 15ft off of the ground – that was the killing blow, 3 kids were ejected and 2 were partially ejected.

According to other reports all of the boys in the car, including the driver had multiple traffic (speeding) violations, and some were very recent to the crash. So…daddy bought the car for Jr (the car was registered in the father's name), he took a bunch of his hot-rod buddies to the airstrip to do his "macho thing" and the end result is that they all died from terminal incompetence.

They are 30K in the US? I've seen them quoted at 80K. Here in Aus a current model is pushing 200K
I just pulled a number out of my a$$ ($30K) on that one.
Haha oh I'm sure there is but you'd probably find better odds in having two INTJs meet in a nightclub (random thought) than a 18 year old who can drive 500HP at full throttle... ahh finally the weekend is here, home time!
Hmmm…2 INTJs and an 18 y/o kid walk into a bar…(the makings of a joke?)

[Rei]

Haha oh I'm sure there is but you'd probably find better odds in having two INTJs meet in a nightclub (random thought) than a 18 year old who can drive 500HP at full throttle... ahh finally the weekend is here, home time!

*sigh*
Like I said, there are teenagers out there who can handle their cars.

It is irresponsible to drive dangerously no matter what the age. It is irresponsible to place a high-powered machine in the hands of an inexperienced operator (no matter what the machine, no matter what the age of the operator). And skill is not directly related to age, skill is related to experience. There are 14 y/o kids that could handle the M5 (take a kid that's been racing karts since he was 6 and is used to handling high power/weight ratio vehicles and knows about race car dynamics), and there are 30 y/o's that shouldn’t be driving at all!

However, driving dangerously and driving quickly are not synonymous. People always trumpet the mantra "Speed Kills". Speed doesn't kill, it's the sudden stop that gets ya!

Exactly.
But I think a high-powered machine in the hands of an inexperienced driver is fine as long as said driver drives safely. The only problem is the combination of inexperience and stupidity. Skill is related to experience, but it's possible to have one and not the other.

You're right, speed is not what kills you. I actually just think a whole lot of people driving at 60 on the highway should just take the public transit.

[elsdfr]

*sigh*
Like I said, there are teenagers out there who can handle their cars.



Exactly.
But I think a high-powered machine in the hands of an inexperienced driver is fine as long as said driver drives safely. The only problem is the combination of inexperience and stupidity. Skill is related to experience, but it's possible to have one and not the other.

You're right, speed is not what kills you. I actually just think a whole lot of people driving at 60 on the highway should just take the public transit.

Is that a sigh of discontent because I posted it as a topic of discission which I probably wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Disecting the schmatics of it isn't going to prove it right or wrong, rather it makes me wonder about the stupid/ironic nature of human behaviour.

Buy this kind of car and it gets you umpteen hours of track time anyway, so really there are no excuses on the part of both father and son.