I say get the N/A crossfire. I got my SRT at 22 and the power was a nice upgrade but not extreme since I was coming from a modded SRT-4. My experience going from a Civic to SRT-4 at age 18 was not very smooth and almost got in trouble a few times but luckily didn't(1 ticket no crashes). I had the same thoughts then that I would respect the power and not mess around but that feeling only lasted a month since I thought I became adjusted to the car. At that age you want the car to have fun and show off and not to get to point A to B. The car can become a weapon when you do not know how to control the car. You are coming from a Ford Ranger which is nothing like a SRT-6 in anyway.

Also make sure you take into consideration maintenance costs of this car. Its looks like you are saving 500-1000 a month to buy this car, do you really want to be working 2 jobs just to own a car and miss out on the fun things your friends are doing?

 

normally i would say no way a teen gets a srt-6. if your saving for the purchase yourself and you pay cash for the car i would suggest this.
write up a legal agreement with your father that you promise obey all the current laws and never to street race the car. you will take the car to the track for either drag or autocross whatever your flavor is to learn the car and release the need for speed. if you stick to the agreement this could be the best time of your young life. if you fail to uphold your part of the agreement it could very well be the end of your young life.

 

All great words of wisdom from everyone above. If you decide to go with 32 Krazy's idea with an agreement with your Dad; maybe add to it that 1.) You'll sign up and take a defensive driving school, and 2.) You'll wash,wax, and detail his ride each month for the next year........ Good luck. Worst case; you'll have that much more money when you turn 18, if you can wait. I know I couldn't have. At your age, each month seems to = 1 yr.
Also let him know that the Crossfire is built like a little tank; it really is super stout!

 

I'm not sure if I can help you but I do want to let you know a few things you may or may not want to hear.

Let me start with the fact that you are saving your own money. That is Great and shows that you can be responsible. Keep up the excellent job, it will serve you well during your life!

Let me be real honest with you though, the srt6 is a fast car even in stock form. It is intoxicating, beautiful, fun to drive and gets alot of attention. That's the problem! People do not by these cars to stroll around town in at the speed limit. I would guarantee that each srt6 owner has beat the *$&t out of the car at some point risking a ticket or even worse....getting into a wreck and hurting themselves or someone else. I do not condone such driving and usually keep my races at the track but "usually" does not exempt me from everyone else. I do it too and sadly know better.

No one is ripping on your age, everyone older than you was once 17 as well and are giving you solid advice that is valid. No one wants you to be tempted with something you have no experience with. If your dad put the breaks on the deal it was not to hurt you or make you mad. He is worried about your safety, the last thing he wants is for you to get in trouble or hurt! That's a good dad and everyone did not get one.

I understand your frustration completely as I was in a similar position when I was 18 and decided to purchase a 70 Challenger while going against my dad's wishes. Short story, I bought the car and my dad was dissapointed with me and refused to help with ANY mechanical work. He made me park it in the back yard and really gave me hell about it whenever he could. He was really upset with me... If that was not bad enough, I wrecked the car three months later racing an older more experienced driver and got hurt pretty bad. The point of my story is that I had never dreamed of wrecking my dream car but due to lack of experience, I did just that.

Each person is different and I'm not saying that this would happen to you. What I am saying is that the power these cars put out - is addictive and in inexperienced hands, can spell big trouble.

If you can, let your dad do his job of protecting you and guiding you to the "best" choice for you until he feels comfortable enough to let you make all of the big decisions yourself. At the rate your going it won't be long.

 

My first cars were a 68 and 67 firebirds, then a faster 70 Camaro (Hurst 4spd-wish I still had it).
I had a ton of fun with these cars but none of them were stupid fast.

People here are telling you to screw the SRT idea for now and go with an NA.

I drove a 2005 XF 6spd for 3 years and had a blast with it. They're 225hp out of the box. Add a CAI, injectors and a tune and it's 275hp.

Not to sound demeaning but that's more than plenty for a 17yo.

If you don't have the patience to wait a few years for the SRT, then your not ready to own one (yeah, there's an oxymoron in there).

 

I appreciate all the feedback and I really am reading everyone's opinion.
I don't mean to sound like a hot shot, but I do trust myself with a fast car.
I think initially it will be rough to get used to; but eventually it will play out smoothly.
I've driven plenty of fast cars, and honestly I think I'm too scared to go too fast.

Here there is also light traffic and plenty of back country roads to adjust to.

I'm printing out some of your responses to show my dad. Positive and negative.

 

The NA handles almost as well if not as well as the SRT - besides for me half the fun is shifting!

 

these words alone show your inexperience . at 17 you havent driven enough in your life to know how to drive a fast car safely. the only way to learn is with time. and back country roads are no place to learn how. what will you do when your stretching your legs at 80 mph and a tractor pulls out in front of you? will you know how to react? thats why i suggested the contract and only air the car out at a track. NO STREET RUNS!! Maybe your father is correct

 

Really?? I guess there's nothing to worry about then.

 

Can't fault him. I didn't listen to anybody when I was that age either.

 

I was just thinking about all the assumptions made in this thread. At 16, my nephew had been drag racing a junior dragster for 7 years and moved into an alcohol funny car. He had plenty of time behind the wheel driving the tow vehicle - a quad cab dually pickup with a 2 car trailer - both around the track areas, as well as on the road (not legally).

At that age, he was a better, more experienced driver than most people on the road (based on my driving experiencing, seeing all the morons on the road every day).

The improper assumption is that someone young can't possibly have any driving experience, or that old farts driving poorly for decades somehow are better, or more capable drivers. I don't see it.

 

Yeah your right.. just like we didn't "assume" he was a total moron that should have nothing faster than a Yugo.. assumptions.. assumptions..

So pick which end of the scale you want to work from and go from there..

Maybe he should have mentioned Jack Roush has invited him to cup car camp this summer.. then we could have made the correct assumption...

 

At 16, I had a '87 vette with z51 suspension with the crazy 4+3 speed manual and was already taking college classes in mechanical design. Ran 100mph+ every day and learned how to control a car. Did more doughnuts and burnouts that year than I have done the rest of my life. Wouldn't have traded the experience for anything. Grew up standing up in the backseat not wearing seat belts. Didn't think twice riding barefoot with no helmet on the back on my buddy's kdx traveling 75mph on pavement at 12 years old. Were we stupid, yes. Did our parents know about it, most times not. Am I the person today because of it, yes. I was the "responsible teenager" and despite always being the star student, I am the person today because of growing up pushing my luck and my liimits.

Would I let my son do these things, probably not. Would I want him to try, I hope so, it would be normal. We all feel like the responsible thing to say is that this car is not for a 17 year old but I have to admit I wouldn't give anything for my memories of being a "stupid kid".

 

It's a good job you never fell on your head or maybe you would not remember.

 

Basically with this group being older we know whats most likely to happen.. Me personally.. 66 chevy impala.. 110 mph..downhill start..lol.. and topped the hill - went airborn.. cocked to the left with a mustang coming up the hill about 100 yards away.. could have gotten real bad.. 60 mph drag race in a 35 down the main criuse strip back then.. drag racing a camaro.. probably doing 80 in a 40.. round a bend and two cops have a car pulled over.. I panic and let off..camaro hits it again.. I do too.. we manage to duck off in an apartment complex and park them and avoid jail. So knowing what teens do.. my son gets the Miata.. and will be lucky to turn the key on the Crossfire.

 

Age is certainly not a messurement of abilities with speed.
I recieved my Professional license and a factory ride with U.S. Suzuki at age 15. My reflexes were much faster than now.
What is a messurmente of the responsiblity that is needed for this situation is your ability to communicate that the decission is a correct one to your father, and that you have the spine to speak to him as someone with the maturity to own said car. If this is even a question in your mind then you need to guestion if any car is right for you.
Montana

 

My srt6 was passed down to me when I was 16, now 18. This car has saved me from More wrecks than anything else. It is a great car, getting to know the car and how it handles, brakes and accelerates is the best thing you can do.

 

He should get one. Then I won't be the young one at 31!

 

with over 2 million miles under my belt in a rig that weighs 80,000 lbs i stand by my statement. your nephew did his racing the proper way, on a track. as far as a dually with a trailer unless he was driving through the city traffic (not likely) it was just training not experience. at 17 with a car that can run 150 mph the experience he has isnt enough and i see the tragedy of it everyday on the side of the road with wreckers and ambulances attending.
i also speak from experience . my first car was a 400 hp 68 gto and within a yr i wrapped it around a pole. no substitute for miles under the belt and time

 

For what it's worth I spun my Mercedes out yesterday trying to make a U-Turn... I consider myself a fairly confident driver and had a total fail moment. I ended up facing the wrong way, but thankfully there was no traffic out and I was able to spin the car back around and continue on my merry way.