When I was 15 I had dreams of getting a TJ, but my parents knew with my summer job and learning how to work on vehicles with my dad as a kid, I would put a lift on it and the safety issue made that not become a reality. Instead I bought half of a mustang and my parents bought the other half with me making payments. (couldn't get a V8 because of safety reasons). Fast forward 1.5 years and a lot of hard work and money, that V6 smoked V8's all day long. I was pulled over by some not-so-friendly state troopers going well over the speed limit one night (130mph... I know, dumb #$% kid. ) I constantly got minor tickets because the car was so naturally fast, I truly didn't mean to speed but a loud, red mustang grabs attention. I also said hello to a guard rail about 2 years ago in it and luckily walked away fine.

Looking back, my family agrees the jeep would've been the better choice with limitations of lift, tires etc. We don't drive the safest vehicles in the world but they aren't death traps either. I'd say go for it if you limit some aspects of the build and trust your son. Since I traded my Mustang in and bought my jk, I've spent almost every other weekend with my dad building and mod-ing it and we both love it just for that reason. We hunt and fish together out of it and he's even thinking of getting a JKU now so we can wheel together. If it was me (although I'm a long way away from kids I hope ) and I trusted my son or daughter, I'd snag one for them. just my $.02

 

I got my jk when I was 15 well my dad bought his when I was 15 but I started driving at 16, I love my jk and I has made me a lot more responsible especially since almost everyone that wheels out here in la is older!

If you do get him a tj then I say you just make it safe! Add a Cage, Bumpers, Rock-sliders, small lift, good tires, and some good lights

 

There are two types of drivers, defensive and offensive....My 18 year old daughter is offensive(always in a rush) my 15 year old is defensive. I wouldn't even consider letting my oldest have a Jeep but my youngest drives my Jeep every day to school until we can find her a new car. I am not saying my youngest couldn't wreck it but she is at least driving it with the respect that a Jeep deserves. A Jeep is also not a good car to take to College, poor security, bad gas mileage,no storage......... A great first car is Ford Focus or Chevy Cruze, they are good on insurance, good visibility, safe and affordable. I like Honda's and Toyota's better but Insurance is double for a teenager with my insurance company.


BTW, I had a Jeep CJ5 when I was in High School and it suddenly made me popular but I did some really stupid things in that Jeep and I am very lucky to be alive today....

 

Your wife wasn't ever a 16 year old boy, so she might not know how stupid they can be. Some of the dumb stuff we pulled would get us killed even in the safest of today's cars. I think the route of buying a fixer upper tj and working on it with him is by far the best way to get him to respect the vehicle, the privilege of driving, and the work/money that comes along with it. Match him dollar for dollar and set limits for the mods to not let it get too extreme. Explain that you are partners in the jeep and he has to commit to driving safe and taking care of it. If he violates your agreement, there have to be consequences. If you have any fears you could always install a mobicopilot.

 

There are many good posts for and against. My son was a real aggressive driver (still is at 31) and our daughter very conservative. Each person has to be judged on their own merits. What we did do was make them get their own insurance policy and we payed for the first six months of it then it was up to them to pay. When they do something foolish it will be their financial problem not yours. Don't fool yourself and think that junior will not do anything foolish. A friend of mine had his 18 year old son on his insurance and the 18 year old got pinched for a DWI. That cost him huge sums of money because the insurance policy included the son who got pinched. Think if someone got hurt seriously in an accident that involved a vehicle that is on your insurance policy. Today lawyers can't wait to drag everyone they can into civil court. Any vehicle can be a great father-son project and remember that you are going to live with your wife the rest of your life and he is going to leave home soon. Don't let a vehicle make your life with your wife become miserable.