Hey Steve, Perhaps I can add something to the converstation being that I am probably closer to your sons age than most people here. I can fully relate to your sons desire of the Acura but at the same time, I agree that it might not be a good choice. Civics, integras, etc are about the hottest car a young 20's guy can have right now. When they are lowered and have nice wheels etc, even chicks know they are cool and nothing is better when you are 21 then to have a chick really dig your ride. However, I can empathize with your parental position wanting to keep your son safe (and yes, 9000.00 is DEFINITELY to much to spend on that car). When I was 16 my dad and I built a Midget from the ground up. From that experience I learned not only how to fix and maintain my car, but also to respect it and love it as something I had created. Once I had put that much of my own time, effort, love, money, blood, sweat and tears into a car the last thing in the world I wanted to do was be irresponsible with it. After that I got a 66 Mustang and it was the same thing. I loved that car, it was sexy, chicks REALLY dig classic muscle, it was the easiest thing to work on that I have ever owned and parts were never more than $40 for a stock replacement. Even if it weren't a stict "muscle car", a classic is still a classic. A Galaxy or a mid-sixties impala will still have big powerful V-8 without the dangerousness of thinking the car handles like an Acura because as fun and cool as a Mustang is, it'll take more than $9000.00 worth of suspension and brake mods before it handles as well as an Acura. Also, here in Portland, OR the worst we ever have to worry about is rain. Snow/ice and traction are never really an issue. With that consideration in mind, being that it doesn't seem like you're really into an american classic or a euro-style jap car and I would advise against the expensive older european cars (BMW, Audi, Saab, Benzo), I think the best bet would be an AWD Subie. Subaru's are realiable and the traction is unbeatable and as long as you don't get a hatchback, they are even pretty nice looking. Of course the 2-door WRX is a dream car of mine but it is more expensive yet and also an open invitation for crazy driving and showing off. Like my infinitely wise dad told me, "it doesn't matter if you have one-wheel-peel or AWD once you've lost control". Bottom line: if he loves the Acura and cares for it and drives it responsibly, it'll be the safest car he's ever owned. If he gets something he doesn't care about then it doesn't matter if it has 4 cylinders or 8, one-wheel-peel or AWD, 1000hp or 50, american, jap or british. I personally never drove quite so foolishly in my entire life as I did when I wished the car I was in was a mustang and it wasn't. Good luck to you and your son.