Was your first car a diesel?
 

The reason I ask is that my son who is just learning how to drive does not like driving my diesel. He prefers the zippy-ness of my wife's Honda Civic.
He does not like to floor the accelator to get it going.

Oh, well....

My first car was a 1970 Austin-America....

Tell your son that MY son has been driving my 92 300D for close to a year now and finally is able to appreciate that it's a REALLY COOL CAR. Lots of kids at school said, when he first started showing up with it, "Whoa, dude, you're driving a BENZ?" Your son will never get any comments if he drives your wife's Civic.

The first car I bought was my 1979 300D. The day after I bought it, I commuted to work for the first time. I thought I made a huge mistake. It seemed way under powered. But 2 days later I absolutely loved it. It takes a couple days to figure out the torque curve, how to get the autobox to shift just right by regulating the accelerator.

I can see why your son wouldn't like it. IF he's switching between the two and not getting used to the mercedes. Have him drive it alone for a week or so, and he'll get used to it. A word to the wise though. If he does start regularly driving the 300D, the next time he uses your wives car remind him not to floor the accelerator as it become a habit. There amore than a few members here that have gotten into something and instinctively floored it and almost ended up in a hedge or something.

My first car is the '84 (I'm 16)! I haven't driven it yet, though...

I like the zippiness of our Corolla, but I also like driving our Sienna for the "big car" feel -- in that one, I am always accelerating and turning slowly and ponderously. It's fun :)

Tell him if he gets hit in the Benz, he will likely walk away....

...of course, our Sienna can also burn rubber with the best of them, if need be. I have spun the tires a couple of times without meaning to (and I don't drive aggressively).

My first car was a 1969 Austin America

My second car was a 1978 Peugeot 504 Diesel Sedan....very reliable car and a solid 30mpg....

My wife loves her 1995 E300 for this very reason. She used to pull up to work and get worried that someone would think her VW Passat Wagon would make her look like the "weird mom type". Now she's made it a point to tell me that people compliment her car all the time.

I'd say tell your son to get over it. I will totally give a diesel (hopefully a slow one) to my son for his first car. They teach good confident driving habits (you have to be aware of how much power you have to merge) and they require a more relaxed driving style (no zipping in and out).

I really think that most diesels require just a bit more finesse and appreciation to drive and own. Gassers are just disposable cars in my eyes now.

EDIT: my first car was a 1994 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight LSS (non-supercharged) and my wife had a 2005 Kia Rio (which I ended up totaling and allowed me to buy my first Benz!)

Pontiac Fiero! Still have it too.

I didn't get a diesel until I went to college.

Harder to seriously injure yourself in a car that tends not to get away from you when first starting out. A lot of differances between young people factor in as well.

The only certainty is that driving is better than walking everywhere. Some of the cars I drive are really a little too much for a new driver. A 240d around town is a great starter car in my opinion. If dad is paying the freight he has the choice in my mind.

Once you go Benz, you never go back! ;) tell him that one

I learned to drive in our 2003 Sprinter passenger van and I drive my mom's 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis sometimes. Sprinter brakes better and rides better and handles better than the Mercury, higher mpg, and has more comfortable seats imo. The Mercury has more power (not much, its the 4.6) and weighs less so it obviously accelerates better but the steering is loose and is rather scary to drive because of that and its poor handling (just replaced the shocks so it is a bit better than it was). I'm hoping that my dad's 240D gets fixed up so I can drive it. I know it'll be slower than the others but I usually drive pretty laid back most if the time anyway.

I took my driving test in a genuine 1957 Chevrolet Black Widow....Olds differential, six-lug wheels with Olds brakes, and mechanically fuel injected 283 (283 horse) with a 3 speed column, built only for NASCAR racing.....