[-JLT-]

for those with kids ... time sure goes by fast. I can't believe my son just finished his drivers ed class and will be getting his drivers license this September when he turns 16. I was going to get him a new BMW, probably an X1 or 2-series, but instead gave him the ride we bought my wife's mom in 2011, an Audi Q5 2.0T. and for her mom, we got her a 2017 BMW X3.

I always modify my rides so this was no exception. even though it wasn't my ride, u would think my son would be so grateful and excited about me modding his first ride. well, he sorta is, and told me: "Dad, just don't go crazy." I guess he knows me to well . the first 3 things I always do to my rides are: tints (including windshield), lowering (springs or coilovers), and wheels (spacers if I really like the stock wheels).

so as soon as I knew he was getting the Q5, my modding research began. I immediately took my ride to Wrapped Chicago to get the front windows and windshield tinted. for lowering, I love how my M4 'vert feels with KW V3 so I decided to go with KW V1. as for wheels, I went with Vorsteiner V-FF 103 in silver finish 20x10 squared and Continental DSW06 275/40/20 tires. mad props to Mops and Eric at Supremepower for the coilovers and wheels. I also, didn't like the front grill so I ordered a S-Line one and had it painted gloss black (except for the Audi logo).

I just want to say how much I appreciate the folks at A&L Autobody, especially my man Anthony and Dylan (keeping me updated with status and pics) for taking great care of my rides. those peeps there are like my family! anyways, here are some pics:

before:

[-JLT-]

after:

[yousefnjr]

You're a nice dad. My kids will be paying for this shit themselves lol. Car looks good.

[mojobmw_e90]

One lucky kid.. I live in Chicago and see this daily. Parents buying kids cars that don't suit them especially for beginners. The other day a kid in a Saleen Mustang gave me a Rev and middle finger because his car better than my e90. Quickly got offended when I told him that dad is calling and wants his car back

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Not a bad first ride, much better then my first car.

[Blacross]

My question to you is this. "Are you helping him more buying him something like this or hurting him?"
I guess that question is only one you can answer. Not passing judgement, you're entitled to make your own choices.
Hopefully he will have you in his life to help him out thru most of adulthood as well.

[Matt@EuroJerks]

Honest questions. The decreased visibility of the windshield is of no concern to you to a new driver? Don't you feel like you are putting looks in front of your child's safety as well as the general public's?

[arwin]

Tinting the front windshield has to got to be the dumbest mod I've ever seen.
The ride is nice otherwise.

Like others have said, not really sure you are really helping him with giving him such a nice ride as his first ride. But he seems like a level headed kid by telling you not to go crazy with the mods. lol

[jlo0109]

Hats off to one cool dad!

I always told myself that I would never spoil my kids and I would teach them the proper values in life. I doubt I will follow through when the time comes for them to get a car lol. Kudos to you my friend. Cheers.

[paliknight]

I don't know what some of these guys are smoking but the tints are not dark at all. You can actually still see through the other side of the car through the rear tints. That means the windshield is even lighter. I get my windshield tinted 50% and I have never had a visibility issue in over ten years.

But I think OP made a great decision. Give him a hand-me-down car that's older, but new enough to be reliable.

[R3dliner]

best looking q5 I've ever seen. Your kid is very lucky to have a dad like you.
My first car parents bought me was a new maxima.

[-JLT-]

thanks for all the kind words and constructive criticism! I will say this about the front windshield tint. the first time I tinted my front windshield was in my previous F80 M3. I personally like the look of it but soon realized that the biggest benefit was it kept the hot sun rays out of the interior and the car felt much cooler. most people tint all their windows but their front windshield and don't realize that it is the largest window in ur car and therefore lets in most of the hot rays.

do u think I would put my son's life in jeopardy? c'mon guys! I could almost bet that the people that is criticizing me for the windshield tint never have done they're own rides or driven in one. I assure u it doesn't interfere with ur vision like u would think. but at the end of the day, we all have to make our own decisions for ourselves and family. I appreciate all the comments, good or bad ;-).

peace!

[-JLT-]

few more pics:

[MickyD'bo]

You rich dude? We'd have to millionaires in the UK to own a home like that. Respect. What line of work are you in man?

[saeyedoc]

Good luck. I bought my youngest a POS used Civic and predictably, she managed to curb it and destroyed half the suspension and two tires. Same with our oldest, she totaled by wife's Audi two days after she got her license. They have to earn the right to drive something decent.

[damnitBobby]

I really don't see anything wrong with a 6 year old Audi as a first car. If I had to be censorious I probably would have gone with something more reliable for my kid like a Toyota or Lexus.

But yeah the front windshield tint that's unnecessary, especially for a young kid that's driving for the first time.

[merakulous]

Pretty sure windshield tint (except the very top strip) is illegal in Florida. It's not ideal at night. I gave my 16 year old my used-up Mercedes E550. Most brand new drivers are going to gradually (or sometimes immediately) trash the car anyway, so I figured no reason to start him with a brand new car.

[AtlasM]

Looks good overall, and it sounds more like you want to do something nice for your kid than your kid is some kind of brat demanding a fancy car.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of dark tint in general and especially on the windshield. Can't see the driver from outside the car = more attention from cops.

My car is tinted 50% all around but none on the windshield because I want to be seen.

You can get 3M Crystalline film for the windshield that even with only like 60 or 70% tint you reject 97% of infrared which is what heats up your car. I may do the 70% on my windshield one of these days.

Also the fact that you left the dealer tag frames on makes my OCD twitch.

[HyeWarrior]

Damn dude, wanna adopt a 27 yr old?

You can mod my 135i for me. I make pretty good waffles and pancakes

[Germanauto]

Sexy. I can tell your family is really into cars.

[-JLT-]

ok, let me clear things up so people will understand my son and my situation better. my son just finished his freshman year in high school and he's enrolled in all honors and AP classes. he got straight A's in all his classes except a B in AP Geography (which equates to a normal A) and a B in Drivers Ed (which is very hard and entitles him to not have to do the driving portion when he gets his drivers license). his overall GPA for the year was 4.50 out of 4.00 scale. I was a very good student at his age as well but he's in another league compared to me.

regarding the front windshield tint (hot debate), he only has his permit so when he drives, my wife or myself, will always be with him. if it interferes or he doesn't like it, I will remove it and maybe go with a very light tint that will block out the rays. his car is black and his interior is black also so I want to keep his car cool as possible. unlike his dad, he's a very calm, by-the-speed limit type of driver so I'm not concerned about his driving. in fact, sometimes I have to tell him to speed up a little to keep up with flow of traffic.

he never asked me for a car or to mod it but I believe he deserves it for being a great son and doing so well in school. I enjoy modding cars so I asked him and he said: "Sure, I don't care but just don't go crazy (find my build thread for my M4 'vert, lol)". nothing I have done is irreversible so relax people and just enjoy life

[FamilyManTrackSedan]

Many thoughts, which you'll get because you posted this publicly:
- This is gonna be tougher to take when he scrapes and (hopefully not, truly) crunches it, like I did to my mom's then-8-year-old Civic when I was 17.
- After I totaled it, I was left to fend for myself and buy another (8 year old) car. Unlike many of the kids who get these kinds of cars and believe they're owed another one. Knew a girl whose dad gave her a new Mustang GT every one of the 3 times she wrecked one. I look back and still see a family of clowns.
- Saw a kid and his friends in a brand new F30 M3 leaving their private high school passing a J around. Boy what a good time that looked to be. The high schooler in me was jealous, but the parent in me wanted to punch that fucking kid's dad in the face. Just sayin.

Edit just saw your post that he got straight As lol