The Teenager's Perspective
Yeah Yeah, I know none of you guys want to here MY opinion... I'm just the 18 year old of the group.
But whatever, here goes:
When I was headed out to my senior prom, I had a good friend (my girlfriend's mom's roomate - nothing goin on.. just a roomate!) who had a pretty new Camaro SS, so I asked him if I could borrow it. I told him I was willing to "rent" it, that I would bring it back with a full tank of gas, and that he could drive around with me in it for a day to make sure I handled it the way he'd like me to.
Now I am a good driver, never had so much as a scrape on any car I've driven. Driving is in my blood. This guy knew that so he responded immediately with a yes, and not to worry about the gas or the "rent." Plus, he added, his uncle had let him borrow a car to go to his Senior Ball, so he wanted to return the Karma.
So all is fine and well, until my girlfriend's mom hears abotu it and immediately explodes about how I shouldn't have ever even asked. So, poof, car cancelled.
Why did I want the car? I am going to the Senior ball for my school, and the senior ball for my girlfriend's school. I want mine to be something special to me. Just like girls make plans for their senior ball, so do guys. My plan is to be in a nice suit, with nice flowers, in a nice car, with a nice girl, at a nice place, with nice food and nice music. Sure, the car didn't make a whole lot of difference in the end, but it was the one thing that would have made the night perfect. You only get one chance at your senior ball, why not do your best.
I don't know your son, but I'm sure he is dying to impress his date, and make his night perfect. Teach the boy how to drive the car, tell him how important it is to you, and let him drive it. It's just one night of fear for you, and a lifetime of good memories for him (not to mention a little less teenage resentment of you).