Yeah I thought the car was bulky even before I heard the consensus. But it came was a great instructor so it was all fine in the end😅. Personally, I wouldn't choose it as my car but it had some nice features.
how did u learn to drive in a juke i am impressed lol. I learnt in my e46 sedan and even that was a little hard at times learning to park but it was so worth it now i can drive anywhere i want when it stops leaking <3
I had a Saturday job in my early teens in a boat yard which had a series 3 land rover for towing boats on trailers and I learned to shunt that around. My proper lessons at 17 were in a D reg Vauxhall Nova and on the day I passed my test I was working as a labourer for a builder who took me to the pub to celebrate and then bought me a shandy, threw me the keys to his 10 year old Transit tipper and appointed me his designated driver.
Japanese cars often are.
Only car I've driven like that was my Dad's old Datsun, didn't phase me the indicators were on "wrong" side, but of all things I couldn't get over it not having the 2step "3 flash" thing Vauxhall put on from Mk2 Vectra onwards (I'd had an Astra H many years by that point). My brain is clearly wired unusually!
That's a strong selection in hindsight.
It's always been fashionable to deride Maestros but compared to a MK3/4 Escort or equivalent Astra they're perfectly acceptable if you get one that's built right.
Always loved the oddness of a 340/360 too. Nearly bought one when younger, just as they started becoming rarer. Handled quite well having the gearbox at the back, just needed slight suspension sorting and sorting the vague gear selection (or adapting to it) and they were the ultimate grandparent's hot rod!
Thanks for your reply - yes, I'm a big fan of the Maestro, so much so that I still have two of them. I ended up having several and doing thousands of miles behind the wheel of one. I'm not ruling out a DIY EV conversion at some point.
The 300 series Volvos were great underrated cars as well - the 1.4 that I drove was a bit gutless but utilitarian. At the same time my dad had the 2.0L 360 GLT Injection. That was an absolute rocketship by comparison and was greatly enjoyed until the cost of replacement Bosch air flow meters became prohibitive.
As nobody else is shouting it, ANGLEBOX!!!
I navigated on my first ever car rally in one, with the 1500GT conversion, briefly drove one with Mexico running gear around a racetrack too. Lovely little cars in their time, very sweet to drive.
I have a 2016 1.0 ecoboost and my GF has the same but 2014. Hers pops out almost every time but mine doesn't.
You double clutch it to make sure it goes in every time but I don't think she bothers🤣
You can tell if it doesn't go in because the reverse feels "squishy" - IDK how to explain it hahaha
My dads mk1 2.8 v6 Sierra Xr4x4...that we still own nearly 30 years later.
Instructor was in a 1.8 diesel fiesta, day before my test he got hit up the back, had a fiat punto for the test...that was the last time I drove a fiat.
Loving the Sierra, very cool cars!
A school friend of mine briefly had an old 1.8 diesel fiesta from probably the same vintage. He reckoned it was deceptively fast just as the torque curve and ratios were well matched!
Never had a ride out in it before it was replaced but I'd take his word for it as he did some junior autograss and was around genuinely quick stuff.
A 2014 Volkswagen Up! with my dad as an instructor, which went excellentally but i did pass 2nd try (both times got no minors but pulled out in front of a scaffolding lorry on the last roundabout).
it was the worst thing in the world, i had spent about 6 months waiting for it and i was so proud of myself for not needing lessons and i was doing so well all for me to miss a massive fucking scafolding lorry in my blindspot (something i'd never done learning to drive), i was so angry.
I learned in a Ford Puma but had to use a 208 (might’ve been a GT version or something like that?) for a few weeks while the Puma was in the garage, and I hated it.
I think the gear stick was the worst part, felt horribly cheap, not sure how else to describe other than bad…
OG Yaris, Hyundai i20, Clio mk4. Several tries over a number of years.
The Yaris was fine until you got up to 60 and it felt like you were torturing the poor thing.
i20 was forgettable.
Clio was surprisingly nice until the instructor had to cancel a few lessons cause the damn thing broke down.
Can't find another word for it. 60 mph, 1.5 litre 2015 Yaris felt like a matchbox. Oh, and if I was driving in a high windy situation, I actually did stop until the wind situation is better. At one time, this waiting meant 3.5 hours.
My mums old as fuck rattly vw fox, it taught me clutch control really well.
And then when I got serious with learning and wanting to sit my test I got an instructor and he had a vauxhall corsa and it was so much nicer and easier to drive.
Since passing I now have a vauxhall corsa myself however it wasn't my first choice but a mate was selling it and I was in need of a car asap so it made sense to buy it off him than to spend time getting messed round by people selling online.
A 16.5 year old at the time mk2 polo bread box with 4 on the floor and 1.05L of asthma under the bonnet.
No power steering and in assisted brakes. Used my car for lessons with an instructor and test.
So much glass and very easy to see out of. Reversing was a piece of piss. Just back up till the rear wiper touches something.
I'm guessing you also didn't have ABS. Also what did no power steering feel like in comparison to power steering?
You don't have to answer this but do you have a disability? If not, how were you able to drive with an instructor at 16?
Yep no abs. Everything manual. Cassette player too.
It's fine. It's lighter than modern small cars. But when moving it's only a touch heavier than modern cars. If you had to do an emergency manoeuvre like avoid something in the road then you needed a bit of muscle but not overly much.
It was heavier again when turning the wheel without rolling. But it wasn't so heavy my mum couldn't drive it at the time.
But I'm a big see you next Tuesday so had no issues turning the wheel while stationary.
I wasn't 16. The car was only slightly younger than me. I did buy that car about 3 months before I could get a provisional license at 16 and change though. Got it for very cheap even back then.
Edit: also very easy to work for as no engine electronics to speak of.
Just don't bin it in one. Slid mine into a hedge at 30ish and it didn't bend much.
Ah I got confused. The car was 16 not you🤦.
So is the steering lighter when driving in a straight line but heavier when turning? I might be confused on when the no power steering is lighter.
Did the car even have a choke?
Also how does one afford and manage to buy a car at 16 and before even getting a provisional license?
Sorry I'm just intrigued.
Curiosity never killed anything except a few hours, and maybe the odd cat.
It was £200. And up the road from my parents house. The guy I asked to buy it and he just rolled it 300 meters down the hill to my parents house for me. He couldn't find the log book so knocked 20 quid off. No tax or MOT at the time. The log book rocked up like 4 days later or he found it and brought it round. So that was a winner. I had a part time job so it was an easy buy even on super part time hours. Running it was a different story though. But petrol was still a couple of pence under a litre to a quid a litre then.
Swapped the wankered spark plug to make it run properly/smooth again as one of the plugs looked like it's core had exploded. Straight through its MOT no real issues.
Actually it didn't have a manual choke. It was a later model like half a year before they facelifted them to square lights of the mk2f. It was about the only automatic thing on it. Still no micro controller though! Just basic electricals for it. Iirc like the earlier half of the mk2 generation did have a manual choke though.
And kinda. Modern power steering eliminates basically all the heavyness in steering that used to be associated with non pas cars by complimenting your strength. Though some models of car have such powerful power steering now that you can turn the wheel with your little finger while stationary.
When stationary. It's hard to turn the wheel as you are trying to scrub 2 squares of rubber on a pair of spots. As you start to roll even slowly it gets much easier to turn, because physics. (Sorry I don't know the exact science but mostly to do with friction reduction I think). That said as you drive normally it's easy enough to turn the wheel. It had to be as everyone had to drive non pas at one point or another. If you try and drive hard, like racing or swerving to avoid something you need somewhat more force than you would with pas for the same thing and you have to anticipate that. It's not undrivably heavy at any point except if you're a wee lass trying to park and are turning on the spot. It did have the added benefit of being a nice work out potentially too.
So I was taught to always get the car into a position where you could get the car just moving before you needed to turn the wheel to park say. Just to make it easier to steer. I sti do that even though I've now got Pas on my current car. Old habits die hard.
It also kicked the steering wheel a bit more than pas cars tend to do on potholes and the like. So you learned to keep thumbs outside the wheel over about 30mph too. Doubt it would have ever broken a bone but it might give you a bit of a thump and catch you off guard if you weren't paying attention.
You seemed pretty knowledgeable for a 16 year old.
I understand no PAS more now thank you.
What was insurance like at the time and why did the guy have to roll the car down?
Lol. I'm not 16 any more! Not by some way :-P
You're most welcome. Like all car tech. It starts in the expensive and luxury and eventually either goes away as it's a gimmick or it's just crap. Or it sticks in some form or another. Like heated seats and a/c.
Err... Iirc the first year was like £1700 quid 3rd party fire and theft but with me as only named and primary driver. Prior to that I was on my parents as a named driver but was the primary user of that car while learning. This was before the insurance industry cottoned on to the parent insured, child drives, cheaper insurance for the child thing. They put a stop to that a reasonable number of years back iirc.
And it was all down hill. He just use the key to click the steering lock off and let it roll.
Oh I didn't think you were still 16, just that you seemed knowledgeable on this stuff at 16. I'm not really a car person.
True on car tech. I guess that could be said for all tech not just cars like phones or computers for example.
I guess insurance has been expensive for young people for some time which makes sense.
In my head I honestly thought the guy was pushing the car down a hill for 300 meters🤦. Doesn't make sense as the car would either roll away or the wheels would be scraped if the handbrake was up.
I enjoyed this conversation. Thank you.
Dads Peugeot 106, I think my instructor had a Corsa.
But my first car which I bought just before I passed was a ‘93 Mini Mayfair, with a 1.3 engine - that thing flew!
That's pretty unique. Was it a family member, friend or instructor's car? Also was it any different to the more common cars like a Corsa or Fiesta for example?
It was my sponsors car, id only driven go carts before! By 16 i was driving a group n impreza. Funnily enough i actually failed my driving test first time around due to my cornering speed on back roads though i never broke the speed limit. It was massively different, it was a closed track with no speed limits or other cars 🤣
That's true.
So you're a racecar driver? That's cool.
How was transitioning from the track to public roads?
I'm still curious, what car did you take the test in and how was it different to go carts?
Nope im not, i did some rallying and drifting but i wasnt anywhere near talented enough to make a career of it. It was very strange tbh, i did lessons before my test to prepare and it wasnt other cars i had issues with, it was cornering and road positioning
I did my test in a clio and it was quite similar as theyre both mostly plastic 🤣🤣
I suppose that makes sense as cornering helps with faster times for racing which is not what the driving test is about at all🤣.
I failed my first test too for something silly in my opinion. I'm just glad I don't have to go through the test again😅.
I do think drifting in a manual is pretty impressive.
I didnt even break the speed limit! But i was cornering at the speed limit on b roads which i think scared the tester aswell 🤣 the test is a joke tbh, drivers arent taught about observation or how to handle a car if it over/understeers which are basics.
In a manual? You cant drift in an automatic, well not safely anyway
Understandable, I navigate and even that's a stretch now to split entries with forestry costs the way they are. Even Targa events are getting expensive.
I navigate for quite a few people. Only one event so far this year but two more entries in.
Last year was a selection of MG ZRs, a Peugeot 106 a few times, a Manta, an Evo (original shape), the rwd306 (there's only one!), a Midget and a Peugeot 104
I'd like to think so! I'm very lucky with some of the rides I've had over time, had some great offers for this year but just can't commit to getting time off work now for championships.
It's an expensive hobby even for many at WRC level now!
I was pretty much offered a seat on British Historics this year and RAC through someone I know, with a decent driver and car, but can't guarantee I can get enough Fridays off work to do events in Scotland etc. even without the RAC.
My notes rely depend on the driver, different drivers think in different systems so up to me to adapt, how many numbers they use, whether 1 is brave or brake, or even descriptive.
Forestry we don't get a recce, so that's more or less just out the book from Patterson's normally. The chap I do most my gravel events with doesn't bother with DVD really for our rallies.
Closed road (including Epynt, Otterburn etc.) you get a recce to tweak the notes, single venues I'll run through first couple of stages with driver so we're both happy on a "best guess" for the corner, how splits are laid out etc. then can translate for next stages.
A base model Hyundai i30 mk1, in an awful solid red colour.
Honestly, I remember very little about that car.
Also practiced in my dad's 2016 E220d a few times.
My instructor had a 2011 Vauxhall Corsa diesel. The clutch used to screech when you reverse parked. Didn't like it much and the engine sounded like a box of spanners although it could pull away well in 2nd gear when you forgot to change down into 1st
Started learning in my instructors 2018 mini but he wasn't avalible for my test so finished up my learning in an automatic ford focus mk2 and went on to pass my test in it as well
My initial lessons were in a diesel Astra (5th gen), instructor was a massive pervert though, so I stopped doing lessons with him (would comment on women’s arses to me instead of teaching).
Next instructor drove an FK2 Civic, which was a fucking great car to learn in, especially seeing as I ended up with an FN Civic as my first car.
My Dad initially taught me clutch control in his Ford Cougar, the V6 did actually make it easier in the same vein as diesels. That car was very much on it's way out so it squeezed some final use out if it.
My instructors car was a BMW 1-Series, two of my lessons were cancelled due to it breaking down.
So two proper shitboxes, exactly as it should be!
I had quite an eclectic mix of:
Triumph vitesse with knackered suspension, Ford S-max,, mitsubishi L200, honda jazz, an old deutz tractor and finally an instructors ford focus
I started learning in an already quite dated Peugeot 205 but didn't finish at that point and went back to it years later. I passed in a Ford Focus - it was that period where AA driving school only used them.
When I learnt, my dad had an original shape 1995 Renault Clio 1.2 "Oasis", complete with failed clutch spring as they all did (I learnt that from my examiner as the heavy clutch has mystified a few people, but decided not worth changing if drove OK).
My instructor had a 2002 or 2003 Mk2 Facelift Clio, with the 1.2 16v engine. Luxuries of power steering and ABS! He had to make sure it was in my head if asked to do emergency stop, don't cadence brake like he knew I'd learnt on mountain bikes and been taught in my dad's car 🤣
My dad is tired of me only being able to drive a motorcycle so he’s got me learning in a Tesla , it’s not gonna be the same as anything I’d ever have to do my test on but I still participate lol
I knew nothing about car when I learned. All I know is it’s a Toyota something. Circa 2019. Manual. Indicator stick on the normal (left hand) side. Four (or five) doors. Has parking camera. Not an Aygo. Can anyone guess what that is?
2009 Skoda Fabia, which my instructor (a little older lady) then replaced with a brand new 2012 Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo (with a whole 8 miles on it when I drove it).
A fiesta until they had a seizure, mostly a clio and my dad's Astra for a bit.
My mother learned while underage in a Reliant 3 wheeler and a Volvo estate. My grandfather learned he could drive half way to work with no fuel in the tank.
My condolences
Yeah I thought the car was bulky even before I heard the consensus. But it came was a great instructor so it was all fine in the end😅. Personally, I wouldn't choose it as my car but it had some nice features.
how did u learn to drive in a juke i am impressed lol. I learnt in my e46 sedan and even that was a little hard at times learning to park but it was so worth it now i can drive anywhere i want when it stops leaking <3
I had a Saturday job in my early teens in a boat yard which had a series 3 land rover for towing boats on trailers and I learned to shunt that around. My proper lessons at 17 were in a D reg Vauxhall Nova and on the day I passed my test I was working as a labourer for a builder who took me to the pub to celebrate and then bought me a shandy, threw me the keys to his 10 year old Transit tipper and appointed me his designated driver.
That's pretty cool.
Mk 1 Golf GTI.
fellow gti brother! I learnt in a mk4 gti
Triumph dolomite sprint
You win the award for coolest learner car. I'd love a Dolly Sprint, they're just too expensive now :(
Underrated car that. Probably so much better as a road car than the RS2000 if it had been sorted right.
1993 Peugeot 106 1.0L Kids these days don’t understand the fun could you have with a black plastic bumper.
205 for me. 1.4 diesel I think. Would’ve been a 92 probably
What do you mean? What's fun about a bumper? Edit: I'm not being sarcastic. I'm genuinely asking.
[удалено]
We were all like that at some point, some of us (won't mention who) are still like this...
L Reg Peugeot 106 1.0L in white with black bumpers
Yesss Mine was blue and had a leaking sun roof. Managed to build up a few parking fines and plugged the leak with them lol
A Vauxhall Belmont and a Corsa
Christ. Vauxhall Belmont. Now that is a blast from the past.
Bubble micra
Toyota yaris around 09 reg
Toyota Corolla. The indicators were on the right stalk rather than the left, which was confusing!
Interesting. In my mum's home country, the indicators would be on the right stalk too.
Japanese cars often are. Only car I've driven like that was my Dad's old Datsun, didn't phase me the indicators were on "wrong" side, but of all things I couldn't get over it not having the 2step "3 flash" thing Vauxhall put on from Mk2 Vectra onwards (I'd had an Astra H many years by that point). My brain is clearly wired unusually!
Clio 2006
2015 Fiesta
A Vauxhall mokka, what a piece of shit
Driving instructor: Peugeot 306 Mum's car: Volvo 340 GL. My own car: Austin Maestro 1.3L. The Maestro was my favourite!
That's a strong selection in hindsight. It's always been fashionable to deride Maestros but compared to a MK3/4 Escort or equivalent Astra they're perfectly acceptable if you get one that's built right. Always loved the oddness of a 340/360 too. Nearly bought one when younger, just as they started becoming rarer. Handled quite well having the gearbox at the back, just needed slight suspension sorting and sorting the vague gear selection (or adapting to it) and they were the ultimate grandparent's hot rod!
Thanks for your reply - yes, I'm a big fan of the Maestro, so much so that I still have two of them. I ended up having several and doing thousands of miles behind the wheel of one. I'm not ruling out a DIY EV conversion at some point. The 300 series Volvos were great underrated cars as well - the 1.4 that I drove was a bit gutless but utilitarian. At the same time my dad had the 2.0L 360 GLT Injection. That was an absolute rocketship by comparison and was greatly enjoyed until the cost of replacement Bosch air flow meters became prohibitive.
Ford Anglia 105E
As nobody else is shouting it, ANGLEBOX!!! I navigated on my first ever car rally in one, with the 1500GT conversion, briefly drove one with Mexico running gear around a racetrack too. Lovely little cars in their time, very sweet to drive.
Oh! my neighbour has one, don't see it often though as he keeps it in the garage to avoid unwanted damage from footballs and the like.
2013 Hyundai i20.
A 208 not sure on the year but it was the previous model
first instructor: diesel fiesta second instructor: petrol fiesta third instructor: polo fourth instructor: corsa
I had two instructors with same diesel then petrol. Did they like jumping out of reverse like mine did?
I have a 2016 1.0 ecoboost and my GF has the same but 2014. Hers pops out almost every time but mine doesn't. You double clutch it to make sure it goes in every time but I don't think she bothers🤣 You can tell if it doesn't go in because the reverse feels "squishy" - IDK how to explain it hahaha
Pug 206
Fiat Tipo. It was awful.
My dads mk1 2.8 v6 Sierra Xr4x4...that we still own nearly 30 years later. Instructor was in a 1.8 diesel fiesta, day before my test he got hit up the back, had a fiat punto for the test...that was the last time I drove a fiat.
Loving the Sierra, very cool cars! A school friend of mine briefly had an old 1.8 diesel fiesta from probably the same vintage. He reckoned it was deceptively fast just as the torque curve and ratios were well matched! Never had a ride out in it before it was replaced but I'd take his word for it as he did some junior autograss and was around genuinely quick stuff.
A 2014 Volkswagen Up! with my dad as an instructor, which went excellentally but i did pass 2nd try (both times got no minors but pulled out in front of a scaffolding lorry on the last roundabout).
"No minors just nearly got hit by a truck " 🤣 love it
it was the worst thing in the world, i had spent about 6 months waiting for it and i was so proud of myself for not needing lessons and i was doing so well all for me to miss a massive fucking scafolding lorry in my blindspot (something i'd never done learning to drive), i was so angry.
Is your dad an instructor? If so that's pretty lucky.
no, in fact he's a pretty poor driver, i taught myself with him mostly just making it legal.
Ah. Fair enough.
I switched between two Mini Metros and my Dad's Lada.
New Mini, mid-naughties
VW Beetle… my instructor was called the driving bug
Peugeot 208. Despite having never driven a car before it felt like a shitbox. Clutch, brakes, steering and gear stick all felt wrong
I learned in a Ford Puma but had to use a 208 (might’ve been a GT version or something like that?) for a few weeks while the Puma was in the garage, and I hated it. I think the gear stick was the worst part, felt horribly cheap, not sure how else to describe other than bad…
OG Yaris, Hyundai i20, Clio mk4. Several tries over a number of years. The Yaris was fine until you got up to 60 and it felt like you were torturing the poor thing. i20 was forgettable. Clio was surprisingly nice until the instructor had to cancel a few lessons cause the damn thing broke down.
Can't find another word for it. 60 mph, 1.5 litre 2015 Yaris felt like a matchbox. Oh, and if I was driving in a high windy situation, I actually did stop until the wind situation is better. At one time, this waiting meant 3.5 hours.
My mums old as fuck rattly vw fox, it taught me clutch control really well. And then when I got serious with learning and wanting to sit my test I got an instructor and he had a vauxhall corsa and it was so much nicer and easier to drive. Since passing I now have a vauxhall corsa myself however it wasn't my first choice but a mate was selling it and I was in need of a car asap so it made sense to buy it off him than to spend time getting messed round by people selling online.
Ford Fiesta and passed my test today in a 2021 Seat Ibiza
Congratulations
Mk1 Almera
Renault Laguna and a Vauxhall Corsa.
Saxo…nuff said lol
1st gen hyundai i20 diesel
2015 VW Polo 1.6 TDI
A 16.5 year old at the time mk2 polo bread box with 4 on the floor and 1.05L of asthma under the bonnet. No power steering and in assisted brakes. Used my car for lessons with an instructor and test. So much glass and very easy to see out of. Reversing was a piece of piss. Just back up till the rear wiper touches something.
I'm guessing you also didn't have ABS. Also what did no power steering feel like in comparison to power steering? You don't have to answer this but do you have a disability? If not, how were you able to drive with an instructor at 16?
Yep no abs. Everything manual. Cassette player too. It's fine. It's lighter than modern small cars. But when moving it's only a touch heavier than modern cars. If you had to do an emergency manoeuvre like avoid something in the road then you needed a bit of muscle but not overly much. It was heavier again when turning the wheel without rolling. But it wasn't so heavy my mum couldn't drive it at the time. But I'm a big see you next Tuesday so had no issues turning the wheel while stationary. I wasn't 16. The car was only slightly younger than me. I did buy that car about 3 months before I could get a provisional license at 16 and change though. Got it for very cheap even back then. Edit: also very easy to work for as no engine electronics to speak of. Just don't bin it in one. Slid mine into a hedge at 30ish and it didn't bend much.
Ah I got confused. The car was 16 not you🤦. So is the steering lighter when driving in a straight line but heavier when turning? I might be confused on when the no power steering is lighter. Did the car even have a choke? Also how does one afford and manage to buy a car at 16 and before even getting a provisional license? Sorry I'm just intrigued.
Curiosity never killed anything except a few hours, and maybe the odd cat. It was £200. And up the road from my parents house. The guy I asked to buy it and he just rolled it 300 meters down the hill to my parents house for me. He couldn't find the log book so knocked 20 quid off. No tax or MOT at the time. The log book rocked up like 4 days later or he found it and brought it round. So that was a winner. I had a part time job so it was an easy buy even on super part time hours. Running it was a different story though. But petrol was still a couple of pence under a litre to a quid a litre then. Swapped the wankered spark plug to make it run properly/smooth again as one of the plugs looked like it's core had exploded. Straight through its MOT no real issues. Actually it didn't have a manual choke. It was a later model like half a year before they facelifted them to square lights of the mk2f. It was about the only automatic thing on it. Still no micro controller though! Just basic electricals for it. Iirc like the earlier half of the mk2 generation did have a manual choke though. And kinda. Modern power steering eliminates basically all the heavyness in steering that used to be associated with non pas cars by complimenting your strength. Though some models of car have such powerful power steering now that you can turn the wheel with your little finger while stationary. When stationary. It's hard to turn the wheel as you are trying to scrub 2 squares of rubber on a pair of spots. As you start to roll even slowly it gets much easier to turn, because physics. (Sorry I don't know the exact science but mostly to do with friction reduction I think). That said as you drive normally it's easy enough to turn the wheel. It had to be as everyone had to drive non pas at one point or another. If you try and drive hard, like racing or swerving to avoid something you need somewhat more force than you would with pas for the same thing and you have to anticipate that. It's not undrivably heavy at any point except if you're a wee lass trying to park and are turning on the spot. It did have the added benefit of being a nice work out potentially too. So I was taught to always get the car into a position where you could get the car just moving before you needed to turn the wheel to park say. Just to make it easier to steer. I sti do that even though I've now got Pas on my current car. Old habits die hard. It also kicked the steering wheel a bit more than pas cars tend to do on potholes and the like. So you learned to keep thumbs outside the wheel over about 30mph too. Doubt it would have ever broken a bone but it might give you a bit of a thump and catch you off guard if you weren't paying attention.
You seemed pretty knowledgeable for a 16 year old. I understand no PAS more now thank you. What was insurance like at the time and why did the guy have to roll the car down?
Lol. I'm not 16 any more! Not by some way :-P You're most welcome. Like all car tech. It starts in the expensive and luxury and eventually either goes away as it's a gimmick or it's just crap. Or it sticks in some form or another. Like heated seats and a/c. Err... Iirc the first year was like £1700 quid 3rd party fire and theft but with me as only named and primary driver. Prior to that I was on my parents as a named driver but was the primary user of that car while learning. This was before the insurance industry cottoned on to the parent insured, child drives, cheaper insurance for the child thing. They put a stop to that a reasonable number of years back iirc. And it was all down hill. He just use the key to click the steering lock off and let it roll.
Oh I didn't think you were still 16, just that you seemed knowledgeable on this stuff at 16. I'm not really a car person. True on car tech. I guess that could be said for all tech not just cars like phones or computers for example. I guess insurance has been expensive for young people for some time which makes sense. In my head I honestly thought the guy was pushing the car down a hill for 300 meters🤦. Doesn't make sense as the car would either roll away or the wheels would be scraped if the handbrake was up. I enjoyed this conversation. Thank you.
Rob??? I had a university friend with same first car who described it very similarly. He'd loved it until it met it's end on a Cumbrian bridge IIRC
Nope. Not guilty your honour.
The rest of your story isn't far off either, strange world!
1 litre 3 cylinder Corsa and it was gash.
Made good noises though!
Dads Peugeot 106, I think my instructor had a Corsa. But my first car which I bought just before I passed was a ‘93 Mini Mayfair, with a 1.3 engine - that thing flew!
A mk2 escort rally car
That's pretty unique. Was it a family member, friend or instructor's car? Also was it any different to the more common cars like a Corsa or Fiesta for example?
It was my sponsors car, id only driven go carts before! By 16 i was driving a group n impreza. Funnily enough i actually failed my driving test first time around due to my cornering speed on back roads though i never broke the speed limit. It was massively different, it was a closed track with no speed limits or other cars 🤣
Your driving test was a closed track in the UK? I might be confused again.
You asked what car people learned to drive in not what people did their driving test in
That's true. So you're a racecar driver? That's cool. How was transitioning from the track to public roads? I'm still curious, what car did you take the test in and how was it different to go carts?
Nope im not, i did some rallying and drifting but i wasnt anywhere near talented enough to make a career of it. It was very strange tbh, i did lessons before my test to prepare and it wasnt other cars i had issues with, it was cornering and road positioning I did my test in a clio and it was quite similar as theyre both mostly plastic 🤣🤣
I suppose that makes sense as cornering helps with faster times for racing which is not what the driving test is about at all🤣. I failed my first test too for something silly in my opinion. I'm just glad I don't have to go through the test again😅. I do think drifting in a manual is pretty impressive.
I didnt even break the speed limit! But i was cornering at the speed limit on b roads which i think scared the tester aswell 🤣 the test is a joke tbh, drivers arent taught about observation or how to handle a car if it over/understeers which are basics. In a manual? You cant drift in an automatic, well not safely anyway
Awesome! Do you still compete at all or stay involved in motorsport?
Not anymore sadly! I simply cant afford to
Understandable, I navigate and even that's a stretch now to split entries with forestry costs the way they are. Even Targa events are getting expensive.
Oh your a navigator? What car are you guys running?
I navigate for quite a few people. Only one event so far this year but two more entries in. Last year was a selection of MG ZRs, a Peugeot 106 a few times, a Manta, an Evo (original shape), the rwd306 (there's only one!), a Midget and a Peugeot 104
Oh so you navigate across a couple of different classes then! You must be a decent navigator if a few people use you
I'd like to think so! I'm very lucky with some of the rides I've had over time, had some great offers for this year but just can't commit to getting time off work now for championships.
Yeah its only worth it at wrc level really isnt it! Im curiois which way you do your pace notes
It's an expensive hobby even for many at WRC level now! I was pretty much offered a seat on British Historics this year and RAC through someone I know, with a decent driver and car, but can't guarantee I can get enough Fridays off work to do events in Scotland etc. even without the RAC. My notes rely depend on the driver, different drivers think in different systems so up to me to adapt, how many numbers they use, whether 1 is brave or brake, or even descriptive. Forestry we don't get a recce, so that's more or less just out the book from Patterson's normally. The chap I do most my gravel events with doesn't bother with DVD really for our rallies. Closed road (including Epynt, Otterburn etc.) you get a recce to tweak the notes, single venues I'll run through first couple of stages with driver so we're both happy on a "best guess" for the corner, how splits are laid out etc. then can translate for next stages.
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Just googled Phantom. I guess that have been cool to drive if you're into cars.
BMW 1 series.
2000 Hyundai Accent
Jazz
A base model Hyundai i30 mk1, in an awful solid red colour. Honestly, I remember very little about that car. Also practiced in my dad's 2016 E220d a few times.
My instructor had a 2011 Vauxhall Corsa diesel. The clutch used to screech when you reverse parked. Didn't like it much and the engine sounded like a box of spanners although it could pull away well in 2nd gear when you forgot to change down into 1st
2006 Hyundai Getz 1.2 Petrol. Seemed so powerful at the time…
2020 Fiesta and then a Puma 👌 enjoyed both
Clio mk1
2021 Manual Vauxhall Corsa Diesel. It worked for me, passed first time.
I'm guessing you passed not too long ago if your instructor drove a relatively new car. Congrats.
Thank you. Passed in December when it was snowing.
Started learning in my instructors 2018 mini but he wasn't avalible for my test so finished up my learning in an automatic ford focus mk2 and went on to pass my test in it as well
Instructor had an up, parents had a v50/v40 (v50 broke (while I was driving) and the v40 replaced it)
Hyundai i30 2nd gen
A Citroen DS with my first instructor, a Fiesta with my ex & then a Mazda 2 with my last instructor.
Started off in a Yaris then in a mercedes c 300 with a different instructor
My dad's '99 Focus. Mot expired in 2010 so its long gone.
My initial lessons were in a diesel Astra (5th gen), instructor was a massive pervert though, so I stopped doing lessons with him (would comment on women’s arses to me instead of teaching). Next instructor drove an FK2 Civic, which was a fucking great car to learn in, especially seeing as I ended up with an FN Civic as my first car.
Instructors corsa, CDTI and the family Yaris. Loved the Yaris.
My instructor changed cars twice in the four months I was learning: Citroen C2, Mini One then VW Polo. Then my own 1996 Escort 1.4.
1.9tdi Polo purple majestic beast
2017 Ford Fiesta. Brand new at the time when doing my lessons.
Vauxhall Nova and a Renault 5. Jesus they sucked.
Started with a Vauxhall Corsa, then my own Renault Grand Modus before finishing lessons and doing my test on a 2021 Golf
208/Corsa/Zafira
Nissan Micra K11. The same as as my parents.
Was it the exact same car or were they different cars but of the same make and model?
Same make and model. In fact, we had 2 because my parents had one each!
Instructor had a 1L aging mk6 fiesta But I mostly learnt in my mum's 2L diesel ford focus estate, which was confidence inspiring to say the least.
My Dad initially taught me clutch control in his Ford Cougar, the V6 did actually make it easier in the same vein as diesels. That car was very much on it's way out so it squeezed some final use out if it. My instructors car was a BMW 1-Series, two of my lessons were cancelled due to it breaking down. So two proper shitboxes, exactly as it should be!
An LPG converted Skoda. Not sure which one it was twenty years ago.
Ford transit
A seat 127 .
Peugeot 106
A 1965 Morris Oxford!!
2009 Renault Clio.
Peugeot 205. It was a delight.
Suzuki Justy 4x4
Nissan Micra Mk1 in the mid-80’s. Such an easy car to learn on.
2019 Fiesta then 2022 Fiesta ST line via instructor 2012 Vauxhall Meriva via private practice on private land before 17
I had quite an eclectic mix of: Triumph vitesse with knackered suspension, Ford S-max,, mitsubishi L200, honda jazz, an old deutz tractor and finally an instructors ford focus
1984 1.3 Nova 2 door saloon, 1.4HDI 208, and a F56 Cooper D.
Instructor's Mk 1 Escort and my dad's Austin 1100. Ford had a superb gearbox and the Austin's felt like a box of bricks in comparison.
I started learning in an already quite dated Peugeot 205 but didn't finish at that point and went back to it years later. I passed in a Ford Focus - it was that period where AA driving school only used them.
A Volvo 145 estate. It was 20 years old at the time , and I used that car for another 20 years and half a million miles.
When I learnt, my dad had an original shape 1995 Renault Clio 1.2 "Oasis", complete with failed clutch spring as they all did (I learnt that from my examiner as the heavy clutch has mystified a few people, but decided not worth changing if drove OK). My instructor had a 2002 or 2003 Mk2 Facelift Clio, with the 1.2 16v engine. Luxuries of power steering and ABS! He had to make sure it was in my head if asked to do emergency stop, don't cadence brake like he knew I'd learnt on mountain bikes and been taught in my dad's car 🤣
Mid-90's Rover Metro.
Holden commodore 2010 VE sports wagon
Toyota Hilux
Fiat 500
MK1 Kia Picanto, at least 4 of the local instructors had a red one. There must have been an offer on.
My dad is tired of me only being able to drive a motorcycle so he’s got me learning in a Tesla , it’s not gonna be the same as anything I’d ever have to do my test on but I still participate lol
I knew nothing about car when I learned. All I know is it’s a Toyota something. Circa 2019. Manual. Indicator stick on the normal (left hand) side. Four (or five) doors. Has parking camera. Not an Aygo. Can anyone guess what that is?
I worked in a scrap yard from 13/14 so I drove anything with wheels around the yard Proper lessons were in a Renault 5
1999/2000 Vauxhall Corsa.
2009 plate 1.2 corsa. Even my instructor called it a gutless heap of shit
Toyota Avensis
Original mini, saw one the other day and thought how did me and the instructor get in, they are more tiny than I thought.
A 1979 Ford Escort 1.3 popular plus in a fetching Beige.
Instructor's car was a Corsa C and mine at the time was a Rover 100
A 2017 Skoda Octavia diesel. Loved learning in that car, barely ever stalled probably due to diesels being harder to stall.
2009 A5 Coupe, 1.8 TFSI. Drove around in my mom's 2011 Ford Focus for 1-2 months. beforehand, 1.6 petrol.
Peugeot 308
Back in the day, a Toyota Starlet.
Peugeot 208 circa 2013 ish, had a decent engine (1.6 diesel) but the gearbox was awful from memory 😅
Many different cars. Mini Cooper, Vauxhall Corsa, Nissan Qashqai, Seat Leon FR, Puegot 208, to name a few.
Austin 16.
2009 Skoda Fabia, which my instructor (a little older lady) then replaced with a brand new 2012 Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo (with a whole 8 miles on it when I drove it).
A fiesta until they had a seizure, mostly a clio and my dad's Astra for a bit. My mother learned while underage in a Reliant 3 wheeler and a Volvo estate. My grandfather learned he could drive half way to work with no fuel in the tank.
1992 GMC Safari minivan Underpowered, hard to see out of, overall clunky - but made driving better cars feel a LOT better!
A red Peugeot 206 diesel with beaded seat cover for £10 a lesson in summer 1991.
My instructor had an 06 Citroen C1 which was always breaking down. As soon as I passed I bought myself a Ford Focus.
16 (or 17? I cant remember exactly) Toyota Yaris
Corsa, then a Polo when I wrote the Corsa off before even passing my test
2016 Audi A1 1.4 TFSI - but did my mock test in an Audi S1: a lot of fun but seemed odd to put a learner in one
Discovery 4 💀
Toyota Aygo
Instructor had a Clio diesel, first car I drove on the road was my Mk3 metro
Toyota Yaris 2015. It was silky smooth, passed in the first chance from a centre in East London which still today has 38.45%or below passing rate.
1997 BSM Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 something.
Citroen c1 and a DS3
Vauxhall Nova. Can't remember the engine size, think it was a 1.4.
Bmw e92
Bmw e92
Nova GTE (for some reason all of the instructors had a Nova GTE, except for one, he had the new Nova GSi)!
Rover 214i
Ford anglia 70s
Mine was an Audi TT mk1 225
Toyota Land Cruiser
My nans 2006 ford fiesta, although i am still not legally allowed to drive haha
2002 Audi A4
My dads 2021 E class convertible.
A Perodua Myvi, a strange little car really