Tips for new driver (to be!)

Gene_Hunt_2

Inactive wrote: »

Or in the case of an Allegro, that not quite round thing..:)

Handsworth Town did say Micra tho.

Same would be the case with the R32 Golf and some of them Italian Audi's.

Cash-Strapped.T32

Best tip I could provide - Know how to drive, before you start your lessons.
I don't mean the rules of the road per-se, in other words, beg borrow or steal a car (;)) and practice making it move, making it stop, changing the gears, and making it go in & out of things.


If you're (rightly imo) concerned about the potential costs enough to post on here, you sure as hell don't want to be racking up £30-£40 an hour just to be shown where the clutch is, or to be reminded to straighten-up as you close a turn, or to waste time on the real-basic basics like spending 30 minutes finding the biting point of your clutch, or gearbox layout.


Rather, sitting down next to the instructor, already knowing how to make the car do the basic things he wants (go, stop, turn, change gear) will increase your confidence a million-fold, and will allow you to learn the rules of the road, and learn the techniques he's trying to show you - as distinct from the mechanics of how to make the car do "stuff".

You're paying a premium for his (or her's) knowledge & experience - It's by no means a perfect analogy, but consider this; You wouldn't pay £300+ on a creative writing course, and turn up on day 1 unable to hold a pen, or use MS Word, right?



That's the best tip I could come up with - it served me well in any case (2 lessons, 2 minors, booyah), and I'm by no means some kind of expert, I dream of being averagely skilled one day.. :rotfl:

Best of luck.

Gene_Hunt_2

Cash-Strapped.T32 wrote: »

Best tip I could provide - Know how to drive, before you start your lessons.
I don't mean the rules of the road per-se, in other words, beg borrow or steal a car (;)) and practice making it move, making it stop, changing the gears, and making it go in & out of things.



If you're worried about costs enough to post on here, you sure as hell do not want to be racking up £30-£40 an hour just to be shown where the clutch is, or to be reminded to straighten-up as you close a turn, or to waste time on the real-basic basics like spending 30 minutes finding the biting point of your clutch, or gearbox layout.


Rather, sitting down next to the instructor, already knowing how to make the car do the basic things he wants (go, stop, turn, change gear) will increase your confidence a million-fold, and will allow you to learn the rules of the road, and learn the techniques he's trying to show you - as distinct from the mechanics of how to make the car do "stuff".

That's the best tip I could come up with - it served me well in any case (2 lessons, 2 minors, booyah), and I'm by no means some kind of expert, I dream of being averagely skilled one day.. :rotfl:

Best of luck.

Sound advice there mate.

Cash-Strapped.T32

Gene_Hunt wrote: »

Sound advice there mate.

Haha I like it.

"Ok, before we go any further officer, just let me assure you that whatever I was just doing is 100% legal - I read it the internet".

Gene_Hunt_2

Cash-Strapped.T32 wrote: »

Haha I like it.

"Ok, before we go any further officer, just let me assure you that whatever I was just doing is 100% legal - I read it the internet".

Followed by "What bell ender posted that?":D

babyshoes

To reduce your insurance, see if adding an experienced driver as an additional (NOT a main) driver will bring it down - someone like a parent or sibling, who might reasonably have a need to drive your car at some point. Putting my more experienced partner on my insurance brought it down considerably (don't remember numbers now, but it was definitely worthwhile), and means we can drive eachother's cars when necessary, such as sharing the driving on long trips.

Don't be tempted to put them as the main driver though, this is called 'fronting' and is highly illegal. The person who will drive the car the most must be named as the main driver.

I agree with knowing how to make the car 'go' and 'stop' before you start lessons - as long as you have someone who can legally teach you on road and insurance on their car, or an offroad area of private property where you have permission to drive.

pixieland

i am learning to drive at the grand old age of 53!! [just booked theroy test]

Gene_Hunt_2

pixieland wrote: »

i am learning to drive at the grand old age of 53!! [just booked theroy test]

Good luck.:beer:

tillymama_2

Thanks everyone for your advice, some food for thought.

I did assume a £3k car would cost me less in repairs than a £1k car, but that's obviously not necessarily the case. What a minefield! A friend of mine has said she might be selling her Micra for about £1800, so that might be an option for us.

Am contemplating paying for insurance up front, but it's a lot of money and according to a theoretical quote I got the other day, we'll only save about £50 by paying upfront...? I know, £50 is £50, but if it's the difference between have a grand in our pocket, or £50...I think I know which I'd prefer.

I've not really got anyone who can take me out driving at the moment, I've had a couple of offers for once I need to practice my manoeuvers...but I need to learn them first. I think I can remember how to stop/go & change gear, and have been doing some swatting up online...so I'm hoping it won't take me long to get back into the swing of it.

1st lesson booked for Saturday!

mad_as_a_march_hare

There has been plenty of sound advice on here.

I just wanted to add i passed my driving test in July 2008, I had already bought myself a car in the may at a cost of £3000, i bought a Hyundai Matrix as it suited my needs, i never even turned they key in it till the day that i passed my test. and then the insurance which i paid in full, think that cost approx £800. My car just sat on the drive all ready for me to pass my test, i had no one to take me for practice.

I was having 3, hour and a half driving lessons a week, which certainly added up at a cost of £33 each time.

Passed my test in the July, and the best advice my instructor then gave me was Go in doors shout and scream, have a cuppa and a fag and then get straight out in it.

I've never looked backed since the day i passed, My driving instructor has since become my other half, so at least i'm seeing the benefits of the amount i paid him in driving lessons now:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:. I have never had anything such as a minor bump, well i may have scuffed my alloys up the kerb a few times. My car has only cost me normal annual running costs, and 3 new tyres, since day 1, and i still love her.

So i don't suppose it matters whether you buy yourself a little run around or something more expensive, It's down to how you drive, vehicle maintainance and above all, all the other people out there on the roads.

Good Luck with your lessons!