Nervous driver - best car, new/old etc.

theboakster

I passed my test at the age of 36, and am a nervous driver. It took me ages to pass (ahem - won't say how many times) and when I did pass, the examiner wasn't very nice to me. My confidence is very low.

Having said that, I actually think (and this is what my instructor said, and other people who have driven with me) that I'm not a terrible driver. I'm ok, I just need to build up my confidence and get more experience on the road.

I bought an old banger from a friend - a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting, think it's 1.2 - for £400, as I thought that was probably the most economical way to do things in the first instance. Thing is, I haven't really been driving it. My drive to work involves a motorway (M3) and the Fiat is
a) a tiny car
b) really very tinny (you can practically feel the road below) and
c) the pedals are teeeeny tiny and close together.
I find slip roads with lots of lorries very scary in this car.

At the moment it's off road, needs an MOT, tax and a new exhaust.

Would I be better buying a different car? Should I go for a new car? Something more robust? I have no idea about a) cars or b) the economics of cars

I don't have any savings really (only a couple of hundred pounds) and I though I have very little debt (about £600 on a Next account), I don't have a great credit score either.

Any tips gratefully received. I just need to get driving again and build up some experience

Caroline73_2

The only way to gain confidence is to drive more. Buying a newer car is just going to make you more worried about pranging it.

I used to be really nervous about driving but then I got a job that involved a lot of driving. The driving was all local so I got to know all the routes really well. I just built from there and now I'm happy driving anywhere. I'm a much better driver than passenger.

Just drive everywhere local and your confidence will build. Once you do venture further afield, remember, as long as have enough petrol you will be fine. Britain is a small place, you can't get so lost that you could find your way back.

SailorSam

I don't think you're on your own, lots of people although they feel fine driving on local roads, hate motorways with big lorries all around them. The only way is practise, if you can go out at quiet times and stick to the nearside lane until gradually you feel more comfortable.

Alias_Omega

All cars have to pass safety tests before they can be sold in the UK. Some cars however will feel safer than others.

You will always find people who will tell you to - "Buy New", "Buy BMW", "Buy Audi", "Buy from eBay", "Buy from Auctions", "Buy Cheap & Repair".

You have to find the car that fits your budget, and your requirements.

Norman_Castle

Any tips gratefully received. I just need to get driving again and build up some experience

You just need to get driving again and build up some experience.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Have you thought about investing in some training - advanced driving to give you confidence?

steve-L

theboakster wrote: »

I passed my test at the age of 36, and am a nervous driver. It took me ages to pass (ahem - won't say how many times) and when I did pass, the examiner wasn't very nice to me. My confidence is very low.

Having said that, I actually think (and this is what my instructor said, and other people who have driven with me) that I'm not a terrible driver. I'm ok, I just need to build up my confidence and get more experience on the road.

I bought an old banger from a friend - a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting, think it's 1.2 - for £400, as I thought that was probably the most economical way to do things in the first instance. Thing is, I haven't really been driving it. My drive to work involves a motorway (M3) and the Fiat is
a) a tiny car
b) really very tinny (you can practically feel the road below) and
c) the pedals are teeeeny tiny and close together.
I find slip roads with lots of lorries very scary in this car.

At the moment it's off road, needs an MOT, tax and a new exhaust.

Would I be better buying a different car? Should I go for a new car? Something more robust? I have no idea about a) cars or b) the economics of cars

I don't have any savings really (only a couple of hundred pounds) and I though I have very little debt (about £600 on a Next account), I don't have a great credit score either.

Any tips gratefully received. I just need to get driving again and build up some experience

You have it now ... retrospectively not an ideal choice for the M3 but most day's when I commute I do 70-75 whilst plenty of cars fly past at 100. (Due to MPH not car)

Its also probably not the most economical car at 70 .... so had you considered changing your route? Might take a bit longer but you can build confidence.
My OH found motorway sliproads very intimidating at first but a year later thinks nothing of it. (Although she's driving a 2.2 diesel)

I'd say stick at it ... build your confidence as you don't seem financially in a good position to spend more money.

colino

Stick at it, its a great little buzz bomb and once you get more confidence you will realise you are learning more from this low-tech entry car than being cocooned in a shiney new car with more driver aids than you should need.
I'm almost leaning towards it being compulsory for every new driver to get some experience in a banger (no offence). A lot of new drivers now appear to be stunted in "test passing" mode and never appear to actually learn how to drive in the real world in a real car.

Inner_Zone

OP have you seen Dangerous Drivers School on Five. There is driver training available which it sounds like would suit you down to the ground.

Strider590

Inner_Zone wrote: »

OP have you seen Dangerous Drivers School on Five. There is driver training available which it sounds like would suit you down to the ground.

+ One thing they often say on that show is that driving slowly makes things much worse, it adds the stress of angry drivers. Keeping up with the flow of traffic is essential for reducing stress and increasing confidence.

Slip roads are ALL about speed matching, you need to be doing at least 60, trucks will be doing 56mph, line up with a gap and boot it to 60, you'll be fine. But fail to reach a good speed and you risk causing an accident.

theboakster

Thanks everyone. I know I need to get out driving more.

I have watched the Dangerous Drivers School on 5 - I'm nothing like them, thank goodness! I asked my instructor about doing pass plus with him - he said I didn't need to, waste of money, just get driving.

I know about matching speeds on slip roads, lorries just make me scared as they don't change their speed at all, and when there's more than one, particularly at busy times, it's hard to know where to 'slot in'.

A different route is an idea. The weird thing is, I'm ok when I'm actually on the motorway. It's just joining that I find scary. Otherwise, I have no probs going at 65 in the left hand lane most of the time. I find town/city driving much more problematic - all the stop/starting and lots of hazards/things to concentrate on.

So, to recap, although I have to pay out for MOT, tax and a new exhaust, you think I shouldn't use this money to get a different car? I should stick with what I have?