Finally passed!!!

Poeple rate the Seats....knock off polos )) ....here I think.

I wouldn't worry too much about the airbags if I was you. WE managed without them at one time.....

Its left with you though.



note..in fairness I would say an air bag has been useful for me probably once.

 

Not heard that one - what's the issue with braking and changing gears simultaneously?

 

http://www.niam.org.uk/system8.htm

Explained better than I can, but basically to maintain best control of the car and the smoothest drive you do only one thing at once. That, and smooth downshifts require throttle which can't be applied if that foot is on the brake (very few people can heel-and-toe, and very few cars have the pedals set to allow it anyway). Using engine braking by bringing up the clutch with mismatched engine and road speeds results in heavy clutch wear.

 

For insurance I'm paying just over £500 on an R reg (98) Ibiza 1.4sxe.
First car and similar age to you (28).

I think there was a "facelift" around P reg.

 

As ever, ymmv.

Given that a clutch change on an accord is over £600 (need to replace dual-mass flywheel at same time), I'm going to go with "no" on replacing the clutch sooner. If it's a £150 job then maybe, but that's not the case on a lot of modern cars.

What I've found is that it's just a matter of practice. Now avoiding BGOL and rev-matched downshifts are second nature for me and I don't have to think about doing them (same with "proper" steering). Perhaps that's been an easy transition for me because I'd only driven about 10k miles when I started my IAM training, so bad habits weren't so difficult for me to break out of (and I did have some - using the clutch to slow the car down, riding clutch at junctions, poor steering).

By no means a perfect driver now though. Whether or not you pass it, going for further driving training and opening yourself up to and listening to constructive criticism at least shows you accept that you're fallible as a driver and have the right attitude. The bad ones are the "I've been driving for 30 years and I'm perfect" brigade.

 

There may have been a mild one, I think the major one was 1999 when it had that wondeful new dashboard.

My insurance quotes all seem to be around £700-£4000. It may be because I need business use and this puts up the price but I can claim a lot back on my income tax bill.

I live in the middle of south Manchester so this puts up the price a lot.

I am a little bit younger than you - makes a difference?

BUT I do have 1 years no claims which directline regconise (nobody else will).

I am looking at Corsa B's as insurance are so cheap, but they are just so shockingly dull to drive, I remember the gear change being so vague. What I love about my dads fiesta is the grip is very very good (especialy on them new Kumhos), the clutch is also lovely.

The Ibiza at £650 seems too good to miss viewing, its just finding time inbetween jobs.

 

Thanks - some interesting points there. I think heel toe is a more effective approach to braking as you're maximising engine braking and it also allows you to get back on a steady throttle immediately the braking is done. It is aggressive for most road driving though and I agree that it doesn't suit many cars - my Passat has a horrible bottom-hinged pedal and such a sluggish throttle response that heel toe is fairly pointless even if you could contort your feet enough to manage it smoothly!

 

I am not even trying to think about all this advance stuff yet it is just too confusing. I believe the advanced driving test course teachings some methods which will seem very strange to novice drivers.

 

NOt to cross swords with you Isaac....this was one thing I really didn't see.

Ive always changed down through the gears when coming to stop.

Bad habit?

Maybe.

The only clutched ive replaced was on my first car.......20 years ago now.....and I only had to do that to sell it.


(for the record;

2nd car astra mk1 45000 to 120000
3rd Dads old audi coupe 65000 to 120000
atsra van very little
caddy van very little
escort van can't remeber
now transit

no clutch changes!!)



Yes I remember all the talk about keeping the car stable, I couldn't help feeling this was just taking stuff to an extreme. I don't recall my van lurching uncontrollably aI accellerate/de-celarate.

Your also not supposed to take your hands off the wheel at an time.....even when sitting in a traffic queue.

Hmmmm.......


Comments Any one?

 

Like I ve said I think you have to be selective about it.

The cornering tecnniques are are pretty good......and very satisfying when you get it right.

The observation dissiplin I think is excellent.....it makes you think about it.

Above all, for me it makes you read the road....its called road craft. For me , at least.....it takes 15 minutes to get into it properly....and again for me......in 15 minutes I ve normally got where I am going. If you are on a long run, though, its is (IMO) a very unfatiguing style of driving. (My Mum approves).

A big thing fo me is that it disciplins you with corners; it teaches you to pace and consider your speed on the entry.....and boot the gas a little once you see the exit.

Modern suspensions I think make pople a bit lazy, too fast in; braking itno the bend. My Dads terrible for it....he's still breaking half way through the bend. Its only because cars are so good now that the things not all over the place.

Also worth looking at is the push pull style of steering.

I digress.

I would take a look at the course and see what you think. AS you know now I think bits are (way) OTT.......but others are def worth taking on board (another example; doing a running observation commentory ....again it makes you think about it)

 

Not to push a point here.....

I ve always admired my Uncles style of driving.

I remember him driving me around the roads around Llandudno (where my gran lived) many years ago and being impressed with the way one movement flowed into another.

WE drove up into the hills once (he flew/flies model aeroplanes), around the lanes and was impressed with the smoothnes of his driving. Hes certainly never been slow.......but in that context you were never bothered. Accelerate on straights; smooth flow through the corners.

I have often tried to work out what he doing.....how he's doing it...and I acn only assume hes is adopting many of the techniques suggested by the IAM.

No one else I know of does it......my brother perhapts a little.

 

David - no problems at all. I don't think that there's only ever one possible correct way of doing things. Unfortunately, as is the case with all qualifications, there's some degree of hoop-jumping involved.

You've hit on one of the major targets of advanced driving though - a smooth flow from one thing to the next. The priorities of advanced driving can easily be summed up as "Safe, Smooth Progress". Progress meaning the bit that people seem to forget, in that you want to get to your destination quickly, but do so in one piece and without snapping your passenger's necks off with racing gearshifts that don't do the car any good either.

Getting too bogged down in the minutiae of "you must do it like this" may distract from the ultimate aim. Unfortunately, IAM and RoSPA both lose sight of that to some degree.

AT - I don't think it's too early to think about advanced driving if you've any mind to do it. It is easier to build good habits before bad ones set in.

I passed my test in november '99, and from then I drove reasonably regularly in one of my parent's cars. I didn't buy my own car until I finished university in summer 2003, and I signed up to IAM a few months later, taking my observed runs through january and february, and test in march 04.

It's time for me to get back into some driving assessment again to make sure I'm not slipping.

 

Agreed.



Go for it AT........

 

Went to see the Ibiza didn't test drive it but the garage picked me up in Stockport so I sat in it. I noticed there was a lot of body roll compared to my dads Fiesta.

Anyway faultsd I found in 5 minutes:-
Exhaust blowing despite new back box fitted
Low water levels in the heady - this shows poor maitenance or a problem with a leak? possible HG problems?
Full service history turns out to be an anual oil change by a back street garage.
No record of the cambelt ever been done.
Inlet hose that goes from the manfold into the fuel injection system was loose and was made of duck tape.

The engine also seemed to run a bit diesel like in terms of the sound.

Build quality compared to the Fiesta was shockling, the handles felt like they would snap in your hand.

It is a shame but if you want to sell a car at least make sure it has water in the tank.

 

this pile of cack was being offered by a garage?

 

Yep they said it was a P/X.

Anyway tomorrow going to dealer to view two possible cars.

An S reg Polo 1.4 with all the electrics, 68k for £995 and 3 months warranty

A W reg Corsa 1.0 12v no electrics, very basic, 81k 1 month warranty.

The corsa is only marginaly slowler than the Polo (55bhp) is better on fuel and is chain driven so I am favouring this, it also comes with FSH and one previous owners, from the pics it looks brand new.



PS I know you get much better value for money with larger cars but the insurance quotes I am getting for them are rather stupid!

I can insure the Corsa full comp for £68 a month, where the Polo would be quite a bit more than this, use more fuel and like the Ibiza may need a new cam belt.

I am sure the Corsa is a heap to drive, but with 60mpg and a 3 cylinder Suzuki engine the running costs are just too hard to ignore.

 

HOW much! :yikes::yikes:: Rather you than me buddy

 

That is what happens when you live in the middle of Manchester, have only just passed, need to use the car for business use, are 26 and male

I live in one of the better parts of Manchester but my postcode is still well of the scale in terms of risk .

That price incs 1 year no claims discount too .

 

I came across some right sheds in garages when looking for my first car. Unless the garage is offering a warranty, they don't necessarily offer much over private sales..... other than higher prices.

 

AT, I found the difference between insurance quotes to be suprising. Some that I thought would be about the same were much higher, whilst others which I'd expect to be higher, were about the same.

Don't assume something will be too much. I used my phone to take pic's of number plates, then used confused.com and the like to get an idea of what it would cost on various cars.