What car did you learn to drive in? Shocked to see what learners are now driving...

[FlyingFish]

We found out the hard way, that taking lessons in modern 'tricked' up cars does NOT make for someone who can drive a 'normal' car...Unless rich mummy and daddy are going to buy them a car with all the bells and whistles. Autopilot included.

The daughter started lessons on her 17th birthday, the driving instructor was a lovely chap and we did well to book him as he was very popular.

Part way through her lessons we got her a Citroen C1. By this point she was doing well with her lessons and wasnt far off booking her test.

All rosy, until I took her out in her own little car.........And to put it bluntly, she had no idea how to drive a car!! No idea on clutch control, biting point, handbrake use, reversing using mirrors etc....Mr Instructors Alfa apparently had all the toys that did everything for you. It was a massive shock to the system and caused a lot of tears.. ( not mine )

So while she was still having official 'lessons', I gave her lessons in her own car around the local industrial estate, then progressing onto public roads, and I was amazed at how much she wasn't taught, from basic car control to lane discipline, through to understanding road layouts etc.. I told her that no matter where she was in the UK, all roads followed the same rules/signs etc and once you had that sorted you can drive anywhere.

She passed first time, and within days was arranging trips away with her mates driving all over the country, which she did.. I was really proud, and the Mrs was totally shocked and horrified

 

[agw_01]

Early 00’s 208 and a Clio. I saw a Focus ST learner car this week!

Ashley Neal (on Youtube) used to teach in a G20 BMW 320d, then a Mk7 Golf GTI and now a Mk4 Focus ST, although I think he does more instructor training now than student training.

I learnt to drive in a Citroen C3, a so called super mini....
but (and this maybe in the region where I live), I seen loads of driving schools using mini SUVs to teach people in... The other day I saw a Merc A class being used.
Is this now the norm?

I learnt in a Citroen C2 diesel fitted with the VTS bodykit . Quite a smart looking car at the time. With how cars have grown in size over the years, I'd say the modern equivalent isn't too far off being a Merc A class which is why they are popular learner cars. I see plenty of leaner Audi A3s about as well.

 

[rare]

2003 and it was a 106 Rallye which had been adapted to have dual sets of pedals. Brilliant car to learn to drive in.

 

[TheVoice]

My first instructor had a Ford Ka, the second one I passed with had a Vauxhall Meriva. The Meriva was surprisingly decent to learn to drive in, good visibility all round and you could tell where the corners were easily.

I too have noticed driving instructors trying to set themselves apart from the rest with fancier motors, I totally understand it's often their personal car too but I think I'd still prefer to learn in something more basic.

We found out the hard way, that taking lessons in modern 'tricked' up cars does NOT make for someone who can drive a 'normal' car...Unless rich mummy and daddy are going to buy them a car with all the bells and whistles. Autopilot included.

The daughter started lessons on her 17th birthday, the driving instructor was a lovely chap and we did well to book him as he was very popular.

Part way through her lessons we got her a Citroen C1. By this point she was doing well with her lessons and wasnt far off booking her test.

All rosy, until I took her out in her own little car.........And to put it bluntly, she had no idea how to drive a car!! No idea on clutch control, biting point, handbrake use, reversing using mirrors etc....Mr Instructors Alfa apparently had all the toys that did everything for you. It was a massive shock to the system and caused a lot of tears.. ( not mine )

So while she was still having official 'lessons', I gave her lessons in her own car around the local industrial estate, then progressing onto public roads, and I was amazed at how much she wasn't taught, from basic car control to lane discipline, through to understanding road layouts etc.. I told her that no matter where she was in the UK, all roads followed the same rules/signs etc and once you had that sorted you can drive anywhere.

She passed first time, and within days was arranging trips away with her mates driving all over the country, which she did.. I was really proud, and the Mrs was totally shocked and horrified

He doesn't sound like a particularly good driving instructor if you've had to fill in that many knowledge gaps!

 

[Rroff]

Had a Rover Metro to learn in, driving instructors had a Polo and Clio.

He doesn't sound like a particularly good driving instructor if you've had to fill in that many knowledge gaps!

There are a lot less good driving instructors than there are bad ones, I had to fill in so many gaps in my knowledge myself.

I told her that no matter where she was in the UK, all roads followed the same rules/signs etc and once you had that sorted you can drive anywhere.

While kind of true there are so many roundabouts where they've just made it up as they went along, etc.

 

[Twinz]

1968 Ford Galaxy 2-door. (In 1987...car was older than me by the time I first sat in it)

I learned to drive manual on my grandfather's delivery trucks. Smallish Nissan with his own home-brew topper and a large Dodge dually commercial box truck. (He owned his own poultry farm) I remember they were both new-ish at the time, so I'm guessing mid 1980's model years.

 

[slinxy]

All rosy, until I took her out in her own little car.........And to put it bluntly, she had no idea how to drive a car!! No idea on clutch control, biting point, handbrake use, reversing using mirrors etc....Mr Instructors Alfa apparently had all the toys that did everything for you. It was a massive shock to the system and caused a lot of tears.. ( not mine )

Tell me about it lol
My current car has anti stall.. hill assisted starts.. automatic everything.. I would have waited for an automatic gear box too if I wasn’t in such a rush. Amazed how quickly my nieces can park in the smallest spots as they have cameras all around the car now.

Just the small difference of having power steering in the car I learnt to drive in to not having it on the 95 306 that I brought when I passed was a massive difference.

My brother borrowed my old car a few months back, and I was driving around at dusk wondering why it was so dark. Turns out that he turned off the automatic lights and I’ve been driving about in the evenings without lights on.. lol

 

[mjt]

A grey diesel C3 and grey diesel Megane. Oh how times have changed!

 

[theone8181]

I learnt in a Corsa C, which I actually had as my first car (well technically 2nd as I wrote my mum's Punto off ). Might explain why lessons are so expensive these days, youre paying the instructors PCP deal.

 

[almoststew1990]

In 2007 I learned to drive in a Nissan Almera (my car) and similarly aged Honda Logo and then a diesel 306 (instructor's cars). I remember the 306 being "squidgy" although it would get out of its own way in any gear/speed which was useful numerous times as a learner. ABS and power steering were the only helpers

 

[chaparral]

An old Austin Mini 1000cc Back in 1987
This was before the seat belt law came in over here

 

[naefeart]

I learnt to drive at 8 years old in a series of tractors, a Range Rover and a Toyota pickup. I unlearned many bad habits picked up in these vehicles, in a mid 90s Vauxhall Corsa. It was red, I hated that thing.

 

[CrazyGreggy]

D reg Micra like EddScott, taught by a retired rally driver who took exception to me being cut up one lesson. “Just keep your foot on the gas” he said, and from the passenger seat used the dual control pedals for clutch/brake, did the steering with his right hand, gears with his left and returned the favour. “That’ll teach the *******”, he said, while 17 year old me sat there in a mixture of terror, admiration and vicarious bravado.

 

[Yaayuh!]

BMW 1 Series

 

[Hodders]

Hillman Avenger! Mid 80s

 

[m4rmite]

Metro for me.
17yr old apprentice at work is learning in a polo R line.

How times have changed

 

[Haggisman]

Ashley Neal (on Youtube) used to teach in a G20 BMW 320d, then a Mk7 Golf GTI and now a Mk4 Focus ST, although I think he does more instructor training now than student training.

I thought Ashley had an RS, but looks like you're right, I didn't know the new ST comes in green Always thought that having such a powerful car for learners is a bit mental - obviously he's got dual controls installed, but even so, if they accidentally smash the accelerator that thing is going to shift!

I learned in a red Clio - from the replies above seems like quite a common option in the late 90s/early 00s

My partner's instructor has a Kona, but she has her own 2015 Suzuki Swift to practice in, and much prefers it over the instructor's car!

 

[Shoeyuk]

Was a Ford Fiesta but half way though my insturctor was moving to the other side of the country so swapped instrutors and ended up with a Suzuki Swift.

 

[tom_nieto]

Driving lessons in a K11 Micra (unknown year). Practice in a 1988 Ford Escort Finesse 1.3 and a LHD Fiat Panda 1.1. Fun times!

 

[Bear]

Mk3 Ford Escort 1.8d