Learning In The Right Car For You
Most people learn to drive in a car that their instructor has selected, rather than in one that they already own. Although it is perfectly possible to learn to drive well in the family car from a relative, most people still opt for professional driving instructor who can coach them through manoeuvres. This means that they learn manoeuvring in a way that examiners expect them to be carried out. The obvious advantage of this approach is that you learn in the correct way and don’t pick up bad habits. However, the car you learn in may not be the car that you will ultimately drive. Instructors are usually looking for the most fuel efficient car that they can get which offers the least amount of depreciation in the time they are using it for their businesses. They also need to factor in other things that most normal drivers don’t, such as the cost of fitting dual control pedals.
When you are selecting an instructor, one of the things you ought to ask is what sort of car they use. Some are a bit easier to drive than others and subsequently easier to learn in. Most new drivers don’t progress to a big and powerful car immediately that they qualify - usually because of the insurance cost, if nothing else. However, unless you are a teenager, it is also unlikely that you will want to settle for a very small car, the type that most instructors use. In fact, most newly qualified adults tend to go for a mid-sized hatchback as a first car and will search out something like a Honda Civic, or similar, that is for sale once they have passed. If you know you are likely to fall into that category, then it can be a good idea to find an instructor who uses a similarly sized vehicle. Mid-sized Hondas, like their Civic range, have a good reputation in the UK among learner drivers. Remember that if you immediately jump from an instructor’s small car which is, say a 1.1, to a 1.8 VTEC, then the transition can be a bit of a problematic time until you gain confidence behind the controls.
Another tip that owners of automatic transmission cars ought to consider is learning to drive in a manual gear shift vehicle. Even if you don’t expect to drive with a manual gearbox for years after you have passed, the skill of changing gear never really goes away. In addition, it gives you flexibility if you ever need to hire a car on holiday, for instance. Sure, it does take a bit more effort, but learning in a manual will give you greater confidence when you go on to drive a much wider range of vehicles in the future, including more powerful models.
In the UK, learner drivers are still denied access to the motorway network. Once you have passed it may seem a bit daunting to immediately hit the motorway – particularly if you have learned in a car with a relatively small engine size. A good tip is to book a refresher lesson with your instructor in your own car, without the use of dual controls and to try some advanced driving under his or her supervision. This can include motorway driving, night driving and manoeuvring – all of which can be a bit tricky if you are trying them in your car, rather than the one you learned in.
