further opinions - best car for a 17 year old learner

[gtd2000]

ONE OF THESE:

 

http://autotrader.mobi/used-cars/advert ... e62mj78hh6

 

Oops not shouting

[Father Ted]

I keep wondering about this - 3 years and Ted Jr (possibly, given he has ASD) learns to drive. Now he wants my Micra K11, not an issue, he can have the fupping thing. But, preliminary efforts on private land show that he has a poor grasp of the gears/clutch thing - throw in steering mirrors, wipers and lights and its a bit of a disaster zone. All a bit disappointing since I was driving dads ADO16 at that age (on private land) and having no real problems with anything once I had got through the initial kangaroo petrol phase.

 

Im wondering if an Auto might be the way forward with him. Hence, I keep thinking do I buy a baderbox now, which admittedly I would LOVE, or leave it just in case he can master the fine art of balancing the clutch. Sorry, dragging it off topic a bit.

[warren t claim]

A good instructor in a dual control car should be able to teach Ted Jr to master the left pedal.

[AnthonyG]

good point above - I would let a instructor have a go before going auto only- you do restrict yourself a bit if you can only drive an badermatic. I stalled cars constantly when first learning, 3 months later clutch control it was just natural.

[warren t claim]

There's a big advert for an early drive company at the Trafford Centre at the moment. They'll take kids as young as 11. Why not give them a call?

[Father Ted]

There's a big advert for an early drive company at the Trafford Centre at the moment. They'll take kids as young as 11. Why not give them a call?

Im off down there next week, I'll have a look. Ta.

Im not being overly impatient, but Ted jr has autism and though he is high functioning (that sounds like a bloody BBC- he can get a bit overloaded if he has too much going on at once. He is however determined to learn how to drive and buy himself a camper van (and live in it).

[warren t claim]

In your opinion would you think he'd make a competent driver?

[Father Ted]

I think he would, but I also think that if he had an auto it would be less complex for him and give him one less thing to have to focus on.

His road sense is OK, he cycles without any issues, he has a reasonable sense of danger and doesnt seem to make rash decisions when out on the bike. I Know the car is a more complex beast and its trying to ensure that whats going on in the car does not detract from whats going on outside.

That said, this is the young man that can co-ordinate both hands and his foot and keep perfect track with the most demanding of Def-Leopard tracks on the drums.

Sorry Scooters I seem to have nicked your thread...

[warren t claim]

That said, this is the young man that can co-ordinate both hands and his foot and keep perfect track with the most demanding of Def-Leopard tracks on the drums.

If he's using two hands to drum along with Def Leppard then he's cheating.

[Father Ted]

That said, this is the young man that can co-ordinate both hands and his foot and keep perfect track with the most demanding of Def-Leopard tracks on the drums.

If he's using two hands to drum along with Def Leppard then he's cheating.

Little toad, I never thought of that. I'll tie one behind his back.....

[warren t claim]

Or buy him a Corvette.....

[gtd2000]

Or buy him a Corvette.....

 

Funnily enough...a mate of mine over here in Sarasota (a Scouser) gave his son his V8 Pontiac Firebird for his 16th birthday...

 

Not sure how bad insurannce is but for me - a few years back when I thought about buying a '98 Camaro SS (with LS1 5.7L V8) was only going to cost me an extra $50 on the premium over my 2.4L 4-cyl Nissan 240SX...

[eddyramrod]

when I thought about buying a '98 Camaro SS (with LS1 5.7L V8) was only going to cost me an extra $50 on the premium over my 2.4L 4-cyl Nissan 240SX...

 

No contest then. How long exactly have you had the Camaro now?

 

if he had an auto it would be less complex for him and give him one less thing to have to focus on.

 

Exactly my thinking. Must make life safer all round; not only for the lad himself (important!) but for everyone around him, as he's less distracted. However: this opinion is coming from someone who has long believed in the automatic gearbox as a safety device, for exactly the reasons stated. You may wish to consult someone less biased!

[Joseph]

I was just thinking: We all should have taken our tests in a London Taxi - That would have been funny when doing a three-point turn!

 

In my experience, a VW Polo is a good choice - Group 1-2 for the 1.0 6N2, very nice looking, long-lived and drives like a bigger car. Therefore, the Skoda Fabia would also be a good choice.

[Joseph]

I agree on the comments re learning - most kids actually no longer see learning to drive as a necessary skill - I'm sure in big cities it is great and easy to get by without a driving licence, but they don't even get out on a scooter at age 16 anymore.

 

It will create huge problems, and the longer one leaves it, the harder it is to pick up the skills necessary.

 

The first car I drove after passing my test, and the one I took on the motorway for the first time was my dad's Jaguar XJ6 S1 3.6, I was forever getting stopped when driving it and asked 'is this your car, sir'.

 

Yes, I knew of people like this who were just not interested in learning to drive. Then again, they weren't generally interested in learning anything when at school either...

 

I, on the other hand, was in a car as soon as I turned 17. As to the XJ6, I have a friend who regularly drives his father's BMW 525d E65, and I thought driving my father's Volvo V40 was big! I also know of someone who was handed the keys to their parents' (brand new) Audi A4 Avant when they passed their test a couple of years back...Brand new Audi with scuffed alloys?!

[gtd2000]

 

No contest then. How long exactly have you had the Camaro now?

Oh that was around 10 years ago now.

 

Car was up in Orlando and owned by a chap who had suffered a stroke, he couldn't, operate the manual gears as a result.

 

The other problem was that he could not speak properly. His family appeared to be a set of weirdos and pretty much put me off buying the car.

 

You could see the old boy was happy to try to communicate with me about the car but they just basically fucked him back off into the house.

 

I made my excuses and left, feeling sorry for the chap.

 

I still have the 240sx though

[rml2345]

Back to Scooters' mate's dilemma for a moment... What about a Yaris? I might be a touch biased but they are cutesy (helpful for convincing the daughter) and ruddy tough wee things. Mine is ex driving instructor, and I learned in it without it exploding in a shower of cogs and springs. Cheap to insure and good on fuel to boot.

Not very exciting though.

No one suggested Horsey Horseless yet?

[loserone]

I have a friend who regularly drives his father's BMW 525d E65

 

Not called Richard by any chance?

[Joseph]

I have a friend who regularly drives his father's BMW 525d E65

 

Not called Richard by any chance?

 

Ryan, actually. I found it to be quite funny when I 'advised' him to floor the throttle when turning a corner in the snow. The next time I saw him, he remarked: "I see what you mean"...He had no idea that a RWD BMW would react in that way in the snow!

[R9UKE]

Has the Renault Clio seriously not been mentioned? The smiley face ones made from 1998 - 2001. FANTASTIC cars that tick all the boxes. Safe, plenty of air bags, really comfortable, reasonably reliable and Renault don't skimp on their toys - leccy windows and remote locking is on all but the really rare and nasty pov spec "Liberté". I bought myself one just after I passed my test and it was a brilliant little thing. Just make sure you pop into Tesco on the way home after picking it up for some duct tape to seal the bastard sunroof up - it WILL leak.

 

OR.... she could be brave, distinctive and bankrupt and plump for what I learned to drive in... doesn't get much safer!

 

[oman5]

I was asked to find something for my nephew as a first car.looking at our kind of cars, cheapest to insure are, as you'd expect, a complete shitefest.

original VW Beetle, Pug 205 1.0, 106/AX 1.0, corsa 1.0, panda 1.0;

its true, any of these are only around a grand for a 17yd old to insure when I checked.

[cms206]

When I was seventeen I managed to get a very reasonable quote on, of all things, an F-reg Volvo 745GLE auto. Admittedly not great for a learner, but at the time I only worked part time and couldn't afford the £400 for the car or the £850 for the insurance...

[Lacquer Peel]

Has the Renault Clio seriously not been mentioned? The smiley face ones made from 1998 - 2001. FANTASTIC cars that tick all the boxes. Safe, plenty of air bags, really comfortable, reasonably reliable and Renault don't skimp on their toys - leccy windows and remote locking is on all but the really rare and nasty pov spec "Liberté". I bought myself one just after I passed my test and it was a brilliant little thing. Just make sure you pop into Tesco on the way home after picking it up for some duct tape to seal the bastard sunroof up - it WILL leak.

 

Strange that Liberte became a base model, my mk1 Clio diesel Liberte was a well-specced thing with remote central locking, electric windows, front foglights, leaky power steering and a leaky sunroof.

[R9UKE]

I had no idea there was a Mark 1 Liberté. Must have been a special edition? The Mark 2 Liberté appeared when Renault changed from their RN, RT etc trim levels to fancy French words.

 

CMS - we ended up talking about you on another thread. I was asking whether anyone on here had one of those old Proton's as I'm really in the mood for one. Just noticed your avatar - excellent!

[eddyramrod]

Never mind Protons (though you should have one at least, they are good): haven't you stolen* that Impala yet?

 

*At those prices!

[warren t claim]

Never mind Protons (though you should have one at least, they are good): haven't you stolen* that Impala yet?

 

*At those prices!

I think he should of stolen that Safrane!

[R9UKE]

Devastated about the Safrane, genuinely.

 

Eddy I rang her back shortly after that and she and her husband were golfing at the time She said she'd ring back but didn't! Have tried twice since then and no answer. I'll have to take a drive over next week and see if it's still in situ.

[eddyramrod]

Ta m8!