Any good driving instructors in Newcastle?
Discussion
Hey guys,
Nice to meet you all.
Can anyone recommend any decent driving instructors in Newcastle?
I kind of get the feeling I should stay away from the big companies like BSM/AA? But also don't want to end up with horrible charva in a nasty micra or something!
Has anyone have got any experience of good instructors? I don't know anyone round these parts to ask.
Thanks guys, help appreciated.
Nice to meet you all.
Can anyone recommend any decent driving instructors in Newcastle?
I kind of get the feeling I should stay away from the big companies like BSM/AA? But also don't want to end up with horrible charva in a nasty micra or something!
Has anyone have got any experience of good instructors? I don't know anyone round these parts to ask.
Thanks guys, help appreciated.
I forsee this turning into one of those threads where everyone throws their instructor's name in, but I will still go on and recommend my instructor, because he was absolutely fantastic.
I went through several instructors who came up lacking in my opinion, either unreliable with bookings and punctuality, or just poor at instructing with very little apparent knowledge and poor at answering my questions. Eventually, I got in contact with a guy called Phil Dixon, who works under the name Excel Driver Training, his website is www.excel-driver-training.co.uk , he works around the Gateshead area and generally takes his students for their test at the Gateshead test centre near the Metrocentre.
He was an absolute revelation and my driving ability in all areas, from observation, knowledge of the rules of the road, maneuvering and general car control and conduct, came on in leaps and bounds. He is incredibly well-read in terms of the rules of the road and crucially he is an excellent teacher. He can identify the strengths and weaknesses of his students and tailor his teaching to suit exactly what they need. He never once let me down through cancellations or being late and always made my driving lessons a bit of an event; I never once got out of his car at the end of lesson feeling like I had not learned something, or that I had wasted my money. My previous instructor was very keen on driving the test routes, whereas with Phil I drove a very wide range of roads and encountered many conditions, meaning that when I came to take my test I was confident in all aspects of my driving and did not fel like I was leaving anything to chance.
I also did my Pass Plus course with Phil, which was dispatched quickly and in a very enjoyable fashion. Aside from being a great instructor, he is a really nice guy and a great laugh. Being young (mid twenties) he still has a very good understanding of the issues facing young drivers (particularly young lads!) and will be on your wavelength. Coming from a middle-aged woman instructor before him, it was a massive breath of fresh air to get into a car with someone who made me feel totally relaxed and comfortable, which I think is very important to help students drive at their maximum potential. No stress from the instructor, just total focus on the task of learning to drive, and making it enjoyable.
If you are based in Blyth or somewhere outlying you might be too far away from Phil to work with you as, noted earlier, he is based around the Gateshead area. If it sounds like you might be able to get him as your instructor he comes very highly recommended from both me and my fiance's brother, who passed with ease under his instruction.
EDIT: Since you said you didn't want a nasty chav in a micra, I should point out he is a very nice guy who uses as a new Astra (turbo diesel I think) as his teaching car. When I was taught by him, we drove a 1.7L turbo diesel Astra, which was an absolute hoot to drive, coming from the 1.1L diesel Yaris I was used to driving previously...
I went through several instructors who came up lacking in my opinion, either unreliable with bookings and punctuality, or just poor at instructing with very little apparent knowledge and poor at answering my questions. Eventually, I got in contact with a guy called Phil Dixon, who works under the name Excel Driver Training, his website is www.excel-driver-training.co.uk , he works around the Gateshead area and generally takes his students for their test at the Gateshead test centre near the Metrocentre.
He was an absolute revelation and my driving ability in all areas, from observation, knowledge of the rules of the road, maneuvering and general car control and conduct, came on in leaps and bounds. He is incredibly well-read in terms of the rules of the road and crucially he is an excellent teacher. He can identify the strengths and weaknesses of his students and tailor his teaching to suit exactly what they need. He never once let me down through cancellations or being late and always made my driving lessons a bit of an event; I never once got out of his car at the end of lesson feeling like I had not learned something, or that I had wasted my money. My previous instructor was very keen on driving the test routes, whereas with Phil I drove a very wide range of roads and encountered many conditions, meaning that when I came to take my test I was confident in all aspects of my driving and did not fel like I was leaving anything to chance.
I also did my Pass Plus course with Phil, which was dispatched quickly and in a very enjoyable fashion. Aside from being a great instructor, he is a really nice guy and a great laugh. Being young (mid twenties) he still has a very good understanding of the issues facing young drivers (particularly young lads!) and will be on your wavelength. Coming from a middle-aged woman instructor before him, it was a massive breath of fresh air to get into a car with someone who made me feel totally relaxed and comfortable, which I think is very important to help students drive at their maximum potential. No stress from the instructor, just total focus on the task of learning to drive, and making it enjoyable.
If you are based in Blyth or somewhere outlying you might be too far away from Phil to work with you as, noted earlier, he is based around the Gateshead area. If it sounds like you might be able to get him as your instructor he comes very highly recommended from both me and my fiance's brother, who passed with ease under his instruction.
EDIT: Since you said you didn't want a nasty chav in a micra, I should point out he is a very nice guy who uses as a new Astra (turbo diesel I think) as his teaching car. When I was taught by him, we drove a 1.7L turbo diesel Astra, which was an absolute hoot to drive, coming from the 1.1L diesel Yaris I was used to driving previously...
Edited by Mastodon2 on Monday 6th December 13:56
Hey Mastodon,
Thanks for your reply. Sorry I didn't reply earlier, I've been away the past week or so.
Sounds like a great guy from your glowing review! I checked out the website, seems like they've got a couple of decent offers on as well. Is it just Phil that works for Excel or are there a few guys? (And do you work there lol?!?) He seems like the Man from what you say!
SHutch, yeah I suppose it is a bit of a random first post, but what better place to post than a forum full of drivers/ex-learners!!
I was going to get some booked up this month but with the weather being so terrible I thought I might wait till the new year? Stupid idea? Or...
Well up for other recommendations to guys.
Thanks again.
Thanks for your reply. Sorry I didn't reply earlier, I've been away the past week or so.
Sounds like a great guy from your glowing review! I checked out the website, seems like they've got a couple of decent offers on as well. Is it just Phil that works for Excel or are there a few guys? (And do you work there lol?!?) He seems like the Man from what you say!
SHutch, yeah I suppose it is a bit of a random first post, but what better place to post than a forum full of drivers/ex-learners!!
I was going to get some booked up this month but with the weather being so terrible I thought I might wait till the new year? Stupid idea? Or...
Well up for other recommendations to guys.
Thanks again.
Phil works on his own at the moment, having only very recently started his own driving school. Previously, he worked for several years for a well known North-east based driving school. I don't work for him, but unlike a lot of my mates who passed their tests and never looked back, I still keep in touch with him as he is a genuine petrolhead with a real interest in cars and good driving. Despite having passed my test nearly a year and a half ago, every time I get behind the wheel I acknowledge the massive benefit he gave to me and how much he improved my driving so quickly.
Although I've already said it, he comes fully recommended from me and if you get the oppertunity to learn with him I'd jump at the chance. His tuition is fantastic and you will learn so much more than you would with the "let's drive the test route again, shall we?" style driving schools (EDIT: looking back your original post saying you feel you should stay away from big driving schools like BSM, you are dead right, BSM are the company I'm referring to here and they are notorious for pushing kids through their tests as quickly as possible without actually teaching them to drive!). The end result will be you passing your test with a very comprehensive skill set, which will make you a much safer and more confident driver as a result.
The weather is crap at the moment and for obvious reasons a lot of instructors have to stay home and cancel lessons while the snow is bad. This is frustrating both for the instructor and the student no doubt but with regard to safety, learner drivers should not really be on the roads, even with an instructor in a dual control car. Since the white stuff is coming down again as I type this starting lessons with Phil (or any driving school for that matter) on short notice is probably not possible, however I would definitely get on the phone to him. If you are in the Gateshead area I'm sure he'd be more than happy to pencil in some sessions in the near future, weather dependant of course!
Although I've already said it, he comes fully recommended from me and if you get the oppertunity to learn with him I'd jump at the chance. His tuition is fantastic and you will learn so much more than you would with the "let's drive the test route again, shall we?" style driving schools (EDIT: looking back your original post saying you feel you should stay away from big driving schools like BSM, you are dead right, BSM are the company I'm referring to here and they are notorious for pushing kids through their tests as quickly as possible without actually teaching them to drive!). The end result will be you passing your test with a very comprehensive skill set, which will make you a much safer and more confident driver as a result.
The weather is crap at the moment and for obvious reasons a lot of instructors have to stay home and cancel lessons while the snow is bad. This is frustrating both for the instructor and the student no doubt but with regard to safety, learner drivers should not really be on the roads, even with an instructor in a dual control car. Since the white stuff is coming down again as I type this starting lessons with Phil (or any driving school for that matter) on short notice is probably not possible, however I would definitely get on the phone to him. If you are in the Gateshead area I'm sure he'd be more than happy to pencil in some sessions in the near future, weather dependant of course!
Edited by Mastodon2 on Thursday 23 December 01:17
Edited by Mastodon2 on Thursday 23 December 01:24
Cheers mate! Sounds like I should get on the dog and bone to him then.
I like what you say about offering more than just learning the test route. I suppose that's great for just passing the test but once I'm out there on my own...would be like being up S. Creek without a paddle!
Cheers.
I like what you say about offering more than just learning the test route. I suppose that's great for just passing the test but once I'm out there on my own...would be like being up S. Creek without a paddle!
Cheers.
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