New driver with lux car seeking post driving test lessons!

[Seneca]

Have been lurking for a while but I really need some advice so decided to jump in with a first post.

I just passed my driving test in January and haven't driven since then. I just got my first car which for various (mostly foolish) reasons happen to be a Jaguar XF. I arranged to have some lessons with an experienced driving instructor. She came around yesterday, took a look at the car and that was it. She kindly declined her services, depressingly telling me to go and return the car.

I'm wondering if there are any courses or private tutors I can find in the Epping/Essex area that can take me through all the bits they never teach you before your the driving test, help me improve my skills, and importantly, can show me how to handle a jaguar and make use of all its features. I've considered taking an advanced driving course but I'm not sure I'm quite there yet. I'm not really keen on tests, just learning to be a good driver.

My motivation for learning to drive (at a late stage, I'm almost 40) is to drive a beautiful car and while I know a jaguar is not a good first car, still...those foolish reasons.

I haven't taken the car out yet and I don't want to do so without a good instructor who understands the car. I'm really really keen to do try it out though so would appreciate any advice on where to get help from. Thanks.

[Geekman]

You sound like a sensible chap, so it's unlikely you'll make the standard new driver mistakes of doing 60 in a 30 and crashing into a parked car, therefore I'd just crack on and start driving.

Remember that you have passed your test, so you've been deemed fit to drive any car, whether it's a Jaguar or a Micra. I'd start without an instructor, perhaps avoiding busy or narrow roads, and slowly build confidence until you're happy doing more advanced stuff. Maybe bring along a friend who drives and get some cones and practice parking in an empty carpark so you can learn where the edges of your car are.

After a few months, doing the IAM would probably be a very good idea, but I think it'd be best to get a bit of experience behind the wheel first, and you don't need an instructor to do that.

[WilliamWoollard]

The instructor did what?!! I'd jump at the chance do go out in anything decent. Just a shame I'm not local to you. Ring around some local instructors, when you find one that sounds excited about the car, get him to sit next to you for a bit and go from there.

Meanwhile, get out there and enjoy your car, take it steady, keep the music down, take it steady, don't fill it with mates, take it steady, go somewhere quiet first of all and take it steady. You're lucky enough to have the car you want, go and enjoy it. Just take it steady

[TooMany2cvs]

Seneca said:

I arranged to have some lessons with an experienced driving instructor. She came around yesterday, took a look at the car and that was it. She kindly declined her services, depressingly telling me to go and return the car.

Don't take this personally, but I can see her point to an extent...

You've got a new licence. You've got a very powerful and fast car that isolates you from what's happening outside, lulling you into a false sense of security. If and when it goes wrong, it's going to go very wrong very quickly.

I'd go with the IAM/RoSPA option, definitely. Don't tell them in advance that you're a new driver. The observer will know within a minute or so of you driving off, but they should be able to cope with that just fine.

[Grandpad58]

Personally I would not have a Jag as my first car, but a car similar size to what you're used to would have done, then work up as you get more confident.
I just think the sheer size and power of you're choice of car is a tad optimistic and you may end up with a lot of dents and scratches that cost a lot more than a smaller/cheaper car.

Just my pennies worth.

[MichalPH]

Buy a 500 pound shed of similar size and drivetrain configuration (some old BMW?). Drive it as much as You can for 2 weeks - I can guarantee You will reverse into a pole, curb the wheel, etc. After 2 weeks, when You'll feel confident enough, You can start driving Your Jaguar. It will be much cheaper than ruining Your beautifull car.

Michal

[Munter]

MichalPH said:

Buy a 500 pound shed of similar size and drivetrain configuration (some old BMW?). Drive it as much as You can for 2 weeks - I can guarantee You will reverse into a pole, curb the wheel, etc. After 2 weeks, when You'll feel confident enough, You can start driving Your Jaguar. It will be much cheaper than ruining Your beautifull car.

Michal

I'd go with this as a reasonable idea.

Also http://www.ridedrive.co.uk/ should be happy to instruct you. And if you do the right course you can get an insurance reduction.

[R0G]

If you were in the Leicester area I would help you for free

Over the past 15 years as an observer I have had many associates aged 17 who passed the AD test within 6 months of passing the basic test

[trashbat]

My first car was (and is) an Alfa 156, which is a bit smaller but not hugely so, I imagine with similar issues around parking and visibility. It was fine. As people have said, just get out there and get on with it. That you're even asking this question means that you at least have the right attitude, and a nice car that you care about should be an incentive to drive carefully.

In the long term, do IAM or similar but again I agree it's something you should do with a bit of experience behind you.

If you're anything like me, you'll probably have parking scrapes a couple of times, but they can be fixed for a few hundred quid and serve as a valuable lesson.

If you're really concerned about protecting the car while you gain initial experience, you could always hire a small car for a weekend for about the same price as tuition.

[Seneca]

Thanks everyone. I think I'll brave up and try to take it out locally (I'm going to have whoever is driving behind me cursing me royally!). I'll also check out Ride Drive. If it doesn't work for me then I'll have to look at getting some practice with a cheaper car.

By the way, Geekman, I'm a woman doubly dangerous eh?

[trashbat]

If you're in Essex as your profile suggests, you could also look at ADUK, in particular here (you'll need to sign up to see it). I'm not necessarily suggesting you go to the driving day (although you should!) but more that it shows there's some active members in Essex. Post a thread and you might find someone willing to dedicate a few hours to free supervision and mentoring, much more flexibly than other options like the IAM - they're very good like that

[johnao]

Hi Seneca,

Please see PM sent to your email address.

[angoooose]

trashbat said:

If you're in Essex as your profile suggests, you could also look at ADUK, in particular here (you'll need to sign up to see it). I'm not necessarily suggesting you go to the driving day (although you should!) but more that it shows there's some active members in Essex. Post a thread and you might find someone willing to dedicate a few hours to free supervision and mentoring, much more flexibly than other options like the IAM - they're very good like that

Trashbat beat me to it - I'm organising the day in June and you'll be more than welcome to join us

[7mike]

A lot of approved driving instructors are also 'fleet registered' but this could just mean they've done a four day course with any practical elements carried out in their own car. Most of us however have extensive experience of training in a wide variety of vehicles (the CEOs new Merc through to the new rep in his Astra). It's more likely that the CEO will want to know how all his new toys work. So going through a company like Ride Drive as mentioned above or Driver Skills http://www.driverskills.com/ will get you professional help & advice if you wish. The Driving instructors' Association web site also has a 'find an instructor' facility where each instructor's main qualifications can be seen.

edited to add: http://www.driving.org/member-finder

Edited by 7mike on Sunday 27th April 11:46

[Seneca]

angoooose said:

trashbat said:

If you're in Essex as your profile suggests, you could also look at ADUK, in particular here (you'll need to sign up to see it). I'm not necessarily suggesting you go to the driving day (although you should!) but more that it shows there's some active members in Essex. Post a thread and you might find someone willing to dedicate a few hours to free supervision and mentoring, much more flexibly than other options like the IAM - they're very good like that

Trashbat beat me to it - I'm organising the day in June and you'll be more than welcome to join us

Thanks Trashbat and Angoose,

I've just applied to register on ADUK site. Fingers crossed, I should have improved enough to join the driving day in June.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Are there any driving instructors near you offering the Pass Plus scheme? That could be an ideal next step - six sessions covering country roads, Motorways and other scenarios that the L-test might not.

I'm sure you could do it in your own car, and it sounds like what you need initially is more supervised wheel time.

When you're happier driving on your own, Advanced training will really help build skill and confidence.

[MarkK]

I paid BSM for a course of 10 advanced driving lessons before I did my IAM test, might be worth checking if they still do them.

Of course you could go along to your local group and train for free but I preferred a more structured, formal approach.

[johnao]

MarkK said:

I paid BSM for a course of 10 advanced driving lessons before I did my IAM test, might be worth checking if they still do them.

Of course you could go along to your local group and train for free but I preferred a more structured, formal approach.

Seneca's local IAM Group do offer a structured approach and has a 93% pass rate. Much cheaper than BSM or any other commercial option. Not all ADI's fully understand what the IAM and RoSPA are looking for when it comes to their advanced driving tests. It's the usual DSA/Roadcraft issue

[R0G]

Many IAM groups have grade 6 ADIs as their observers

[waremark]

johnao said:

Seneca's local IAM Group do offer a structured approach and has a 93% pass rate.

And an Observer with an XF ....