Do you need a flash car to do advanced driving?
Discussion
Hello I've just joined this site and it looks really interesting. I love my C-class estate and feel i'm a good driver but wondered if i can apply for advanced driving lessons/ test in my estate, i also carry a few oap's in my car running them around to shops and B&Q so i thought it would put them at ease to know i'd passed my advance driving test, oh and how much does it cost.
thanks in advance for any info... Sarah
thanks in advance for any info... Sarah
No you don't need a flash car for advanced training. In many respects it's better to have a bit of a basic snotter for the purpose. the more basic the car the more you'll see the advantage of some of the techniques without loads of electronic gizmos as a catchnet. I'm sure someone will be along shortly to advise as to the proceedures and costs involved. I hope that helps.
Hi Sarah
In a nutshell, there are two main organisations that administer Advanced tests, and will have local volunteers that can help you prepare for it. The IAM and RoSPA cover most areas - if you let us know whereabouts you are there might be someone from the local group on PH already.
You could also signup at Advanced-Driving.co.uk where all the local groups are listed and this question has been discussed before.
Just one more piece of advice - you might feel you're already a good driver, but try to keep an open mind when you're advised to change something about your driving. You could find that as you learn more about driving, you'll become more aware of your actual level of ability.
In a nutshell, there are two main organisations that administer Advanced tests, and will have local volunteers that can help you prepare for it. The IAM and RoSPA cover most areas - if you let us know whereabouts you are there might be someone from the local group on PH already.
You could also signup at Advanced-Driving.co.uk where all the local groups are listed and this question has been discussed before.
Just one more piece of advice - you might feel you're already a good driver, but try to keep an open mind when you're advised to change something about your driving. You could find that as you learn more about driving, you'll become more aware of your actual level of ability.
BertBert said:
I am not sure how the advanced mob deal with autos.
As long as you're using the gearbox correctly, it shouldn't be an issue. Observation, planning, vehicle sympathy, positioning, smoothness, etc. are the same whatever you drive. It doesn't have to be flash either - I'm a senior observer in my IAM group and I drive a 12-year old Mondeo.You're looking to use the gears to your advantage, so I like my associates to select a manual hold before a steep or long hill, and if they're making progress on a twisty road locking it into a lower gear can help control into and through the bends.
Also, if the kickdown is a bit sluggish you'd want to select a gear before overtaking. Modern, cleverer autos need less intervention, but they still need to know how it works and what all the buttons do.
Also, if the kickdown is a bit sluggish you'd want to select a gear before overtaking. Modern, cleverer autos need less intervention, but they still need to know how it works and what all the buttons do.
We have people in our group at the moment ranging from a N Registered 1.9 Non-Turbo Diesel VW van thing up to a Porsche 997 Carrera S on the 09 plate.
Really does not matter what you drive at all.
Have a look around and see which group is best for you on the sites given above. You can even just nip down to one of their meets before committing to anything at all for a chat and just to see what you can gain from it.
http://www.stockportadvancedmotorists.org.uk/
Really does not matter what you drive at all.
Have a look around and see which group is best for you on the sites given above. You can even just nip down to one of their meets before committing to anything at all for a chat and just to see what you can gain from it.
- Edit
http://www.stockportadvancedmotorists.org.uk/
Edited by R3v 1 on Wednesday 15th July 23:03
odd-job-sarah said:
Hello I've just joined this site and it looks really interesting. I love my C-class estate and feel i'm a good driver but wondered if i can apply for advanced driving lessons/ test in my estate, i also carry a few oap's in my car running them around to shops and B&Q so i thought it would put them at ease to know i'd passed my advance driving test, oh and how much does it cost.
thanks in advance for any info... Sarah
Yes, take an advanced driving course, IAM is tbe first one.thanks in advance for any info... Sarah
The car you use is of no concern.
You will then appreciate the thought process needed to help you to stay safe on our roads.
Always thinking about potential hazards.
Seen or unseen.
Edited by WhoseGeneration on Thursday 16th July 01:07
I've just started the IAM's 'Skill for life' course. I drive my mum's 1.2 Renault Clio. It's not flash, and it's definitely not powerful (approx. 75bhp). If anything, it's taught me an incredible amount about looking ahead and being smooth - the car simply doesn't have the power to dig me out of situations that I've messed up/misjudged.
Best of luck if you decide to take the plunge to do a course - remember, it can only do you good.
Peter
Best of luck if you decide to take the plunge to do a course - remember, it can only do you good.
Peter
t Sherlock.S. Gonzales Esq. said:
You're looking to use the gears to your advantage, so I like my associates to select a manual hold before a steep or long hill, and if they're making progress on a twisty road locking it into a lower gear can help control into and through the bends.
Also, if the kickdown is a bit sluggish you'd want to select a gear before overtaking. Modern, cleverer autos need less intervention, but they still need to know how it works and what all the buttons do.
Thanks, that helps a lot.Also, if the kickdown is a bit sluggish you'd want to select a gear before overtaking. Modern, cleverer autos need less intervention, but they still need to know how it works and what all the buttons do.
I have been driving a couple of autos for a few months which is novel for me as I am not a great fan. I have noticed that it actually takes quite a lot of involvement to get an auto box to do what you want. In a modern merc 7 speed auto, quite a lot of the time you try to do something and it says "shift denied". Or in an older 911 tip, even in tip mode it decides to change down just before you do. I had kind of concluded that it really took up too much time and effort to try and outguess the box and deal with the unexpected situations. So it was actually better just to let the box do its thing.
However I guess if you are only talking about overriding it in a few specific circs that might work.
Bert
1950trevorP said:
Attitude is part of (some would say a very important part of) being an
"advanced driver".
A phrase that illustrates that attitude (may well have been seen here before)
- being an "advanced driver" is similar to being "The Boss" -
if you have to tell people you are -
you're not.
I continue to insist that I'm not an advanced driver. Does that mean I could be - well, just a bit? It seems to be the only hope I've got. "advanced driver".
A phrase that illustrates that attitude (may well have been seen here before)
- being an "advanced driver" is similar to being "The Boss" -
if you have to tell people you are -
you're not.
BTW where is BOF these days, and BFF, for that matter? Have they given up on us?
Best wishes all,
Dave.
A normal car is fine. I took my training and test in my old AX GT, many, many moons ago. Years later, I started training to be an instructor. It all got very complex, and had to have several discussions regarding my Porsche 968 – my only car at the time.
Regarding not braking and charging gear all at once (that old Chestnut!!). You try going from 6th gear in a 968 block changing down to 2nd for a turn. Something like 1000rpm in 6th was about 28mph. Apart from physically getting the box to go from 6 to 2 in one movement, the car/drivetrain really didn’t like being dragged below the 1000 rpm mark for the change.
jj
Regarding not braking and charging gear all at once (that old Chestnut!!). You try going from 6th gear in a 968 block changing down to 2nd for a turn. Something like 1000rpm in 6th was about 28mph. Apart from physically getting the box to go from 6 to 2 in one movement, the car/drivetrain really didn’t like being dragged below the 1000 rpm mark for the change.
jj
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff