Thinking of doing IAM... a few questions

[Rob S]

OK, I've been considering doing this for a few years ever since I did a driving day that came with my old CTR.

I currently only have a daily driver (Yaris SR 1.3) but will be getting a 2nd car for "weekends" etc early next year (Elise 111R currently taking my fancy )

My question is, with the weather and the likelihood of having a more performance based car next year, is it worthwhile hanging fire and tackling this in the Elise/whatever, woudl I benefit from doing this or will it make little difference what car I use?

I'm also currently putting my life back together after a couple of nasty break-ups so am looking to keep myself fairly active, hence why I'm thinking about it again at present

Cheers for any help

PS ANy contacts in the Oxfordshire area on here?

[RumbleBee]

There is no doubt that the IAM training will help you whatever car your in. But, I recently had the same decision to make and opted to do it in my TVR. I learned a few important things that I would not have learned in a daily driver. But there are also things that are a lot more difficult in a quick car. I found that the ideal gear was different from when in a normal car, this changed things about a bit, also it was very difficult to do a 3 point turn in anything other than a very wide road, as the exhausts and front splitter are below the level of the kerb. It was great fun though. Speak to your local group, you may be able to do your test soon and then an obliging observer may be able to go out with you in your new car after you have passed. I found them very helpful and get the impression that they would be willing to do this.

[Rob S]

Sounds good, thanks for the info

Edited by Rob S on Wednesday 21st November 11:28

[whygee02]

Doing the IAM in an Elise would be more beneficial and you'd learn a lot more. Not having the luxuries of PAS etc means its you, the car and the road, with no toys getting in the way.

[RT106]

Why would you learn more driving a performance orientated car, bearing in mind this is the IAM and not trying to develop limit handling skills?

The vehicle that taught me the most about driving, both in terms of advanced road and performance driving, was a crappy old normally aspirated diesel NovaVan I was leant for a year; no power, no grip, abysmal brakes, knackered synchomeshes, and something ridiculous like four turns lock-to-lock. Learning to make safe and brisk progress in something as awful as that was a completely invaluable experience, and surprisingly entertaining and rewarding too.

[_Neal_]

RT106 said:

Why would you learn more driving a performance orientated car, bearing in mind this is the IAM and not trying to develop limit handling skills?

Because, as whygee says, in the case of the O/P, learning to drive something like an Elise (or TVR or similar) in a smooth and progressive manner will be substantially harder (and teach you more about brisk-ish road driving) than driving a Yaris. If you can do the IAM in an Elise then applying the advanced skills to the Yaris will be very easy.

[Rob S]

Hmm, so far it sounds like it may be worth the wait... tbh I woudl have thought doing it in the nicer weather ina nicer car would be more enjoyable as well

[whygee02]

_Neal_ said:

RT106 said:

Why would you learn more driving a performance orientated car, bearing in mind this is the IAM and not trying to develop limit handling skills?

Because, as whygee says, in the case of the O/P, learning to drive something like an Elise (or TVR or similar) in a smooth and progressive manner will be substantially harder (and teach you more about brisk-ish road driving) than driving a Yaris. If you can do the IAM in an Elise then applying the advanced skills to the Yaris will be very easy.

Spot on..
1. Elise has no PAS
2. Rock hard suspension
3. Very loud engine
... all in all means driving in a smooth manner you have to work much harder, take much more in, and learn much more.

Doing it a day-to-day car a lot of this is lost due to the opposite reasons (comfortable, quiet, PAS) etc.

Must say tho, the one thing I was taught doing IAM was imagine an egg balanced on a plate on the bonnet and you can't break it. I shudder at the thought of how long I'd keep that going on my else

[SamHH]

I haven't driven a sports car but I don't know why it would be harder to do the IAM test in one. I can understand why a sports car might be more difficult to drive because of such things as heavy steering, a heavy clutch pedal, greater blind spots, a poor driving position, or a poor turning circle (although I don't know if any of these apply to the Elise), but I can't see why it would be harder to implement any of the things that the IAM teaches. The only disadvantage I can think of is that a slower car will give you fewer opportunities to practice overtaking. Also, I don't think it being winter is any sort of a problem.

I'd say if you are keen to do the IAM test then don't wait. If when you get a new car you feel you are struggling to apply the Roadcraft techniques then you may be able to get an observer to do some more drives with you or you could do the RoADA test.

Edited by SamHH on Wednesday 21st November 14:43

[SamHH]

whygee02 said:

Spot on..
1. Elise has no PAS
2. Rock hard suspension
3. Very loud engine
... all in all means driving in a smooth manner you have to work much harder, take much more in, and learn much more.

Doing it a day-to-day car a lot of this is lost due to the opposite reasons (comfortable, quiet, PAS) etc.

I can't understand why it should be so.

If you are strong enough to operate the steering then I don't know why not having PAS would be more difficult. In fact, it might make things slightly easier by removing the possibility of being criticised for turning the steering at a standstill. If you car has a hard ride then the observer and examiner will expect, erm, a hard ride. You should do whatever you safely and legally can to smooth the ride whatever car you're in and if you don't then you may be criticised (I was in my exam). If your car is loud then again, your observer and examiner will expect loudness. The only thing is that you may have to avoid accelerating quickly in built up areas at night, but that's not going to be an issue in the exam.

whygee02 said:

Must say tho, the one thing I was taught doing IAM was imagine an egg balanced on a plate on the bonnet and you can't break it. I shudder at the thought of how long I'd keep that going on my else

Maybe this is a useful thing to imagine to aid smoothness, but to actually drive like that would be ridiculous.

Edited by SamHH on Wednesday 21st November 14:43

Edited by SamHH on Wednesday 21st November 14:44

[A - W]

Doesn't matter which car you do it in. Might be an idea to have a go in both?

Just make sure when you apply you ask for someone supple enough to get in and out of an Elise. Some of these mature observers might never get back out.

[BOF]

A - W said:

Doesn't matter which car you do it in. Might be an idea to have a go in both?

Just make sure when you apply you ask for someone supple enough to get in and out of an Elise. Some of these mature observers might never get back out.

Cheeky Bugger!

BOF

[Don]

BOF said:

A - W said:

Doesn't matter which car you do it in. Might be an idea to have a go in both?

Just make sure when you apply you ask for someone supple enough to get in and out of an Elise. Some of these mature observers might never get back out.

Cheeky Bugger!

BOF

True but he's not wrong. I practically fall out of Elsies...have to use my hands. (I'm a big lad and me back's not as good as it was...)

[Don]

Rob: I'd hang fire and do it in your Elise.

Reason being? You will enjoy it more. And its an excuse to get the toy out of the garage and drive it.

I'm an Observer with the Basingstoke IAM. If you have any questions feel free to post and I'll try and help. I can even do you a drive out if you need it. A couple of PHers have done this with me. Gaz found it a bit tough (although was far too polite to say so!) I think but Kinky said he'd learned something useful...

[whygee02]

Don said:

BOF said:

A - W said:

Doesn't matter which car you do it in. Might be an idea to have a go in both?

Just make sure when you apply you ask for someone supple enough to get in and out of an Elise. Some of these mature observers might never get back out.

Cheeky Bugger!

BOF

True but he's not wrong. I practically fall out of Elsies...have to use my hands. (I'm a big lad and me back's not as good as it was...)

lol me lil old Mother used that technique when I gave her a lift to get some shopping - middle of a tesco filling station, on all fours, arse in the air - sure must have amused everyone else filling up

[A - W]

Don said:

BOF said:

A - W said:

Doesn't matter which car you do it in. Might be an idea to have a go in both?

Just make sure when you apply you ask for someone supple enough to get in and out of an Elise. Some of these mature observers might never get back out.

Cheeky Bugger!

BOF

True but he's not wrong. I practically fall out of Elsies...have to use my hands. (I'm a big lad and me back's not as good as it was...)

Sadly knowing some of our observers, I don't think they'd even try.

BOF, you timing to the thread as timed to perfection.

Don, I can just see you after a drive falling out.

[Rob S]

Don said:

Rob: I'd hang fire and do it in your Elise.

Reason being? You will enjoy it more. And its an excuse to get the toy out of the garage and drive it.

I'm an Observer with the Basingstoke IAM. If you have any questions feel free to post and I'll try and help. I can even do you a drive out if you need it. A couple of PHers have done this with me. Gaz found it a bit tough (although was far too polite to say so!) I think but Kinky said he'd learned something useful...

Thanks for the info I actually work down in Newbury @ Vodafone HQ so would be definately interested in this... I shall remember you for nearer the time as I think probably the Elise would be better, if on ly for the reaosns you have stated... neve rhurts to get some extra confidence in a RWD car etc as well