Letting others drive your P and J
Discussion
bga said:
I'm pretty comfortable with friends & family driving my cars. The only proviso's are that they are insured and that 'they bend it, they mend it'.
I try to share trackdays with close friends, and always assumed that this would be the rule.One of my friends had a different opinion, and as we had not discussed it before, I didn't realise this. Said mate was then far too enthusiastic on his first ever lap, and the worst happened, we went off and a car slid off into us.
His point of view was that although the spin was his fault, the car going into us was not and therefore we should share the repair cost.
Since then, I always make sure to check that any other drivers know the rules beforehand!
Let a mate drive one of mine last year; here we are at 1:07 and 1:18 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH8Z9xVxwZg . Guess who's who. 
I let my mate drive my cerb when i first got it & i had just paid 20k for it, i trusted him & thankfully it turned out fine (apart from him stalling it 3 times on the trot due to the twin plate clutch!)
But i totally understand why most people wouldnt, i get wound up now when the missus drives my beemer & moves the seat!
If you are fair with others if gives you a chance to drive their motors & ive had the opportunity to drive alot of my friends cars & that i am thankful for.
Each to their own.
But i totally understand why most people wouldnt, i get wound up now when the missus drives my beemer & moves the seat!
If you are fair with others if gives you a chance to drive their motors & ive had the opportunity to drive alot of my friends cars & that i am thankful for.
Each to their own.
In 3 years I've only allowed one other person to drive my TVR, and only because he's a trusted mate with a fast-car history (who then bought himself a Chimaera 430 off the back of his drive in my Chim). The list of other people who'd get a go is quite short!
What worries me specifically with letting people have a go in the Chimaera is them downshifting without rev-matching and dragging the back end, possibly ending-up sideways in the road at speed. The single biggest cause of TVR single-vehicle accidents according to Steve Heath's Bible. Lack of ABS and 270lbft at the back with no traction control also makes me a bit selective with who drives. No aids whatsoever, fairly meaty torque at low-ish throttle openings and big engine braking from the V8 are the three things a lot of drivers might not be used to.
If you think your mate is up to it, why not!!! A pal of mine bought a Chim 450 and had no problems driving it, albeit after owning a 225 bhp Mk1 MX5 turbo. Prior to that he had no performance car history. Another had an E36 M3 Evo as his first performance car. Drove it for years, only spun it once, 20 mins after he collected it.
What worries me specifically with letting people have a go in the Chimaera is them downshifting without rev-matching and dragging the back end, possibly ending-up sideways in the road at speed. The single biggest cause of TVR single-vehicle accidents according to Steve Heath's Bible. Lack of ABS and 270lbft at the back with no traction control also makes me a bit selective with who drives. No aids whatsoever, fairly meaty torque at low-ish throttle openings and big engine braking from the V8 are the three things a lot of drivers might not be used to.
If you think your mate is up to it, why not!!! A pal of mine bought a Chim 450 and had no problems driving it, albeit after owning a 225 bhp Mk1 MX5 turbo. Prior to that he had no performance car history. Another had an E36 M3 Evo as his first performance car. Drove it for years, only spun it once, 20 mins after he collected it.
In the past when I was younger and had younger friends I lent out a car and it came back with two buckled wheels and a report from another friend that he'd seen it being driven idiotically. Didn't lend cars out or let anyone else drive them other than girlfriends for a long time, now in my mid 30's friends are older, better friends, become a better judge of character and certain people I'll just toss the keys to and say they can drive my cars.
Taking a friend on a track day in 2 weeks and letting her drive, although I have booked her in with an instructor as she's got zero experience of either the car or driving anything quick or driving on track and I've never bothered with track insurance. Now its coming up I am worried a bit as shes a bit accident prone...
Taking a friend on a track day in 2 weeks and letting her drive, although I have booked her in with an instructor as she's got zero experience of either the car or driving anything quick or driving on track and I've never bothered with track insurance. Now its coming up I am worried a bit as shes a bit accident prone...
If they are insured properly, why not? If the car was irreplaceable then I'd be a bit precious, but any standard car I would let any friend or family member drive it, no matter what its value is. Most people I know with 'nice' cars have a similar attitude; the smiles you can give others is well worth the potential risk of having to go through an insurance claim and get a replacement car, which is unlikely anyway.
turbolucie said:
If they are insured properly, why not? If the car was irreplaceable then I'd be a bit precious, but any standard car I would let any friend or family member drive it, no matter what its value is. Most people I know with 'nice' cars have a similar attitude; the smiles you can give others is well worth the potential risk of having to go through an insurance claim and get a replacement car, which is unlikely anyway.
My sentiments EXACTLY!I've never been too bothered about who drove my cars previously. Most of the people I've let drive I would passenger with. It's nice to see someone getting some enjoyment out of having a drive.
I don't think I'll be offering that many people the chance to drive the T350. I think it's a little too easy for some people to over step there limits in. Having let my dad have a go and having the rears loosing traction in a straight line and veering towards a bank was enough to put me off. Luckily he did come off the throttle, just not as fast as i'd of liked. I'm sure a lot of none car types wouldn't even know the rear tyres had lost grip and would merrily keep there foot planed.
But there are one or two friends I would be happy to chuck them the keys and let them get on with it. They've also shown the same sort of trust in me. Always nice to be driving someone else's car and following your own.
I don't think I'll be offering that many people the chance to drive the T350. I think it's a little too easy for some people to over step there limits in. Having let my dad have a go and having the rears loosing traction in a straight line and veering towards a bank was enough to put me off. Luckily he did come off the throttle, just not as fast as i'd of liked. I'm sure a lot of none car types wouldn't even know the rear tyres had lost grip and would merrily keep there foot planed.
But there are one or two friends I would be happy to chuck them the keys and let them get on with it. They've also shown the same sort of trust in me. Always nice to be driving someone else's car and following your own.
That was how i discovered what an incredibly loud noise my old car made. 
t, My other cars my friends cam drive whenever they want as most of my friends have better cars than me so it always pays off! I don't however let my sister/parents drive them as they kerb the wheels. I regularly throw the keys to the Landie to friends so they can have a go (around the fields).
Only the local Volvo man and the MOT tester have driven the Volvo (My mum is named on both lots of insurance but hasn't driven either yet!).
The MX-5 I'm a bit touchy about (mainly cos it's my new toy)
My neighbour is relaxed about people driving his cars, when my cover allowed it (before they removed my DOC cover
) he even let me drive his 1911 Sunbeam up the road 
Only the local Volvo man and the MOT tester have driven the Volvo (My mum is named on both lots of insurance but hasn't driven either yet!).
The MX-5 I'm a bit touchy about (mainly cos it's my new toy)
My neighbour is relaxed about people driving his cars, when my cover allowed it (before they removed my DOC cover
) he even let me drive his 1911 Sunbeam up the road Dimski said:
I try to share trackdays with close friends, and always assumed that this would be the rule.
One of my friends had a different opinion, and as we had not discussed it before, I didn't realise this. Said mate was then far too enthusiastic on his first ever lap, and the worst happened, we went off and a car slid off into us.
His point of view was that although the spin was his fault, the car going into us was not and therefore we should share the repair cost.
Since then, I always make sure to check that any other drivers know the rules beforehand!
I did this with a good friend and although it was never discussed, I took a drive of his car knowing that if it did get damaged while I was driving it, then I would have to pay for repairs (or the car itself if that bad). Thankfully nothing more than a slight 'twitch' when I lifted off a bit too sharpish on one corner that a 'dab of oppo' caught before any harm done or run out of track. We went back the next year and although I didn't push the car as hard as him, it was enough to enjoy the experience...I'll never be a racing driver, but it was still fun. One of my friends had a different opinion, and as we had not discussed it before, I didn't realise this. Said mate was then far too enthusiastic on his first ever lap, and the worst happened, we went off and a car slid off into us.
His point of view was that although the spin was his fault, the car going into us was not and therefore we should share the repair cost.
Since then, I always make sure to check that any other drivers know the rules beforehand!
I also had a drive in a neighbour's Chimaera to see if it suited me as I fancy getting one. It was slightly wet, so not pushed out of respect for the weather and the owner, but appreciated it non the less.
I need to return the favour (at least on the road anyway) with a drive in my own P&J once back on the road, but won't have any problem doing this. Anyone that trusts me to drive their P&J should expect the same in return.
In anycase my P&J is much less powerful than either of the above cars, so maybe not a fair 'swop'. I used to let my mates have a go at driving the landy when we went off roading. The first thing that got dinned into their heads was NEVER BRAKE DOWN A HILL!
Fast forward to the second such off road session, with mate 1 filming from outside, mate 2 misses the gear when downchanging to descend a hill, lets in the clutch and we go bounding off down the hill. Of course, instead of grabbing for another gear he panics and jumps on the brakes, and we end up slithering to a sideways halt in a bush, inches from a large tree.
I've not taken them with me since then
Fast forward to the second such off road session, with mate 1 filming from outside, mate 2 misses the gear when downchanging to descend a hill, lets in the clutch and we go bounding off down the hill. Of course, instead of grabbing for another gear he panics and jumps on the brakes, and we end up slithering to a sideways halt in a bush, inches from a large tree.
I've not taken them with me since then
clio anyone im not fussed, noble is a different story, only 1 mate gets to drive it and the favour is returned with his cars. Iv other mates who through me the keys to theirs i the hope i think they think i will let them have a shot of mine but it doesnt work that way. 2 are just getting some serious performance cars now from hot hatches and rally wagons to a sagaris and and exige. Will see when they or if they bin them as to when they will get a shot.
It really depends on who the person is. Even though I only have a 206. I still prefer to have it in one piece. I've got no problem with abusing it myself. If I break it I break it end of, but if somebody else breaks it thats a different story.
There are a few people I will quite happily let just jump in and others I will hessitently let in and others that make me suddenly come up with an appoitment somewhere else.
There are a few people I will quite happily let just jump in and others I will hessitently let in and others that make me suddenly come up with an appoitment somewhere else.
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