ROSPA test car choice...
Discussion
Hey folks,
I am looking for a bit advice from the PH advanced driving knowledge pool...
Four years ago I passed the IAM test and was training to be an observer, but unfortunately I moved and had to give up on the observing idea due to the constraints of my work. So I didn't bother to join the local IAM group after I moved.
Recently I decided to go for the ROSPA test because i) I wanted to polish up my driving and ii) I fancied the challenge of going for ROSPA Gold.
I've had a couple of observed drives and it's going well. My observer says that I'm currently at a Silver standard, so we are working towards getting rid of the remaining niggles.
My question to you lot is which car to take the test in. I have done the two drives in my Evo 8, but I also have a Peugeot 406 HDI. As I see it, they weigh up as follows:
Evo:
Pros- Any overtaking type manouver is much, much easier.
More accurate positioning on the road.
Push-pull steering is made easier by the quick rack.
It's the car that I enjoy driving!
Cons- Quite hard to be smooth at low speeds.
Rock hard suspension might further add to impression of a lack of smoothness.
Nightmare speedo design makes it hard to check speed at a glance.
Possible that the examiner will have preconceptions about a young person in such a car.
Pug:
Pros- Really easy to finesse the controls.
Comfy suspension, low NVH etc. creates impression of a smoother drive on my part.
Cons- It's so damn dull.
I'd feel like I'm taking the easy way out.
I've discussed it with my observer and he is leaning towards the Pug as he feels that because the car has lower abilities there will be correspondingly lower expectations of my driving. He is happy for me to continue using the Evo for the practice drives (in fact he really enjoys it!), but he has suggested that we do a drive in the Pug before the test to make a decision on which to use.
So, please let me know if you have any useful input especially if you found yourself in the same quandry. In short, I'd like to use the Evo but I'm coming round to the idea that it will be easier to achieve a higher grade pass in the Pug, which is my goal after all.
Thanks!
>> Edited by Monumental on Wednesday 29th March 20:36
I am looking for a bit advice from the PH advanced driving knowledge pool...
Four years ago I passed the IAM test and was training to be an observer, but unfortunately I moved and had to give up on the observing idea due to the constraints of my work. So I didn't bother to join the local IAM group after I moved.
Recently I decided to go for the ROSPA test because i) I wanted to polish up my driving and ii) I fancied the challenge of going for ROSPA Gold.
I've had a couple of observed drives and it's going well. My observer says that I'm currently at a Silver standard, so we are working towards getting rid of the remaining niggles.
My question to you lot is which car to take the test in. I have done the two drives in my Evo 8, but I also have a Peugeot 406 HDI. As I see it, they weigh up as follows:
Evo:
Pros- Any overtaking type manouver is much, much easier.
More accurate positioning on the road.
Push-pull steering is made easier by the quick rack.
It's the car that I enjoy driving!
Cons- Quite hard to be smooth at low speeds.
Rock hard suspension might further add to impression of a lack of smoothness.
Nightmare speedo design makes it hard to check speed at a glance.
Possible that the examiner will have preconceptions about a young person in such a car.
Pug:
Pros- Really easy to finesse the controls.
Comfy suspension, low NVH etc. creates impression of a smoother drive on my part.
Cons- It's so damn dull.
I'd feel like I'm taking the easy way out.
I've discussed it with my observer and he is leaning towards the Pug as he feels that because the car has lower abilities there will be correspondingly lower expectations of my driving. He is happy for me to continue using the Evo for the practice drives (in fact he really enjoys it!), but he has suggested that we do a drive in the Pug before the test to make a decision on which to use.
So, please let me know if you have any useful input especially if you found yourself in the same quandry. In short, I'd like to use the Evo but I'm coming round to the idea that it will be easier to achieve a higher grade pass in the Pug, which is my goal after all.
Thanks!
>> Edited by Monumental on Wednesday 29th March 20:36
OK, I've had four observed drives and I'm now happy with the idea of using the Evo for the test. I discussed it with my observer and he agreed that using the Evo isn't going to create extra diffulties during the test.
I just have to arrange a check drive with another observer and if that goes well I'll apply for the test
Wish me luck!
I just have to arrange a check drive with another observer and if that goes well I'll apply for the test
Wish me luck! 
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