The cost of driving
Discussion
Why do elders who took their test when it involved driving basic streets, no manouvres 20 minute tests, and paid next to nothing for insurance, insist on telling young drivers of today to buy their own cars? I kid you not I've footed a 1k car, 1.5k on lessons/tests/theory, 1.3k on insurance, £180 a year on road tax, and that's before even setting foot in my car to go anywhere. I don't see a problem with parents buying cars and paying towards these extortionate prices.
Taz1383 said:
Why do elders who took their test when it involved driving basic streets, no manouvres 20 minute tests, and paid next to nothing for insurance, insist on telling young drivers of today to buy their own cars? I kid you not I've footed a 1k car, 1.5k on lessons/tests/theory, 1.3k on insurance, £180 a year on road tax, and that's before even setting foot in my car to go anywhere. I don't see a problem with parents buying cars and paying towards these extortionate prices.
You spent £1500 on lessons?Exactly how do you spend £1500 on passing a very basic theory exam - and a very basic test on your car control. ( which is the beginning of your driving career... you still have a lot to learn )
I'm staggered.
Troubleatmill said:
You spent £1500 on lessons?
Exactly how do you spend £1500 on passing a very basic theory exam - and a very basic test on your car control. ( which is the beginning of your driving career... you still have a lot to learn )
I'm staggered.
The aa website says the average learner will need 47 hours of official lessons and 22 private practice, each lesson being around £24 - that's over £1100 just for official lessons and assuming you have a willing victim for the other 22. None of my family were willing to teach me so mine were all paid for but it was a lot cheaper back then Exactly how do you spend £1500 on passing a very basic theory exam - and a very basic test on your car control. ( which is the beginning of your driving career... you still have a lot to learn )
I'm staggered.
http://www.theaa.com/aattitude/start-learning/gett...
Taz1383 said:
Why do elders who took their test when it involved driving basic streets, no manouvres 20 minute tests, and paid next to nothing for insurance, insist on telling young drivers of today to buy their own cars? I kid you not I've footed a 1k car, 1.5k on lessons/tests/theory, 1.3k on insurance, £180 a year on road tax, and that's before even setting foot in my car to go anywhere. I don't see a problem with parents buying cars and paying towards these extortionate prices.
Because we are the baby boomers, you know the generation that have had it so good.Taz1383 said:
Why do elders who took their test when it involved driving basic streets, no manouvres 20 minute tests, and paid next to nothing for insurance, insist on telling young drivers of today to buy their own cars? I kid you not I've footed a 1k car, 1.5k on lessons/tests/theory, 1.3k on insurance, £180 a year on road tax, and that's before even setting foot in my car to go anywhere. I don't see a problem with parents buying cars and paying towards these extortionate prices.
I thought I spent loads on Lessons, which was £750, £1300 is CHEAP for insurance, try paying £3,200 It was SO high, I nearly didnt bother.
It was in 1984.
No theory test then. But there was when my wife took hers.
So to help her - I practised with her - and did plenty of mock tests.
Cost. £20 for the software. And about the same for the test IIRC.
I had 6 lessons before I took the exam.
My wife needed 7 lessons. ( and she needed the theory test )
Now, I notice that the AA are saying you need 47+ lessons before you are ready.
In my day 6-12 were needed. ( with supplementary practice ).
Now - cars are not that much different to drive from 1984 to 2014.
And I would be amazed if the test was 8 times as complicated.
And I used to train folks to pass the IAM test donkeys years ago.
As I said... I am staggered.
What the hell are they training you do you now - that they couldn't do 15, 20,25 years ago?
No theory test then. But there was when my wife took hers.
So to help her - I practised with her - and did plenty of mock tests.
Cost. £20 for the software. And about the same for the test IIRC.
I had 6 lessons before I took the exam.
My wife needed 7 lessons. ( and she needed the theory test )
Now, I notice that the AA are saying you need 47+ lessons before you are ready.
In my day 6-12 were needed. ( with supplementary practice ).
Now - cars are not that much different to drive from 1984 to 2014.
And I would be amazed if the test was 8 times as complicated.
And I used to train folks to pass the IAM test donkeys years ago.
As I said... I am staggered.
What the hell are they training you do you now - that they couldn't do 15, 20,25 years ago?
Troubleatmill said:
It was in 1984.
No theory test then. But there was when my wife took hers.
So to help her - I practised with her - and did plenty of mock tests.
Cost. £20 for the software. And about the same for the test IIRC.
I had 6 lessons before I took the exam.
My wife needed 7 lessons. ( and she needed the theory test )
Now, I notice that the AA are saying you need 47+ lessons before you are ready.
In my day 6-12 were needed. ( with supplementary practice ).
Now - cars are not that much different to drive from 1984 to 2014.
And I would be amazed if the test was 8 times as complicated.
And I used to train folks to pass the IAM test donkeys years ago.
As I said... I am staggered.
What the hell are they training you do you now - that they couldn't do 15, 20,25 years ago?
Can't tell if you're trolling or just seriously out of touch?No theory test then. But there was when my wife took hers.
So to help her - I practised with her - and did plenty of mock tests.
Cost. £20 for the software. And about the same for the test IIRC.
I had 6 lessons before I took the exam.
My wife needed 7 lessons. ( and she needed the theory test )
Now, I notice that the AA are saying you need 47+ lessons before you are ready.
In my day 6-12 were needed. ( with supplementary practice ).
Now - cars are not that much different to drive from 1984 to 2014.
And I would be amazed if the test was 8 times as complicated.
And I used to train folks to pass the IAM test donkeys years ago.
As I said... I am staggered.
What the hell are they training you do you now - that they couldn't do 15, 20,25 years ago?
I passed my test in 1988 just before my 18th birthday. My dad had a company car and the rule was no-one under 21 could drive it (raised to 25 as I approached 21 although I think it was a coincidence.)
Anyway, my only driving experience was the lessons so I ended up having a lot. 40 possibly, but 50 wouldn't surprise me. Friends ribbed me for having so many but they were out practicing with parents etc for hours on end.
Lessons were cheaper back them, so I probably spent £600-700 in total. Double that wouldn't surprise me for the same lessons today.
Anyway, my only driving experience was the lessons so I ended up having a lot. 40 possibly, but 50 wouldn't surprise me. Friends ribbed me for having so many but they were out practicing with parents etc for hours on end.
Lessons were cheaper back them, so I probably spent £600-700 in total. Double that wouldn't surprise me for the same lessons today.
Taz1383 said:
Troubleatmill said:
It was in 1984.
No theory test then. But there was when my wife took hers.
So to help her - I practised with her - and did plenty of mock tests.
Cost. £20 for the software. And about the same for the test IIRC.
I had 6 lessons before I took the exam.
My wife needed 7 lessons. ( and she needed the theory test )
Now, I notice that the AA are saying you need 47+ lessons before you are ready.
In my day 6-12 were needed. ( with supplementary practice ).
Now - cars are not that much different to drive from 1984 to 2014.
And I would be amazed if the test was 8 times as complicated.
And I used to train folks to pass the IAM test donkeys years ago.
As I said... I am staggered.
What the hell are they training you do you now - that they couldn't do 15, 20,25 years ago?
Can't tell if you're trolling or just seriously out of touch?No theory test then. But there was when my wife took hers.
So to help her - I practised with her - and did plenty of mock tests.
Cost. £20 for the software. And about the same for the test IIRC.
I had 6 lessons before I took the exam.
My wife needed 7 lessons. ( and she needed the theory test )
Now, I notice that the AA are saying you need 47+ lessons before you are ready.
In my day 6-12 were needed. ( with supplementary practice ).
Now - cars are not that much different to drive from 1984 to 2014.
And I would be amazed if the test was 8 times as complicated.
And I used to train folks to pass the IAM test donkeys years ago.
As I said... I am staggered.
What the hell are they training you do you now - that they couldn't do 15, 20,25 years ago?
My wife took her test about 14 or so years ago.
She was worried about both the theory and practice tests.
I just sat with her using some software on the PC - and we would go though the mock tests.
She didn't want me to give 1 to 1 tuition. So I just paid for professional tuition
But it was a handful of drives. ( In today's money - less than £500 I guess )
I really don't know what else to say.
Troubleatmill said:
I am serious fella.
My wife took her test about 14 or so years ago.
She was worried about both the theory and practice tests.
I just sat with her using some software on the PC - and we would go though the mock tests.
She didn't want me to give 1 to 1 tuition. So I just paid for professional tuition
But it was a handful of drives.
I really don't know what else to say.
No, just that my point of this thread was to say that things from the past don't stand now, and just because you needed 7 lessons doesn't translate to needing 7 now. The test is 40 minutes, you have no room to slip up. £62 for a test when I did it, £75 for a saturday test. £25 for theory now, was £31 I did it. You need 43/50 to pass. My wife took her test about 14 or so years ago.
She was worried about both the theory and practice tests.
I just sat with her using some software on the PC - and we would go though the mock tests.
She didn't want me to give 1 to 1 tuition. So I just paid for professional tuition
But it was a handful of drives.
I really don't know what else to say.
So yes, the cost of driving has risen massively, and the test has risen in difficulty too. That's not even mentioning how busy the roads are and then how rubbish some cars are to see out of.
stuart313 said:
I'm not sure I follow, are you demanding that parents contribute to their kids cars because its expensive? If you cant afford to drive then tough titties, being able to afford something is the only reason I don't live in Mayfair.
No just saying that people shouldn't get annoyed at parents for helping out when the price of driving has risen so muchTaz1383 said:
No, just that my point of this thread was to say that things from the past don't stand now, and just because you needed 7 lessons doesn't translate to needing 7 now. The test is 40 minutes, you have no room to slip up. £62 for a test when I did it, £75 for a saturday test. £25 for theory now, was £31 I did it. You need 43/50 to pass.
So yes, the cost of driving has risen massively, and the test has risen in difficulty too. That's not even mentioning how busy the roads are and then how rubbish some cars are to see out of.
I failed my first test - It was 30 to 40 minutes IIRC. No room to slip up as you say. I did.So yes, the cost of driving has risen massively, and the test has risen in difficulty too. That's not even mentioning how busy the roads are and then how rubbish some cars are to see out of.
My second one - I passed.
Doing the theory mock tests- the wife I spent most evening for a couple of weeks doing it - until she constantly got 49 or 50 out of 50. Then she took the test. She got 48
Still cost £20 to study. And about the same to take the test.
The £500 I mentioned was in today's money for my wife's test. At the time... around £200. ( Assuming money doubles circa every 10 years )
I agree with you on how busy the roads are though.
But - £1500 really surprises me. As does 40+ lessons. ( And I'm sure we agree - this is where the bulk of the cost is )
I just can't see it.
He's seriously out of touch. I had about 30 hours worth in 1997, passed first time with a few minors.
There is no chance that you could pass the test with 6 lessons today without it being a fluke or having experience outside of the lessons.
The driving standard nowadays is quite poor but I suspect its much better than it was 20 years ago. I believe it the number of cars that exacerbate the problem.
Regarding costs for driving, the costs you quote are not that bad. If you want to take a car from your parents its up to you. Cars nowadays are very cheap and I suspect your grandparents are suggesting personal responsibility to keep you on the right path
There is no chance that you could pass the test with 6 lessons today without it being a fluke or having experience outside of the lessons.
The driving standard nowadays is quite poor but I suspect its much better than it was 20 years ago. I believe it the number of cars that exacerbate the problem.
Regarding costs for driving, the costs you quote are not that bad. If you want to take a car from your parents its up to you. Cars nowadays are very cheap and I suspect your grandparents are suggesting personal responsibility to keep you on the right path
Troubleatmill said:
It was in 1984.
I had 6 lessons before I took the exam.
My wife needed 7 lessons. ( and she needed the theory test
This kind of statement always totally amazes me. I have been a driving instructor for 16 years, I have an excellent 1st time pass rate and a good word of mouth client list. I had 6 lessons before I took the exam.
My wife needed 7 lessons. ( and she needed the theory test
Not once in that 16 years has ANYONE been anywhere near test standard after 6-7 lessons. The nearest anyone came to that was a guy that 2 months before he came to me, passed his bike test. He drove a small tractor/trailer set up in a large garden centre but had never driven a car on the road. That was probably about 12 lessons.
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