Mini EV

[ds666]

That's a fair point about auto/manual .
Likely that first/ affordable cars for new drivers will still be mainly manuals for a while ?

[off_again]

My daughter learnt to drive in our i3 and while the rules are easier here, it was very easy for her to get used to it and actually concentrate on being safe. There aren’t any differentiations between manual and auto, so makes sense to go the simplest route, and we made sure she had instructor lessons in an auto (Prius). But it is easier and I would also say that it allows a new driver to get more confident faster.

Now, does that mean over confidence? Or missing a major part of the interaction of driving? Probably missing some other stuff too, but certainly not bad.

[theboss]

ds666 said:

That's a fair point about auto/manual .
Likely that first/ affordable cars for new drivers will still be mainly manuals for a while ?

Yes if the young driver is financial autonomous, but if they are still living with mum and dad I expect the most affordable car is the one which magically fills itself up again every night rather than needing an endless supply of £20 notes stuffed in the tank.

My wife is learning in a manual because (1) I sort of insisted it was good training whilst promising her I would buy an auto when she passed (2) instructors with autos are like hens teeth and (3) my wife is foreign and if she did have to drive in her home country eg parents car or hire car it would be manual.

17 year old - totally different proposition - I would suggest auto / EV

Surprised more instructors aren't cottoning onto it...

Edited by theboss on Saturday 15th January 18:57

[ds666]

off_again said:

My daughter learnt to drive in our i3 and while the rules are easier here, it was very easy for her to get used to it and actually concentrate on being safe. There aren’t any differentiations between manual and auto, so makes sense to go the simplest route, and we made sure she had instructor lessons in an auto (Prius). But it is easier and I would also say that it allows a new driver to get more confident faster.

Now, does that mean over confidence? Or missing a major part of the interaction of driving? Probably missing some other stuff too, but certainly not bad.

I did think about doing exactly what you suggest regarding initial drives in an auto to get road sense etc .
In the end I didn’t and she actually loves driving which is good .

[SWoll]

ds666 said:

off_again said:

My daughter learnt to drive in our i3 and while the rules are easier here, it was very easy for her to get used to it and actually concentrate on being safe. There aren’t any differentiations between manual and auto, so makes sense to go the simplest route, and we made sure she had instructor lessons in an auto (Prius). But it is easier and I would also say that it allows a new driver to get more confident faster.

Now, does that mean over confidence? Or missing a major part of the interaction of driving? Probably missing some other stuff too, but certainly not bad.

I did think about doing exactly what you suggest regarding initial drives in an auto to get road sense etc .
In the end I didn’t and she actually loves driving which is good .

I don't see how learning to stir an archaic box of cogs and modulate a clutch pedal can have any affect on someone's driving ability personally. One less thing to worry about has surely got to ensure more focus on genuinely important skills like observation etc.

You'd only need to stall once joining a busy island in a manual and the experience could put you off for life.