Driving instructor recommendations?
Discussion
There is the possibility in the near future of my 22-year-old son at last learning to drive. However, I've encountered most of the local driving instructors around here and they're all absolutely bloody awful drivers. They also all operate Corsas, which are absolutely terrible to drive and have all the visibility of a tank. What is more, my son has no interest in small, front-wheel-drive cars and has recently developed an obsession with Mercedes-Benz W124 estates. Can any of you recommend an instructor in or near the county of Surrey who is (a) actually any good and ideally (b) instructs in something worthwhile or even in the student's own car? There's also the issue of what one can actually take the test in!
I was very lucky when I was learning to drive in the 1970s in/near Dundee - partly, I'd already driven everything from my father's highly tuned (must have been about 200hp!) Humber Sceptre to tractors and lorries on farms and airfields - and I had a bloody-minded Scot for an instructor who was utterly intolerant of dithering and taught me to drive as close to the speed limit as conditions allowed. Here, most driving instructors are perfectly content to do 15-20mph down the middle of the road in a 40-50 limit.
I was very lucky when I was learning to drive in the 1970s in/near Dundee - partly, I'd already driven everything from my father's highly tuned (must have been about 200hp!) Humber Sceptre to tractors and lorries on farms and airfields - and I had a bloody-minded Scot for an instructor who was utterly intolerant of dithering and taught me to drive as close to the speed limit as conditions allowed. Here, most driving instructors are perfectly content to do 15-20mph down the middle of the road in a 40-50 limit.
Where abouts in Surrey? My girlfriend had a very good instructer a few years ago and i think he operated around the Farnbrough area which is on the border for you.
I'd be interested to understand what you think is worthwhile as a learners car? Im sure most Driving Schools have cars that are cheap to lease, and cheap to repair. The abuse they must get from the learners would mean anything 'worthwhile' would be out of the question.
The normal cars i have seen are: Fiesta, Corsa, Mini, i10 or i20.
I'd be interested to understand what you think is worthwhile as a learners car? Im sure most Driving Schools have cars that are cheap to lease, and cheap to repair. The abuse they must get from the learners would mean anything 'worthwhile' would be out of the question.
The normal cars i have seen are: Fiesta, Corsa, Mini, i10 or i20.
RoverP6B said:
Son really doesn't want to learn on a small hatch: if we could get an instructor who would instruct on son's own car, that would be brilliant. We're in Leatherhead (M25 J9 is 2 miles to the north).
You're going to have a very hard time finding this, doesn't matter if the car is FWD and underpowered, he's learning the very basics of driving.surveyor said:
I think you'll find most instructors like the safety of their dual controls!
Your son would be better saving his preference for after his driving test, and concentrate on choosing a good instructor based on their skill and not the car that they drive.
I've been doing some research elsewhere and I see that there are instructors who will teach in students' cars. The problem is partly one of transition, from a small four-cylinder front-driver to a large six-cylinder rear-driver. Then there is also visibility. The whole reason I posted this thread is because neither son nor I are happy about the idea of him learning in a FWD tank!Your son would be better saving his preference for after his driving test, and concentrate on choosing a good instructor based on their skill and not the car that they drive.
RoverP6B said:
surveyor said:
I think you'll find most instructors like the safety of their dual controls!
Your son would be better saving his preference for after his driving test, and concentrate on choosing a good instructor based on their skill and not the car that they drive.
I've been doing some research elsewhere and I see that there are instructors who will teach in students' cars. The problem is partly one of transition, from a small four-cylinder front-driver to a large six-cylinder rear-driver. Then there is also visibility. The whole reason I posted this thread is because neither son nor I are happy about the idea of him learning in a FWD tank!Your son would be better saving his preference for after his driving test, and concentrate on choosing a good instructor based on their skill and not the car that they drive.
Is the Merc not an auto then? Test in an automatic means an auto-only license.
For what it's worth, I was flitting between learning in my instructor's 307 and driving (with parents!) my mk2 Astra. Collingdale and the AA (who use the former) did very good deals for learner insurance, even had a mate who was insured on his Frontera through them (and did his test in it
).
For what it's worth, I was flitting between learning in my instructor's 307 and driving (with parents!) my mk2 Astra. Collingdale and the AA (who use the former) did very good deals for learner insurance, even had a mate who was insured on his Frontera through them (and did his test in it
).Surely what's important is him passing his driving test not what he's going to drive. The amount of people I've seen buy a car and then they have it sitting on a drive for months if not years before passing their test.
Me I didn't look at cars before my test I just did the lessons took the test and then thought I've got a couple of grand and a licence I'll go look at cars that fit my budget.
Me I didn't look at cars before my test I just did the lessons took the test and then thought I've got a couple of grand and a licence I'll go look at cars that fit my budget.
skyrover said:
I agree with the OP.
Far better to learn in the car you are actually going to drive.
I learned in a fiesta but bought a rwd omega as my first car. Learning about rwd in the wet on my own was fun.
I learnt in a corsa (and a couple of other similar hatchbacks). My instructor had his particular model of Corsa as it has good sized mirrors, hard to stall. Which makes things easier for learners. Far better to learn in the car you are actually going to drive.
I learned in a fiesta but bought a rwd omega as my first car. Learning about rwd in the wet on my own was fun.
My first car is my current 325i. It wasn't a problem switching as my RWD car is (like many) set up to be drivable by anyone.
Surely it is a good idea to get some experience in a variety of types of car, early on?
surveyor said:
So he gets an instructor for the basics, and you take him out for lessons in the Mercedes....
This is good advice. Get the first block of lessons in dual control, then move to his own car. Practice, practice and practice... no need for an instructor?First block of lessons / oodles of practice / few lessons to tune for the test.
RoverP6B said:
Is there actually any requirement to have had any lessons with a qualified instructor in order to take one's test? Also, are there rules governing what one can take one's test in?
No, you don't have to have an instructor teach you. IIRC the only requirements for the car are a couple of extra mirrors for the examiner.As above, I'd send him off to learn the basics from a professional with dual controls, get him up to test standard and passed. Beyond that you can take over.
RoverP6B said:
Is there actually any requirement to have had any lessons with a qualified instructor in order to take one's test? Also, are there rules governing what one can take one's test in?
Generally no limits, but I recall there were some odd cars that were not suitable as they failed the criteria in some odd ways - see here:https://www.gov.uk/practical-driving-test-for-cars...
I passed in my dads car.
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