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Thread: Learning to drive..

  1. #1
    You're god damn right Barry's Avatar
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    Learning to drive..

    Right its time for me to learn to drive!

    I've never driving a car before and have been looking at LDC ( http://www.learnerdriving.com ) to learn with and am looking at there semi-intencive corse @ £650 for the full corse inc all fees and tests ect.

    atm the only book I have got is the offical theory test for car drivers from the DSA.

    Can anyone recommend any other information books ect that can help me along the way with this, I would like to sort it out as fast as I can so I can look for better jobs out of the area I live in

    Tips and any useful information is very welcome
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    Senior Member Shad's Avatar
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    Although intensive courses look good and are a tempting idea, I think most people are better off doing a couple of hours a week at max. It's easier to digest the information you've learned.

    Worked for me anyway
    Simon


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    TiG
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    I'd say you have to be pretty committed to do a semi/intensive course to be honest. Though i believe overall an intensive course is better for you, at least with statistics showing that overall they are safer drivers.

    £650 seems a hell of a lot for it.

    most people pass with 20hrs instruction?, so £30 an hour with £50 for tests?...

    TiG
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    It's more like 30 hours tbh TiG.

    My friend took an intensive course and she failed her test 3 times before she passed. By the time she finally did pass she'd only taken one month less than most of our friends did with normal once weekly lessons. So I'm with the other two on this, don't rush it

    Along with your theory book you should get a hazard perception cd rom to practice with, you stand a very high chance of failing if you've never tried it before

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    If your 5555... Swafe's Avatar
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    Did my first test after 25 and failed

    Did my second test after 30 and passed, most of my friends also averaged around the 30 hour mark, so I guess the intensive course isnt so bad, if you want to learn fast. If you dont need to learn fast tho, individual lessons work out better, and probably cheaper cos even after spending 650 quid, your not guaranteed to pass your test first time, where it cost me about 500 quid for 2 tests and a load of lessons.

    Go with a local firm or something is what I'd recommend if you dont go for a course, I know 2 people with BSM, they do a SMS service at about 50p a txt reminding you of your lessons, and my mate seems to get 4 at once off his teacher costing him 2 quid... hes also had 30 double lessons (Thats 60 hours) and not even booked his first test, my other mate is also at the 60 hours level and his instructor still doesnt think hes ready to book his test... I think its more a case of they have the student, lets get all the money we can out of them than them being bad drivers really - my instructor I recommended to my mates cos I thought he was pretty decent (Plus had a brand new 04 reg turbo punto at the time which was pretty cool to drive, for just 16 quid a lesson) - they all passed on or under 35 hours work - he kept hassling me to book my theory and pratical cos he wanted to see me pass as soon as I was capable of it ! mind you, that could just have been because he was my dads mate and wanted some free beer tokens
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    You're god damn right Barry's Avatar
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    Yeah its 30 hours + the test ect, for cost wise I don't have a clue as its my first time and thats the price I was giving (£200 donated from working links ), I just wish I knew someone that could do teach me in between lessions but I just moved to cheshire from plymouth and I know nobody at all up here and I stoped working when I moved so would rarther not spend that sort of cash but will if need be
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    Senior Member Shad's Avatar
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    Pft... 24 hours wi yersen, pass first time, it's a doddle
    Simon


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    I went with BSM, and had quite alot of hours ( no idea total ) but always 2 hour lessons, had a few months with one a week, then a few months with 2 a week. Had a 5 hour lesson before my test ( free ) which was killer lol, passed first time.

    I honestly think that a intensive course is OK if you are SURE you can be sensible when you pass ( if ). But you need to remember that doing 2 hours a week or similar you are more likely to encounter lots of differant situations you probably won't on a intensive course, so if you do pass - alot more may surprise you than some one who has been driving for several months.

    Also, you need to think whats invovled. Do you even know how to move a car away? sounds like a stupid question but if you know bugger all about cars ( like i did when i started ) it's not just hit the pedal and the car goes, hit the brake and the car stops ( although saying that it sounds about the jist tbh )

    Besides that though, takes time to get your distances sorted, took me quite a while to just the width of my car probably to be honest, going through small gaps is an everyday thing to most drivers ( unless your a 30 year old women in the husbands merc... - no offence to anyone, long story )

    Also you need to know rules of the road well - you CAN get failed on stupid things on your test, which every driver does everyday ( besides speeding of course )

    But if you think you can hack it, good luck to you mate. If you enter with the right mindset and don't get upset when things go wrong ( and im sure they will to an extent, doubt many people can say they learnt to drive without any mis-haps ) then no reason why you can't do it!

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    Senior Member Nemeliza's Avatar
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    Learned with the AA, although i did know the instructer personally so i had nice discounts.

    Passed with 21hrs i did 90 minute lessons and highly recommend it. Sometimes it took me the first 40 minutes to sort myself out then smoooooooth sailing for the rest of the lesson.

    Try not to do what to many others have and worry too much, driving is fun...remember to enjoy it and you will be more inclined to take to it better.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Nemeliza's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gr44
    Had a 5 hour lesson before my test ( free ) which was killer lol, passed first time.
    Am i reading this correct?????

    Is that even legal?!


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    yes i was insured, and i had 2 breaks during it my instructor effieftly paid BSM whatever they take off the top. I got his lunch in return

    and yeah, what he said about driving being fun, oh so true. need to find a mid-ground between the learning and the fun though

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    You're god damn right Barry's Avatar
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    Right I've decided to just start off 10-12 lession and see how I go from there

    I have found someone local that can start straght away but his car is a micra and im 6.4" and I'm not sure on how I will feel in such a small car.
    Someone left a note on a piece of cake in the fridge that said, "Do not eat!". I ate the cake and left a note saying, "Yuck, who the hell eats paper ?

  13. #13
    Don't feed the trolls... tiggerai's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Barry
    Right I've decided to just start off 10-12 lession and see how I go from there

    I have found someone local that can start straght away but his car is a micra and im 6.4" and I'm not sure on how I will feel in such a small car.
    You'll be fine if it's an older micra, my dad used to commute (2.5 hours round the m25, not 10mins up the road) in mine for a while... he's 6'5", brother also learned in it, he's 6'3".
    Just can't have anyone in the seat behind you!

    I've had my 6' 5" matey in the back too...
    Last edited by tiggerai; 29-04-2005 at 05:18 PM.

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    Fox
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    Actually the statistics show that drivers who do intensive courses are more likely to have an accident than those who do not, IIRC.

    Basically you are taught, very quickly, to pass the test. You don't get taught all sorts of other things and you don't end up driving in different conditions etc etc, and you pass your test with barely a weeks experience.

    Invidual lessons are the way to go. I took 5 lessons + a practice before the test.

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    Gold Member Marcos's Avatar
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    What are the rules with learning with a non-intructor? As in, learning with a family member etc

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    Fox
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    No rules at all - just that anyone accompanying a learner must be over 21, hold a full UK license for more than 2 years and be fit to drive - ie not over the influence etc.

    BMW 530i Sport | Ford Mondeo Ghia X RSAP

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