I had to pick up a mate tomorrow night and as it was the other side of Manchester the journey would have involved going across Manchester city centre on NYE in the dark and possibly fog/ice I just could not do it, in the end I have promised to get my dads hand brake fixed and buy him several litres of oil he has agreed to do it. It made me realise that I have really no confidence however I still see this peroid learning. I am still a learner but my car has been very handy a few times when I have had lots of local jobs > 1 mile away but far away from each other, its saved a huge amount of time. I am learning how to deal with complicated traffiic conditons on roads I know, so when I meet them on roads I don't know I can deal with the road layout rather than panicing over traffic.
I have booked some more lessons with my ADI for after the new year, I've asked him to sit in with me while I drive on roads I know to make sure I am doing ok, then do more complex stuff.
My last few drives I have been doing more complicated stuff and I did 30 miles on Sunday on various trips.
Anyway I had my first loss of grip experience yesterday and I have no idea what happened, it was icy and as I moved of from the lights it felt like a back wheel spun, I taped the brake gently and regained control but what would have caused that? Ice?
Another thing I have noticed with the help on here is a 1.5 second rule at 30mph for lights, if the lights are on green and you reach that point I just go regardless as there is no way the lights will change to red within that gap and it saves a lot of mad panic.
I find it ironic that I have passed my test and still feel I need more lessons, yet one of my younger neighbours is as far as I know driving around freely without a licence and yes I from what I can tell the police know about it.
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Book yourself a skid pan/track day combined training course or funday Rattle, you should be enjoying your driving and freedom.
I'm opined that some of your reluctance to do the NYE trip is maybe you don't have faith in your car to do the job, is that a possibility?
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Try to avoid cars that have very remote feeling steering wheels that don't feedback what's going on, if possible.
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So thats basicaly any none Ford/BMW/Lotus made after 2000 then! Well thats if my ADIs Clio III is anything to go by, it just feels like you're driving on ice all the time. At least my none PAS Fiesta has lovely lovely feeling in the steering and its not even heavy, its just well balanced and if it is icy it becomes lighter which is actually a very good safety feature as it is a warning that the car has lack of grip.
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Hence if possible. My first car was a 306 dturbo.
The very moment the tyres were losing grip, you'd know about it straight away. Helped me avoid many sticky situations, being able to respond so quickly.
Unfortunately, new cars are so dam muted when it comes to steering feedback, giving a false sense of security.
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I 1.4 306 would actually be very perfect car, good handeling, modern looking, cheaper than focuses, the XU engine is quite simple and reliable, cheap to insure, safe and fairly good fun. It is one of the pluses of my Fiesta, the handeling is good. Much much better than the old MK3.
Sadly finding a good 306 seems rare, I have seen a few in my budget but they either have stupid milleage or dodgy history.
Also a skid pan might be an idea, as I actually love driving in the sense of controlling a car, its traffic and knowing the dangers which is cauisng my problem.
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Indeed though partly an excuse too but partly a genuine one, if the clutch slips on a busy junction it could distract me when my concentration needs to be 100% on traffic. Luckily I've had a really busy month as the credit crunch is actually helping my business so at the end of jan I will have £1k to buy a car with and by then hopefully my confidence will have grown.
It isn;t really the journey though, its more the complicity of the journey, navigating the city centre, then I don't know North Manchester. I remember the first time my mate did this journey I had to get the bus to his house, and he drove back, he was awful kept stalling, ended up on tram lines etc. He has suddenly forgot that now!
I drove it last night in dark icy conditions and there was no way I would have done that only 3 weeks ago, so my confidence is improving a lot.
So although I have chickened out I think it is mostly justified.
I find the best time have to drive is actually when I have no where to go to, as I just randomly drive around clocking up the miles and gaining experience.
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Understandable Rattle, and i hope i didn't come over as being critical, but a youngster should be enjoying the freedom of their car a lot more than this.
I hope you find the right car for yourself in due course, hopefully we can provide some pointers, as well as giving you a bigger headache..;)
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When I learned to drive (lived in Fallowfield Manchester at the time), I had lessons in Manchester city centre as well. Very useful. No reason why Rattle could not have a lesson in his own car even though he's passed his test.
PS None of my business Rattle... don't forget to set aside the tax/NI from this good month before buying the car. Aren't tax returns for the self employed due soon?
Edited by rtj70 on 30/12/2008 at 22:20
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Indeed it is Rob.
Also got some trivial bills in Jan such as business insurance, hosting and other year bills. I will probably write the dreaded cheque next week.
Gordon yeah I do enjoy it when I get time I am really looking forward to getting the confidence to drive to the Snowdonia area as I have a lot of family round there and it takes hours on the train. It's only 90 mins by car. I probably make it sound like I never use my car and its a terrible shed, but I have actually collected a few computers from it and having a car does make my life a lot easier. It is just that I still choose to make some journeys by public transport due lack of confidence. The car isn't that bad either, its just the clutch which is the main problem but as long as I treat it with respect it rarely slips. I am not getting it fixed as I need a slightly bigger car and something a bit newer which I can work on and keep for several years.
I have got over my obsession and fear of traffic cameras now. Now I know that I would have to be doing about 8mph (on my speedo) over the speed limit to get caught its very unlikely I will get a ticket, just need to be aware of the speed limits, so if its built up its always 30 unless a sign says otherwise, the biggest lesson I have learnt driving on my own apart from the sudden lane change thing.
Edited by rtj70 on 30/12/2008 at 23:45
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Keep the doors locked at all times.
Two people this year have tried to open my car door, one at a McD. drive-thru (who said he was interested in buying the car), the other after I was caught up in a brutal RTA. This guy was covered in blood, clearly in shock and looking for his warning triangle - over which I had parked. Never found out why he was so concerned about his triangle when the firemen were cutting his wife out of his car, but glad he didn't get my door open and bleed on the leather.
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"PS None of my business Rattle... don't forget to set aside the tax/NI from this good month before buying the car."
Especially since, as I recall, Rattle said that his main client base consisted of over 70-year-olds. There's a good chance that many of them will have frozen to death by Spring.
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BBD I do work for family and friends (some family 60/70+) for free. Sorry Rattle.
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That must be painful, its bad enough when you're being paid with pensioners. I often get the over 70's calling me up at 11:30 at night asking why they have an email telling them they have won the lottery.
I think in 2009 my phone is going to be turned of a lot more in the evenings, I do have a seperate business phone but my best customers have my personal number too but they respect that and only call me on it at sensible times and it makes them feel special.
The other good thing about my job is I get to ride in quite a few different cars, got a lift in a Silver Shadow once that was very nice.
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Rattle>> had my first loss of grip experience yesterday and I have no idea what
>>happened, it was icy and as I moved of from the lights it felt like a back wheel spun,
>>I taped the brake gently and regained control but what would have caused that? Ice?
Unlikely, as the Fiesta is a front wheel drive car - unless you have the rare 4x4 version...???
The rear brake hadn't jammed ON - hence touching the brake pedal cleared it?
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mapmaker, I suspect that would have been caused by a build up of salt and rubber on the road caused simply by gritting and no rain as such for a few days.
Modern lorries are notorious for doing this and it is so greasy at the moment until we get some rain.
I can regularly be seen coming off the Catthorpe roundabout onto the A14 in an embarrassing swerve ( and that's loaded too) :)
It's also the reason we've seen so many young car drivers looking embarrassed and facing the wrong way on roundabouts recently, it's time to use fairy feet
Pat
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Talking of the slippery roads.
A timely reminder. Was chatting to a neighbour this morning and noticed his car was missing. He has a small business just outside of our town. His pride and joy is his Jag S type
Normally he would be on holiday this week but a biggish contract came in and no one is turning work down at the moment.
As a result he had asked a handful of his staff if they would like some overtime this week.
Yesterday. he decided to treat them to a takeaway lunch and sent one of his young guys to fetch it. In the Jag......
Big mistake. The guy's OK and the Jag will be in due course.........
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Rattle wrote >>Anyway I had my first loss of grip experience yesterday and I have no idea what happened, it was icy and as I moved of from the lights it felt like a back wheel spun, I taped the brake gently and regained control but what would have caused that? Ice?
In a front wheel drive car that's unsual, are you sure it wasn't a front wheel that span on some ice giving the feeling of the car pulling to one side?
You should definitely go for the skid pan course - not long after getting our MX5 (first RWD car) I found myself facing the wrong way on a roundabout and had little idea how it happened. Booked into Lincoln Police's skid pan training with my better half and had a really fun time but learned a lot - firstly in a 3.0 Carlton Estate feeling for where the grip was lost and what to do, then out in a Octavia diesel to understand the difference in FWD and learn how to deal with that. Also did some ABS/non ABS stuff.
Even though there was two of us, we had time to cover a lot and I even learned that my wife has much better natural car control than me, she smoothly put the car into a four wheel skid and brought back under control with ease. That's even more impressive when you consider that whenever we're both in the car, I drive - because the three year in my head still makes "Brrrrrmm noises" and having the wheel and pedals keeps him happy.
Good comment about fairy feet Pat, I often drive without shoes to get better control.
I'd agree with a lot of the advice already given
* Keep your distance
* Make sure you know what your car will do under heavy braking (they don't stop as quickly as you might think and so you'll realise how important the first advice is)
* Keep your windows and lights clean so you can see and be seen
* Think about what other road users are going to do - on a motorway a car travelling faster than the lorry in front of it will likely pull out to overtake, etc
* Ring your Mum
Happy New Year all!
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Erm... am I the only person here to have never been in a situation* where I'm aware of loss of grip? Don't mimse around but don't bomb it around corners either. Went on a skid training course a few years ago and really recommend it.
* There's an icy hill near where I live where the accepted technique is to get a good run up and charge up in 2nd gear. Traction control light ticks away most of the way up, so much easier than the Honda. ;-)
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Some of these are covered above but...
1. Check both ways, even when the light is green (nearly failed my test for just assuming I could go on green and have checked every time since.)
2. The lifesaver check is not just for motorbikes - I've seen so many people not check when changing lanes it's scary.
3. Never ever go up the inside of a lorry on a roundabout - yes, when it hits you and wipes you out it will be the drivers fault for not checking his blindspot, but at the end of the day, it hurts and he is bigger than you!
4. One from my dad - never get so close to the car in front in traffic that you can't see tarmac and tyres in front of you. Gives you more room to move if you need to.
5. Lock the doors and don't stop for anyone unless they're in uniform and driving a pretty car with blue lights (two years of driving to university in Handsworth drums that one into you!)
6. Check for cyclists on your inside when turning left - it will make a mess and you really don't want that on your conscience for the rest of your life. You're bigger than him and it will take seconds to let him pass before turning.
7. It's really not worth getting stressed or angry - you will get there when you get there, and you'll know to leave more time next time.
8. For the first year at least - tell your parents when you arrive safely. Oh and they really wont shout at you when you crash. They'll just be pleased you're alive (it really is only a car), and will wait a few years before telling you how annoyed with you they were!
Edited by PoloGirl on 01/01/2009 at 12:19
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2. The lifesaver check is not just for motorbikes - Fully agree!!! (but not taught by driving schools it seems.. my 18yo daughter was asked by her driving school why she bothered doing it (I told her to, and I always do it myself) 'you have mirrors they are enough' DOH! 3. Never ever go up the inside of a lorry on a roundabout - your a long time dead!
6. Check for cyclists on your inside when turning left - similar to (3) when you think about it! 7. It's really not worth getting stressed or angry - when you feel that way, stop, get a coffee and CHILL before driving off again!
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[parents] really won't shout at you when you crash
Mine did - 1991, in my first car, bought WITH MY OWN MONEY, I had just started overtaking a row of parked cars when the 4th one commenced a 3-point turn without looking. The ensuing T-bone collision was a fairly minor one but still quite a shock for the 18-year-old me, however the lecture when I got home about "never looking after anything we buy you" stuck in the throat for quite some while afterwards...
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There are very many good specific pieces of advice above. I would add only that the frame of mind in which you approach the task of driving is crucial.
You should not get emotionally involved with your car and your own driving, or with other cars and their drivers. The latter will make mistakes and your responsibility is to avoid the consequences, not to be personally affronted by idiots who are invariably worse drivers than you. Nor is there any place on the roads for any vanity about your car or your driving skills. You must simply drive as well as you can.
I firmly believe the purpose of a journey is to arrive - and to arrive alive, uninjured and happy.
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...are you ready for this.
Pure genius
Ok here we go........
NEVER
drive at a speed
faster
than your guardian angel
CAN FLY.
dvd
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Brilliant - Happy New Year DVD.
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