49 replies to this topic

[wil7496]

Firstly guys, this is not a business advert, im just trying to gain information to interest.

Ive been a driving instructor for many years, having learned to drive my self in a 1980 Mini HLE many many years ago, and owned many minis myself during my younger days.

My question is, would people taking lessons today have any interest in learning to drive in a Classic Mini. In my area there are so many students now driving the good old minis as their first car it has made me consider purchasing a Classic Mini as an alternative to a modern day learner car?

Upkeep of a classic is not an issue as ive restored more than i care to remember.

Your views would be gratefully appreciated, thanks Adrian

 

[Down&Out]

Well i certainly would have preferred to have done.

I dislike modern cars, always have, don’t like how mushy, safe and overly large they are.

I use a new van for work and i actually look forward to getting into a car with notchy gears, heavy clutch and no power steering, it just feels more right!

Go for it, i say.

[Miniholic]

There is a driving instructor in Doncaster that still uses a classic Mini, and has done for years.  I know of a few people who have tried to track him down for lessons beacause of the car.

[Stiggytoo]

I think if you enjoy maintaining classic cars then this could be a good idea for you - gives you a hobby and saves on maintenance costs. Again, it might be a bit more exciting for new drivers. However, you don't want to put people in a position where you don't turn up due to problems with the mini. And some people might be intimidated by its smaller size  

Edited by Stiggytoo, 01 December 2013 - 06:22 PM.

[wil7496]

Really appreciate your quick and very sensible replies guys.

[greenwheels]

 You are teaching people to DRIVE  - I would interpret that as knowing exactly what is happening when they press pedals, operate levers and turn the wheel. A Mini is far more likely to give a newbie driver that understanding than a modern soft feel car.

Go for it.

[wil7496]

 You are teaching people to DRIVE  - I would interpret that as knowing exactly what is happening when they press pedals, operate levers and turn the wheel. A Mini is far more likely to give a newbie driver that understanding than a modern soft feel car.

Go for it.

These were my thoughts. With a classic car, YOU drive the car and hopefully will allow me to educate learners in respecting how a car works without all the modern ecu's etc.

[Tanya]

All my children have classic Minis and personally I would prefer it if their instructor had one too (one has passed and two are still learning). Modern cars are quite different to drive (ABS etc) and so I do feel a bit concerned when my children leap into their classic Minis, expecting them to behave in a similar was to a modern car. I spend quite a bit of time telling them that they need to take extra car when driving a Mini, so I think learning in a Mini with their instructor would be a good thing for them.

Edited by Tanya, 01 December 2013 - 06:29 PM.

[greenwheels]

Another thing - in a Mini you feel you are going faster than in a modern car,so maybe learners will have a better appreciation of speed.

[Ben_O]

I know I would have loved to learn in a Mini.

Modern cars are all good and well if the learner is planning to drive a modern car when they pass but I would have thought there are hundreds of new drivers up and down the country that have bought a mini before even reaching the age to start learning and fully intend to drive one when they pass. I bet that would be your target market and that you would do well from it.

 

Good luck with this.

 

Ben

[wil7496]

Again guys, many thanks for the rapid responses to this. I'll be honest in saying that it is something ive been considering for some time but my interest has grown recently due to the number of students in the area now driving mini's as their first car after passing their test

[ryan22_lgm]

John baglow down my way teaches in a classic mini and attends a few shows to! Can be seen driving around castle combe with a learner! Search him on google he has been in our local paper north Devon journal a few times !

[miniman267]

That would be amazing I start driving in march and I'm going to have to learn in new car then go to mini

[Black.Ghost]

This site is obviously suitably biased. The principles of learning in an older car are valid, however there are a few things I would consider.

 

Anyone who has been in a modern car before may expect the mini to stop quicker than it does. Get that wrong and it could easily be a crash for the mini. If its too serious it could also mean the car is written off etc. 

 

I would say that the majority of new drivers do end up in newer cars these days. There are hundreds of cars from the late 90s and early 2000s, the majority of which have the power steering and ABS on. The number of people driving a mini or other classic is still quite small I would say.

 

Would most parents be happier that their children were learning in an older car without the modern safety or a newer safer car? 

 

I do think it would be fun learning in a mini. But I also think it would be a niche market really. Plus, how much would it cost you to install dual clutch and brakes into the car?

[Teapot]

 If you're going to drive a mini it makes sense to learn in one.

I'd be interested to know if other drivers treat learner mini drivers more sympathetically than they sometimes do learners in more modern cars.