You should weigh up whether your present car is suitable for the purpose of giving driving lessons or whether you will have to buy a new one. It is certainly not essential to have a new car. If you are satisfied that your present car is suitable and reliable and that it can have dual controls fitted (see below), then you would probably be better off using it. You want to keep expenditure down to a minimum until you are established. Consider keeping your car for about two years to save the further expense of buying another car and fitting dual controls. Delivering instruction during your Part 3 course should give you a valuable insight into what is required from a driving school car, so we do not recommend buying one before then.
If you choose to buy a new car we would suggest that you look around and make a note of the different makes and models of cars other driving instructors are using. You will notice that, usually, they are small hatchbacks. This is because there is little overhang under the rear window, thereby making it easier for clients to judge distances for parking. Also, being smaller usually makes them more manoeuvrable. Furthermore, there is a perception among learners that smaller cars are easier to drive, which may influence them in choosing a driving school with this type of car. Do not rush into making a choice. Do your homework first. For unbiased information, read Which? magazine or subscribe to their website. If you do not subscribe to this magazine you may find that it is available in your local reference library. Alternatively, look at articles in driving association magazines which are available to their members. Log on to the Driver Training Today website to see what other ADIs have to say about the cars they are using. Think about which colour to choose, from a practical point of view. Some colours show up dirt easier than others and, even if you do clean it every morning, it may be looking as though you had not towards the end of the day. Metallic paints do cost more but they help your car to stand out from the rest.
Compare the NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) safety rating of the cars you are thinking of buying. Also check to see how secure they are against theft. Which? magazine will help you with this.
Using the magazines and websites mentioned above, check out the reliability of the cars you have short-listed. Generally speaking, the Japanese are considered to be the manufacturers who produce the most reliable cars. Some other manufacturers have a poor reliability record and, obviously, these should be avoided.
You should bear in mind that not all cars are allowed to be used for the driving test (e.g. the Vauxhall Tigre, the two-door ‘Smart’ car and the BMW Mini convertible). Two-seater cars are not allowed for the test. Check with the DSA if you intend to purchase a car that you have not seen used by other ADIs. Some cars have been the subject of a manufacturer’s recall to fix problems. On a very few occasions this has meant that the car has been temporarily banned from tests until the problem has been fixed, and proof of this is required. Look at the DSA website to see if the car you are intending to buy is mentioned. If it is, check that the work has taken place before you buy it. Verify that, if it has any unusual and exotic controls, they are acceptable for the test.
Make sure that dual controls are available for the model of car (especially if it is a new model). If you prefer one type of control (e.g. rod rather than cable), you should check to see if they can be fitted to that model. Several firms in the UK produce dual controls. He-Man is probably considered to be the market leader. We have used He-Man and have had no problems with them. If you buy them new you can arrange to have them fitted at your home address or at the dealer’s garage and, by agreement, by one of the regional He- Man-approved fitters. Having them fitted will cost extra and it is quite expensive. It is possible to fit them yourself if you feel confident to do so. Some local garages will fit them, but you will need to be confident in their abilities. You may be able to purchase second-hand dual controls from adverts in various driving school magazines and via the Internet. Whichever dual control system you choose, check periodically that they are all freely moving for they may require lubrication or adjustment. Please note that some cars, due to their internal layout, cannot be fitted with rod-type controls.
Many ADIs prefer rod dual controls rather than cable ones. With the rod type you can have them set up to move or not to move the passenger-side pedals as the client depresses and realeases their pedals. With cable pedals operated by the driver, the dual controls remain static until operated by the ADI. We prefer the pedals to work in tandem because, when taking driving lessons with a novice in the dark, the ADI can feel the client’s pedals move by gently resting a foot on top of the appropriate pedal.
As dual controls are expensive, when your car comes to the end of its working life you might consider replacing it with the same model. This way you can swap the dual controls over. So, be sure that the car you initially purchase is one that you really like by undertaking a thorough selection process and test drive. If you are going to use a six-month trainee licence our advice is either to buy some second-hand dual controls for your present personal car (check they are available) or to hire a dual-controlled car for the six months. This way, if things do not work out, your outlay will be kept to a minimum.
Consider the advantages of diesel for driving lessons. Diesel cars have less of a tendency to stall, which will give clients confidence during the early lessons. If you do have a diesel-powered car, however, it is tempting to let clients rely overmuch on the low-rev torque (for example, when pulling away without using the accelerator). You should bear in mind that, once they have passed the test, they may be driving a petrol car. Do ensure that your clients therefore drive the diesel as though it were a petrol-driven car. Remember also that some motorists believe that cheap supermarket diesel fuel may lead to fuel injector problems. This is a complicated choice, so you should consider: the initial vehicle cost; the cost of diesel and petrol (often increases after each budget); the amount of miles covered per annum; depreciation; service costs and road tax (again, often increase after each budget). The arguments for and against petrol and diesel engines Consider our arguments for and against, as shown below, and perhaps use Internet sites to give you further up-to-date guidance: Diesel cars are more expensive to buy but usually hold their resale value better. There is usually a better mpg from a diesel, but the gap is closing as advances are made in petrol engine technology. Diesel fuel is currently more expensive to buy in the UK. Diesel cars may not be as eco-friendly – but there are arguments on both sides. Diesel cars emit less CO2 as they are more efficient than petrol cars, but they produce more nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. Diesel cars are less likely to stall than a petrol car, which is a bonus when teaching learners to drive. Petrol cars take around a mile to warm up. Once the engine is up to full operating temperature, though, a petrol engine is usually cleaner than that of a diesel and it gives out lower emissions. Diesel engine technology has advanced rapidly over the last few years. Their reputation of being noisy, smelly, slow to start or slow to accelerate is mostly a thing of the past, and they can be very pleasant to drive. Usually, both types have similar service intervals but diesels may require more oil changes.
It is considered by experts that if you return a high (over 20,000) annual mileage, diesel is the better option (20,000–30,000 miles per annum is certainly not unusual for a driving school car).
You can choose to buy or hire your car. Whichever method you choose to use, you should obviously shop around for the best deal. Contact the garages, explain that you are a driving instructor and see what they are prepared to offer. Apart from any local offer, some manufacturers have national promotions for driving schools which may include a reduced price, free dual controls, free signs, etc. Check out their websites. Go to garages with Internet prices to hand and haggle. Towards the end of the month and quarter are the best times to seek a new(er) car to buy. If the sales during the month or quarter are low, the salesperson is more likely to agree a far lower price. Remember that, when you buy a new car, you are paying VAT. Why give the government tax on the purchase of a new car? Seek one that is either a year old or pre-registered (a demonstrator). Compare the costs of diesel and petrol vehicles. Check out the service intervals and costs. Find out if there are any particularly expensive service items, such as renewing the cam belt (timing chains last longer). Check what level of warranty is provided with the car and over what time/miles. Look at the manufacturer’s figures for fuel consumption. These can be on the optimistic side, so check on the Internet to find any independent figures.
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Note: This article was sent to us by: Sebastian Ellington at 01162010
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