Yesterday I did do

[fatjames]

Passing my car driving test! No driver errors (minors)

I kept my learning a secret to help me not feel under pressure but didn't find it too difficult.

As a biker of about 5 years the only things I had to play attention to were things like spacial awareness, keeping within my lane and reversing. There was one thing I kept struggling on which was pulling up on the left. Such a small thing, but I either ended up kerbing it or stopping about a taxi ride away from the pavement.

The examiner was really nice and tried his best to keep conversation flowing and as luck would have it, he was also a biker and had a CBR600 like me. Once I'd done the reversing manoeuvre (left around a corner) he put his pen down.

Not sure what car to get yet, I'm thinking a 5 door 1.6 focus or something equally as middle aged and sensible and hopefully cheap. My bike is still gunna be my main way of getting around, I just want shopping to be a bit easier and I want to be able to buy wood shaped man cave supplies all by myself!

[Baffler186]

well done. If it's just for transporting stuff in, then buy a cheap old car with service history. Bung a good stereo and speakers in, off you go.
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[fatjames]

[P.addy]

I paid 1k for a 1999 Honda Accord 1.8 with 35k ish miles. It had a few weird issues like a window wouldn't go down but low miles and a whisper quiet engine = win win.

For 1k, I'd grab something german or jap, 2000 era, Honda Accord/Civic petrol or a VW Bora/Passat diesel.

[chris-red]

[chris-red]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5613673,0.2217911,3a,43y,240.13h,82.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sD0cr6Ctj71Cf9p3_ZLp5mA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1


Here it is with new dotted line, you can even see where it was the test center is about 30 second away too.



I'm not bitter or anything


Congratz BTW
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[fatjames]

[fatjames]

[P.addy]

Pretty much, depends how Hitler you are feeling as to which one you buy.

[grr666]

Congrats James! I'd suggest getting a car derived van.
I have a lovely fast Audi on my drive and yet I travel most places in my £700 Renault Kangoo. 1.5 DCI engine
and very good mpg. I pay less than 200quid a year for trade insurance and its by far the most anonymous and
stress free vehicle I've owned. Can park it anywhere and nobody pays it the slightest but of attention.
I'm getting shot of my car because I use it so little, and upgrading my Kangoo to something Transit sized instead.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[hellkat]

Well done Big J, welcome to the ranks of the Despised
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[-Matt-]

Well done .

Only got round to doing mine a couple of years or so ago too after many years with only bikes. Riding a lot before helped with the test I thought, particularly for observations. It definitely is useful having the option of a car at times , I wish i'd done it a lot earlier looking back now.

I did find I had to keep reminding myself I was in the car for a while at first though, to avoid repeatedly driving towards and up the side of the road, trying to position myself as if I was on the bike .

[Vincent]

You're the man
Reversing was the only thing that worried me when I took mine which was mainly down to my instructor insisting on using his stupid method..... which I soon dumped for my test.

May it serve you well.
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Space Is Deep

[fatjames]

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YRCzEqkCoiM/maxresdefault.jpg

Just been told to stop looking at cars as my OH has already bought me a focus! It's a 2003, 1.6 zetec, 100k on the clock and full ford service history. She paid £900 for it which sounds ok. Can't wait to get home! She said she got it before my test, I think she was a bit more confident than me!

[fatjames]

btw, she bought me my first bike too! My little CBR125.




and... Had "go out more" engraved inside my wedding ring..True story!

[Vincent]

Lucky man.

Focus is a good car
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Space Is Deep

[Slacker24seve...]

Well done.

Focus makes a good biker's hack; practical, easy to work on, won't really go wrong and spares everywhere. Also relatively fun to drive, with good steering. A lot more fun to blat down a B road than a boring family hatchback should be.
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[Robby]

First car, same recommendation as an everyday day - generic family hatchback. In the age bracket you're considering, none of them are bad cars. Pick whatever is local and the right price.

Service history is nice to have but unlikely at your budget. Brand-name tyres suggest that the previous owner spent more than the bare minimum to keep it running.

[Andy_Pagin]

I drove a Focus as a courtesy car when they first came out, quick with very good handling*, a nice car all round.

*Compared to my two ton yank tank Ford Explorer
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[stickybackbob]

Congrats on passing but don't sweat reversing around a corner. You'll never do it that way again

[andyscooter]

Looks like I need to start revising the highway code


Been offered the dream job if I learn to drive

No details yet but it may get me into gear
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[Vincent]

[ms51ves3]

I've got a Passat estate diesel. Now on 220,000 miles. I've had it for over a year and 10,000 miles and other than a CV joint spent nothing on it.

Regularly get over 60mpg up and down the M6 and that's with a 160bhp remap. Remap is only £45 too if you're savvy with a computer.

UK Passats is a good forum with a lot of activity so if anything ever goes wrong you'll be able to get help.

Should be able to pick one up for under a grand. I got the last B5.5 model on a 55 plate with heated leather seats. Cost me £1400 with FSH. My only issue with it is no cruise control on my particular model (Highline), but that can be fitted for £100.

Whatever you're looking at I'd ignore mileage. Never understood why people get so hung up about it. I've had two cars, both around the 200,000 mile mark and have had less issues with them than the rest of my family that always buy low mileage cars. I look for full service history, condition and see how the seller comes across. You can gauge so much from the way they present their car to you. Another reason not to buy from a dealer.

[Shaft]

Well done, now you can look forward to having your motorcycle entitlement removed, when you send your licence back for updating
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[fatjames]