Driving schools?

[Twojoe]

Taking the plunge in learning to drive soon, in my advancing years, and looking around for recommendations on driving schools, instructors, fast track courses? Anyone got any, positive, personal experience?

J

[vega]

I learned with Steve Strachan - "Spectrum Driving". He's based in Westhill and i was happy enough with him. Never shouted or got mad. He goes at a pace that suits you, so if you wanted to get right through everything or you wanted to go slow, he'd work around that etc.

Reasonably priced - something like £220 for a block of 10 lessons or £24 each, or something like that. Does pass plus too and provided me with a dvd and booklet for the theory, which i returned when i passed. Fairly flexible - Sundays are the only days he doesn't teach, with the exception if you have a test on the Monday. You also have the option of sitting your test in Altons or Bridge of Don - it's up to you.

I have a number for him kicking about somewhere. Give us a shout if your needing any more info.

Best of luck

[bob bouma]

Originally Posted by Twojoe

Taking the plunge in learning to drive soon, in my advancing years, and looking around for recommendations on driving schools, instructors, fast track courses? Anyone got any, positive, personal experience?

J

Cliche joke but: let me know and I'll move out of aberdeen then.

(How's the back?)

[Sam L4]

Mark King at Roadwise. Strongly recommended. I know one girl who did fast-track and she failed with like 4 majors and 17 minors or something.

[MCJ]

I failed my driving test nine times in Glasgow.

Nine.

I moved to Aberdeen where I was given a 6 months probationary period at my new job in which to pass my test. (Driving was essential to my line of work)

I panicked a lot. And then I started taking lessons with my friend's dad in Stonehaven. Got to zoom about in his wee Mini Cooper. Thought I was doomed to be a non-driver for all of my life, but he knows some sort of magic ninja skillz and I passed within a few months. That was coming up for three years ago now and I've never had any trouble driving.

Steve Peacock in Stonehaven, He da man.

[Twojoe]

Originally Posted by bob bouma

Cliche joke but: let me know and I'll move out of aberdeen then.

(How's the back?)

i'd fined you. I have a baldy homing device I used to have on my mountain bike back in the day when my Knee worked properly. Back is getting there! Anyone got any good Bionic replacement specialist numbers?

[KimyReizeger]

If you have someone who's willing to take you out regularly (and is a reasonable driver) then learn as much you can from them before taking lessons. I did this and ended up passing after only about 6 or 7 lessons with an instructor. Oh and sit your theory as soon as possible.

[Snowball]

I wouldn't go with the King Street School of Motoring. I know someone learning with them at the moment and they don't seem that great. No record card with times/dates of lessons to keep you right, and the guy has stood him up once cos he put the appointment in the wrong page of his diary . He also wont book the same time every week- i.e. if you know you're free every Thursday at 3 he wont book that slot for you every week and there's every chance he'll have given it away to someone else so you'll have to shuffle committments about and make other arrangements.

He's had coming up for 20 lessons now and there's never been any mention of theory or practical testing. My friend went out and got his theory done under his own steam and the driving instructor didn't say anything when he told him that he'd achieved it next day. I find it a bit odd that a driving instructor wouldn't take an interest in all aspects of obtaining a driving licence- I know when I was learning my ace instructor told me all about the theory, how to book, what to revise and how to go about it etc, and really took an interest. This guy that my friend has "never says anything" apparently and just chews gum constantly. He has been admitted to hospital for quite a long stretch of time recently however so there will have been a strain on the business.

[doobie]

i learnt to drive out here in the sticks with separate lessons over maybe 3 months but did my B+E (car with heavy trailer) test in aberdeen with "intensive" 3 day training.

i found the "intensive" training was really tiring and hard to take eveything in (even though i'd been driving with trailers for years and in the instructors own words "knew all there was to know already"..... just what you want to hear when you've paid up a few hundered quid to be taught stuff...) after i did my trailer training and test (did over 300miles in the 3 days ) i didn't want to ever drive again, which is pretty shite seein as i own four cars as i loved driving so much!!

the separate lesson route was much more civilised and definatly the way i'm going to do things in the future!

also i did my first car test with BSM, was very happy with it, got loads of help with booking tests and all that jazz.

[bob bouma]

Looks like we might be out on the road together...
Have you looked into this/made any choices yet?

What would it cost me (the whole package from lessons to license)?