Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[seawhyte]

Hello everyone,
How do you think the younger generation of new drivers would cope if put in a classic car since all they have ever known is power steering, assisted brakes, never used a choke, cruise control?
Do you think they would become better drivers if they learnt how to drive classic cars?

If you sent two young, new drivers on a classic car rally how long would they last?

Thank you

[Ironhead]

my 2 teenagers have no interest in driving my Herald,18yo daughter dosen't even want to travel in it.

[peter scott]

I don't imagine that ability to learn how to deal with double de-clutching or healing and toeing differs very much from one generation to another. Some folk will pick up these things quicker than others but everyone makes mistakes at first.

Yes, I think dealing with untamed mechanisms with quirky idiosyncrasies definitely improves a driver's skill and understanding.

Peter
_________________
https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Richard H]

I'm 19 and have several old cars, Fraser (Frazzle TC) is the same age I think and Buzzy Bee is not much older. Yes it was a bit of a shock getting straight from a driving school Corsa into a 1959 Austin A35, but I very soon got used to it and now I drive a 1958 Austin Cambridge with manual choke, column gearchange, non-servo assisted drum brakes and no ABS, airbags or power steering every day. I taught myself double-declutching after reading 'How to drive a Motor Car' (1936 edition) and experimenting on a certain A35 that had no synchromesh left on 3rd and 4th gears.

Driving old cars in modern traffic does improve your driving considerably, there's no doubt.

[Ironhead]

Richard,how much is your insurance for the Cambridge?thinking perhaps i could lure one of my kids onto a classic with cheap(er) insurance.

[Richard H]

Ironhead - £390 for the year with Footman James, TPFT

[Ironhead]

thanks for the reply Richard

[FrazzleTC]

Like Richard, I'm a 19 year old who uses a classic on a daily basis. Although my P6 is fairly modern to drive bearing in mind its age, there are still several differences which you encounter as soon as you drive it after a modern car. I think that there are people who would manage well with classic who are my age, but I agree, a great many may well struggle with driving a classic.
I think my driving has improved since I've bought my classic, as I've grown to appreciate that I must remain far more alert, and expect the unexpected. The brakes in my car are fairly good, but there's no ABS, there are no airbags, it has a choke, there are no driving aids, and there's no power steering. I very much enjoy driving it however, and I have driven it in some challenging conditions, but so far I've managed without incident.
A lot of my friends drive classics as daily transport, to the extent that there's actually a small club/forum called Young guns classics, where there are quite a few young classic owners, and we go on an annual roadtrip, and are even hoping to have a club stand at a large classic car show this summer.
I would highly recommend the purchase of a classic by some young people, although I know of several people in my age group who would not be able to cope with a classic. I think people who genuinely like cars will be more inclined to drive better, and by the same token, these are the same people who would consider a classic.

[Richard H]

Well said Fraser. Most people simply view the motor car as a way of getting from A to B, as quickly as possible, and I don't think these people could ever use a classic regularly - they require patience and care.

Young Guns Classics is an interesting one, I stumbled across it quite by accident just before Christmas. Some great cars and people on there, shame they're all oop North but there you go.

www.younggunsclassics.forumcircle.com

[FrazzleTC]

I agree, there are certainly far more members a bit further North in England, but there are a few members near you who I'm sure would enjoy a meet sometime. We're always looking for new members so feel free to join us. We're a friendly bunch.

[Richard H]

I'm already there!

http://younggunsclassics.forumcircle.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=110

[FrazzleTC]

Oh yes, I know, I think I could have phrased my post better to avoid confusion. I was really just suggesting any members on here knew people our age with classics could join up.

[websnail]

I was talking with the young guy at work today and was shocked to find out that his driving school car had ABS. Rather makes it hard to fail the emergency stop on his driving test.

Everybody should spend a year in a vehicle with drum brakes, might just stop them jumping in your braking space.

[FrazzleTC]

I think you'll struggle to find a driving school car without ABS now! It's really quite remarkable that nearly all cars have it fitted as standard now. It does make emergency stops very easy, and I think a lot of people have lost the art of cadence braking as a result.

[BigJohn]

A lot of people did NOT have the art of cadence braking to lose!! I dealt with quite a few.