Left-field choices for young drivers

Still working too…

Yes, it has so far turned out out to be absolutely reliable. I quite enjoy taking it out now and then.

I've got 12 months until my daughter gets her provisional licence. I can hire local track time with her but not allowed on the public highway, that has to be with a registered driving school.

If she passes while still 17, and once she puts her mind to it she will, she cannot drive alone until 18 without a qualified driver - mum or dad.

Small, Japanese cars in Germany are pretty rare, Polo or Fiesta more likely. If we ever get out of COVID might be time to re-import the Volvo to the UK and take advantage of the used car prices.

That looks to be more of concern for commercial importers, car parts being specifically called out. Personal imports will go on and as I still have a copy of the original V5C maybe that will help or possibly not. We shall see.

It will be interesting to see what happens with LHD cars in the UK, there was a time some companies specialised in LHD cars for export to Spain and such like.

Yes we did a few outings. Started him on reversing round a corner last weekend. Took a while for it to dawn on him that he doesn't need any throttle, just control speed with the clutch. Getting there. Got some outings planned this weekend, and pro lessons restart next week. He's planning on driving us to and from school from next week. He's been a bit nervous about that because the entrance to the school car park is busy and tricky.

I'm actually starting to doubt whether, against my previous judgement, learning in a manual is all that necessary now after all. Probably is, just about.

Having pottered about a bit in the Corolla myself now, I'm wondering who on God's clean earth would have bought a new Ford Escort rather than a Corolla in 2000 (we owned an R reg Escort 1.4 of the final generation and I'm kicking myself for being so brand stubborn now, it was a horrible car in comparison). It's just so "right". And having driven my sister's Mini last weekend, I'm wondering how the design and layout of interior controls and switchgear have regressed since the Corolla was made. The Mini is fun on the move, it has a great engine note, nice handling (although ride is choppy, but to be expected), but the controls - dear Christ they're bad. Even the essential ones like the light switch. I set off on Saturday in daylight, but misty conditions. Then realised it's on "auto" lights, so the proper lights weren't on. Could not for the life of me see where the light controls were, so I actually stopped the car to look for them. Under the dash on the right hand side of the steering wheel, hidden from the driver's view unless you actually bend down to the right, is the answer. Ridiculous. I bet there are huge numbers of Mini drivers who never bother to find it. As for the radio controls etc on the big round screen in the middle, I've never seen anything so confusing, unintuitive and distracting. I think you would need a fortnight's course and 3 hour written exam to master them. Baffling and hideous.

I think you'd be better off with an MG ZS than a Duster (in that price bracket). I've had a look at both, the Duster's seats look like they're made out of cardboard. The ZS looks and feels superior in pretty much every way. Been on the look out for a car for my Mum whose 500L is a bit tatty now, and she likes things with the old sitty-uppy position. Genuinely can't see past a ZS for value, or an older Skoda Yeti or Honda CRV/HRV. She's looked at a Duster too and dismissed it on the grounds of cheap feeling interior.

Best utilitarian/outdoorsy/bike transporty car I've ever seen is my mate's Honda Element.  Of course they were never sold in the UK though.  He lives in California and spends a lot of time around Tahoe.  He likes it so much he actually shipped it over here for a long visit once, registered it here even, then shipped it back.  It's a 2.4 petrol auto.  Big runner/mountain biker/tough mudder/all that sort of fitness outdoors freak shizzle (ex-American footballer, the absolute lunatic), my mate.  Says he'll keep the Element until it falls to pieces, and even then might try to put it back together again.

Just had a nosey at some pictures of the Element.

I can see the appeal in a way, if I was an American perhaps.