First Driving Lesson, Mini Motoring School

jencar01

I’ve my first driving lesson on Saturday with the Mini Motoring School. They use mini coopers. Its my first ever lesson and I’m a bit nervous about it. Has anyone done lessons with these before, are they friendly etc?

tc20

Hi Jen,
i cant give you info on the Mini Motoring School (im sure others here will), but
i can speak as someone who was a registered driving instructor for 4years.
Maybe you could give some more info about yourself - have you ever driven before - even just in a car park or such with a friend/parent? If so, you will be even a little familiar with the layout of the controls/instruments. The main controls (clutch/brake/accelerator from left to right) steering wheel and handbrake will be in the same position in practically all cars though will 'feel' different from car to car. The controls (indicators/wipers etc) will vary form one car to the next.
Your instructor should take the time to explain these to you, and what they do. If it is your first ever time behind the wheel, it is natural and perfectly ok to feel a wee bit nervous, but relax - your instructor has dual controls and shouldnt let you come to any harm. If it is just a 1hour lesson, you mightnt actually do very much driving. If he or she is good, they will bring you to a quiet area where you wont be overly troubled by other traffic.
This is a great moment in your driving career, enjoy it, you will remember it in the years ahead and wonder what the worry was about. Actually making the car move, changing gear etc will in time become second nature, just like breathing. As you become more competent, you will have more time to observe other drivers and traffic around you. This is the hard part, and it takes time to read situations, and how potential danger could arise.
Happy, and safe motoring!

Tony

jencar01

tc20 wrote:

Hi Jen,
i cant give you info on the Mini Motoring School (im sure others here will), but
i can speak as someone who was a registered driving instructor for 4years.
Maybe you could give some more info about yourself - have you ever driven before - even just in a car park or such with a friend/parent? If so, you will be even a little familiar with the layout of the controls/instruments. The main controls (clutch/brake/accelerator from left to right) steering wheel and handbrake will be in the same position in practically all cars though will 'feel' different from car to car. The controls (indicators/wipers etc) will vary form one car to the next.
Your instructor should take the time to explain these to you, and what they do. If it is your first ever time behind the wheel, it is natural and perfectly ok to feel a wee bit nervous, but relax - your instructor has dual controls and shouldnt let you come to any harm. If it is just a 1hour lesson, you mightnt actually do very much driving. If he or she is good, they will bring you to a quiet area where you wont be overly troubled by other traffic.
This is a great moment in your driving career, enjoy it, you will remember it in the years ahead and wonder what the worry was about. Actually making the car move, changing gear etc will in time become second nature, just like breathing. As you become more competent, you will have more time to observe other drivers and traffic around you. This is the hard part, and it takes time to read situations, and how potential danger could arise.
Happy, and safe motoring!

Tony

Thanks Tony for putting me at Ease. Its my first time driving, haven’t really got a clue. I’ve been out in friends car once and I got it moving but I didn’t really know what I was doing. I wouldn’t mind the idea of going somewhere quiet its if they bring me onto a busy road I’d get a bit nervous.

Irish Salfordia

jencar01 wrote:

I wouldn’t mind the idea of going somewhere quiet its if they bring me onto a busy road I’d get a bit nervous.

Hi Jen,

I would have serious concerns if any driving instructor put you on a main road for your first lesson. They should explain what the controls are and what they do as Tony said, and then let you practise basic staring, stopping and changing gears in a quiet and safe area.

You should only be taken out onto a main road when you can do the above, when you know how to correctly do right and left turns, come out from 'T' junctions and can start on a hill without rolling back. Then you are ready to go out onto quiet main roads.

Good luck

Alkers

I had five lessons with that company. Victor is the guy who owns it I think, he's really sound. I was out on the main roads 15min into my first lesson, I already knew the theory of driving but had never done it before. 5 lessons later and I'm able to drive and I'll get another 5 lessons probably when my test comes up. As far as I know he only has a brake which is good because you have to get the hang of the clutch before you go onto the main road.
p.s. they're not mini coopers, just new minis

tc20

Jen, further to my earlier post im just wondering if you know of quiet areas close to where you live. Quiet residential roads that are also not too tight (narrow). Are you living in a town/city or somewhere more rural? Have you just booked the 1hour lesson? This isnt a bad idea to see if you get on with your instructor. If you do, it might be an idea to book a course of 10 or so lessons - they will usually offer a discount in this case. See if you will be guaranteed the same instructor each time - some of the larger schools cannot guarantee this, and this is not beneficial to the pupil ie you. Also ask if they (the school) are DIR qualified - this can also have insurance benefits for you (if i remember correctly its if you do 25hours+ tuition. Sounds like a lot i know, but your gonna be driving for the rest of your life.
even if you're a passenger in a car you can learn. Not by watching what the driver is doing, but by making yourself aware of potential hazards on the road ahead (and behind). Now that you are becoming a driver, you will notice more that people do the craziest things. watch out for junctions, people getting out of cars, cyclists..everything. The only car you can control is the one you are in - its all the other nutters you have to watch out for :eek:
It will help, like any new thing you're learning, if you can practice in between lessons. Not always possible or practicable i know, but if you can it will help.
Oh yeah, another thing i found that could be beneficial is if you do book a course of lessons, see if you can book the odd two hour lesson, especially at the early stages, as you find you cover a lot more ground.

Tony

Owen

I have, and sell new MINIs. Easiest thing in the world to drive, you'll be fine. We get learners all the time taking them for test drives, and they all comment on just how easy they are to control.

/end of shameless plug.
//best of luck!

lightening

My wife learned to drive with them and passed first time. She was nervouse and said they were great.

jencar01

Thanks for the help everyone.

Tony I’m living in Clonsilla, it’s a new housing estate and there’s round abouts everywhere. I suppose I may as well start off hard.

I’m doing a one hour lesson and then ill book another few if I’m happy. I had booked with another company but heard bad reports so I’ve cancelled with them. Its really important for me to feel comfortable with my instructor.

I’ve my first lesson on Sat morning so ill let you know how it went.

Jennie

jencar01

Did my first ever driving lesson this weekend with the mini school of motoring and I can’t recommend them enough. I had Darren and he made me feel at ease and had me out driving in ten minutes, even doing reversing and everything.

If anyone’s thinking of getting lessons I’d highly recommend these.

http://www.minischool.ie/

tc20

Hey Jen, glad to hear you had a good time. Your instructor is exactly what you need - someone who puts you at ease. Well done

jencar01

Thanks Tony,

I’ve another 2 this week, I’m actually really looking forward to just getting out there now and driving. I think ill pick it up quickly.

minijen

Hello from Mini Motoring School! I would like to correct a comment made by Simona1986 that we do not use Mini Coopers at Mini Motoring School - in actual fact we ONLY use Mini Coopers at our driving school.

Annie Rhiannon

I'm about to start driving lessons in Dublin and I'm thinking about booking Mini Motoring School. Unfortunately I haven't got my theory test or provisional license sorted yet so I can't start straight away.

If anybody has any more comments about them I'd be interested to hear...

unkel

You're better off starting your own thread, instead of reviving an old one, Annie

Also, we now have a dedicated Learning to Drive forum right here