Hi All, I'm John.

I have just bought (today) a 1994 Punto SX TD which I will be using as a tuition vehicle for my driving school. In fact, I have done 3 lessons tonight, even though it isn't yet fitted with dual controls. All 3 pupils are test-standard and don't need 'dualing'. I think I got a bargain. My Punto has 12 months MOT and, from what I can see, no known faults. I paid £450.

I will be fitting dual controls this week. I do this myself as it's a fairly straight forward job. I used to have a brand-new Kia Picanto, but it was rubbish, so I got rid of it and bought a 1999 Proton Compact Sport for £640 from fleabay. I took the dual-controls out of the Picanto and fitted them in the Proton, despite the manufacturer telling me they wouldn't fit. (Someone ran into the back of the Proton last week so I bought the Punto as a replacement).

I have just bought a set of duals from a Vauxhall corsa, also on fleabay, for £22-50 incl postage. Again, the manufacturer (He-Man) says they wont fit!
I say they will. I will let you know on that one.

Anyway, I'm going to get the cambelt and tensioners done, then see how it goes. Look forward to talking to you all.

Cheers, John

hello and welcome
1994 is an old car to teach in, are your lessons cheap?

hey there and welcome

i learnt to drive in a nearly new fiesta and polo

do you charge about £1.50 per hour

dave said:

hello and welcome
1994 is an old car to teach in, are your lessons cheap?

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I know, it annoys the hell out of the other instructors! Here's me, charging £22 an hour, haven't advertised for 5 years, all word-of-mouth and I'm always busy, whereas they are running new cars, doing deals like "5 lessons for £25" and "first 4 lessons just £7-50 each" and finding it tough.

I know all the local instructors as I'm chairman of Wisbech & District Driving Instructors association, so I talk to a lot of my 'competition'.

So, I'm dearer than most, don't need to advertise and I use an older car.
How does that work? Answers on a postcard

Joshua Frost-Lunn said:

do you charge about £1.50 per hour

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guess it works because you are teaching the kids in an older car therefore they adapt to driving an older car, and not a new focus (like the aa use ).

therefore they adapt there conditions, and are a lot more careful in your car, plus all the knocks you receive it doesnt matter

welcome to the forum

Joshua Frost-Lunn said:

plus all the knocks you receive it doesnt matter

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That's the funny thing, had my first ever 'knock' last week. We were stopped at a roundabout, waiting to go and a guy in a Golf GTi ran straight into us. Admitted it was his fault. Annoying though. I've been doing this job for six years and this is the first, hopefully the last.

i never had any bumps whilst i was learning

driving lessons, what fun they used to be

Joshua Frost-Lunn said:

i never had any bumps whilst i was learning

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I past my test and had three minor scrapes on the first day

Welcome to the forum

Key2driving said:

So, I'm dearer than most, don't need to advertise and I use an older car.
How does that work? Answers on a postcard

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i would think you have a better pass rate?