Could have been worse, this mk2b punto sport which I passed on its roof, in a ditch and half buried by a snow drift this morning.
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What's made you grumpy today?
Could have been worse, this mk2b punto sport which I passed on its roof, in a ditch and half buried by a snow drift this morning.
Bloody hell about the Punto, suppose it's easily done when theres a slope like that!
Was going quite slow and had a lot of distance behind a Corsa. He was at a junction. Car slowed a bit but then ABS was triggered and the thing wouldn't stop!!! Went sliding straight into the back. Turned the wheel and nothing. Thankfully, minimal damage to the other car and virtually none to mine. Nobody hurt. The guy was very nice about it and straightforward so I appreciate that.
Just glad nobody else was on the road as it could have been much worse for the other car otherwise! The Panda gave it a good old shove forward surprisingly!!
ABS does not work well with ice and snow. ABS is a series of off/on, so all or nothing. The driver has the ability to vary the pressure. As soon as the wheels stop turning steering has little effect. Difficult to do when sliding towards another vehicle, or anything else, but ideally need to let go, and apply again more gently, repeat as necessary. Overall will stop sooner, but may still be too late.
Have you ever had to take a learner out in ice or snow? I saw one today. Must be even more terrifying to think if they maybe floored it or slammed on the additional risk of sliding!
Think this depends on the car, they all work the same way certainly but there's varying degrees of effectiveness/interference.
Some systems have very low tolerances, the one on the Suzuki I recall was an utter nightmare..touch the pedal the ABS activates and removes all braking force..to the point slowing down as much as you can on gears then drilling the pedal into the floor to immediately lock all 4 wheels at which point the car thinks it's stopped so doesn't release the braking force actually seemed like the best option!
Then again it was also useless in normal conditions in that I could unlock the wheels before it noticed they'd locked..box ticked for ABS on spec sheet..but very basic indeed.
The Mazda and PSA systems seem to have a few more shades of grey between on and off.
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It's rare that I feel the ABS kick in in the Grande. I have to really stamp on the brakes for it to activate!
I actively encourage learners to play in the snow. Better they experience it with me, than on their own the first time. Sadly, today, none want to come out to play, and it is thawing fast, so no issues tomorrow. Learner selection is important. I will only take those that I am comfortable will pay attention, and act sensibly.
In Swindon we have an unusually clear car park, and mostly empty. Large open space without the usual kerbs, trees, lamps, hedges, etc., so plenty of room to drift without hitting anything. I like to get them onto that, and experience what happens if the steer too abruptly, brake too fiercely, accelerate too briskly, or combine any of those. All at up to 20mph in a safe environment.
When BSM had the Fiat 500, it was almost impossible to get the ABS to operate. No matter how hard you pressed, it just stopped as requested. A great car, but not best for demonstrating/teaching ABS. The Corsas, both C & D were quite good. Enough capability to move around in the slippy conditions but could be made to let go and allow the ABS to operate. The AA Fiesta is poor for grip. In the dry it feels like it is on tiptoe, on snow or ice, it feels completely disconnected from the road surface. Getting the ABS to operate is too easy. Getting moving sometimes difficult. We use Titanium models. Lesser models with narrower tyres are slightly better, but not much.
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How comes BSM used the 500 for such a short time?
Just as the recession hit, Vauxhall asked for more money. The then owners of BSM said 'get stuffed' before they understood how to replace the cars. They had owned the business only a short while, not understanding the industry. They were 'private equity asset strippers' not realising that BSM did not own much, as all cars were leased, most of the buildings too, so no assets to strip. They did not understand the franchise model. Then they struggled to find a suitable deal. We were offered BMW 1-series and MINI, but tyre costs would have quadrupled. Then Fiat offered a deal, but at that time they were in charge, so they dictated the models. So we got 500s. Only a few of us were pleased.
About a third of the fleet were Astras. Those that had chosen Astras included some because of space requirements, such as families. A 500 did not work. So in just a few months, about a third of the BSM instructors left. That spoilt the financial model and BSM went into decline. It took about a year to collapse from then, and went into liquidation, to be snapped up by the parent company that own AA. At that time bills were unpaid, including the Fiat account and AA management, being better than the outgoing BSM clowns, got a new deal with Vauxhall, so the cars were quickly replaced with Corsas again. Recently moved to Peugeot.
I held on fo rsome time, but had bailed and moved to AA about a month before the BSM collapse.
Whilst I loved the 500, I missed having rear doors and rear headrests, so did some sums and went looking for a Panda. Found the Alessi. Had it now since early 2010. Still makes me smile. It is reappearing now as the snow thaws.
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I see! Has BSM actually gone completely bankrupt then? I do recall seeing BSM 208s: thank Christ I didn't have to learn in 1, lol!
Liquid Knight II
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While I was in a shop buying my lunch this morning...
...a Luton van with a tail lift reversed into the front of my car and drove off.
:bang:
...a Luton van with a tail lift reversed into the front of my car and drove off.
:bang:
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2 questions:
1. Did you get the vans number plate?
2. Is the car repairable?
1. Did you get the vans number plate?
2. Is the car repairable?
BSM went pop end of 2010. Was immediately bought by parent company of AA. Still run as a separate brand, but uses AA infrastructure for administration. So still alive and kicking.
BSM was the original driving school. Invented the first driving test for the Department of Transport.
Idiot up the road cleared the snow off his drive using a pressure washer.
The road is now a nice ice rink. Hopefully his drive is too.
The road is now a nice ice rink. Hopefully his drive is too.
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I was going to say: I'm sure I still see BSM cars around, lol!
Tbf the psa cars must have something that is good for learners..god knows what it is I imagine they do good lease rates for driving instructors.
The last 2 cars we've had have been ubiquitous driving instructor cars, the DS3 was used by most of the local one man band set ups who are now switching to C3s (which is pretty understandable given they are cheaper, bigger, more confortable and better equipped).
I cannot for the life of me think why either is a good learner car...I suppose they have big mirrors and the gearbox is so slack each gear has it's own post code so can't hook first accidentally, light steering, small size but otherwise..no idea..lemon sharp brakes, inconsistent throttle response and a clutch bite shortly below your chin..but they are popular so I'm probably wrong.
I’m sure I remember seeing that things like electronic hand brakes can’t be used on a driving test and as more and more cars switch to these, it’s probably limiting the number of small cars available to instructors ?
That’s one suggestion anyway, I’m sure there are other reasons
Initially the DVSA said no electronic handbrakes on test, but have since had a rethink. Cars with these can be used, but on a hill start the examiner will be looking particularly to see whether technique gives a good hill start, or if the car is doing some work. If the car does some work due to poor technique, driving faults will be recorded.
I'd guess the PSA cars are cheap.
Liquid Knight II
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No, I was in a shop buying lunch. I never got round to fixing the cigarette lighter so no camera in the car either. :bang:
Everything is repairable to a degree. I'll have to find a second hand pair of UK lights and order a pair of EU ones to swap lenses over again.
Liquid Knight II
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From the ocean of modern LED brakes lights at every junction, traffic light, roundabout and motorway network it's safe to say electronic hand brakes are useless. Even on the perfectly flat roads round here Darwinists sit there with their foot on the brake pedal instead of using the "E" brake.
If you are stationary in traffic and you hold your several hundred Lumen Cre-LED brake lights on for more than a few seconds you are dazzling every other road user behind you and therefore Driving Without Due Care and Attention (Consideration).
It should be six points and a £1,000-£5,000 fine for every doltish twunt who does it.
