new drivers

[manky]

Am nearly 37 and what with one thing and another have managed to put off learning to drive. I know life would be a lot easier if I learnt but still have a sick feeling in my stomach when I think about lessons or possibly going out on my own in the car with two children. Has anyone ever learnt to drive this late? Will this sick feeling go away? Five years ago I was in an accident while cycling where a lorry almost crushed me.Not surprisingly I'm very nervous when buses or trucks come near our car (that's just when I'm a passenger). Has anyone else been this nervous? Would hypnotherapy help?

How much do you have to spend, ks? I have a solid reliable little runaround - Suzuki Wagon R - like Postman Pat's van (but mine is green!) and with extra windows.

One of those 3 or 4 years old should only be about £3K. Is that too much? Is there a Suzuki dealer near you?

Found this website via google....might help!

www.carsource.co.uk/used-list-index?ID=R50WBMF74WN00HM&first_car_F=1&proximity_F=N&extend_search=1

I hate to say this, but it could be a good idea to get a man - your dh or someone else, to come along to the dealer showroom with you. I think there's more chance of you betting a B** deal if you approach the dealer yourself.

I have listened to a few dealer sales pitches in my time and it is amazing how they pidgeon hole you - women are given the safety and easy to drive angle - men get the technical and performance angle. My dh and I spent a delicious 30 minutes listening to a secondhand car dealer doing just this. Little did he know that I'd written the car brochures for that particular model range for the last three years.

I've got the manual version of the Nissan Micra and I love it. Easy to park, quite nippy and didn't feel to "big" for me at a time when I was less than confident! Been very reliable (but then I've had mine from new) and I like the internal layout. Can't comment on the automatic version I'm afraid.

Minuses are that it can be a pain to find rear facing child seats that fit properly in the back and the boot space is a bit minimal! (especially once there's a pushchair in the back - although to be honest there's enough space to slot in a pushchair behind the seats if your kids don't have long enough legs to use the legroom )

hi, ks, don't worry about the jahn thing, you're not the only one and in any case I often get called by my daughter's name which rhymes with mine, I answer to almost anything (might draw the line at Bonzo though.)

Good luck with the car. I love my Wagon R so am prejudiced (although there is one drawback - it only has 4 belts) and they do make an automatic. If you google (or similar) for second hand cars you get lots of sites. The Toyota Yaris is supposed to be wonderful, but it hasn't been out that long and I don't know if you'd get one as cheap as £3K.

If you are not trading something in you should be able to get a discount off the advertised price, even for a second hand car. Try walking away, even if you find something you like!

I'VE PASSED MY DRIVING TEST!!!!!!

congratulations Rhubarb

Rhubarb congrats and LOL

Vroom Vroom off she goes!!!!!

Wahey!!!! Congratulations!!

Brilliant !! Well done Rhubarb

good for you, rhubarb!

Fantastic Rhubarb, well done! BTW did not get to send that lamp yet but have got the packing stuff and will toddle round to the po tomorrow.

Watch out girls - Rhubarb is on the roads!!! Congratulations Rhubarb!

Rhubarb, would this be the same driving test that prat of an instructor said you weren't ready for?

You clever old thing! I hope you will ring up his driving school and gloat?

me too.

well done Rhubarb, had you been trying long? Now just beware of road rage!

Rhubarb and anais, congratulations! Well done you... I have literally just started learning, so hope to be able to write the same in the not too distant future!

Congratulations, Anais

Congratulations Rhubarb and Anais, enjoy your new freedom!

Joint celebration Anais! Yes Janh I did ring up my ex-instructor to gloat! He didn't think I could pass, but I only got 2 minor faults so he can stick that up his exhaust pipe!