[Seb.c]

With the new v8 caterham, the manufacturers have set up a track day and will not let you purchase the car untill you have completed the required handling course.

Obviously cars with 300+ horsepower, extreme acceleration and high top end are far more demanding to drive than smaller less powerfull cars. Trackdays and extra courses are a great way of getting a lot of knowledge about handling / driving your car in a short space of time, and I think ultimately make you a safer driver. Obviously they are expensive, but if you have 100k+ to spend on a car you can clearly afford a few hours tuition. I think the introduction of compulsory courses by manufacturers should be encouraged if not staple.

But arguably a far more important point than health and safety, as I saw today, you look like an absoulute tool when you have a ferrari and you cant drive it.

-Discuss

edit: title should say compulsory

[samba]

A car is a car. I don't need a course to tell me how to drive one; I've already learnt that.

[Tofufi]

Manufacturers giving courses wouldn't stop idiots buying secondhand cars.

Also, a classic VW beetle with 120bhp will be equally fast and dangerous as a 300bhp japanese sports car.

I think stricter driving tests for all, including skid pan training etc would be a good start

[Mad Vlad]

Originally Posted by Tofufi

Manufacturers giving courses wouldn't stop idiots buying secondhand cars.

Also, a classic VW beetle with 120bhp will be equally fast and dangerous as a 300bhp japanese sports car.

I think stricter driving tests for all, including skid pan training etc would be a good start

Finnish driving requirements

[samba]

Originally Posted by Mad Vlad

Finnish driving requirements

All of scandinavia do an ice test afaik. very cool.

[Seb.c]

Originally Posted by samba

A car is a car. I don't need a course to tell me how to drive one; I've already learnt that.

Ohh damn thats a good point that I completely overlooked. Sorry I suggested that the ford fiesta you learned in is the same as an 806bhp rwd koenigsegg.

[samba]

Originally Posted by Seb.c

Ohh damn thats a good point that I completely overlooked. Sorry I suggested that the ford fiesta you learned in is the same as an 806bhp rwd koenigsegg.

Have you ever driven a more powerful car?

ps. I learnt in a corsa, not a fiesta.

[sk88]

Originally Posted by Seb.c

Ohh damn thats a good point that I completely overlooked. Sorry I suggested that the ford fiesta you learned in is the same as an 806bhp rwd koenigsegg.

to be honest i dont think anyone is going to go from a fiesta to a koenigsegg, most people will progressively get faster cars, and with experience they will get better, ie fiesta --> astra --> golf gti --> bmw m3 --> porsche 911 ...etc

[Seb.c]

Originally Posted by samba

Have you ever driven a more powerful car?

Nope.

[samba]

Originally Posted by Seb.c

Nope.

The accellerator is weighted completely differently on them. (at least the ones I've driven.) They feel more responsive, and there are generally more driver aids.

Having learnt in the corsa, I'm perfectly capable of driving my XKR (420bhp), 330D (255bhp), as well as my mums yaris, and an old landy. My mate had a saxo, and now has an Impreza. He manages fine too.

I don't see why more power equates to more driving difficulty?

[Tofufi]

I think more power does equal more responsibility. More responsibility not to drive like a cock and push it too hard on the road.

That doesn't equate with driving skill at all, in my opinion. If you have a car such as a Koenigsegg, it should NEVER go near the edges of its performance on a public road. The roads here are just not suitable for that sort of speed.

Some people are quite capable of driving, yet should never be let on the public roads in anything.

[jaw]

I went from a 110bhp fwd car to a 400bhp rwd car, and never had any problems, but I've had a go on a skid pan and around a track or three.. Honestly, I cant say its made a difference to how I drove the thing. A little common sense goes a [b]long[b] way..

[lodzinski]

I generally think that a better driving test, to exclude the morons from the license holders would be the best option. If you have some sense and the presence of mind to know what you are driving, you should be able to drive most things. Its people who drive like tossers in anything that need to be taken off the roads.