Safety Engineer

Failed my initial driving test 5 times, but whilst I made mistakes I wasn't to impressed with the standard of instruction my fails were: 1st test - Lack of observation, when in the RAF was taught to use eyes to scan rather than moving head as eyes can move faster and moving head a lot whilst wearing 4kg of flight helmet makes the neck sore. Why not havce a running commentry or if examiner isn't sure ask 'what was the last sign you passed?' a good way of establishing observation. 2nd test - Made very sure that the examiner could see I was observing, even adjusted my mirror before pulling off, was failed on the basis that he felt I had driven to the test centre with an incorrectly adjusted mirror. 3rd test - same idiot as tests 1 & 2, failed for refusing an emegency stop and an incorect ES, first one he called I had a tailgater, and wasn't going to chance him rear ending me. Second it was a bit icey and felt the car start to go so eased off and re-applied the brakes, was told that a proper emergency stop should make the tyres squeel, mised the point that squeeling tyres normally indicates a skid... Took a couple of years out from test in the hope that the doddery old git would retire. 4th test - failed for not being aggresive enough. WTF surely trying to overtake on a blind corner is just plain silly, not according to this examiner!! 5th test - too close to vehicle in front on a dual carraigeway, hands up my mistake, also marked down for block changing rather than going up through every gear. 6th test - made a complete hash of it, stalled it forgot to change up, made a right howler at a roundabout. but passed, my two worst drives were the closest to passing and a pass. Am very sceptical about the standard drivning test, especially since doing the Class 1. Wouldn't be against a limited number of passes given the standard of tuition and testing improves, would go for 1o tests, bearing in mind that there are some people who are now good drivers but go to pieces on a formal test, 10 cracks gives them a chance to get past test nerves. I think the drivers that have had 60-70 tests should just give up.

Would heartily recommend the IAM course, well worth it, and they are not the anoraks that are often associated with IAM. Have also done the Police Class 1 training but failed on the fast driving test for hesitancy and failure to make progress :blink: was told that I should have been doing a bit more than I was... Don't think much of the idea of re-testing as IMO the standard test isn't much cop especially when compared with the likes of Germany, Australia and NZ that all have a multi stage test & licence system that includes motorway tuition and testing.

2.0 HDi VTR+ with 7,000 on the clock and a boot full of site gear half and half London stop start and Dual Carraigeway am averaging about 42mpg, on a motorway run am getting in the 55-60mpg range.

I put some self adhesive grip tread tape on it (the stuff used on outside metal fire escape stair nosings) when I had my Xsara, worked a treat.

Well it went in friday, came out friday afternoon, feeling dead and unresponsive, it also whistled like a good 'un, took it back saturday morning, they couldn't look at it as the service garage was closed for annual stock take but they took it in and promised to look at it first thing tuesday, gave me a Picasso to drive around in for the weekend. Come tuesday afternoon get a call saying that it's all sorted and was a gasket dropped out of place (I don't envy them with the tiny space to get at bits), now sorted. Car now quiet again and it feels more responsive, there was a little bit of a dead spot about 1500rpm that's gone and the trip computer indicates it's slightly more economical (will verify on next fill up manually).

C4 2.0 HDI VTR+, just gone in last thursday for the airbag recall and had a phone call friday saying that Citroen have just sent out another recall (XXS) for a reset/upgrade of the engine management system and a check/replacement of the EGR (Engine Gas Recirculation) Valve, it goes in this friday.

My 2.0L started off with 23mpg and has improved considerably, now on nearly 7,000 miles.

Got mine (2.0HDi VTR+ Hatchback, Oriental Blue) end of feb and have just racked up 6,500 miles in it. Very happy with the car, have had the recall for the airbag but not other recalls or faults getting 40mpg, but am doing a lot of stop start in London, on long motorway runs am getting about the 55-60mpg mark and comparing the computer to what I'm actually putting in it's pretty accurate. As for the centre console it's great, being on the shortish side I find that when I adjust the steering wheel it often obscures part of the speedo, with the centre console I can read the speedo out of the corner of my eye without having to look away from the road. :blink: I've had the new 1.7CDTi Astra (two of) whilst waiting and they were absolute dogs, lots of electrical problems, kept going into 'Limp Home' mode, and were appalling to drive. Had a focus - same price spec as the VTR+ but was very sparse on kit in comparison. Used to have a 1.9d Xsara very economical but a bit underpowered. Like it a lot my my main gripes would be the wing mirrors, they look nice but they taper down at the point you want most vision out of them, the accessory socket is ignition activated (the Xsara's wasn't and had a big enough battery not to be a problem for the sort of kit I left on charge or running amber beacon for construction sites), and last but not least only one reversing light down low where it gets all mucky - the Xsara had two reversing lights so why step backwards????