Morris Minor Owners Club

I will be teaching my youngest daughter to drive in feb. and while parking my traveller, I got to thinking that it is almost all glass and for a learner would be really easy to park.


Just cant think of another similar modern car. (I learnt in a mini clubman estate!)

Moggy convertible - top down. Excellent vision, though not so hot in February.

I taught all our 3 to drive in my Traveller. It's just like driving around in a greenhouse - fantastic visibility !

I took my test in another car with good visibility - a Farina A40, but it was a modern car at the time - certainly compared with the Morris 8 I practised in. Triumph Heralds are good, too.

Don't forget that there are now quite strict rules on cars for driving tests:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Le ... DG_4022543

Classic cars are great fun and all that, but I'd still go for a car with decent lights, mirrors, and demisting, not to mention synchro on first and a nigh-on unstallable engine, for a driving test.

Kevin

Fully agree. Learn to drive using a modern car, pass your test and then transfer to the Moggie and learn how to drive properly rather than just to pass the test.

Our two couldn't cope with the difference between a 15 year old Citroen AX (bought specially as a nice, economical learners car) and the modern, power steering Euro-box the instructor was using - the idea of letting them loose on a Mog with limited synchromesh and non servoed brakes doesn't appeal at all!

I think that's very interesting; I did most of my driving in my mum's base model 205 (no power steering, 4 speed) and apart from a propensity not to change into 5th in the instructors car (driving him insane) I didn't find the changeover too bad, but then I had dinked in the minor prior to driving my mum's peugot.

But I ascribe my comfort (apart from continuous "Augh! It's huge!" rants) in driving anything, pretty much, to the multitude of cars I drove in my early driving career (Landie, Mks 1+4 cavalier, pug, minor)...

Manoevering with a Traveller is an utter joy! The car is not so big so it fits into most parking spaces comfortable, the all round visibility is brilliant. The steering is so light that you can turn the wheel without Charles Atlas biceps.

My boy is 10, and he will learn in a traveller. They are not fast cars and the lack of sound proofing slows you down, as you are more aware of the physical world in which you are driving.



Harry & Doreen

With all those new rules on what you can take your test in, it seems you couldn't take your test in a Morris if you wanted to!
I took my test in mine and can remember starting the engine and saying to the examiner that 'I was just letting the oil pressure build up' prior to departure! Cheeky sod!

The Traveller is very easy to drive and position. The Midget is perhaps easier with the top down......best cars for rearward visibility are either a Morgan or a "Locaterfield" 7.

My grandfather has a VW K70 and that was very good. Don't know when I last saw one of those.

Trav visability is excellent apart from the pillar in the middle of the rear doors!

I think my escort estate has almost as good - except you can see cars behind in the rear view mirror!

get a tractor

Don't see why a Minor is not allowed for the Test. Just need to fit extra mirror (same all cars), seat belt and passenger seat with headrest built in. The later speedo shows both mph and kph (although just why this is necessary is a mystery - since all speed limits in UK are in mph) - and it can surely do 62.5 mph ?

My '96 Passat is good but I must admit to having dented the garage door twice. The drive is only a few inches longer than the car and it's my third Passat but the first with a towbar!

My Sprite beats my Traveller for visibility - unless I've got the hood up and then it's pants!

The towbar - very useful for touch parking!

mike.perry wrote:touch parking!

Well I dont like playing those sort of games