Hi Guys

I'm thinking of buying a felicia for my driving school. I think it would make a great car to learn to drive in but...which models have power steering, and which don't please.

I've just started to teach a lady who has her own felicia without power steering, and the reason she is now having lessons with me is, on the first day driving her car with her husband sitting beside her, she hit another car! She didn't turn the wheel soon enough and clipped the other car which was parked on the side of the road.

In truth, I have never drivien a felicia (only a fabia which was great ) and would like some advice from owners first, before buying one. On models without PAS, is the steering heavy or light? I had a datsun years ago and that didn't have power steering, and didn't need it. It was really light to steer. Think of a small-framed girl doing a 3-point turn!

Thanks

John

I would have thought there'd be insurance problems giving people lessons in their own car?

I think the 1.3 is very driveable. In my experience cleaning the throttle body improves the driveability a lot, so worth doing even if you do not suspect a problem.

The SLXi is the top of the range model and I think most if not all are 1.6 and have power steering. I suspect some fo the GLXI's should also have power steering.

Steering is relatively light if the tyres are at their pressure, but for a driving school I would imagine PAS would help some people as it should help keep the amount of pressure needed on the steering wheel the same, although I had no difficulty going from a PAS Astra BSM car to a non-power steering fore-runner to the Felicia.

I never really notice not having power steering.

The only time you do notice is if you try and dry steer (which your learners shouldn't be doing anyway! hehe).

Bu agree, you would probably be better off getting one with PAS to use as a learner car.

Mine is a top model L&K but i think with it just being the 1.3 lacks power steering.

I think the felicia would be an ideal car to learn in... very easy to drive and i find it really easy to judge the width/length of and where the front and rear bumpers end! Just dont get an esatate and you should be fine! lol

now you see i dissagree:eek:

I have a felicia Laurin and klement too, but mine is the 1.6 estate model.

The estate is just as easy to drive since its not really a huge estate,

but mine has No PAS so the 1.6 is a heavy lump to lug around when parking.:thumbdwn:

However its my first car, I got it when i was 18,

I learned to drive in a renault clio 1.2 hatch mk4,

but the felly is more comfortable, may be longer but thats better because I can drive smaller cars like they were a toy car because I have experience driving a Big car, thats great as most young learners go for hatchbacks.

I would go for a felly, but get one with PAS!

I think you will find all Felicia 1300GLi's, diesels and 1600's have PAS as standard.

On the very last models, from around 2000, Classics have it as standard but Populars haven't.

From sometime around late 1999 LXi's have it as standard too.

The special edition Bohemias from 1996 had it.

Standard L models hve never had it.

now you see i dissagree:eek:

I have a felicia Laurin and klement too, but mine is the 1.6 estate model.

The estate is just as easy to drive since its not really a huge estate,

but mine has No PAS so the 1.6 is a heavy lump to lug around when parking.:thumbdwn:

Many people have an unfounded concern about driving an estate. I went from new Atra hatchback to Favorit estate and had no problems though.

Hatchback is the best choice.

Not to put a damper on it- but would your insurance allow you to use a vehicle as old as a felicia?

Would be a good one for folks to learn in- no cossting ABS or Traction control etc- means they'd actually develop the driving skills needed!

i wouldnt go for a felly diesel, the turning circle is crap,our lass moaned all the time about hers.

i wouldnt go for a felly diesel, the turning circle is crap,our lass moaned all the time about hers.

It looks to me like they all share the same steering rack.

It was a criticism of the favorit the felicia is based on

YouTube - Top gear road test skoda favorit (1989)

i can out turn most modern cars

I agree the turning circle is awful and i still find it hard to judge the back when i reverse, on the plus side, the clutch is light and the power steering is positive.

On the down side, a Felicia looks and is a little dated compared to any driving school car i've seen recently, i dont think you'll have youngsters queueing up to learn in one. A Fabia would be a more suitable driving school car.

in fact on skoda's website i remember seeing a section for driving instructors using skoda fabia's. cheaper to buy, etc

i can out turn most modern cars

11.2m is pretty crap

micra 10.6m

fiesta 10m

clio 10.7m

polo 10.6m

focus 10.9m

cee'd 10.8m

audi a3 10.7m

leon 10.4m

I would have thought there'd be insurance problems giving people lessons in their own car?

Thanks for the info re-throttle body. No problem teaching people in their own car, as my driving instructor insurance covers that, although I'm not doing that. I use my own dual-controlled car. I ask about the Felicia, as I'm putting a second car on the road (i.e.) 2 driving school cars, both with dual controls.

Thanks

John

Not to put a damper on it- but would your insurance allow you to use a vehicle as old as a felicia?

Would be a good one for folks to learn in- no cossting ABS or Traction control etc- means they'd actually develop the driving skills needed!

Thanks. I currently use a 1999 proton compact sprint 1.5 petrol. I paid £640 for it on Ebay over a year ago. It has never let me down, flew through the MOT and and I've had over 50 people pass their test since I've had it. I pay £235 a year, fully-comp insurance from a specialist driving instructor insurer, all without problem.

Thanks

John

On the down side, a Felicia looks and is a little dated compared to any driving school car i've seen recently, i dont think you'll have youngsters queueing up to learn in one. A Fabia would be a more suitable driving school car.

True about Fabia, I've driven 2, both hire cars fitted with dual controls and my students loved them but, and here's a funny thing, I teach an average of 40 lessons a week (1 hour lessons) and I've been an independant instructor for 6 years, so I win or lose by the decisions that I make. I recently asked all of my pupils to name a car that they would be happy to learn in, with a maximum price tag of £1000. 80% said I should go and buy a mk3 Vauxhall Astra, as it's what a lot of their mates drive, and they will probably get one themselves. They would all be quite happy to use a mk3 Astra!!!

As an aside, I'm chairman of my local driving instructors association and my choice of car was questioned at a couple of our meetings when I started using my bright yellow Proton, but a year later, I'm busier than most and my overheads are much lower, hence my profits are higher.

I've also found that the majority of 17 year olds are too young to remember the Skoda jokes. Ask most lads and they tell you that the Felicia is a VW anyway!

I think after 1998 PAS was standard on all Felicias when they did the facelift. But pre facelift cars only the highest spec cars had it.

I think

My 1998 1.6 GLXi has PAS.

My sisters Micra 1.0 doesnt have PAS but it's light enough on the move.

TBH I doubt the 1.3 needs it & my '95 1.3 GLXi doesn't have it.

I recently asked all of my pupils to name a car that they would be happy to learn in, with a maximum price tag of £1000. 80% said I should go and buy a mk3 Vauxhall Astra, as it's what a lot of their mates drive, and they will probably get one themselves. They would all be quite happy to use a mk3 Astra!!!

There's your answer then

Thanks. I currently use a 1999 proton compact sprint 1.5 petrol. I paid £640 for it on Ebay over a year ago. It has never let me down, flew through the MOT and and I've had over 50 people pass their test since I've had it. I pay £235 a year, fully-comp insurance from a specialist driving instructor insurer, all without problem.

Thanks

John

Glad to hear it! was just thinking that maybe the insurance/ operating standerds were more like Taxi's.

I stand corrected though:thumbup:

Go for it:D

11.2m is pretty crap

micra 10.6m

fiesta 10m

clio 10.7m

polo 10.6m

focus 10.9m

cee'd 10.8m

audi a3 10.7m

leon 10.4m

leaver on the left??????:confused:

haha, handbrake turns

The thing is most people learn to drive in a modern newer car then buy an older one and in an attempt to "show off" end up around a tree as they really don't know how their car handles.

The same could apply to a newer car if pushed too hard.

But then I have the confidence to drive my 10 year old Skoda on country roads and normal roads quite normally with pleasure which was better than the lifeless feel of the 6 month old Corsa (one before the C'mon model) courtesy car I had this year.