GR Yaris Learner Drivers !

L

Lanman

Obsessed member
Dec 19, 2021
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Brisbane
Morning All . In Australia we have State by State varying laws on what when learning (from 16)
and after passing the Test 17 in Queensland you can drive . In Sunny Queensland I can teach my Grandson in the GR when I am instructing but after passing he is not able to drive the car by himself as too powerful! This inspite of several EVs reaching our pathetic 100 kph limit in three to four seconds ! Which they apparently can drive ! I wanted him to have a manual licence and procured him a Ute which we are rebuilding ! For the big day when it happens . This way he knows what the pistons valves and mechanical bits do as well as how pathetic a small brake disc looks !
So I am interested in what happens to other GR isti! ??
We are having fun and will do some track time soon!
 
My son is learning now and can't drive my car. He's learning in a manual, but the GR is classed here as a 'luxury vehicle', applied to all powerful and/or expensive vehicles, which means he's not allowed to drive it on a learner's licence, or even during the two-year probabtion period following passing his test.

Bit annoying as our other car is an EV and also a company car which has the same restricitions so we can't take him our for extra practice.
 
Well timed topic for me too - my daughter will be learning this spring. She's also signed up to do an 'Under 17s drivers club' day with some friends - see https://under17driver.co.uk - next month which I'm looking forward to as well! I'm not sure I wanted her driving the GR for her very first attempt and my wife's auto Audi isn't really suitable so we've been on the hunt for something for her to use at that event and then start practicing properly in in between driving lessons. Just picked up a VW Up! last weekend - I'm really taken with it, it's great, really characterful and a great design inside and out. Just planning a few minor improvements/fixes for it then it'll be ready to go. If we hadn't found that the fall back for the driving event was going to be my Mk1 Mini which in some ways would be a great car to learn the basics in but I'm not sure we'd have enjoyed four days solid in it in wet cold February!
 
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Don’t know if you have them in Oz but IMO the Citroen C1/Peugeot 106/Toyota Aygo (all the same basic car) is a fantastic first vehicle. Bulletproof, economical, simple. It’s like modern version of the original Mini and very easy to work on.

We’ve still got my daughter’s C1 even though she’s left home, can’t bear to sell it and great for nipping around to the shops.
 
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grydoc said:
Don’t know if you have them in Oz but IMO the Citroen C1/Peugeot 106/Toyota Aygo (all the same basic car) is a fantastic first vehicle. Bulletproof, economical, simple. It’s like modern version of the original Mini and very easy to work on.

We’ve still got my daughter’s C1 even though she’s left home, can’t bear to sell it and great for nipping around to the shops.
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My missus has had a 2014 and 2017’from new.
Still has the 2017 and it’s been brilliant.
My son has just turned 17 so when she upgrades it will be going to him.
 
My son has just passed his test.
We’ve been looking at the Aygo, C1, 107, simple little runabout, perfect for him £20 road tax.
 
Just to let the Sceptics know . He passed! First go and the instructor tester said OK after just 15 minutes ! Crazily he now cannot drive it under local regulations as too powerful! The fact he can drive four second EVs obviously does not occur to the Government numpties !
 
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Gonna be real. Letting a learn/P plater drive a car with a 0-100 less than 8ish seconds is pretty reckless.

Good chance he will wrap the car around a tree.
 
epo said:
Gonna be real. Letting a learn/P plater drive a car with a 0-100 less than 8ish seconds is pretty reckless.

Good chance he will wrap the car around a tree.
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Truth. I somehow managed to convince my parents to let me buy a Renault 5 GT Turbo as soon as I passed my test (And ended up spending my weekly wages at the time pretty much insuring and fuelling the thing). I had a few close calls and its a wonder I am still alive. My son will not be convincing me to drive something powerful until he has proven himself in something a little less powerful for the sake of him and others. Hes only 6 at the moment so it's a while before I have this worry. I already let him drive my GR around car parks while he's on my lap with me doing pedals. He can park better than his mother already.
 
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Lanman said:
Just to let the Sceptics know . He passed! First go and the instructor tester said OK after just 15 minutes ! Crazily he now cannot drive it under local regulations as too powerful! The fact he can drive four second EVs obviously does not occur to the Government numpties !
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The same 130kw/ton P plate limit applies to ICE and EV cars in Queensland.
 
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Altocumulus said:
The same 130kw/ton P plate limit applies to ICE and EV cars in Queensland.
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That's pretty generous!

To be honest, I have been amazed at the previously unrestricted nature of learner cars, allowing a 17 year hormone saturated Dunning Kreueger poster kid with an insatiable desire to impress his (usually a he now isn't it) friends to drive the Chiron Super Sport from their absent compensating billionaire father.... Or a Plaid lol

... so happy to learn restrictions do exists in other countries....
 
Sekred said:
The best way to learn how to drive is buy a car with very poor brakes like I did. I wasn't game to drive too fast because I knew there was no way I could stop :rolleyes:
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The first car I owned and rebuilt was a Slough built RHD 2CV with massive 375 cc flat twin . Rebuilt the engine and welded the rust !
Later put an Ami six 602cc engine in !
Learnt a lot about slip streaming trucks on the old A1 going north and keeping averages up . Set me up for life !
 
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