Panda DRIVING TEST!!

[Postman Pat Prunella]

Hey Fiat freinds,
I have my driving test tomorrow in my Panda (2010) - any tips for a nervous panda operator.

Warm regards,
Nellie

 

[The Panda Nut]

Relax. You may as well as being stressed out won't help.

I believe the best pre test medicine is a full day in the car driving till you really want to stop, at which point you go onto auto pilot. Once you are over htis theshold operation of the car becomes second nature and you can then concentrate on the hazards much more easily.

Put the air con on so you stay comforatble or have the fan on low flow to the screen.

The basics never change, observation most important and mirror signal manouver is the rule. Take it steady. If in doubt give way.

Best of luck. Its sometimes a lottery if conditions are unfavourable so dont depair if you dont make it through. Its a hard world out there.

 

[Postman Pat Prunella]

Hey Panda nut,

You've been a brick! We have a two hour drive to the centre as doing it in Lancing - so that should be a good warm up! Will definitely keep AC on and stay calm great tip. Thanks for being there - I will keep posted - Panda pals must stick together.

Nellie

 

[rmjbn1]

Us Panda pals are behind you! Go Nellie!

My better half also learned to drive in our 2004 Panda - an excellent car for the job, nicely weighted controls, good visibility and smol

If you've booked your test then of course you're ready, and the drive there should be an ideal preparation. You'll ace it

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[portland_bill]

Just seen this, a bit late in the day.
As said above, try to relax. Easy to say.
Remember, the examiner is on your side. It is all the people outside that are out to get you. Examiners come to the job, like instructors, because they love driving, and want others to love it too, and be safe. They don't fail you, only you can do that, they just observe.
If you think, at any time, that you've made a mistake, forget it, and carry on, concentrating as you go. If you believe you've just failed, you'll then make mistakes that will fail you. Seen that happen too often. Had a few who thought they had failed, relaxed, and drove much better. Their 'fail' reason turned out to be trivial, and in two cases, not even noted as a fault.
Look well ahead, keep space.
If you find yourself in the wrong lane, go where it takes you. No-one fails for taking a wrong route, lots fail for trying to fix it. Being lost, safely, is fine. Being on the right route, unsafely, is not fine.
Don't think about the passenger as critical, just someone to take for a ride, and show off how good you are.
Slow, and safe, are not the same word. Go with the flow. (As long as the flow is at a legal speed.) Moving away from a junction briskly is often necessary, so don't be afraid.
If you're not sure of an instruction, don't be afraid to ask the examiner to repeat it.
As you are taking the test in your own car, I'm guessing an instructor is not involved tomorrow. You will need an extra mirror inside, for the examiner. Hopefully whoever has been helping you has one already, if not, Halfords will charge you a small fortune for one, any other car accessory shop will have one at a more reasonable price. Check it sticks to their window before leaving the shop, a a few have duff suckers. Can test on any glass surface, even their display cabinets. My local accessory shop is used to me doing that now.
Good luck, let us know how it went.
If sadly, it is a fail, let Mum/Dad (whoever) listen to the debrief, so you can think about it later. You'll be emotional, and will not retain the information. Whoever accompanies you there, let them drive home, whether you pass or fail. Emotions will get in the way of a safe drive home. You'll see all the instructors driving out afterwards.
If it is a fail, and you don't have an instructor to discuss it with, send me a PM, I'll happily help where I can.

 

[Postman Pat Prunella]

Good afternoon all,

Let me put you out of your misery…………….. IT WAS A PASS!

Thank you so much for all your words of wisdom, kindness and positive vibes. Panda and I made it through with only 3 minors!

But I still need your help! How do I activate my rear window washer as the wipers work but with no fluid. Does it have a separate reservoir that I need to fill or have I overestimated the facilities (2010 panda active eco)

Thank you again,
Nellie

 

[A3jeroen]

Push the stalk to the front of the car.

gr J

 

[Postman Pat Prunella]

Push the stalk to the front of the car.

gr J

Awesome! We are gleaming now.
Thank you

 

[portland_bill]

Good afternoon all,

Let me put you out of your misery…………….. IT WAS A PASS!

Thank you so much for all your words of wisdom, kindness and positive vibes. Panda and I made it through with only 3 minors!

But I still need your help! How do I activate my rear window washer as the wipers work but with no fluid. Does it have a separate reservoir that I need to fill or have I overestimated the facilities (2010 panda active eco)

Thank you again,
Nellie

Well done.

This is base camp, not the summit. Concentrate, and learn every day.
If you have any specific queries about driving matters, as opposed to car matters, you could use this thread: https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/driving-techniques.460491/page-6
It's not been used for a while, but it should notify me if anyone posts, and I'll answer whatever I can.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Good afternoon all,

Let me put you out of your misery…………….. IT WAS A PASS!

Thank you so much for all your words of wisdom, kindness and positive vibes. Panda and I made it through with only 3 minors!

But I still need your help! How do I activate my rear window washer as the wipers work but with no fluid. Does it have a separate reservoir that I need to fill or have I overestimated the facilities (2010 panda active eco)

Thank you again,
Nellie

Brilliant. Well done. But remember the learning really starts now. You need to keep doing the htings you were taught. Its very easy to forget! I hope you and the Panda have many many safe and enjoyable miles together. I dont know if they still do it but consider Pass Plus as a worthwhile step.

 

[Postman Pat Prunella]

Brilliant. Well done. But remember the learning really starts now. You need to keep doing the htings you were taught. Its very easy to forget! I hope you and the Panda have many many safe and enjoyable miles together. I dont know if they still do it but consider Pass Plus as a worthwhile step.

EVERYDAY IS A SCHOOL DAY!!

 

[rmjbn1]

Well done! Another friendly Panda on the roads makes the world a better place

To make sure your Panda doesn't give you any nasty surprises in the future, make sure all fluids are up to level, the 'duckbill' drains below the windscreen are kept clear, and once a year have a look at the three bits known to rust: rear spring pans, engine oil sump pan and coolant return pipe across the front of the engine.

Happy Panda-ing!

 

[Postman Pat Prunella]

Well done! Another friendly Panda on the roads makes the world a better place

To make sure your Panda doesn't give you any nasty surprises in the future, make sure all fluids are up to level, the 'duckbill' drains below the windscreen are kept clear, and once a year have a look at the three bits known to rust: rear spring pans, engine oil sump pan and coolant return pipe across the front of the engine.

Happy Panda-ing!

Will defo keep tabs on the maintenance and all. Glad to be another furry panda friend out there

 

[portland_bill]

I dont know if they still do it but consider Pass Plus as a worthwhile step.

Since 2019, when instructors have been allowed to take learners on the motorway, Pass Plus take up has been even lower than before. However, it is still worthwhile, although insurance discounts were always rare. Fewe insurance companies bothered to give any credit for it.
@Postman Pat Prunella you give your location as Berks, which could be not too far from me, as I'm in South Oxfordshire, in what used to be Berkshire, years ago. If you used a local instructor, you can ask them about Pass Plus. Although I get the feeling you might not have done, relying on family, which seems to have got the result.
Drive around for a few weeks, or a month or two, build your confidence. If you feel then that you have questions, or could benefit from additional advice, PM me. Quite possible to meet somewhere midway, and I'll answer all your questions. You'll get more then, after a little experience. You could carry a small notepad, and write questions down, when safe of course. Then challenge a parent, or me.