The practice car must have a manual transmission and rims that can withstand being driven over the edge. It is an added plus if it is fully dented. Here are some tips on acquiring a practice car.

 

 
It's no fun taking a test drive with a brand new car. One edged rim is easily valued at 3 when exchanged. Many families no longer have access to cars with manual transmissions. There are then two options. You can either acquire your own car for practice driving, or let the hopeful drive all the lessons at a driving school. Both options are equally expensive. When the house's 000-year-old drove up two years ago, she got by with a minimum of driving hours. The savings are roughly the same as buying an older dented small car with approximately 20 km on the odometer for NOK 100. You only get the savings when the next person has a practice run. He's already at it.
 
The young people must of course go through the driving school's programme, but I would never think of opting out of my own practice driving. I absolutely want to make sure that they learn what I can. Driving lessons are really very simple. There are 4 points that must be practiced before you can sit back in the passenger seat and let the youngster drive:
 
1. Get used to the pedals and be able to control the car around a car park.
 
2. Practice seeing technique and the use of mirrors.
 
3. Understand the right-of-way situations, give signs and drive in roundabouts, intersections and turning left.
 
4. Watch out for blind spots at lane changes and intersections.
 
Then there was the practice car. Our test drive car is a 1996 Honda Civic 1.6 DX with 105 HP (the HR-V engine). It was built in Canada, was registered for the first time in 1999 and was included in someone's moving package to Norway. The car lacks headrests in the back seat. No ABS, ESP or power steering either. Fortunately, it has manual transmission and air conditioning. It is firm and fine in all joints and completely rust-free. It is full of dents from all sides. Evidence of carelessness from previous users. The underside, however, is completely spotless. It is the most important side on older youth cars.
 

 
When the Civic is not used as a practice car, it is used by the 20-year-old when she is home from studies abroad. Otherwise, father takes a nostalgia trip every now and then. The Honda Civic is a smooth-driving car. Without ESP, one can refresh old skills in winter. Park the car ahead of the turn. Use the throttle and steering wheel to get through safely. Preferably followed by a controlled discharge. Perhaps utilize the forces in the return cable to support the car for the next turn. It is not only fun to drive an old car, but it is an art that young drivers unfortunately miss in today's cars with electronics here and there.
 
I have the following advice for buying a practice car, first-time car, youth car, work car, cheap car, old car for around 20:
 
1. Choose an up-to-date brand with few faults and little electronics. Here are three reliable models: Toyota Corolla -1997 or after 2002, Toyota Yaris, Honda Civic 1996-2000.
 
2. Look for models without dangerous rust. Rear wheel arches are very exposed.
 
3. Choose cars with low mileage rather than modern design or colour. There are several older cars with mileage around 100!
 
4. If you have to change the timing belt, it costs around 5-000. Most belts are changed around 10 km or every five years.
 
5. Recent EU control is absolutely essential.
 
When trolling Finn.no after such cars, there are surprisingly many cars that still have many years left - if someone bothers to keep them on the road. If you need a work car and intend to drive 100 km the nearest two EU inspections with a minimum of running costs, a grandma-driven Honda Civic with low mileage is recommended. They keep up with the traffic, they are relatively quiet, they have good driving characteristics. As my EU inspector stated when I was leaving the workshop with my 000 year old Civic and zero complaints:
 

Then we'll see each other again in two years!