The content of the article:
- Important vehicle characteristics for novice drivers
- Worst newbie cars
Most of the drivers, who got their license only yesterday, choose a car, focusing on the only characteristic - in their opinion, the car should be obedient and easy to drive.
Most experts suggest choosing the first car based only on the price criterion, assuming in advance that novice drivers must necessarily get, if not in an accident, then either crumple the thresholds with bumpers, or forget to add oil.
The statistics of the traffic police says the opposite: in the first year after obtaining the license, drivers are accurate, strictly follow the rules, practically do not exceed the speed and are very careful about their car.
Most accidents are committed by drivers with more than 2 years of experience. By this time, motorists relax while driving, can afford minor violations, inattention, and sometimes negligence. Therefore, choosing your first car based only on its cost is completely unjustified.
In order for a novice driver to feel confident on the road, not to get confused in the pedals, to switch gears correctly, the first car must meet the minimum characteristics.
Important vehicle characteristics for novice drivers
- 5-speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission has obvious advantages over the "mechanics" when moving around the city, where there is a large flow of cars and frequent stops in traffic jams.
- ABS system. Modern technology that will prevent the wheels from locking when braking, shorten the braking distance and improve the car's handling in unforeseen situations during emergency braking.
- Maximum security kit. The car must have high levels of both passive and active safety.
- Front-wheel drive. Beginners shouldn't choose a full-fledged plug-in or all-wheel-drive SUV as their first car. The exceptions are cases when it is always supposed to operate the car on uneven roads and difficult sections.
What auto options are optional and most often prevent beginners from quickly mastering all the subtleties of driving?
- Rear View Camera. The option is very useful - you can almost blindly park in reverse. But it is not her that beginners stumble over, because relying on the sensor signal, they do not independently navigate the size of their car - as experienced drivers say, "dimensional skill" is not developed.
- Cruise control. A useful system that assumes that the driver will simply set the desired speed and the car will go by itself. In the conditions of the city and the every second change in the traffic situation, the option is completely useless, and for beginners it is also harmful.
- Systems that change the direction of the head light, rain and light sensors, voice assistants. If they are in the car, then it is recommended to temporarily disable them. Beginners do not need to be distracted from the main thing: which pedal to press and how not to get confused in speeds.
When compiling a rating of the worst cars for new drivers, such criteria as driving comfort and safety were taken as a basis. These cars, not bad in all respects, have their own armies of fans and their own control features. Many of the models are in the top 20 best cars in their category, but learning how to drive them quickly and safely is very difficult.
Worst newbie cars
Suzuki jimny
The all-wheel drive Japanese SUV has occupied the highest positions in cross-country rallying for several years. An important advantage of the configuration is the low price of the Suzuki Jimny - from $ 20,000.
The manufacturer itself positions the company's latest frame SUV as an off-road car, and that is why it is difficult for beginners to drive Jimny on city streets in a mode of frequent congestion.
What is considered an absolute plus for off-road - a downshift, forced connection of the front axle, can be both difficult and unnecessary for beginners.
In addition, the package is equipped with a suspension scheme with uncut axles with three arms and coil springs. It can be difficult for beginners to adapt to this type of driving, given the rigidity of the system - it is not very pleasant to feel all the bumps in the road with the wrong gear changes.
Mitsubishi Mirage G4
Mitsubishi cars have deservedly gained popularity as one of the safest and most productive cars. But this is not the case with the Mirage concept.
In 2019, the brand recalled 19,000 copies of the Mirage G4 sedan from the US market due to incorrect operation of the airbag sensors.
In 25% of cases, when the car had an accident, the pillows did not unfold, in 15% of cases they opened with a delay, exposing the driver to an additional risk of a concussion.
The complete set of the compact class B sedan Mirage G4 was unveiled at the 2016 New York Auto Show. The new model received good marks from the jury, despite the fact that the sedan, created on the basis of the hatchback, is equipped with a low-power 78-horsepower 1.2-liter engine.
Even with controversial safety records and an automatic transmission, it is difficult for beginners to learn how to fully drive a car. The reaction to a change in speed is delayed, on the highway the car frankly "does not pull", and young motorists cannot get used to the fact that it is necessary to squeeze the box to the full before reaching a speed of at least 100 km / h.
Jeep wrangler
Wrangler is an unrivaled car for those who have a private home and love active rest. Off-road, the car perfectly obeys the steering wheel, but on the asphalt you need to have driving skills.
It can be difficult for beginners to cope with the driving features of a massive Jeep and choose the right transmission mode for the city.
The main advantage of an SUV - almost one hundred percent all-round visibility of the road - is lost if the car starts to skid when the axles are switched incorrectly. When entering a turn, the dimensions of the car must be taken into account, and many newcomers who have practiced at a driving school on a Hyundai find it difficult to change into a Jeep Wrangler.
VAZ-2109
Twenty years ago it was believed that if a driver started his career on the road with a VAZ-2101 or ZAZ model, then he would be able to cope with any car.
There is a deal of truth in it. The models of the domestic and Soviet automobile industry were distinguished by their simplicity of design and complexity of management. Uncomfortable seats, a hard gear lever on a manual transmission, a large backlash even on new cars made the newcomers drive carefully and slowly. The manual transmission does not forgive jerks or a forgotten clutch pedal.
Today, such vehicles with a minimum number of control options are a thing of the past. It is simply inappropriate for beginners to spend years of their lives learning and getting used to all the intricacies of driving such a car.
But if a driver learns how to correctly drive a Zhiguli and at the same time does not get back problems, then we can say with confidence that he will be good at driving any car.
Renault Duster
It is necessary to buy this car only if the driving experience exceeds five years. A practical, completely unpretentious SUV was designed specifically for Russian roads and climate.
But managing Duster is hard, and here's why:
- It will be difficult for beginners to get used to the poor soundproofing of the cabin.
- Diesel equipment, which is so praised by domestic farmers, is good only when driving over rough terrain.
On the crossover, it is convenient to jump over bumps and holes - shaking in this case seems completely justified.But in the city, stiff suspensions and unbalanced traction will play a disservice.
Conclusion
Since newcomers have received complete information about which cars are not worth buying, it must be said about those models that are more suitable than others for the first three years. This is a convenient and easy-to-drive Fiat Panda, a budget and unpretentious Hyundai i30 and Skoda Fabia - a hatchback rarely causes problems for the owner.
