Pariah

Well? First impressions of the Clio: After the Fiat, it seems very smooth. The longer wheelbase and softer suspension means that it feel much more composed on the road, where the 500 did get thrown about a bit. The 1.5dCi engine is powerful enough to enable overtaking with confidence, whereas the Fiat needed a lot of winding up to overtake. I will admit that, for me, it is not quite as much fun to drive, but it is much easier for my pupils to learn in. After five months trying to perfect their clutch control in the sensitive Fiat, the Clio's clutch is almost effortless and, after two full days, not one pupil has had a single stall. I haven't got time for a detailed review just now, I will do that soon, but, most importantly, my pupils (especially Caroline, who hated the Fiat) love it.

One amusing consequence of switching from my BSM Fiat to my own Renault (with minimal signage at the moment), is the reaction of other instructors. So long as it does not interfere with my tuition, I always acknowledge other instructors and they (usually) wave back. But, yesterday in Inverness, and today in Elgin, whenever I have waved at other instructors they have almost all narrowed their eyes and stared at me, giving the car a quick look-over as if to say 'Who is that new instructor encroaching upon my territory?' So, at the moment I feel a little bit of an outcast, but it certainly doesn't bother me. I just find it funny (ha ha).