How do you teach a 76 year old to drive a manual turbo diesel van?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Zebedee, Sep 22, 2017.

  1. Bit of a long post, sorry. :oops:

    Inlaws bought a 2008 Peugeot boxer based motorhome at the weekend and we went down to pick it up on Wednesday.
    My FIL has not driven any manual car for about 25 years and hasn't driven a diesel in over 40.
    I drove it back through the lakes, he then drove from Keswick to Maryport along th A66 and ragged the hell out of it driving like a teenage lad in his first car. :eek:
    I averaged 30mpg which ain't too bad for an unaerodynamic house on wheels but he got 7mpg less.

    Max power is made at 2900revs and max torque is at a low 1500revs but he insisted on red lining it at 5500 on every change through the box.
    Trying to tell him he doesn't need to do that as it'll pull from under 1500 up to about 3500 then the power drops is impossible off but he won't listen. I know what the rev limiter sounds like now though.

    He's one of those people who always knows best and thinks as he's been driving for 60 years (he learnt in the Army at 16 and never officially passed a driving test) theres nothing left to learn. :rolleyes:
    He still gets into the right lane and indicates right then left to go straight on at a roundabout even if the left lane has straight on marked on it. I've given up telling him about that one years ago.

    He's a danger in a car as theres nothing he won't try and overtake, so god knows how long it'll take for him to wipe someone out in 3.3tons of motorhome. I'll let you all know where they're out in it so you can stay off the roads. ;)
     
    Day and Merlin Cat like this.
  2. Sounds to me like he isnt going to change, you are wasting your breath mate !
     
  3. I've just taken to closing my eyes when he's driving.
     
    3901mick likes this.
  4. I would take to following in the car behind :)
     
    Baysearcher and Zebedee like this.
  5. TBH I don't understand the rev thing and I'd just look at you like your a right geek....:D

    A big "well done" to him to buy a motorhome at 76 ,follow the open road....:hattip:
     
    Day, Merlin Cat and davidoft like this.
  6. Maybe challenge him to a distance travelled on a tenner competition and demonstrate he can save money driving like you do?
     
    CollyP and 3901mick like this.
  7. davidoft

    davidoft Sponsor

  8. Buy him an Advanced Motorists course for Xmas
     
    Geordie, Lasty, snotty and 1 other person like this.
  9. I don't think I'd be getting in that motor home with him driving any time soon.

    We hired a mini bus in Florida a few years ago. My dad drove it for the first couple of days. I was terrified. He just couldn't get his head round positioning a vehicle on the left hand side. After a few scary incidents I just had to say look dad you are scaring the crap out of me. I drove for the rest of the holiday.
     
    mgbman, Merlin Cat and snotty like this.
  10. It's just over 7ft wide so I thought I'd drive it through the lakes as he tends to hog the white line in a car at the best of times. He used both lanes on the dual carriageway section on the A66. :rolleyes:

    Nice driving motor though with enough space inside to swing a handful of cats too.
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    Geordie, Merlin Cat and Lasty like this.
  12. At least he won't be clogging the dpf up
     
    Zebedee, snotty and 3901mick like this.
  13. I would tend to agree with @3901mick , save your breath and keep out of the way ;)
     
    mgbman and 3901mick like this.
  14. I'd stay well out of it. Sounds like he's never going to change. Fate will decide what happens to the camper.
     
    fritt, mgbman and chad like this.
  15. Show him this thread and explain that the general consensus is that unless he stops being such a stubborn fool he's likely to be buying another motor home soon or worse.
     
  16. CollyP

    CollyP Moderator

    You need to take things further than letting us know when he is out in it.

    Can you install a tracker and give us all the password?? :)
     
    Merlin Cat likes this.
  17. Mr Darwin will take care of him...
     
    Pony and chad like this.
  18. bernjb56

    bernjb56 Supporter

    You do have to change gear pretty often due to the weight of these things but I can't see where the revving bit comes from. My Fiat Ducato based one keeps telling me when to change.

    My 86 year old Father seems to think that his Honda will fit through any gap, however small. He also thinks that it has the sort of play in the steering that cars used to have in the 50s and 60s, so is forever correcting something that doesn't need correcting.
    I thought we were going to die at least 3 times last trip with him.
     
    Merlin Cat, 3901mick, Pickles and 3 others like this.
  19. My Dad years ago used to blast up the outside lane of the M1 in his Rover V8, with the right-hand indicator going, as he was "overtaking". God forbid he should ever use the left-hand lane.

    It used to scare the living sh1te out of me. In the end, I refused to set foot in a car with him. A generational thing, I think.
     
    Merlin Cat likes this.
  20. Oh, and he also wasn't keen on seat belts, as they would stop him being "thrown clear" in an accident. Complete nutcase.
     
    rustbucket likes this.

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