BSM (BSM)

Member Name: john0812

Product:	BSM
Date:	29/01/09 (243 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: nice car

Disadvantages: price, drawn out lessons

Well, I've been off here for quite a few months now, and during that time, I decided to learn to drive.

I'm sure you're aware of BSM. They use Vauxhall Corsas, covered in orange vinyls, and are part of BSM. I suppose the guarantee of a fairly new, decent car, which will always be a Corsa, and not anything like a Micra etc. which wouldn't suit me.

Now, I originally chose BSM on a bit of a whim really. I was in town and walked past their shop, and just felt the urge to have a look in and maybe book something.

So in I went. 2 women were working in the shop, dealing with all the bookings. While I was waiting, they were talking to other customers, one of which was arguing about their driving test. The instructor had refused to allow the customer to use his car for the test, as he said he wasn't ready, despite more than 40 lessons.

This was a bit off-putting, but I didn't want to just walk out as it was so small and I'd have felt stupid.

So I booked 10 hours of lessons, £190 they cost me, which included some discount from where I work. I think they are usually £22-23 per hour round here.

So the day of the first lesson. I had never driven at all before, and had no idea to what sort of work I'd get done in the first 2 hour lesson. The instructor turned up, just on time, and he drove me off to a nearby industrial estate.

He seemed friendly and nice, but my gosh, he could talk for Britain, and was a bit full of himself, especially concerning his driving skills.

So anyway, we sat in the car once we'd arrived at the industrial estate for about 45mins with him just talking to me, while I sat in the passenger seat. Once we finally did swap seats, we spent about another 20 mins just sitting in the car with him explaining stuff what he'd just done, then more stuff, including extremely simple stuff, like explaining why its important to wear a seat belt. He just didnt stop.

Okay, the main lecture was over, we were about to get going. He went through the starting procedure with the clutch getting you going etc. And he did it himself with the dual controls about 5 times first.

Eventually, I was doing it myself, and, I wasn't bad. I drove round this estate and an oval a number of times. Quite a boring route, noting to contend with, extremely basic.

Soon it was over and I was driven home, and outside the house, the instructor said I will need 50 hours!!!

I did 4 more hours with this instructor, and he just dragged everything out, with drawings and pictures, which made everything much more complicated than necessary. Also, the fact he used his phone in my lessons to order takeaways put me off very much.

After this, I was sick of him, I didn't belive I needed 50 hours, and I didn't like his constant dribble.

I stopped driving for a few months, and recently got a new instructor. He says I'm really good and will only need 20ish hours.

Says it all for BSM.

Certainly wouldn't recommend them.

Summary: overpriced, a wonder how they get custom.