Don’t you just a love a very British bit of controversy? The news this week that BSM has ended its 16-year relationship with Vauxhall to use the Corsa as its learner car of choice has certainly raised a few eyebrows, not least my own.
You can see why BSM has done its deal with Fiat; the 500 is a very stylish car and has a lot more appeal to a 17-year-old than a standard Corsa.
Read the full story of BSM ditching Vauxhall for Fiat here
My dad is a driving instructor so I decided to have a chat with him about how much a difference what car you learn to drive in makes, and I was quite surprised to hear what he had to say.
He teaches people in a Peugeot 206 and it generally goes down quite well with the pupils. But does it make a big difference in them wanting to learn to drive with him? No. And does he lose or gain any business from having a 206? Probably not.
When I spoke to him he had a pupil sat next to him and she said as long as the car wasn’t old and rusty then it didn’t make a difference what it was. Interesting considering BSM hopes to attract more females to learn with them with its 500s.
Driving instructors should be known for how good they are at teaching, not what car they drive around in. My dad told me about a peer of his who bought a Mini Cooper and it didn’t really make a blind bit of difference to his business. Others claim it does, but my dad’s not so sure.
BSM probably will pick up a few pupils from its decision to opt for the Fiat 500, but I think once people get used to seeing them on the road things will quickly die down. BSM’s claim that 70 per cent of people buy the car they learn to drive in is way wide of the mark, too. Not many people who learn to drive could afford to even if they wanted to. I think seven per cent may be a more accurate figure.
And do we really want to see the undoubted style of the 500 cramped by learners scuffing the alloys up against the kerb and knocking its until now excellent residual values? I’m not so sure. I think Fiat is in serious danger of undoing all the hard work it has done in making the 500 a desirable and much loved style icon. Stick to the Corsa, BSM.
Technorati Tags: BSM, Vauxhall Corsa, Fiat 500, Peugeot 206
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Gazmo
re: BSM ditching Vauxhall is not a smart move
I don't think that the car an instructor uses has much impact on a learner driver's choice of instructor provided that the car is not too old and in good condition. The quality of instruction given and recommendations from past pupils is far more important. However, I think the problem with the Fiat 500 is that is very small compared to the Corsa or similar. Many of us instructors (I don't and never have worked for BSM) are not the slimmest of individuals (middle age spread, sittting down pretty much all day, eating after lessons late in the evening, etc) and well over half are male. So there's some contradiction in what BSM are giving as the reason for choosing the 500 in that many teenage female learners may well feel uncomfortable in such enforced close proximity with their more often than not male instructor. Also, considereing that BSM charge their instructors over £300 per week franchise fees, many have the BSM supplied car as their family car. Whilst you could get away with this situation in a Corsa, fitting two adults and maybe a couple of teenagers in a Fiat 500 isn't going to go down well! I think that BSM using the Fiat 500 will do as much good for Fiat as Dr Atkins dying young did for the Atkins Diet. I think the main problem for BSM will be attracting and retaining instructors especially at the extortionate franchise fees they currently charge. With regards to attracting pupils I think it will be a case of what they loose on the swings they will gain on the roundabouts although there may be a initial surge with some youngsters wanting to learning in a trendy car while it is something new and still trendy.
Carmad3
re: BSM ditching Vauxhall is not a smart move
At least with a Fiat 500 as a driving school car the pupil will have a chance to learn some car maintainence too. JD powers shows how reliable Fiat cars are and that is not very
I hope the breakdown time will be deducted from the cost of the lesson
theop
re: BSM ditching Vauxhall is not a smart move
@ Teg:
I agree, sales are sales and Fiat want to sell cars now and they care less for residuals, which indeed will be hurt.
On the asexual bit, I 'm not sure. I d much rather have the 500 than any Opel ever made the last 30 years (Lotus Carlton excepted).. But then, I 'm a straight greek, purple loafer, pink shirt wearing male totally comfortable (in fact more comfortable) around women than the typical British male.
Machismo - a latin concept from the Roman times in fact - is something that particularly the British have got on in the wrong foot since forever...
Driving a cute 500 does not make you less manly (than say a blacked out 3 series coupe), it just makes you look cooler and more interesting...
Style matters, and Opel/Vauxhalls for all their other dynamic shortcomings, style is the item they have least of.
BSM have made a good decision and I am especially delighted on the fact it came on the heels of Vauxhall deciding to squeeze some extra profits by charging them. Two fingers up later, Vauxhall will now have to shove quite a few Corsas up where the sun does not shine... Lets see how that will impact used Corsas when you ll soon be able to buy a new one for £5.99
Will86
re: BSM ditching Vauxhall is not a smart move
I wonder how the instructors feel about this? The Corsa is hardly the most spacious car in the world, but its far better than the 500. Given that they have to live with their cars, not just work with them I'd be a little annoyed by having to downsize.
Dave_B
re: BSM ditching Vauxhall is not a smart move
BSM used Vauxhalls because they got them free they changed because that contract ended and Vauxhall where not interested in another contract of free supply
The Fiat 500 will probably be for a very similar reason
unless of course fiat 500's are a reason for not getting banned when you get 17 points but as head of BSM you avoid a ban ???????????
BriMarsh
re: BSM ditching Vauxhall is not a smart move
I'm all for it myself; if it knocks the residuals it means I might actually be able to afford one.
Then again, if I had the money I'd probably still buy a Panda and pocket the change...
Will86
re: BSM ditching Vauxhall is not a smart move
Its all very well learning in a small car like the 500, but I learnt with the AA specifically because they use the bigger Focus. I would much rather get used to driving a bigger car and then downsize rather than the other way round.
BSM used to have a few Astra's on their fleet - will they now have some Bravos?
Uncle Mellow
re: BSM ditching Vauxhall is not a smart move
Out of the frying pan into the fire maybe. I would have thought a Panda would be an easier car for a learner to manage than a 500. Logically they should choose whichever car has the cheapest replacement cost for the clutch assembly.
Yes I can see how this will hurt 500 residuals.
Dave Stew
re: BSM ditching Vauxhall is not a smart move
I suppose it's the same 'overexposed death knell' the Mini got when the estate agents started using 'em. Difference is in 2009 there aren't too many expanding estate agents.
TegTypeR
re: BSM ditching Vauxhall is not a smart move
As Paul123 has said, this is purely financial deal with Fiat.
It's all very well trying to attract more female drivers, but how many blokes will you isolate? At least the Corsa was asexual.
I can see BSM's thinking in going for the car (finance aside); it's a trendy car, that stands out, and hence makes their brand stand out. The problem there is, it stands out because its fashionable, and fashion is notoriously fickle.
Sadly, I think this may be the undoing of the 500 in the UK at least and residuals will soon be through the floor.
It's all about the twisties........
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