Driving Progress

As is now traditional (in that we've done it twice), last week I left you on a cliffhanger about my driving test; I'd passed the written/theory test and received my "instruction permit", but needed to do an on-the-road test to get a full licence. Here, your fearless correspondent had a quandary: California's driver's handbook tells you in no uncertain terms that any new resident needs to get a driving licence within 10 days, but on trying to book an appointment for the test, I found that a) appointments are only bookable 3 months in advance, and b) the only ones available were right at the end of that period, in November (during the week that we plan to visit the UK, ironically).

This is the USA, so it turns out that problem can be solved with money. For just $160, there's a company that will poll for cancellations in order to book you an earlier appointment, and on the day will set you up with a 'concierge' - a correctly licenced driver that will lend you their fully-insured car to do the test. This is necessary because you have to show up at the test centre accompanied by an existing, fully licenced California driver. Thus, on Tuesday I was lucky enough to receive an email notifying me of my driving test appointment, this Friday at 08:50 in San Jose. Nope, I didn't know the way.

The best way to describe the California driving test is 'cursory'. It lasted perhaps 15 minutes total. You need to do the basics - drive round the block in reasonable order, show that you know the rules of the road regarding local oddities like right-turn-on-red and four-way-stops, that you drive at roughly the right speed, that you check the mirrors now and then, and that you don't kill anyone. It's also necessary to show that you can reverse a car parallel to a curb for 20 feet or so, and that you know to look out of the rear window rather than the front whilst doing it. And that was it - despite apparently committing two errors, I'm now a fully licenced California driver!

A comprehensive survey of my driving ability.

Having passed, I did what any self-respecting new driver would do - I went and test drove some cars. Three dealerships, three very different experiences:

First up, Porsche. Now, I'm not the person that sees themselves driving a Porsche, but they look OK and are supposed to drive well, so it was worth a look. I didn't get offered an immediate test drive here, and whilst the cars were nice, they didn't seem amazing, so we went elsewhere.

I've always had a soft spot for Japanese cars, so next, Toyota, for their rather neat little Toyota 86 coupe. The salesman let me test-drive this straight away. Immediately the car felt great, although it was in boy-racer trim (loud exhaust and red seat belts). Driving a manual again was a revelation - I've never quite got the hang of automatics and it at last felt like I was driving a car that did what I told it. Best of all, even Helen didn't think the Toyota was too terrible - by sports car standards it's fairly practical (there's a boot; the rear seats are useless, but they fold down). The salesman was also hilarious - we're on the test drive, his phone rings, he answers it. "Oh hi honey... wow, that looks great! Is that a wig, or did you get that done for real?"

Finally, Mazda for the MX-5. Far more refined than the Toyota, nicer interior, didn't feel as quick, and not nearly as practical. I think it's going to be the Toyota, though - I had a big grin on my face when I got out of it.

Helen's been busy this week. She did her first volunteering session at the Friends of Palo Alto Library, sorting through children's books for their book sales. She's also booked an audition for one of the better local choirs in a couple of weeks, and done some research on a recorder group which rehearses near our new house too. Talking of the new house, this weekend we get the keys, so next week will be a whirl of getting the Internet connected (first things first), and a monster delivery of temporary furniture from Ikea.

This weekend is Labor Day, the traditional end of Summer in the US. Helen's excited for the Autumn...

So, will it be the Toyota, or will I go back on my word and test drive the Porsche after all? Will we manage to get our furniture assembled and make a move to Palo Alto? Tune in next week...