I run a manual gearbox Toyota Yaris D4D 5 door , which has a lively 90hp 1.4 diesel engine with turbocharger and inter-cooler, and alloy wheels. This stylish car is really easy to drive, and the diesel engine makes it difficult to stall which avoids frustration in early lessons. This excellent engine has such low carbon emissions that it falls into the zero tax band; and a dpf (diesel particulate filter) that catches any particles.
Safety: This model has curtain side impact airbags as well as 2 front ones, seatbelt pretensioners, a.b.s. brakes, e.s.p. (electronic stability program) and of course, dual controls (brake and clutch).
Electric / Auto Cars: I’d love to go fully electric, but under the current DVLA rules if you learn in one, you will only gain an Auto Licence. That means you would be unable to drive anything else. This would be a major restriction as the majority of cars and vans in the UK are still manual gearboxes. Perhaps they’ll change the rules one day, I hope so. Until then the licence you gain with my car will cover you for any other car, electric, auto or whatever.