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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think I should be given a couple of lessons free?

106 replies

whyohwhywhy · 30/12/2010 11:10

Started learning to drive in September. Took a long long time, we're talking a lesson every day, but had finally started mastering how to change gears, parallel parking, reversing round a corner etc and felt quietly confident. Booked test for early Jan. And then my driving instructor changed her car beginning of December.

I now feel like I'm back at square one. The car feels completely different, all the gears are in different places, the engine is so quiet I can barely hear it. Oh and it has something called stop start technology which means the car turns itself off if you're sat in traffic or stationery for any amount of time. I keep forgetting its turned itself off and then stall it.

I've had about 5 lessons in new car and still can't get the hang of it, I feel that my lessons are now all about getting used to a new car rather than preparing for my test. Feel quite annoyed to be honest, if she had to get a new car why couldnt she have got a newer version of her old car? Deliberately chose this instructor because her car is the same as DH's which I was eventually hoping to be able to drive...

AIBU in thinking that she should give all of her students some free lessons so we can get used to her new car?

OP posts:

LovePinkBitsOfMyHorse · 30/12/2010 11:12

YABU

or are you being deliberately silly?

sockapoodle · 30/12/2010 11:15

What a pain, my DS had this when he was learning though not as different as your car sounds. He just had some extra lessons and did pass first time. It's a shame but she has to change her car at some point and you've got unlucky. Prehaps ask her if you could book an extra block of lessons at a reduced rate or something?
Personally I wouldn't be asking for free lessons but I don't like to rock the boat really, plus if you can drive well enough to pass the test then I feel that really you should be able to get by in different cars with a little extra practice.
Good luck - I know how stressful it is!

rubyslippers · 30/12/2010 11:15

Don't be daft

When you have your own car are you going to drive the same one as your instructor?

If you are confident you should be able to drive any car with a bit of getting used to

noblegiraffe · 30/12/2010 11:16

Can you do your lessons/test in your DH's car?

TheMonster · 30/12/2010 11:16

YABU. You're learning to drive, not learning to drive a specific car.

firesoup · 30/12/2010 11:19

i used to do my lessons in my own car no problem , but to be honest if you think you would pass the test in the old car your driving skill should be up to swapping cars.

LovePinkBitsOfMyHorse · 30/12/2010 11:19

Maybe dvla will start issuing very very specific driving permits - you are allowed to drive a Citroen C3 but not the sort that has tiptronic gears or stereo controls on the steering wheel, or you may only drive a 3 door car with power steering if it is green and has a small scratch on the rear bumper

Tanith · 30/12/2010 11:21

Presumably you're going to have to drive your own car at some point. However are you going to cope if a change of car throws you so badly? What will you do if your car goes into the garage and you need a courtesy car?

I don't think you'll get anywhere asking for free lessons. If you're learning to drive, you have to get used to driving other cars.

LovePinkBitsOfMyHorse · 30/12/2010 11:23

What happens when they stop making that car? Or the newer versions handle slightly differently?

RockinRobinBird · 30/12/2010 11:26

Tbh if changing cars is such a big deal to you then you should cancel that test date and rebook it for the summer. You don't sound in any way ready to take a test, sorry. I don't mean to be horrible. People change cars all the time, pick up a hire car, drive off... It's part of it. If 5 lessons on you are still trying to find the gearstick then you're not nearly ready to be let out on your own.

charliesmommy · 30/12/2010 11:26

YABVU and also clearly nowhere near ready for taking your test if you are so lacking in confidence with a different car.

Actuallawyer · 30/12/2010 11:29

YABVU.

theevildead2 · 30/12/2010 11:33

Wow you've had some really arsey answers. You aren't a confident driver yet! Of course it will be hard in a new car, I think a free lesson to teach you the new car would have been the right thing to do.

Presumably after you pass your test and try driving a few cars you'll have no problems switching. Dh is a good driver (20 years NCD) and still gets a bit funny in a new car.

TheOriginalNutcracker · 30/12/2010 11:38

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all tbh.

My dad has been driving for years and can get into any car and drive it like he has had it for years.

I past my test last year and to say I sturggled swapping from my instructors car to the one I got is an understatment. I hated it.

I think given how much money you have been spending with this instructor, then yes a couple of free lessons just getting used to the car would have been reasonable.

thefurryone · 30/12/2010 11:40

YABU she's actually done you a favour as you're getting more experience than you would do normally when learning to drive, as being able to adapt and drive other cars is an important skill. I can understand that it would take a bit of extra practice to get the manoveures right if the car is a different size but that shouldn't take a whole extra hour of lessons and it is a little concerning that you are unable to master the gears.

It sounds a little like you've developed a bit of a mental block about the new car, try and relax a little and you may start finding it easier, I took a lot of rescue remedy when I was learning to drive.

LovePinkBitsOfMyHorse · 30/12/2010 11:41

Can't believe any of you would be willing to work for free, plus costs of lesson like fuel.

tinselthechaffinch · 30/12/2010 11:42

This happened to me- my driving instructor changed to a Skoda Octavia and I couldn't get on with it at all.

It annoyed me so much that I changed instructors but I wish I'd asked for a few free lessons instead in hindsight.

It was the fact there was no warning too. He must have known he was planning to change cars-I think he should have warned me (we were only 5 lessons in at the point he changed).

Learning to drive is an expensive, nerve wracking business at the best of times, OP, so you have my sympathy. Ask for 2 free lessons or change instructor.

theevildead2 · 30/12/2010 11:42

The furry one- she hasn't done her a favour.. Or if it is, its a very expensive favour!!! Favours should be free. The OP can practive with new cars when she's passed with friends family or a partner

FrostyTheCrunchyFrog · 30/12/2010 11:44

How many lessons have you had in total?

I am struggling along myself, have changed instructors (as the old one had some issues understanding personal space, and also shouted) and therefore cars, but it only took a few minutes to get used to the car. Stop start thing sounds weird and horrible though.

I think you should cancel and rebook in a few months, because you need to be confident about switching cars as well as just driving that one.

Goblinchild · 30/12/2010 11:45

Rope in your DH, use his car and take the test in it. I agree it's upsetting, and you can ask for free lessons. But if she says no, you need a back up plan.

ethelina · 30/12/2010 11:48

My instructor changed cars when i was learning and it took me all of half an hour to adjust well enough to drive at the same level of competence as before. I agree that the instructor has no reason to offer you a free lesson. Surely one of the things that make us competent to drive safely is the ability to adjust when necessary.

thenightsky · 30/12/2010 11:50

When I learnt I used DH's car for the lessons, the test and everything. It meant I got the lessons much more cheaply too.

thefurryone · 30/12/2010 11:50

Yes she has, my driving instructor changed cars and I loved the fact I passed my test knowing that I could drive more than one make and model of car!

If you're not good enough to drive more than one model of car then you're not good enough to pass your test.

RubberDuck · 30/12/2010 11:51

YABU but I do have sympathy. That's what happened to me 2 days before my first test and unsurprisingly I failed. But as others have said, being able to drive any car not just one is what makes you a safe driver, so I should have failed really.

Do you have access to another car that you practise on between lessons? In the end for my second test, I got an instructor that was willing to take me out in my own car (well, my mum's ) so all my practise and my test was in that car.

LittleMissHootsMon · 30/12/2010 11:59

I feel for you, but sadly YAB a smidge U...

If a change of car is throwing you this much then tbh you may not be ready for the test. If you need more time to get used to your instructors car, then as it's her time you need to use, then you need to pay for it.

I think you could do with some additional driving hours, could DH take you out in his car to aid confidence.

Seeing as the test is so close, if you are really worried about mastering the test car, you could use DHs car.

HOWEVER, as a fellow road user, for someone to be as unnerved you are by this, if you were to pass as it stands today, and being allowed free and full solo access the the road system I share, i would be concerned.

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