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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
RockinRobinBird · 30/12/2010 12:01

theevildead2 that's exactly the point! This not very confident driver has a test booked in early January. If a new car throws her out so much then she's not ready for the test.

LIZS · 30/12/2010 12:09

It might have been nice had she offered a 15 minute re-familiarisation slot prior to a regular lesson but most instructors are self employed so maybe she can't afford to do this to all her clients. By the sounds of it unfortunately it would n't make much difference to you anyway. If she works for a franchise maybe she could swap cars for your test time with another instructor but tbh you don't sound ready enough to pass, sorry. It is as important that you can manage different cars as well as varied road conditions (day/night, wet/ snow, dual carriageway/lanes) and parking.

raspberryroo · 30/12/2010 12:17

You need more practice as most posters have said . You are defiantly not at an acceptable level of unconscious competency that is ''safe'

eviscerateyourmemory · 30/12/2010 12:19

It does sound like you aren't ready for the test yet.

Its important to be confident to drive any car. They arent that different from each other.

Bloodymary · 30/12/2010 12:28

Well I do not think you are being unreasonable, and I happen to think some people on this thread have been a little unkind.
When I learnt to drive (ages ago), I learnt in the same car all of the time.
It was only after I had passed, and practised loads, that I felt confident to drive anything else.
Now I can just jump in and drive any car, old and new. I have even driven a tractor.
In fact I am just a great driver Smile.
OP, I am sorry that you are having to change cars at this stage, and I do think that your instructor should give you at least 1 free lesson.

coccyx · 30/12/2010 12:32

you pass your test so you can drive any car. Will you only ever drive same car as instructor.

huddspur · 30/12/2010 12:41

YABU its still a car which is what you are learning to drive. You won't drive the car she has forever

littleducks · 30/12/2010 12:47

I think you are all being mean, i know when i was learning i would have stalled if the car kept turning itself off to save fuel but i wasnt expecting it to

If you are insured in dhs car i would ask to switch to that

MrsWeasley · 30/12/2010 12:51

I feel the OP's pain my driving instructor bought a new car the same week as my test. The engine was so quiet but I passed. :-)

LovePinkBitsOfMyHorse · 30/12/2010 12:52

Sorry if I was unkind but it was funniest thing have read in ages. Still think is highly unreasonable to expect instructor to effectively pay you for privilege of broadening your skills and confidence with two free lessons though.

juneybean · 30/12/2010 12:55

I'm going to go against the grain and say YANBU in that it wasn't the best time for her to change her car, I learnt in a diesel and I have a diesel and I have no clue how to drive a petrol, the one time I have been in one I couldn't move because I kept stalling it.

Nightmare for you and it's bloody expensive!

LovePinkBitsOfMyHorse · 30/12/2010 12:57

Diesel or petrol? Are you for real?

juneybean · 30/12/2010 12:57

Yes thanks Hmm

senua · 30/12/2010 13:00

"all the gears are in different places"

Eh? All the gears? I can understand the reverse being different but all of them?Hmm

RockinRobinBird · 30/12/2010 13:00

So when would have been a good time to change it? Only I assume that she has more than one client so a change of car would always affect someone.

And I have never ever in my 21 years of driving, ever come across a car that differs to drive because of the fuel it takes. What on earth are you driving?

juneybean · 30/12/2010 13:02

Well good for you, I'm just used to a diesel so haven't been in a petrol since that one time.

Anyways it's not about me is it.

LovePinkBitsOfMyHorse · 30/12/2010 13:03

I had a car where reverse was where 1st usually is, 1st where 2nd is etc., that was fun to adjust to.

This diesel petrol thing is silly though, it's just different biting points surely?

LovePinkBitsOfMyHorse · 30/12/2010 13:04

I think it was a Jurassic datsun cherry

juneybean · 30/12/2010 13:04

Yes it is Lovepink but I haven't had any practice so that's why I was saying I haven't a clue how to drive a petrol.

cat64 · 30/12/2010 13:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh · 30/12/2010 13:06

Do your test in your DH's car if you're that worried but I do agree that if you can't adjust to a new car relatively quickly you're not a confident or safe enough driver to take your test.

Diesel/petrol aren't that different! In fact I don't really notice any difference... It's not like making the jump from, say, driving an automatic for years to getting into a manual. How on earth would you cope in a left-hand drive?

KalokiMallow · 30/12/2010 13:13

YABU and slightly nuts.

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

Seriously???

noblegiraffe · 30/12/2010 13:14

I don't think modern diesels are that different to petrol cars but I know the tank of a diesel that I learned in was far heavier on the clutch than my first petrol car. I, too, stalled a lot my first few drives!

However, my DH learned in a diesel last year and the instructor taught him to do stuff using just the clutch and not touching the accelerator at all. He definitely can't do this in my petrol car!

FabbyChic · 30/12/2010 13:16

Whilst I understand your concern, you should be able to drive in any car, not just a specific car.

Once you pass your test it is not about well I can only drive ONE car. You should be adaptable yourself.

I do agree that maybe some free lessons would be in order.

welshbyrd · 30/12/2010 13:16

Had my test in a different car than I was used too, instructors car had accident the day before my test.
Passed my test Smile 1st time too