To hate learning to drive?

[pinkstinks]

I do not. Enjoy it. it is really hard, and is costing me £200 a month! Learning since Sept and still find clutch control hard, which means everything takes forever. I know I can't stop now as it will be like throwibg my hard earned money away, but I won't be able to afford to have a car let alone insure one. It all feels a bit pointless. I dread wednesdays as I know I have a 2 hour lesson. I do.t have anyobe that can take me out between my lessons either. I love learning so.am really surprised by how much I hate this.
Please convince me iabu and it will all be ok in the end. I wish I had just done this when i was 17!!!

I have been in same position, my old instructor used to do same small task every lesson aiming for perfection. dreaded lessons as soul and confidence destroyed and gave up.
started again last September, different car female instructor really boosted confidence, had two two hour lessons then reduced to one hour week in November. took a test in November and December with a single hour beforehand.
awful examiner who frankly terrified me to point of vomiting!
thankfully managed to pass yesterday with a single lesson to refresh and an obviously fab examiner
what i am saying is if it feels horrific change instructor and car but DO NOT give up!!

I hated learning to drive, even switching instructors did nothing for me. I had various length of lessons and it was still a nightmare. It took me 4 attempts to pass my driving test and ended up passing during a really stressful period at work when I got a last minute cancellation so the test was the least stressful thing in my life.

I've now been driving 13 years and I can't imagine my life without my car. Driving lessons and the test are an necessary evil to getting your license.

I know you've said that you can't afford to get a car once you pass your test but is there any way you can get some practise in once you do?

Also, diesel is easier than petrol- it's hard to stall a diesel. In fact, I don't think I ever stalled except for in my actual test (eek!)

I did drive 2 1/2 hours away ( 5 hour round trip in one day ) on motorways and country roads within 2 weeks of passing my test, but know that's rare. It was less tiring than a lesson though as I didn't have to do as many manoeuvres (busy motorway at night was terrifying though!)

Would you consider a different instructor? Maybe even a different car might help? Manual / automatic, petrol / diesel?

Agree that two-hour lessons are long - in any lessons I find I start to lose concentration towards the final half hour.

I also second considering an automatic. I had lessons a few years ago in a manual and just couldn't get the hang of the clutch. I gave up in the end and only came back to learning to drive last year, this time in an automatic. Took 14 lessons plus did some practice out with DH in between lessons and passed my test first time. An auto is like driving a go-cart and I could stop thinking about what the car was doing and concentrate on the steering and manouvering. I know people go on about the restrictions of only having an auto licence, but if you're only learning to drive mostly out of necessity and are finding clutch control difficult then I think the benefits outweigh any possible limitations. I can't imagine wanting a particular type of car so desperately that I regretted only having an auto licence.

Honestly if your instructor hasn't got you to get the hang of clutch control you need to change instructors.

I had trouble with this part initially, it was making everything else too had to grasp. Dumped the instructor and got a new one. I explained what I thought was the root of my problem, and he had it fixed in one lesson.

Otherwise I agree with PP, ballet shoes are a bad idea (I wore trainers) and split to 2x1 hour lessons.

Finally, apply for your test. Nothing like a bit of external pressure to focus the mind.

I agree with changing instructors - there really are some shocking ones out there!

Where abouts are you? I have a fab instructor although I have also found it really difficult learning!
How much are you paying per hour?

Failed first time (nerves) but am booked in again, next month. Fingers crossed!

I had to have 2 hour lessons as the test centre was half an hour away so an hour of the lesson was driving there and back.

I hated lessons too took me ages to get the hang of it, I did pass my test first time and to this day I have no idea how I did. I still hate driving.

Try a pair if old comfy trainers, I find them better than ballet pumps. I still can't drive in heels though.

Changing instructors good idea too

I hated my lessons too (many many moons ago now)
I had over 50 lessons before I took my 1st test.
It took me 3 attempts to pass.
I really improved when I changed instructors and cars.
I took my 3rd test in my own car and was fully confident by then.
I wouldn't suggest switching to automatic unless you are really really struggling.
You won't ever be able to drive a manual car in an emergency if you take your test in an Auto car.
You can do it!
Good luck.

My 5th test is booked!
I also doubt I will be able to insure/buy a car, although most people if you ask can't just magic up £2000 ish insurance and whatever you intend to spend on a car, ways and means

I found ballet pumps awful for clutch control, the best shoes for me were Converse All Stars, (ankle boot type) as could feel the pedal easier, and the support on the ankle helped with shaky legs!

I'm learning at the moment - while 32 weeks pg! I'm not enjoying it either. Nothing seems to come naturally and if I didn't have my instructor telling me what to do I'd be totally lost.

And btw you can totally stall a diesel.... I stalled twice at a roundabout and twice at a busy junction - car started rolling backwards and the instructor had to use his brakes and snatch on the handbrake before we hit the car behind!
I know I need to do it as I'll soon have 2 small children and will need the freedom a car gives me but I'm terrified of it just never clicking!

I agree re ballet pumps not being best - i found they flip-flopped off my feet - trainers were better.

Can you get any extra practise in, or is it really not possible? I really enjoy driving with dp, he doens't criticise as much, so it feels like how it'll be when if i ever pass, iyswim.

I'd also look at a new instructor - it doesn't sound like you're really getting anywhere with this one to be honest.

I hated learning, I hated driving and wondered why I was doing it. When I passed my test I was so pleased because it meant I didn't have to drive anymore!!

About two years later I plucked up the courage to have a go down the street in our automatic and I was like a different person. It felt like I'd been trying to pat my head and rub my tummy when I was driving a manual and now I could stop doing that and concentrate on the road. I realised I never liked it because I hadn't felt safe and in control of the car. It took a while to build up my confidence but now I drive every day so I would definitely recommend switching to an automatic!

I was going to say do automatic test but is does limit you to only drive automatics. Just plough on, I used to get headaches and feel stressed when I came back from a lesson. I only used to have one hour lessons, one a week. My DS passed his test recently and it took him best part of a year to learn, so I wouldn't fret. You could go on an intensive week with the test at the end, my niece did this and passed.

I second trying different shoes. My clutch control is bad in ballet pumps and I've been driving for well over ten years.

Would strongly encourage you to stick with manual as well. Autos are more expensive and much less common so in future if you are looking to buy a car you might regret it. Unless you are looking at top marque cars they are generally terrible and you will have a lot less control pulling away, for example if you need to get out of a tricky situation. It's also difficult and ridiculously expensive to hire an auto. Plus the emergency point already made.

I would recommend trying an automatic too. It is a doddle driving one compared to a manual if you are struggling.

OP if it makes you feel better I had loads more lessons than my age. I think that's pretty common you know - that saying has been bandied about for years but the test is much more rigorous now. I remember it making me feel a bit rubbish about myself - seems silly looking back on it now.

I think it's such a complicated skill that for ages you feel like there's so much to think about but then suddenly it will click and you won't need to think quite so hard about the basics.

I would maybe rethink your footwear and you could book a trial session or two with a different instructor? I had 2 instructors and got on much better with the 2nd one - she pushed me harder which suited my personality better - but also gave me much more confidence and seemed more structured in her approach so I could see I was making progress.

Thanks for all your suggestions, I will try to go to my lesson feeling positive.
I will definatley stick with a manual car, I think it will be less restrictive.
I really noticed the difference when my instructyor turned up in a diesel car after having a prang! It let me stay in 2nd gear much longer andalso in first when pulling away it didnt nag me to change up!
Ballet shoes are definately better for me as I can feel the pedals, when I wore my dm's last week I really noticed the difference, althoguh maybe I will try trainers next week.
I have my theory test booked for 1st march now which im hoping will push me and will help to have a goal.
I am going to have a good driving lesson
repeats mantra hoping it will come true!

Thanks all who posted earlier, I went determined to have a good one and said to my instructer about how I felt. I worked really hard and did my first parallel park!!!! She was really helpful and we did lots of clutch work and drove home in traffic which put it to use. I am determined to be a confident driver and will try to keep positive, thanks all for the kick up the bum :)

I learned when I was sixteen, as they do in America. Unlike most Americans, my parents had standard gears so I learned to "drive a stick."

When I moved here, I had to take lessons to prepare for the test and it was hard! I had to unlearn a lot of bad habits and learn to do all that Mirror/Signal/Maneuver stuff to pass the test.

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but it seems like a higher proportion of women don't drive than men, and especially more so in the UK than in the US.

Way to go, pinksticks! Sounds like you're getting used to driving!

Thanks Katy, fingers crossed! I'm sure I will have other bad lessons, but I.need to keep at it. Plus if I stopped now it would be.like throwing 1200 pounds away and.I.can't do.that! Interesting about gender, although my dp can't drive, he have up after he failed his test once. now I just need to pass my theory too....

Hiya fellow Learners! Lets all keep going :)

Thought I share story of learning - been learning since March 2013! :O No access to a car, been such a uphill struggle. I just cant give up now. Used to get around on a scooter

I decided to take my test for better or worse this month as so fed up with my instructor changing it three times this year since planned date in March. She is actually refusing to take me out on test! I just said can I just do it and see what happens?!

I moved areas over the last year, had to leave the good one with the move. Had this instructor since November!

F*cking hell! Hoping to get there sooner then later. However loving driving and what will come with it- driving through the countryside, being able to visit places in a car, total independence and freedom.