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Original poster

**** Learning To Drive ****

52 replies

LovesTents · 15/11/2008 15:11

There used to be a learner driver group on here I skulked on, can't seem to find it now so anyone want to join me on this?

I'm having lessons,have had nine this time around and three a couple of years ago and another tonight - yuck !

My instructor is bringing me out in my own car tonight, in the dark - Yikes- I'm used to driving her one ,a little micra and we have a landrover freelander, am dreading it , what will I do without dual-controls - arrggghh.

OP posts:
purplemonkeydishwasher · 28/11/2008 14:09

can i join too?
i've only had 2 lessons so far. and don't flame me but i'm learning automatic (in my defence i'm canadian and everyone drives it over there) my first lesson was manual and i hated it. 2nd lesson automatic. i hated it. but it was easier than manual!

i haven't booked anymore lessons because of lack of money and family stuff. now i have to get the guts to start again!

Original poster
LovesTents · 28/11/2008 18:12

Hi all,
well done smalships on your theory test.
PMD- I wish i could learn in an automatic , no point though i suppose as our car is manual.
I hate gears, can't seem to get into 2nd gear in our car going round a corner , i keep going into 4th or neutral.I was fine in instructors car. I hate my car - grr- seem to be getting worse rather than better [frustrated face].

OP posts:
IllegallyBrunette · 28/11/2008 18:14

I quite like the gears now, they are probably the easiest thing.

I did a bay park last week, and my instructor said it was great, which made me laugh because I was sat in a huge empty car park. Can't see me being so succesful when doing a shop at Asda somehow lol.

Another lesson tommorow.

Original poster
LovesTents · 28/11/2008 18:19

I did parking last week too, same as you IB, in an empty carpark.
Dh made me drive into local carpark the other day, luckily there was an empty spot i could drive straight into, no turning involved .

OP posts:
IllegallyBrunette · 28/11/2008 18:20

LOL LT, sounds like my kind of space.

My instructor did say that she will be making me practice it inbetween cars eventually too

reindeercantdancethetango · 27/12/2008 18:19

Hello bumping this thread for all those like me who are determined to learn to drive in 2009. Got some money for christmas so as soon as everything opens up after new year Im all go!! Whose with me?

IllegallyBrunette · 27/12/2008 18:28

I'm still here. No lesson this week for obvious reasons, but back to it next Saturday.

I have to book my theory test asap as my instructor said she doesn't want it holding up my practical.

hazeyjane · 27/12/2008 20:03

Hello, I posted on this thread earlier, and have just fessed up to having had about 150 lessons on another thread. I have just passed my driving test, and if I could just get round the magic roundabout without crying might be allowed to take my test soon.

reindeercantdancethetango · 27/12/2008 20:40

Hiya, How are you studying for theory IB? Any books you can reccomend?

Hiya Hazey

DippyDino · 28/12/2008 16:41

Hi All
Let's Pimp Our Rides in 2009!
Need to get Theory over with in January (failed by 1 point on the hazard perception in November)
I will pass this year!

piximon · 29/12/2008 18:55

Ooh just the thread for me.
I need to start having lessons, money/time always been an issue in the past also living in London I never felt the need.

Now I'm in the middle of nowhere with 5 young dcs and have to use the bus daily for the school runs which takes me about 2hr round trip each time. If I could drive I'd have dh's car and it'd take me 30min round trip.

But I'm terrified at the thought of getting behind a wheel. I've never had a lesson and at 32 feel I'm too old/tired/busy to take it all in. All the local instructors teach manual and I had it in mind to learn automatic.

FIL gave me some money for xmas so I'm hoping reading your posts will give me some incentive to book a few lessons and get the initial fear out of the way.

Deeeja · 30/12/2008 15:57

I am learning again, after hving lessons when I was 17/18. I have 8 2-hour lessons so far, and not too bad. I would drive really well if it wasn't for other drivers on the road, pedestrians, cyclists....
So far have got as far as 'turn in the road', I am sure that used to be called a 3-point turn back in the old days. I have been extremely nervous for the first few, but today was much better and even went on a dual carriage-way, did 40 mph, wooooh!. I really have forgotten everything since I have not driven for over 20 years and am alot slower picking things up this time around.d

Cicatrice · 09/01/2009 13:42

I,ve passed my theory test but I am still a million miles away from attempting the practical.

(Though the hazard test is HARD)

tatty33 · 09/01/2009 19:00

Can I join? have had four one hour lessons so far, and was actually quite enjoying it.. until I told my instructor was going to set a date for my theory, who replied ' why not, you have 2 years to pass afterwards!'

Feeling a bit demotivated now, still determined to pass by summer ( easy route of automatic though)

DippyDino · 09/01/2009 22:55

32 is not too old, pixiemon (I'm 32 this month!)

Hazard Perception is a nightmare. I was so slow to click, cos I'd just think, well that's bloody miles away, the speed 'my car' is going, so there's no chance of hitting it.
And of course they want you to click, click and just to be sure, click. Bleurgh.

StayFrosty · 09/01/2009 23:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

giraffescantdancethetango · 10/01/2009 13:53

I have just had my first lesson in 6months, was really good. Felt so much better about clutch control. I still need to work on my steering, as I keep veering off to the wrong side but the instructor was so calm and just reminded me gently. Where as old instructor would grab wheel and pull me away and shout. We stuck to quiet roads so I felt much more confident. Next one in a week. Actually looking forwards to it!.

SalBySea · 10/01/2009 14:04

hi, I still consider myself a learner even though I passes recently

Took me way more lessons than I wish to calculate to pass (I do not want to know exactly how much money I've spent on lessons!!)

Took my first lessons 11 years ago - went okay till about 6 lessons in when someone said something that really knocked my confidence and I gave up

tried again in my early twenties but had a horrible instructor and never got to booking a test despite spending a fortune on tonnes of lessons

had to do a hypnosis tape to get over my absolute hatred of getting behind the wheel which had developed over the years, and bit the bullet and started taking lessons again recently with a nice female BSM instructor and passed (3rd time) in Autumn

Havent been in a car since

Am hiring a car next weekend because we have a list of things we need to do that requires a car: car boot, trip to the dump, trip to baby world, pick up some stuff a friend is storing for us, but most scary of all, I've got to drive to my SIL's to pick up some baby stuff she has for us! it is a 3/4 hr round trip involving the MOTORWAY - EEEK!

I am feeling pretty nervous about it! what I wouldnt give for someone beside me on dual controls!!!

Diva0507 · 10/01/2009 14:13

when i was learning to drive we had thread and it was great help. i ve been driving for 2 years now. i have a few thing i learnt

  1. find good instructor- went out with lady at first and she was very slow with lessons, and did only one lesson a week. always told me she could not make time for me. she shouted a lot, told me i will kill someone one day i was driving 30mph area no traffic or pedestn. i was fed up i decided i never learn driving. year later i went out with bloke and he was great, like friend, talked out things and listened to me when i needed etc...
  2. when learning talk to you self, i know its stupid but it helps. like mirror, inidicate, mirror, slow down, gear etc... it also helps when you do test. i told my examinor i talk to myself is that ok, he said thats great, so i dont need to try to read you mind, we laughed.
  3. also when you at the roundabout, if car comes just stop where you are, does not matter if you well into the roud as long as you are not blocking that car. i failed once as i quickly drove off when car came around roundabout. examinor told me i was brilliant all the way thru, if i stopped there and then i have passed, but he got to fail me, said sorry.
these are things i remember. hope helps
giraffescantdancethetango · 10/01/2009 15:16

sal - hope it goes ok Am sure you will be fine. Dual contols are such a reassurance aren't they? But sometimes he says to put clutch down and I can't as he has already put it down/at right point for me, oh well only first lesson with him.

Diva I think talkin to yourself is a good idea, I will try that, I am kind of talkin to myself at the moment but in my head.

One thing I am worried about it driving in a different car for the test - instructor said in some cars you need gas at cartain bits etc but in his you don't. So how in a test car are you meant to know that?

SalBySea · 10/01/2009 15:27

why would you be taking the test in a car you haven't driven in before?

I noticed a big difference when my last instructor changed from petrol to diesel (but same make of car). you could decelerate a lot more in the petrol before having to go down a gear, whereas if you do the same in the diesel it stalls. Also the diesel was a newer model so the windows were a different position and size which made maneuvers different

yes I'm sure I'll be fine, its better to get back behind the wheel now rather than leave a big gap between passing and driving again. Plus will have DH with me who is at test standard.

giraffescantdancethetango · 12/01/2009 21:35

Dont you use a car at the test centre? I can be rather daft at times so feel free to shout if I am being especially daft.

Was in library for a bit this morning, didn't have my card with me but spent some time reading theory test aa book. First section - is it called attitudes? I did really well in - seems like common sence. I was feeling all pleased with myself...haha then looked at the road sign section hhmm better get learning them!!

giraffescantdancethetango · 12/01/2009 21:51

good site for theory test quiz

SalBySea · 13/01/2009 14:38

GCDTT - I've never heard of that, taken my test 3 times and each time everyone turned up in either their instructors cars or their own cars. There arent any "test centre cars" parked outside the test centre. I took my tests in the BSM car I'd taken my lessons in

Iklboo · 13/01/2009 14:41

DH is a driving instructor in Manchester if anyone wants lessons
He gets quite a few pupils who are fed up with their old instructor stringing them along. He had one lady who had had 30 lessons and still not done any manouevres!