I’m doing the driving lessons and I dread them every time. I don’t feel like I’m improving much and it’s just stressful. I feel like giving up. I’m only going because I passed the theory exam with that school, and i would had to spend more money (that I don’t have) if I start again with other school, basically I’m too deep into it to stop.
Btw I now understand the hate towards manual cars. Automatic should be the only option, one less BIG distraction on the road, especially when you’re new on these things, being too soft or too rough on the clutch is a matter of millimeters is ridiculous, watching the road, the signs, the traffic lights, the cars around you, the stupid people with their bikes, while fumbling in the car with the pedals is the worst… (unfortunately you must learn manual where I’m living).
And I hate automatic. After a few weeks or months, you won’t even realize there’s a clutch or shift. It’s actually easier, as with automatics I have to actually look at it to determine which gear I am in, eg. reverse or drive.
Hard to say without knowing details. How’s the traffic in your area, is it a big city or more rural? What country?
Honestly it doesn’t make a difference. Especially since I will have to deal with anyways
Where do you live that you HAVE to learn manual? Here in Germany you have a choice of either learning manual or automatic. If you learn automatic though you are only allowed to drive automatic cars and if you learn manual you are allowed to drive both.
You’re basically forced, there’s the option, sure but nobody takes it because for all jobs and stuff EVERYONE uses manual, so you shouldn’t even bother
Also my family is not rich, I can’t afford a car so I would have to use the only car they have, an old fiat Punto, manual obviously
Oh wow, you must learn manual, that’s ridiculous! Where in the world is that?
I’ve not started yet, but I’m going to learn automatic when I go to learn, my GF has been learning manual for over 2 years because her dad and our friend who drives said that it makes the most sense to, when in reality that’s just because of what they were told based on outdated advice.
She even has an automatic waiting for her once she finally passes, but she’s stubborn and doesn’t want to switch to learning automatic, it’s really frustrating how stubborn she is about not giving up or approaching it from another direction.
She has dyslexia and the British Dyslexic Association even recommends that dyslexics learn automatic as it’s a known thing they struggle with. She even had to write L and R on her hands, bless her.
I’ve heard some people benefit from intensive driving courses, where you do like 2 solid weeks of lessons then take the test, but no clue if they have those in your country
I’ve suggested to her, if she really wants a manual licence then get the automatic licence, then decide if she really wants the manual, as she’ll be more comfortable with roads and driving and can just focus on the manual aspect
Is not like you MUST TO LEARN MANUAL. But go ahead and try to find a job with only automatic cars being used or try find a cheap 3000 euro manual car for yourself. Nobody uses them here except rich families or companies, AKA not my world.
Mate, you have zero experience how to drive but feel the need to tell others what is save and what not?
Can people please shut up talking about topics they know nothing about?!
It definitely gets easier after muscle memory kicks in. Doesn’t really make a difference if manual or automatic.
I don’t hear anyone hating on manual cars where I live. They may prefer and pay extra to buy an automatic but they don’t hate on manual.
Anyway it’s all about practice, manual or not.
With enough practice, driving becomes second nature to the point that you don’t really think about it. This goes triple for manual transmission cars because you have so much control over the behaviour of the vehicle that it almost feels.like.an extension of yourself. The learning curve is a pain but the payoff is worth it.
It’s really hard to imagine when you are trying to learn. You just have to trust it will happen. You are basically training unconscious parts of your brain, and at some point all the hardness just vanishes and some unconscious part of your brain just magically does all the hard stuff for you without you thinking about it.
Think of your favorite video game or hobby, do you have to remember each movement and action? Driving is like that, eventually it’s just an extension of your ability to move about.
Dude, the difference is that with a game nothing happens when you fuck up. I can mess with it All I want. That’s just not possible on the road in any way.
Go to a parking lot and frig around till you get it? I mean e brake turns and slipping and sliding in icy parking lots in winter is how most good drivers get good. In order to be safe accidentally out of control, you’ve got to experience what that feels like in a safe, intentional way.
This also removes a bit of the fear factor and anxiety which imo cause as much or more accidents than anything else. Most friends I have that aren’t great drivers are scared of driving. Thanks to their fears and indecision, they’ve got more accidents and fender benders than anyone.
Confidence is key.
With that attitude towards cyclists you probably shouldn’t drive because you’d be making the road unsafe for a mode of transportation that is healthier and more space and energy efficient than a car.
Who cares
And this folks is a healthy attitude to have in life… No wonder annual car murders rates are shooting to through the roof… Get this clown a suburban for its safety!
It scared the hell out of me too, but soon it’ll be just like walking. When you were first learning to walk, you fell down a lot, and although most of us don’t remember it, you were probably reluctant to try again after falling. But you kept trying and it became second nature. Keep practicing and soon you’ll be singing along with the radio, eating a burrito and sending texts while merging across 6 lanes of traffic without even thinking about it.
Ok, maybe don’t do ALL those things. Just stick with it!
Manual transmissions are operated almost entirely by “feel”. Once that sinks in, it’s a lot easier.
If you can, go find a quiet street, parking lot, or any place with an incline. Practice stopping in the middle of the incline and taking off without stalling. Don’t stress out when you inevitably stall. You will and that’s ok. If you can master starting on a hill, you’ll find that the rest of it comes a lot easier.
With the transmision in 1st and your foot on the brake, release the clutch very slowly until the engine starts dragging just a little. Slowly take your foot off the brake. You’ll know the clutch is in the right spot if it keeps you from rolling backwards. At that point, start to accelerate and let the clutch out slowly. Continue to accelerate and up the hill you go.
Don’t hesitate to hit the brakes at any time if you feel like you’re going to roll backwards. Better to stall than to roll back into someone behind you. Depending on the gearing, you may be able to start in 2nd and that will keep you from having to worry about shifting in the middle of the hill.
Don’t panic. Learning is good. If someone gets upset with you because you’re inexperienced and stall out then screw them. They should try to remember what it was like to learn how to drive. It just takes practice, practice, and more practice.
A good way to learn the friction point of a clutch is to find some flat ground (somewhere you can practice and not worry about traffic or pedestrians) and come to a complete stop.
Put the car into first gear and without touching the accelerator or brake, very, very slowly bring the clutch pedal up. You’ll feel the engine begin to bog down the further the pedal comes off the floor. Push the clutch back down and repeat until you feel comfortable with where the clutch is “catching”.
Once you can reliably find this spot in the clutch pedal’s travel, begin adding in some throttle to help you take off a little quicker.
I’ve taught others to drive manual and this is a good way to build the muscle memory that helps when driving on the road so you don’t have to think about it.
Maybe that helps but either way good luck on your journey!
You’re right. You should give up driving.
Omg, stop whining. Do or do not, there is no try. If you don’t want to drive, then why are you doing this?
Driving is one of the easiest things you’ll ever do in life (wspeckally with cars built after about 1990).
If learning how to drive is this difficult for you, what are you going to do when something truly difficult comes along?
Being car free is totally possible.
Lol, OK, you do you.
Because I have basically no choice. I don’t enjoy it but I need a job. Almost no one in family has a licence. You can’t just determine what’s easy or difficult for everyone. My mom can’t drive either and can barely go on a bicycle, is she stupid or less of a human being according to you?
One thing that helped me relax when learning to drive: 99% of the time you only need to worry about what’s directly in front of you. Unless you’re changing lanes or backing up that’s your main priority. Yeah it’s good to be a defensive driver and anticipate things and that will come with time. Don’t be overstimulated by every detail around you, know what to focus on. I hope this helps you relax like it did me
I strongly disagree with this advice. A driver should try to be aware of all of their surroundings at all times. This may not be practical 100% of the time depending on your mental capacity and what you’re doing but you should still try.
Driving safely is difficult. People who shy away from this difficulty kill people.
