Author Topic: Greetings seasoned car veterans (Read 1136 times)

Daegus · « **on:** August 13, 2012, 07:40:49 PM »

As it so happens.. I've recently begun driving a la nearest driving school at the behest of a Middle-Eastern instructor who speaks English with a very heavy accent (I figure he's North African of some sort.. like around Egypt or Tunisia or something).

I've decided to learn manual transmission, since it seems to make more sense, is supposed to be more fun to drive, requires you to pay more attention on the road, and is more cost effecient than an automatic transmission.

So do the seasoned veterans of Cathinfo have any tips for me? My first time driving round the neighborhood didn't bring about too many stalls. Maybe more or less than a handful of times. My instructor thought I did very well for my first time ever driving a car (a manual as well) and was really happy to have me as a student.

One thing I noticed is that every new action seems to require the clutch. Want to shift? Clutch. Want to turn the car on? Clutch. Want to break? Clutch. Want to turn? Clutch. It goes on and on.

So, any tips? :read-paper:

Telesphorus · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2012, 11:10:59 PM »

Quote from: Daegus

As it so happens.. I've recently begun driving a la nearest driving school at the behest of a Middle-Eastern instructor who speaks English with a very heavy accent (I figure he's North African of some sort.. like around Egypt or Tunisia or something).

I've decided to learn manual transmission, since it seems to make more sense, is supposed to be more fun to drive, requires you to pay more attention on the road, and is more cost effecient than an automatic transmission.

So do the seasoned veterans of Cathinfo have any tips for me? My first time driving round the neighborhood didn't bring about too many stalls. Maybe more or less than a handful of times. My instructor thought I did very well for my first time ever driving a car (a manual as well) and was really happy to have me as a student.

One thing I noticed is that every new action seems to require the clutch. Want to shift? Clutch. Want to turn the car on? Clutch. Want to break? Clutch. Want to turn? Clutch. It goes on and on.

So, any tips? :read-paper:

Keep practicing shifting and maneuvering in a parking lot. When I taught my little brother to drive we just went around cones in a parking lot for hours, until he was good at maneuvering.

jen51 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2012, 08:50:54 AM »

I prefer the manual as well. One piece of advice: don't keep the clutch down unnecissarily. It will wear it out faster and you will have to replace it. In other words, when you're sitting at a stop light or sign, put it in neutral instead of keeping it in first gear with the clutch down. Things like that.

Daegus · « **Reply #3 on:** August 16, 2012, 05:32:38 PM »

I just got through my second lesson and it went somewhat better than my first. I'm beginning to understand things on my own without the instructor telling me. (Not like he's really telling me much of anything anymore.. :rolleyes:)

The guy is a bit useless in that:

1) His accent makes him very hard to understand
2) He speaks of himself in the 3rd person for whatever reason
3) He doesn't pay attention to where we're supposed to be going. I basically have to ask him "left or right" so I end up signalling late. This lesson was more focused on turning and signalling and I had to ASK HIM how to signal

4) He keeps touching the wheel, as if I don't know how to steer which is actually quite distracting in and of itself
5) He smells kind of weird :rolleyes:

He made us wait at an intersection for half a minute to let all of the other cars go by and he made the guy behind us angry.

Roman55 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 16, 2012, 09:31:25 PM »

Did your first driving experience resemble anything close to this? Mine did!
Enjoy!

Roman55 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 16, 2012, 09:49:56 PM »

Quote from: Daegus

One thing I noticed is that every new action seems to require the clutch. Want to shift? Clutch. Want to turn the car on? Clutch. Want to break? Clutch. Want to turn? Clutch. It goes on and on.

So, any tips? :read-paper:

What was handed down to me, I hand down to you: "Grind em till you find em"
Bless you my son!