The Ultimate Learning to Drive Thread - MK II

what I do is practice on my mum and sisters car and here is a helpful website.

http://www.2pass.co.uk/gears.htm
http://www.2pass.co.uk/roundabout.htm
just click on practical bit then the how 2 bit for help on manouevers and other stuff

Sorry if this question's a little silly, but can I just ask, when you say you practise changing gears in your mum/sister's car, do you do it whilst the car is stationary, or whilst it's moving and you're driving it? I also have trouble with gear changes, but I don't feel confident enough to practise driving in a non-driving school car just yet

Also thanks for posting those links, very useful

Starting to get annoyed with my instructor.

He has messed me around a few times. Cancelling/postponing/changing lesson times to fit in with his test students. I understood that and dealt with it. Now, however, he really is taking the michael. He has changed my lesson tomorrow four times! He said he was sorry but he had 'new students messing him around'. Now my lesson for tomorrow it postponed until Friday! I think it is dreadful to keep altering my lessons, as someone who has been learning with him for a few months now, to fit in with new students. Especially as, when I started, I had to wait a week before I got a lesson because he was fully booked with existing students.

I don't think I have time to start again. I only have a month or so to go before I run out of time [and money!]... Still, if he does it - yet again - I might have to sack him. It isn't fair.

I don't know who I would have instead. Most of my friends learned to drive years ago. I have one friend having lessons now and she is having trouble too. Her instructor has turned up 10 minutes to every lesson she has had and on the last one, he was hungover!

For anyone who isn't happy with their instructor's performance, just change. It'll save you time and money in the long run. I could have been passed ages ago if I switched instructor earlier.

Starting to get annoyed with my instructor.

He has messed me around a few times. Cancelling/postponing/changing lesson times to fit in with his test students. I understood that and dealt with it. Now, however, he really is taking the michael. He has changed my lesson tomorrow four times! He said he was sorry but he had 'new students messing him around'. Now my lesson for tomorrow it postponed until Friday! I think it is dreadful to keep altering my lessons, as someone who has been learning with him for a few months now, to fit in with new students. Especially as, when I started, I had to wait a week before I got a lesson because he was fully booked with existing students.

I don't think I have time to start again. I only have a month or so to go before I run out of time [and money!]... Still, if he does it - yet again - I might have to sack him. It isn't fair.

Hiiiiiiiiiii everybody new to this thread, started driving a year ago but it's been a bit sporadic, as I kept my driving instructor in my home city whilst at uni, and now I've graduated I've got a house in my uni city til the end of August, so changed to an instructor there until then (hopefully longer if I get a job). I lack logic, I know. Should've switched to an instructor in my uni city ages ago probably, but you live and learn.

Anyway, I reckon I've had about 35 lessons in total, 27-ish with old instructor and about 8 with my new one. He's just started taking me round the test area which is exciting. I really want to be test ready soon, eek! Does anyone fancy my chances of being ready to book a test at the end of this month if I have 3 lessons each week until then? Haha. Too optimistic? I'm going to ask my instructor what he reckons tomorrow I think...

Book it.

I also know it sounds ridiculous, but you might be wasting a lot of cash on having three lessons a week until your test. It depends how competent you are with your manoeuvres and observations, I suppose.

Hmm, I don't think I'm bad at driving and my observation is usually good, though haven't practised manouvres much with this instructor so probably it would take quite a lot of work to be perfect at everything. I guess if I book a test soon though, it would probably be ages until the actual date anyway, I've heard waiting times are bad. I will talk to my instructor about it definitely tomorrow, whilst also trying extra hard to be a brilliant driver heh.

Thanks for the reply

That's okay I do it whilst stationary and do it for about 10-15 mins. I change gears 1 at a time so I do 1st gear,2nd,3rd,4th, reverse. Then I do Odd patterns like 2nd to 3rd ,4th to 2nd and soo on. I look at the gears at first then I practise without looking at the gears, I gotta practice some more though but I'm getting the hang of it.

I have my test in 2 and a half hours - so so nervous!!

I have my test in 2 and a half hours - so so nervous!!