Hate my driving lessons!

[lau86]

I would reconsider your instructor. I needed 3 instructors Including the one who said I was too much for him to handle!!!! But the second was shocking if I'd have had a million lessons with him I was never going to pass my test he was too interested in chatting. My 3rd came recommended not Cos he was a nice guy but cos all my friends passed with him!!! Not saying yours is like this but may be worth thinking about

 

[Pearls18]

I didn't really mean courtesy cars I meant if you had to drive a vehicle for work or for a friend, family etc, I have had to borrow a car from my mum before and would have been snookered if I could only drive an automatic. Ok not worth getting a full licence just in case lol but if you can manage a full, I'd def go for the full.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I am not fully comp (policy depending) anyway so I cant drive anyone else's car regardless of my license. x

 

[Pearls18]

But at least all you would have to do is make a phone call to get insurance as opposed to sitting a whole new driving test...but I can see we will have to agree to disagree, I remember being very jealous of all my American friends and their automatics when I was over there at 17 struggling to learn with a gearstick lol they thought we were total plebs for driving manuals haha, it becomes second nature though so don't panic OP

 

[Tegans Mama]

I wouldn't drive anyone elses car anyway

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

My mum and dad both have autos and so does FIL but I dont think I would ever need too. If my car broke id just get the curtosy. x

 

[rwhite]

I am like this - and don't have my license yet. I feel like such a tool. I think it's just a confidence thing though.

 

[Tasha]

I have a manual license and if it were the choice between automatic and struggling so much that I wouldnt pass for ages, I would go with the automatic

I would try even one lesson with someone else, see if that makes a difference and one lesson in an automatic car. That would help you to see if there are any issues with the instructor (just that his style doesnt work for you) or if manual isnt for you. You can plan what to do next from there.

 

[Rose_red]

Is there anything particular your struggling with? How many hours are you doing a week?

Just little bits of everything really, changing gears, manouvers etc, I do one hour lesson a week and juist feel like I'm making mistakes all the time and not improving much

 

[special_kala]

Could you stretch to 2 hour lessons?
I did 2 hours because with onr you just settle into driving and then its finished.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I had 2 hour lessons too. I think you need the extra time xx

 

[Lauren25]

See I didn't like 2 hour lessons because I hated it so much, it was just too much!
I think lots of people think it should come easily and you should pass really quickly but you've got to remember your learning something new! Lots of people I know changed instructors and it didnt help! Like you I knew it was nothing to do with the instructor he was amazing it was just I found it hard and had no confidence!
Like I said before it took me 18 months of a hour a week lessons but that's how long it took me for it to click and it was so worth it now!

 

[Tegans Mama]

I had two hour lessons too and I liked them much more than one hour ones

 

[Pearls18]

I've heard it's harder the 'older' you get, at 17 I was so desperate to pass I just cracked on I think driving seems a little more intimidating as you get older so it's not surprising if you are finding it trickier. I tried 2 hour sessions and they were too much for me lol, my instructer did 1 hour sessions once a week then the week before my test did 2 hour sessions everyday it was knackering but passed first time. Just stick at it it'll come to you

 

[Tasha]

I did two hour lessons too.

 

[Redhead84]

I would always try manual over automatic, in the UK there just aren't the same number of automatics around as there are in places like the States and they're more expensive, you never know when you'll be in the position to need to drive another car which most likely will be a stick, so I would only do automatic as a last resort

I'd agree with this - they are also terrible on mpg when compared to a manual transmission, which has to be a consideration when petrol is only getting ever more expensive.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I dont spend anymore on petrol than my friends does in the manual version of the exact same car for the sameish usage. I think with older autos thats the case but not newer ones.

 

[embo216]

I would always try manual over automatic, in the UK there just aren't the same number of automatics around as there are in places like the States and they're more expensive, you never know when you'll be in the position to need to drive another car which most likely will be a stick, so I would only do automatic as a last resort

I'd agree with this - they are also terrible on mpg when compared to a manual transmission, which has to be a consideration when petrol is only getting ever more expensive.

It really depends how you drive them, I'm terrible in my 3L so I go through my petrol automatic like its nobodies business but when my OH drives it into London and back he gets some really good MPG

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

It depends on the journey too and engine. I dont put hardley any petrol in my 1.4 lol and use it every day, can easily just use £10-15 a week. FILs manual car does 25MPG lmao

 

[Redhead84]

I am speaking as a general rule they will be more thirsty, both me and my OH have done well over a million miles between us on the road and have always found manual cars to be better on mpg.