Author Topic: Learners switching to Automatics.  (Read 4905 times)

Jocko

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #30 on: September 03, 2020, 07:33:46 PM »
I learned to drive and past my test in this Vauxhall Wyvern.



My dad was an ex-army driver and he taught me to double-declutch before I was even old enough to go out on the road. We used an old Fleet Air Arm runway complex.
In my test, the examiner told me to come down to walking pace. When I got as slow as I could in 2nd he said "Slower". I did a sweet change down into the non-synchromesh 1st and before I even started to lift the clutch he said "Fine. On you go". I passed first time.

sparky Paul

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #31 on: September 03, 2020, 07:55:51 PM »
Did either of you buy a new car after passing your test? I didn't. My first car was a banger I could afford.
Did you do your lessons with a driving school? My dad taught me in the family car which I used until I got my own.

My second car was brand new, first car was 2½ years old - in my defence, I was on good money at the time.

I learnt with the village's local driving instructor, he had already taught my older brother and sister. I can remember going round to his house for a 'chat' before he took me on...

RichardA

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #32 on: September 03, 2020, 08:34:08 PM »
Did either of you buy a new car after passing your test? I didn't. My first car was a banger I could afford.
Did you do your lessons with a driving school? My dad taught me in the family car which I used until I got my own.
Most learners these days go to a driving school and many don't drive any other car.

My first car was my dad's Hyundai Atoz+ purchased at 2.5 years old. My second car (Fiat Punto) was brand new, Dad and immediate family members could get discounts off Fiat cars through his employer, I think it was 20% off IIRC. They were flogging the Fiat Bravo that was on run-out at the time at something silly like 30% off! Went over to Honda in 2004 and never looked back. (Dad stayed with Hyundai/Kia).

I learnt to drive with a self employed driving instructor recommended to me by a mate at sixth form college. He intially  had a H reg Fiat Uno then changed to an L reg Peugeot 106 diesel, neither had power steering.

culzean

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #33 on: September 04, 2020, 10:45:01 AM »
I know some people on here have complained that revs do not drop immediately on modern 'drive by wire' cars when you change gear on a manual box,  here is the reason for 'rev hang'...

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technology/a32958665/the-annoying-rev-hang-in-modern-manual-cars-is-there-for-a-reason/
Some people will only consider you an expert if they agree with your point of view or advice,  when you give them advice they don't like they consider you an idiot

culzean

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #34 on: September 04, 2020, 10:52:48 AM »
My dad was an ex-army driver and he taught me to double-declutch before I was even old enough to go out on the road.

I had to double de-clutch into bottom gear on my first Mini, still remember how to do it..

On a motorbike as well it is still good practice ( to reduce load on chain and stop rear wheel locking up, especially in wet or damp conditions ) when changing down a gear to pull in clutch, rev up a bit and snick it into gear before letting clutch go... on bigger bikes it is easy to lock up rear wheel if you just bang it into lower gear without revving up to match engine revs to road speed ( some more expensive bike have 'slipper clutches' that will slip when rear wheel turning too fast for engine revs ).  As for changing up a gear on my bike I rarely touch the clutch,  just ease off the throttle and flick the gearlever up.. lovely.

« Last Edit: September 04, 2020, 10:54:48 AM by culzean »
Some people will only consider you an expert if they agree with your point of view or advice,  when you give them advice they don't like they consider you an idiot

TnTkr

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #35 on: September 04, 2020, 01:15:01 PM »
I know some people on here have complained that revs do not drop immediately on modern 'drive by wire' cars when you change gear on a manual box,  here is the reason for 'rev hang'...

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technology/a32958665/the-annoying-rev-hang-in-modern-manual-cars-is-there-for-a-reason/
That is a good explanation, thank you! However, unfortunately that does not explain the rev hang in direct injected Jazz engine.

madasafish

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #36 on: September 04, 2020, 03:23:35 PM »
Did either of you buy a new car after passing your test? I didn't. My first car was a banger I could afford.
Did you do your lessons with a driving school? My dad taught me in the family car which I used until I got my own.
Most learners these days go to a driving school and many don't drive any other car. My daughter took lessons and the only time I took her out in my car was the night before her test. When she passed she was gobsmacked when I handed her the keys and told her she better pop over and tell her gran. She was even more gobsmacked when I didn't go with her. Her mum and I were peaking through the blinds.

I passed and bought a 1929 Riley 9 Monaco fabric bodied saloon for £30. Magneto ignition, starter motor and petrol tank mounted in engine bay on top of bulkhead above driver's feet. Offsetting the risk of fire,opening front windscreen, Vacuum wipers.
And suicide front doors...

richardfrost

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #37 on: September 04, 2020, 04:52:39 PM »
Did either of you buy a new car after passing your test? I didn't. My first car was a banger I could afford.
Did you do your lessons with a driving school? My dad taught me in the family car which I used until I got my own.
Most learners these days go to a driving school and many don't drive any other car. My daughter took lessons and the only time I took her out in my car was the night before her test. When she passed she was gobsmacked when I handed her the keys and told her she better pop over and tell her gran. She was even more gobsmacked when I didn't go with her. Her mum and I were peaking through the blinds.

I passed and bought a 1929 Riley 9 Monaco fabric bodied saloon for £30. Magneto ignition, starter motor and petrol tank mounted in engine bay on top of bulkhead above driver's feet. Offsetting the risk of fire,opening front windscreen, Vacuum wipers.
And suicide front doors...
You win!

Jocko

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #38 on: September 04, 2020, 06:11:07 PM »
On a motorbike as well it is still good practice ( to reduce load on chain and stop rear wheel locking up, especially in wet or damp conditions ) when changing down a gear to pull in clutch, rev up a bit and snick it into gear before letting clutch go.
But that is not double-declutching. IAM recommends that for changing gear in cars too.

Ozzie

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #39 on: September 04, 2020, 08:25:22 PM »
My driving school has offered automatic driving lessons since 2003, and we used to have 6 automatic instructors, and 13 manual instructors. In 2011 I started teaching automatic, after 16 years of teaching manual. Its far safer in an automatic as pupils don't need to worry about what their feet are doing and the lack of stalling obviously makes it safer to emerge at junctions, likewise the responsive hybrid engine helps if they misjudge it slightly.
Amazingly I have had newly passed pupils buy brand new C class Mercedes, BMW 3 series, BMW X5, Porsche Boxster, and an Aston Martin Convertible as their early cars, it puts my first car, a Ford Escort van to shame.

sparky Paul

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #40 on: September 04, 2020, 09:25:24 PM »
Amazingly I have had newly passed pupils buy brand new C class Mercedes, BMW 3 series, BMW X5, Porsche Boxster, and an Aston Martin Convertible as their early cars, it puts my first car, a Ford Escort van to shame.

Well, I think I can trump that... I know someone who recently bought an Astra estate which they never drove, traded it in a month later for a Honda CR-V diesel which they crashed and wrote off. Then they bought a brand new Honda CR-V Hybrid, and traded that one in (with less than 2,000 miles on it) for a Jaguar F-Pace.

They haven't passed their test yet  :-[

True story

Si Crewe

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #41 on: November 15, 2020, 08:25:43 PM »
Honestly, I'd say anybody who takes their driving test in an Automatic by choice is nuts.

Sure, if you just can't deal with a manual, learn to drive in an Automatic.
If, on the other hand, you're taking your test in an Automatic simply cos you're thinking "Well, I'm only ever going to drive Automatics", you're limiting yourself for no good reason.

Even if you're happy to drive Automatics, there IS going to come a point where you'll try to rent a car/van and they'll only have a manual available or you'll need to drive somebody else's car and it'll be a manual.

And you'll be stuffed because you've only got an Automatic license.

madasafish

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #42 on: November 16, 2020, 06:28:58 AM »
Honestly, I'd say anybody who takes their driving test in an Automatic by choice is nuts.

Sure, if you just can't deal with a manual, learn to drive in an Automatic.
If, on the other hand, you're taking your test in an Automatic simply cos you're thinking "Well, I'm only ever going to drive Automatics", you're limiting yourself for no good reason.

Even if you're happy to drive Automatics, there IS going to come a point where you'll try to rent a car/van and they'll only have a manual available or you'll need to drive somebody else's car and it'll be a manual.

And you'll be stuffed because you've only got an Automatic license.


All new cars after 2030 will be full automatics..

Kremmen

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #43 on: November 16, 2020, 06:34:08 AM »
Lots of accidents, shop fronts, etc, involve the elderly who are not used to autos and hit the wrong pedals in a panic.

Auto only will maybe increase this.

I have a full licence but I've been purchasing autos since 1977, love them. On the occasion they gave me a manual pool car the client journey reminded me how much I dislike manuals.
Let's be careful out there !

Jocko

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Re: Learners switching to Automatics.
« Reply #44 on: November 16, 2020, 07:01:06 AM »
I drove automatics from 1990 until 2016, including buses and coaches, and loved them. Biggest motoring mistake was reverting to a manual with my current Jazz.

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