Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: nick v6 on 23 February 2009, 08:06:02
-
as you already know ann has got the tigra and se has tried and tried to drive it and is having trouble multi tasking with the gears and clutch
i've tried every trick i know to help her to drive it i even tell her when to press the clutch and i change the gears
she is now thinking on if to goto a automatic or not but i told her if she passes in a auto she can only drive auto's
she is looking for a automatic tigra
any advice anyone on if she should sell the tigra she got to go for auto
or any advice to help me teach her or is there anyone willing to give it a go on teaching her in a manual
she has had driving lessons with driving instructors and said she was ok but those cars have all been diesels and she had help when she needed it with the dual control
-
is it stalling on pull-away, or general gear changing.
unless there is a good reason not to, persist with the manual (even if you have to get a diesel fester or corsa)
-
Not much help but I learned to drive when I was about 11 driving round my friends farm. He also had a scrap yard so you learnt clutch control really quickly in a Viva with very little floor left!!! ;D
Seriously, I think it may be worth looking at another qualified instructor. In a dual control car the learner can start to learn more about the brakes and steering before attempting using the clutch.
-
The biggest issue here is clutch control, not multi tasking as you are now facing the trouble of having learned in a diesel!
Stick with it, it will come (quite quickly).
-
its stalling not geting the clutch biting right and she to me drives on the bonnet if you know what i mean
when it comes to a turning into a junction she will not change down before the corner or brake so she hits the corner at 30mph in 4th gear then brakes at the corner and not change gear so when she does get round the corner she is still in 4th gear at 10mph and the car is jumping around
she tends to over shoot a right hand turn and ends up the kerb
-
its stalling not geting the clutch biting right and she to me drives on the bonnet if you know what i mean
when it comes to a turning into a junction she will not change down before the corner or brake so she hits the corner at 30mph in 4th gear then brakes at the corner and not change gear so when she does get round the corner she is still in 4th gear at 10mph and the car is jumping around
she tends to over shoot a right hand turn and ends up the kerb
Its more fundamental than the gears then!
Stick with it, find a quiet road and just keep driving off and then slowing down using the gears.
-
1) Never, but NEVER, teach the missus to drive !!! It is totally unworkable -- get an instructor she will listen to ( it's an ingrained habit not to take any notice of the old man! )
2) persist with the manual -- it won't cut her future car choice in half
3) It will all click into place, all of a sudden, and TBH a Tigra is not the best car to be learning in.
-
there is a estate by where the daughter goes to school very quiet and alot of speed humps
i don't like to drive round there due to speed humps but i think it might help with clutch control braking and gear change what do you think
-
1) Never, but NEVER, teach the missus to drive !!! It is totally unworkable -- get an instructor she will listen to ( it's an ingrained habit not to take any notice of the old man! )
2) persist with the manual -- it won't cut her future car choice in half
3) It will all click into place, all of a sudden, and TBH a Tigra is not the best car to be learning in.
the thing i find about the tigra is that the gear stick is so low to the floor and the gears are very close together
-
1) Never, but NEVER, teach the missus to drive !!! It is totally unworkable -- get an instructor she will listen to ( it's an ingrained habit not to take any notice of the old man! )
2) persist with the manual -- it won't cut her future car choice in half
3) It will all click into place, all of a sudden, and TBH a Tigra is not the best car to be learning in.
the thing i find about the tigra is that the gear stick is so low to the floor and the gears are very close together
Which should have minimal impact on the ability to learn to drive in a car.
Excuses are easy to find, reality is that it needs patience and effort.
-
there is a estate by where the daughter goes to school very quiet and alot of speed humps
i don't like to drive round there due to speed humps but i think it might help with clutch control braking and gear change what do you think
Yep, give it a go.
I learn't on quiet country roads (at a young age ::))
-
1) Never, but NEVER, teach the missus to drive !!! It is totally unworkable -- get an instructor she will listen to ( it's an ingrained habit not to take any notice of the old man! )
2) persist with the manual -- it won't cut her future car choice in half
3) It will all click into place, all of a sudden, and TBH a Tigra is not the best car to be learning in.
the thing i find about the tigra is that the gear stick is so low to the floor and the gears are very close together
Which should have minimal impact on the ability to learn to drive in a car.
Excuses are easy to find, reality is that it needs patience and effort.
i don't have any problem but ann seems to think that she cant find the gears that the gear stick has to go alot further
-
When learning anything you need to focus on enough things to challenge, but, throw too many things in to worry about and you don't make progress. It's just demoralising and overwhelming.
Take out the cornering and the other traffic. Find somewhere straight and quiet (e.g Business park at the weekend) and concentrate, as said, on moving off, changing speed and stopping using the gears correctly. Once that's progressing you can start throwing in some corners, practicing adjusting the speed on the run up to the corner, with correct use of the gears.
TBH, if at all possible, it's probably best left to a driving instructor for tthe reasons already cited.
Kevin
-
she can do it
when she drove me to the hospital which was the first time she drove the car she did do well had a few problems with stalling etc
i eep saying to her it wont happen over night it takes time
it don't help the fact that the driving instructor she had told her to change down gears after the corner not before the corner like i tell her which to me makes more sense to change down before the corner
-
Tigra gearhshift etc is the same as a Corsa.
Like I said, stick with it.
Get her to sit in the car for 10 mins at a time just running the gear lever through all the cogs whilst looking throught the window to improve familiarity with the position.
-
When learning anything you need to focus on enough things to challenge, but, throw too many things in to worry about and you don't make progress. It's just demoralising and overwhelming.
Take out the cornering and the other traffic. Find somewhere straight and quiet (e.g Business park at the weekend) and concentrate, as said, on moving off, changing speed and stopping using the gears correctly. Once that's progressing you can start throwing in some corners, practicing adjusting the speed on the run up to the corner, with correct use of the gears.
TBH, if at all possible, it's probably best left to a driving instructor for tthe reasons already cited.
Kevin
she has had loads of lessons with a driing instructor and when she has pulled away from the house she had been great
i think its the change of car
different size clutch bitting point gears etc etc
-
I'm in total agreement with the Holy Count. Total disaster to try to teach family, I saw that many many years ago with my Mum & Dad. SWMBO, learned with a driving school as did both my kids.
-
Tigra gearhshift etc is the same as a Corsa.
Like I said, stick with it.
Get her to sit in the car for 10 mins at a time just running the gear lever through all the cogs whilst looking throught the window to improve familiarity with the position.
great tip never thought of that one
ive told her we will start from the basics as if she is a complete new driver and start right from the begining
-
When I was a learner, we popped the L plates on my clapped out C reg multicoloured 957cc fiesta.... I got my granddad to sit in the passenger seat, and drove him for miles and miles....
Driving with family can work - but I think it's important to get up to speed with an instructor first... :y
-
I'm in total agreement with the Holy Count. Total disaster to try to teach family, I saw that many many years ago with my Mum & Dad. SWMBO, learned with a driving school as did both my kids.
we don't argue much
we are really carm with each other no matter how much we p**s each other off
we have always listened to each other
she is a fast learner
-
When I was a learner, we popped the L plates on my clapped out C reg multicoloured 957cc fiesta.... I got my granddad to sit in the passenger seat, and drove him for miles and miles....
Driving with family can work - but I think it's important to get up to speed with an instructor first... :y
with the instuctor she did moving breaking gear change and islands and traffic lights and a little bit of reversing
she has got the basics is just slotting it into place
i think what is scareing her is the fact that she has full control as ive not got those dual control things
-
.......
i think what is scareing her is the fact that she has full control as ive not got those dual control things
I think that should be scaring YOU!!!! ;) ;D ;D
-
.......
i think what is scareing her is the fact that she has full control as ive not got those dual control things
I think that should be scaring YOU!!!! ;) ;D ;D
nah not easily scared
the only time i got scared as a passenger was when my mate hit a fox at 80mph and rolled the car
that was scary but luckily we both walked away lauhing and crying in pain
-
The other thing to consider is that swapping between two obviously different cars might not be helping at this stage. A bit of continuity might be what's needed. Seasoned drivers thing nothing of jumping from one car to another but that's because the process of actually driving the car takes so little of our cognitive resources that we have plenty to throw at coping with an unfamiliar gearchange, for example. It's not the same during the early stages of learning.
Another option might be to see if her instructor would be prepared to take her out in her car for a session.
I really think, if she's making progress with an instructor in his car, it's too early to write off the tigra as a bad idea. Maybe park it up for a couple of weeks, let her progress without worrying about switching between two cars, and start afresh when she's progressed a little further. It'll come with time, and once it's the only car she drives she'll get used to it.
Also beware that, as you have said, the instructor is teaching different methods to the ones you employ. The fact is there's no right way to drive a car, but it's important that she's taught consistently between you and the instructor so I would not go against what he's teaching her.
Kevin
-
ive got my mother to have the kids for a few hours later on
so i'm going to take ann to that quiet estate with the speed humps and start from srcatch with her
i spoke to her driving instructor (what a git)
he said
"i won't teach her in her own car unless you fit dual controls"
and was really nasty as well
i can see now why ann didnt want to learn to drive with him that much
-
The other thing to consider is that swapping between two obviously different cars might not be helping at this stage. A bit of continuity might be what's needed. Seasoned drivers thing nothing of jumping from one car to another but that's because the process of actually driving the car takes so little of our cognitive resources that we have plenty to throw at coping with an unfamiliar gearchange, for example. It's not the same during the early stages of learning.
Another option might be to see if her instructor would be prepared to take her out in her car for a session.
I really think, if she's making progress with an instructor in his car, it's too early to write off the tigra as a bad idea. Maybe park it up for a couple of weeks, let her progress without worrying about switching between two cars, and start afresh when she's progressed a little further. It'll come with time, and once it's the only car she drives she'll get used to it.
Also beware that, as you have said, the instructor is teaching different methods to the ones you employ. The fact is there's no right way to drive a car, but it's important that she's taught consistently between you and the instructor so I would not go against what he's teaching her.
Kevin
Exactly as Kevin says! I know people who have been driving for years who hate swapping from car to car... Some people, like me, have driven so many cars it doesn't matter :y :y :y
I think the best thing is to park the Tigra up for a while, let her get her confidence back with the instructor, and then get her back i the Tigra later :y :y :y
Finally, remember that the instructor is teaching Ann to pass her test... She'll learn to drive later! Do not try teaching her anything different as it may cause problems.
-
ive got my mother to have the kids for a few hours later on
so i'm going to take ann to that quiet estate with the speed humps and start from srcatch with her
i spoke to her driving instructor (what a git)
he said
"i won't teach her in her own car unless you fit dual controls"
and was really nasty as well
i can see now why ann didnt want to learn to drive with him that much
TBH I can understand his attitude... Especially as you explained Ann's difficulties to him. I think I'd prefer dual controls too ::) ::) ::)
Perhaps it would be worth trying a different instructor :-? :-?
-
ive got my mother to have the kids for a few hours later on
so i'm going to take ann to that quiet estate with the speed humps and start from srcatch with her
i spoke to her driving instructor (what a git)
he said
"i won't teach her in her own car unless you fit dual controls"
and was really nasty as well
i can see now why ann didnt want to learn to drive with him that much
TBH I can understand his attitude... Especially as you explained Ann's difficulties to him. I think I'd prefer dual controls too ::) ::) ::)
Perhaps it would be worth trying a different instructor :-? :-?
we been trying to find a female instructor but no joy
-
ive got my mother to have the kids for a few hours later on
so i'm going to take ann to that quiet estate with the speed humps and start from srcatch with her
i spoke to her driving instructor (what a git)
he said
"i won't teach her in her own car unless you fit dual controls"
and was really nasty as well
i can see now why ann didnt want to learn to drive with him that much
TBH I can understand his attitude... Especially as you explained Ann's difficulties to him. I think I'd prefer dual controls too ::) ::) ::)
Perhaps it would be worth trying a different instructor :-? :-?
we been trying to find a female instructor but no joy
Why would you do that... Women can't drive :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :o :o
In all seriousness... Just try a different instructor for now :y :y :y
-
I have driven lots - then get in a car from a different brand - and all goes wrong.
I cannot handle older ford clutches - on off, some manual boxes if I get a gear - that will do!.
Basically I had driven too many cars with gear levers physically attached to the gear box that if I drive a car with no solid link I have difficulties.
But then I feel if a box is that bad stuff it, I don't car if I blow it up - it is a design fault.
Yes I have killed a couple of Ford pool cars due to crap transmission, please note 2 is behind 1 not behind and to left.
Hate the strong springing as well.
Best quality and easiest gearchange I have ever used was the old Rootes 4 speed box, gear changes were a pleasure.
-
......
Yes I have killed a couple of Ford pool cars due to crap transmission, ......
I can vouch that hired Sierra Saphires don't like being forced into 1st instead of 3rd at 50 mph ::) ::)
-
......
Yes I have killed a couple of Ford pool cars due to crap transmission, ......
I can vouch that hired Sierra Saphires don't like being forced into 1st instead of 3rd at 50 mph ::) ::)
I can vouch that that most crappiest of all crap Vauxhall cars, the Mk2 Astra, doesn't like hitting 1st instead of 3rd at 70mph ::). rather heap of shit, hated it before I bought it >:(
-
Sell the car and buy her a new washing machine ::) ;D
-
Sell the car and buy her a new washing machine ::) ;D
she's got one of them and its me that has to use it well guess at using it
messed up a few white shirts
the daughter has to have red uniform with a white shirt
you can guess the rest ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
......
Yes I have killed a couple of Ford pool cars due to crap transmission, ......
I can vouch that hired Sierra Saphires don't like being forced into 1st instead of 3rd at 50 mph ::) ::)
I can vouch that that most crappiest of all crap Vauxhall cars, the Mk2 Astra, doesn't like hitting 1st instead of 3rd at 70mph ::). rather heap of shit, hated it before I bought it >:(
i killed a fiesta deisel before
70mph into first and straight off the clutch
engine revs hit the roof and pistons smashed out the engine
what a mess ;D
-
Sell the car and buy her a new washing machine ::) ;D
she's got one of them and its me that has to use it well guess at using it
messed up a few white shirts
the daughter has to have red uniform with a white shirt
you can guess the rest ;D ;D ;D ;D
LOL -- at least she is a girl!!! When I was at school my mum put my (what was) white shreddies in with her maroon work overalls. I could have been mentally scarred for life going to school after that with pink undies ...... sports lessons were fraught for a while :-[
-
Sell the car and buy her a new washing machine ::) ;D
she's got one of them and its me that has to use it well guess at using it
messed up a few white shirts
the daughter has to have red uniform with a white shirt
you can guess the rest ;D ;D ;D ;D
LOL -- at least she is a girl!!! When I was at school my mum put my (what was) white shreddies in with her maroon work overalls. I could have been mentally scarred for life going to school after that with pink undies ...... sports lessons were fraught for a while :-[
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)
-
From reading the lot, i'd say get another instructor - changing down after the corner? I'd have been kicked out for trying that when i was learning! Unless its changed, you get the right speed and gear for a corner BEFORE you turn the wheel..
Virtually all the people i know who have taken an Auto-only test have regretted it.. Even if she passes her test in a manual, then only has Autos afterwards, the option is still there..
I learnt in a Diesel Escort Mk4 - did one run around with my dad in my Mini and it took 2 lessons to undo what i was doing in my Mini (like taking corners in 3rd - but you can get away with that in a Mini..)
Try and find someone with a Corsa as (I agree with TB) a similar car will help the post-test transition. My wife learnt in a Pug 106 diesel but had a 106 petrol as her first car - sort of familiar but different enough for her to learn different driving styles straight from the start.
-
Try another approach. One of my first lessons was in my Dad's new K reg Cortina when i was 10. Before he'd let me drive i had to master the clutch, so on a slight incline he taught me to give the (1600 X-flow) engine enough revs to keep it from stalling & to engage then find the bite on the clutch pulling the car forward & letting it roll back a few inches either way without use of foot or handbrake before i was taught to move off & change gear. In effect he made me learn to do a hill start without a handbrake when i could hardly see over the "oval" wheel & tippy toes on the pedals.
I did'nt learn how to change gear 'til i'd mastered that.
No offence but maybe Ann would benefit from proper lessons. We all have our own way of learning. :y
-
Agree with what others have said. Personally, I love the autobox for the majority of my driving because its that much more relaxing than a manual and, unless it was an Integra or something like for having some fun on country roads, Id certainly go for an autobox again over a manual. That said, youre going to understand the way an autobox works/feels better if youve learnt on a manual, purely because with a manual you have to learn about the gears. On top of that, as already said, just pass on an auto and your choices are limited! What happens, for eg, if your autobox is in for some work and the only courtesy cars are manuals?. As for clutch control, I remember being really poor at this until my ex father in law began to teach me and then I picked it up in no time. This was simply because we practiced just this (with no other distractions) on empty carparks or private land at a slow pace and very repetitively but not so that I'd get too stressed. One of the things a good instructor will do is be able to pick up on when the learner is getting too flustered at trying to perform a particular action. They'll get focused on trying to get it right but sometimes , when theyre in the "zone" they try too hard , get annoyed at themselves for not being able to do it, and consequently keep repeating their mistakes. Trick is to take a break, do something else, then go back to it later. If Ann isnt happy with her current instructor, then shop about. It can make all the difference :y
-
Ok im sure no one will agree but get her an auto.
My mrs was driving around like she had passed her test with in a couple of lessons in an auto.
It does take a huge amount of pressure of you not having too worry about gear changes ect....its basically point and go.
Try and get her a quick go in an auto and im sure she will find it much more relaxed. :y
Oh and ok so if she passes in an auto whats stopping her going down the manual box route at a later stage....not that i could see why she would want too,lets face it manuals are bloody hard work. :y
-
I agree with part of what you're saying but... I wouldn't in down the auto route yet... Give it a bit longer and a different instructor first. Auto only licences can be very restrictive! :y :y :y :y
-
Try another approach. One of my first lessons was in my Dad's new K reg Cortina when i was 10. Before he'd let me drive i had to master the clutch, so on a slight incline he taught me to give the (1600 X-flow) engine enough revs to keep it from stalling & to engage then find the bite on the clutch pulling the car forward & letting it roll back a few inches either way without use of foot or handbrake before i was taught to move off & change gear. In effect he made me learn to do a hill start without a handbrake when i could hardly see over the "oval" wheel & tippy toes on the pedals.
I did'nt learn how to change gear 'til i'd mastered that.
No offence but maybe Ann would benefit from proper lessons. We all have our own way of learning. :y
The whole thread is full of excellent advice, but if Ann doesn’t master the clutch then it spoils the rest of the lesson. I agree with Amigomv6, and would find a quiet trading estate with an incline. Then every now and again take a rest from the clutch control and go through the gears.
When I taught my Mum to drive after she had failed 3 tests with a woman instructor. We first did clutch control, then I taught her to change gear every 10mph, 1st=10mph, 2nd=20mph and 3rd=30mph.
Then after this we moved on by teaching her to listen to the engine. The problem I picked up on was that she had always been told when to change gear. So we sussed the right sound for the engine, so she picked up on the slight judders to change down regardless of speed, and if the engine got noisy to change up. She soon sussed this on the hill start clutch control. Low revs the car bit and died, higher revs, she heard and felt the clutch bite, revs too high etc etc.
Did as much as she felt comfortable with, then one day without realizing we just continued off into the countryside with out her even realising. All of a sudden it just sunk in for her, she listed to the engine, started changing gears every 10mph and then started to adapt to the noise of the engine.
A few mistakes like forgetting to indicate, a few stalls, bit by bit I said less to her, she dealt with her nerves slowly. Till one day she was just driving where she wanted but told me her intentions as we went along and she got comfortable behind the wheel.
Then one day on a big empty trading estate, we were heading for a T junction, plenty of all round view with no traffic, Mum said she was going to turn right, she actually indicated left, I wondered what was about to happen, she suddenly realized her mistake and for some reason went straight out across the junction. I didn’t panic but was getting ready to grab the hand brake.
She hit the brakes and stalled the car and as she did a car started to appear. He had seen her and slowed, she applied the handbrake, put it in neutral, started the car, checked all round as you do, 1st gear, found the biting point and did a perfect move away in the right direction. She pulled over properly and switched off and said. "I completely buggered that up didn’t I" When I asked her which bit and asked if she would ever do that again, she said no way she would ever screw a junction up like that ever again. When I told her the rest was perfect, we then went home, and she said I am ready for test now.
She then passed nest attempt, and admitted she was so glad she didn’t take the automatic option that she was considering.