I’m doing the driving lessons and I dread them every time. I don’t feel like I’m improving much and it’s just stressful. I feel like giving up. I’m only going because I passed the theory exam with that school, and i would had to spend more money (that I don’t have) if I start again with other school, basically I’m too deep into it to stop.

Btw I now understand the hate towards manual cars. Automatic should be the only option, one less BIG distraction on the road, especially when you’re new on these things, being too soft or too rough on the clutch is a matter of millimeters is ridiculous, watching the road, the signs, the traffic lights, the cars around you, the stupid people with their bikes, while fumbling in the car with the pedals is the worst… (unfortunately you must learn manual where I’m living).

  • jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works
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    3 months ago

    Manual transmissions are operated almost entirely by “feel”. Once that sinks in, it’s a lot easier.

    If you can, go find a quiet street, parking lot, or any place with an incline. Practice stopping in the middle of the incline and taking off without stalling. Don’t stress out when you inevitably stall. You will and that’s ok. If you can master starting on a hill, you’ll find that the rest of it comes a lot easier.

    With the transmision in 1st and your foot on the brake, release the clutch very slowly until the engine starts dragging just a little. Slowly take your foot off the brake. You’ll know the clutch is in the right spot if it keeps you from rolling backwards. At that point, start to accelerate and let the clutch out slowly. Continue to accelerate and up the hill you go.

    Don’t hesitate to hit the brakes at any time if you feel like you’re going to roll backwards. Better to stall than to roll back into someone behind you. Depending on the gearing, you may be able to start in 2nd and that will keep you from having to worry about shifting in the middle of the hill.

    Don’t panic. Learning is good. If someone gets upset with you because you’re inexperienced and stall out then screw them. They should try to remember what it was like to learn how to drive. It just takes practice, practice, and more practice.

  • Skua@kbin.earth
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    3 months ago

    being too soft or too rough on the clutch is a matter of millimeters is ridiculous

    On this point specifically, don’t think of it as millimetres of distance. You act based on how the car responds, not trying to hit a specific distance of pedal movement. You already do the same thing with your other foot - you don’t think “I need to press the accelerator down 55 mm”, you just press it a bit more or a bit less until the car is going the speed you want it to go at. Same deal with the clutch, there just isn’t a dial on the dashboard that tells you where you currently have it.

    You’re right that driving involves processing a lot of information at once that nobody is particularly familiar with absorbing when they start. It is difficult and dangerous. That’s why there are tests and licences. But in much the same way that typing was once completely alien to you and is now something you do with little active thought, you’ll get there soon enough with the clutch too. And if you learn it now, you’ll never be caught out in a situation when there isn’t an automatic option available

  • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Btw I now understand the hate towards manual cars. Automatic should be the only option

    This is a big problem with people these days. You admitted you suck at driving, you’re just barely learning how to do it, but you think you’re qualified to mandate what is available to everyone else? You do not have enough experience to have an opinion that affects other people. Stick shift is completely intuitive when you know how to do it.

      • Delphia@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Nope. You dont enjoy driving, by your own admission arent good at it but want to deprive people who are good at it of their options.

        If your crap in bed do I have to stick to missionary for the rest of my life too?

          • Cypher@lemmy.world
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            3 months ago

            Automatic should be the only option

            Because you seem to be incapable of recalling what you said.

            You are being called out for having zero knowledge and then declaring what should be allowed.

    • Not OP, not a bad driver, have a class A (used to drive a school bus), and can drive stick.

      I still think automatic is safer just on the merit of being less to think about. Especially when you have an extra large vehicle filled with kids.

      • gnu@lemmy.zip
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        3 months ago

        The thinking involved in driving a manual is very minimal once you get used to it, so I reckon any safety issues caused by that would be outweighed by a reduction in the unfortunately common situation of unintended acceleration crashes. You are lot less likely to drive through the nearest wall (or kids) if your instinctual reaction to moving when you should not be is to also go for the clutch and cut power instead of just pressing harder on the wrong pedal.

  • Anivia@feddit.org
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    3 months ago

    It becomes easy with practice, and driving a manual is not distracting at all once you get the hang of it

    • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      I think the roads would be safer everybody drove a manual. It makes it harder for drivers to do other things and be distracted.