My First Car and learning to drive

[RoGuE|SaBeR]

My four wheeled odysey has begun.

My first car



'97 Corsa Sting

1 Litre

2 Previous Lady Owners

49,000 Miles

Now for the n00b driver questions

1) Learning - Anyone been learning to drive / pass their test recently? Had second lesson yesterday morning and nothing major has gone wrong so far... any tips just in case?

2) Clutch - Still a lot of Kangaroo Clutch going on when I'm moving off in first gear. Advice on technique if you will?

3) Wheel Arches - They are dull and Ive seen this on a few other similar Corsas driving about. What is it that touches them back up?

BTW your all safe from my driving antics, unless you come to Northern Ireland that is

[sdp]

1) I've got my 3rd test in a month or so, um I cant think of any tips except know your highway code and listen to your instructor and don't get into any bad habits. msm msm msm - drum it into your head. And don't take your test before you're sure you're ready because the assessors are totally unforgiving. Also, find out where the test route is and practise as much as you can there.

2) Yup, the trick is to bring it up to the biting point, give it a bit of gas and then release the handbrake, but DONT move your feet until the car is moving. The last bit is the important bit. Make sure you practice moving off on slopes too.

3) I'm not sure but I'm sure if you have a look in Halfords or one of those cheap shops that does car stuff you'll find something to buff em up.

Nice car btw

[Shad]

3 - 'Back to Black' is what you want, bit like paint-meets-polish but it works a treat. Make sure not to get any on the bodywork.

2 - Comes with practise; think about what you're doing, and therefore why it's not smooth, and adjust your technique.

1 - Best advice I could give you is don't have any lessons with parents/friends/relatives/cats/neighbours etc. I had 24 lessons with my instructor with no outside help and passed first time, but I think if I'd have had lessons with my dad or whoever, I'd have probably developed one or more bad habbits. Best do do it by the book until you've passed

[Howard]

Plus things could get a bit nasty if you have any disagreements with your family/friends, etc.

That's a damn nice first car mate!

[RoGuE|SaBeR]

atm I'm taking lessons with the instructor in his car and going out in my car with my mum occasionally to get practise.

My aunt failed her test the first time and it was kinda because she didn't have enough confidense in the car so she went out with my mum (her sister) to get more time on the road. So I'm hoping this theory will work for me first time.

[Punky]

the clutch thing - just relax and don't rush it. get it just below the biting point when you are waitin to pull off, then bring it up slowly and press the go pedal. if you rush, you're bound to stall/kangaroo. hope this helps.

[XTR]

3) back to black is crap for stuff like that... get the bumper black stuff. its like an oily based stuff. once its black again then you can use back to black.

[87Blazer]

Hi everyone i need some help, I have a 1987 Chevy Blazer 4x4 S10 and the fuel pump isnt getting any power, my headlights dont work, my dome lights dont work, and my horn dont work. All this happened three days ago and since then i have replaced the fuel pump(cuz i didnt know that it was still good) and it wont start does anyone know whats wrong with my pos.


thanks

[shelley bda]

That's a really nice car

Good luck with your lessons, there's a lot of information to absorb in the early days, you'll get there, as has been said don't bring your foot off the clutch too early, bring it to the biting point if you can't feel the bite under your foot then watch for the bonnet to move.

Iv'e just passed my theory, going to book my test soon

[BenW]

I've had 8 or 9 hours now and i'm still struggling a bit with the clutch. I'm fine when theres no traffic around but when there is I rush it and miss the bite (Bring it up too much). My instructor puts his foot over the second clutch pedal if its busy so i don't stall it but still tells me.

So yea, be gentle with it.

Bumpers, we had a ford maverik (Same as nissan terrano) and it had the same problem. It went in the garage once and came out with lovely black bumpers. The garage used autoglym bumper stuff which worked a treat. Would recommend it

[5lab]

try moving your seat a bit further in. might be a bit cramped feeling, but should give you a little more control over the clutch and gas which helps kangerooing

[Howard]

Yeah, and basically practice makes perfect. Oh and holy thread revival batman, etc

[directhex]

use the ball of your foot for pedals - especially the accelerator - instead of toes.

and try to avoid lifting your heel at all costs - you should be pivoting your foot, keeping your heel in contact with the mat at all times. unless it's a bitchy car like a clio, with a 1 meter clutch/accelerator, anyway.

pivoting & using ball of foot give a LOT more fine control, and lead to much nicer movement around the 1st gear level

[BenW]

Surely you can't get the clutch all the way down without lifting your foot? I'm learning in a 55 reg fiesta 3 door and i deffinately lift my foot for the clutch

[directhex]

Surely you can't get the clutch all the way down without lifting your foot? I'm learning in a 55 reg fiesta 3 door and i deffinately lift my foot for the clutch

depends on the car. at the very least, you should be able to go from no clutch held in at all, to just below the biting point, without lifting your foot.

look at it this way. in terms of control, without lifting your foot, there's just one thig to control - how much you pivot. with the foot raised, you've got to coordinate thigh, calf, and foot, in 3D space, to apply controlled and smooth pressure to the clutch

[Howard]

I have to lift my foot occasionally because there's toomuch friction on the pedal. It doesn't make things any more jumpy though, as I said once you get used to the movement, get used to the pedals of the certain car, you'll be able to drive it smoothly. You shouldn't have to "think" about it either way... It'll become second nature after a short while