Driver from hell- that's me.

[brookie]

I've passed the test the first time. I was hoping to complete the manual
licence, but... I found it too stressfull. How could I manage to put the
indicators on, look in the mirrors, watch for the blind spots, put the right
gear on. My husband gave me the hard time on the car park, so I had enough.
Now I'm driving automatic and I'm really happy. Anyone had a similar
experience?

[Gość: cheshirecat]

Yes, taking a driving test can be a VERY stressful experience. With all those
silly things that get in a way of our driving like looking in the mirror,
remembering to put the indicator on and remembering that the red means STOP
and green Go (not the other way round!)after a while you may get disheartened
with learning to drive. But after many long and arduous hours of draving
lessons and ditching questionable help from yor husband or partner you get
your driving licence the feeling is fantastic. Happy driving!!

[brookie]

I'd love to have a licence for manual, but it's just too much for me.
Hand brake and clutch plus gear box= nightmare. I've given up.
Driving automatic was like heaven for me, comparing to what I'be been through.
Cheers!

[Gość: awalk]

A standard shift is obsolete and good only for professional drivers and special purposes e.g. racing and terrain vehicles. The clutch in such vehicle wears down very quickly. Driving with a standard shift in a traffic jam is a nightmare. The ride is jerky and uncomfortable.

[brookie]

That's right. I remember my driving lessons for manual. I stopped on the
intersection waiting for my turn. When the light turned green, I pulled up the
hand brake but didn't feel the friction between the clutch and gear.
The car went dead. I felt like an idiot.

[Gość: Kan_z_oz]

Dear Brookie,
Driving lessons with a husband, that is the biggest mistake you could have
made. I nearly got divorced because of it many years ago. The husband as the
driving instructor means always major marital problems and please remember,
you still have to control a car. No wonder you had trouble to pass your manual
test. Did you husband teach you 'up-hill start' on the biggest hill in the
city?
Mine did. I will never forgive him for doing it. Car was barley climbing
anyway, up-hill was out of the questions. Do not worry about 'going dead' on
the intersections, it happens.
See you,

[brookie]

My husband didn't teach me, but he checked me out on the car park after my
10th lesson. The results were not impressing. I went up to the third gear and
couldn't slow down. I was so stressed out that I hardly managed to hit the
breaks. I nearly crushed . He took me to the doctor afterwards
( calms, you know).

[Gość: mxt]

good you've got your license - now you can have a few English lessons...

[brookie]

Another wanker...

[Gość: awalk]

brookie napisała:

> Another wanker...

:)

[soup_nazi]

brookie napisała:

> That's right. I remember my driving lessons for manual. I stopped on the
> intersection waiting for my turn. When the light turned green, I pulled up
the
> hand brake but didn't feel the friction between the clutch and gear.
> The car went dead. I felt like an idiot.

YOU DID WHAT?! You wanted to go ahead (FYI: that's what we usually do seeing
green light) and you PULLED UP THE HAND BRAKE?! What this has to do with clutch
and gears? What do you do with the brake pedal when you want to start moving?
You depress it? I'm afraid to ask what you do when you want to slow down? Hm,
let me guess - you depress the gas pedal?

Well, I feel that actually you are an idiot and you should stay away from any
mechanical vehicles forever. I'm truly relieved that you live in Australia. If
you don't abstain from driving ASAP, you are on your best way to become a
criminal.

[soup_nazi]

Gość portalu: awalk napisał(a):

> A standard shift is obsolete and good only for professional drivers and
special
> purposes e.g. racing and terrain vehicles.

! Where did you get that from?

The clutch in such vehicle wears do
> wn very quickly.

Hehehe, that happens only to a certain kind of "drivers". To all others it
happens once every few years and only in an older car.

Driving with a standard shift in a traffic jam is a nightmare.
> The ride is jerky and uncomfortable.

As above - that's true only in regards to a certain kind of "drivers".

[Gość: awalk]

soup_nazi napisał:

> Gość portalu: awalk napisał(a):
>
> > A standard shift is obsolete and good only for professional drivers and
> special
> > purposes e.g. racing and terrain vehicles.
>
> ! Where did you get that from?

From experience.

>
> The clutch in such vehicle wears do
> > wn very quickly.
>
> Hehehe, that happens only to a certain kind of "drivers". To all others it
> happens once every few years and only in an older car.

He he that's right, every few years and never in automatic transmission. What do you say to that?
>
> Driving with a standard shift in a traffic jam is a nightmare.
> > The ride is jerky and uncomfortable.
>
> As above - that's true only in regards to a certain kind of "drivers".

That is true for majority of drivers to be exact. And comparing to automatic it is never smooth, no matter who's the driver.

>

[soup_nazi]

Gość portalu: awalk napisał(a):

> soup_nazi napisał:
>
> > Gość portalu: awalk napisał(a):
> >
> > > A standard shift is obsolete and good only for professional drivers a
> nd
> > special
> > > purposes e.g. racing and terrain vehicles.
> >
> > ! Where did you get that from?
>
> From experience.

Experience? Whose experience? Does not the vast majority of cars in the world
have manual transmission?

>
> >
> > The clutch in such vehicle wears do
> > > wn very quickly.
> >
> > Hehehe, that happens only to a certain kind of "drivers". To all others it
>
> > happens once every few years and only in an older car.
>
> He he that's right, every few years and never in automatic transmission. What
d
> o you say to that?

Never say never. Last year it happened to my co-worker in Pontiac Grand Am
1997, bought brand new, mainly highway driven, experienced, good driver. The
cost of reconditioned (with 6 month warranty) automatic transmission was well
over CAD 2,000. Brand new was much more expensive. New clutch for a standard
costs CAD 200-30O. In both cases labour and taxes included. What do you say to
that? Granted, it is not a common thing to happen, I mean automatic
transmission breakdown,, but still - happens.

> >
> > Driving with a standard shift in a traffic jam is a nightmare.
> > > The ride is jerky and uncomfortable.
> >
> > As above - that's true only in regards to a certain kind of "drivers".
>
> That is true for majority of drivers to be exact. And comparing to automatic
it
> is never smooth, no matter who's the driver.
>
Good driver (in a decent car) is not even aware of shifting gears. The shift is
barely felt by his passenger, no more than in an automatic.

As for me, the only advantage of automatic vs. standard is that it is easier to
drink coffee when driving, hehehe.

Seriously, automatic is more convenient in city traffic, no difference on
highway, though. On the other hand, the sense of overall control gives more
driving pleasure to an experienced driver, especially in a car with more
powerful engine. Frankly, I'm not taking sides here - I currently own two cars
with automatic transmission, in the past I used to drive several cars with
either type of transmission. It just makes me laugh when a new or meager driver
claims that "auto" is better than "stick shift" as an excuse for his/her
inability to learn driving a standard. I really don't (neither does my wife)
care and therefore it puts me in a privileged position when it comes to buying
a car or driving somebody's else car.

[Gość: Kan_z_oz]

Dear Soup, what are you doing in here?
Stick or auto, it depends on a car. I prefer 'stick' in high performance
cars; 'auto' is good when talking on the phone.
Love from Sydney

[soup_nazi]

Gość portalu: Kan_z_oz napisał(a):

> Dear Soup, what are you doing in here?

I'm a Renaissance man, hehehe

BTW

[soup_nazi]

What is the dominant car make in Australia? American, European, Japanese?
What are the most common makes and models?

[Gość: awalk]

soup_nazi napisał:

>
> Experience? Whose experience? Does not the vast majority of cars in the world
> have manual transmission?
>

Sorry. My experience
The majority of cars in the US have automatic transmissions, that's for sure. As for the rest of the world, hmm..., Chinese ride bicycles and rickshaws, in other places they 'drive' horse wagons etc.

>
> Never say never. Last year it happened to my co-worker in Pontiac Grand Am
> 1997, bought brand new, mainly highway driven, experienced, good driver. The
> cost of reconditioned (with 6 month warranty) automatic transmission was well
> over CAD 2,000. Brand new was much more expensive. New clutch for a standard
> costs CAD 200-30O. In both cases labour and taxes included. What do you say to
> that?

Long time ago I bought a Honda Accord, 5 speed manual. Soon not only the clutch broke down but the whole gear box as well. Since that time I've been driving automatics only and never had any problems anymore.

? Granted, it is not a common thing to happen, I mean automatic
> transmission breakdown,, but still - happens.


OK, I should have said rarely.

> >
> Good driver (in a decent car) is not even aware of shifting gears. The shift is
>
> barely felt by his passenger, no more than in an automatic.

I've heard this argument often but I've never seen such driver. They must be extremely rare, perhaps extinct creatures.

>
> As for me, the only advantage of automatic vs. standard is that it is easier to
>
> drink coffee when driving, hehehe.

I often shave when going to work. :)

>
> Seriously, automatic is more convenient in city traffic, no difference on
> highway, though. On the other hand, the sense of overall control gives more
> driving pleasure to an experienced driver, especially in a car with more
> powerful engine. Frankly, I'm not taking sides here - I currently own two cars
> with automatic transmission, in the past I used to drive several cars with
> either type of transmission. It just makes me laugh when a new or meager >driver.
> claims that "auto" is better than "stick shift" as an excuse for his/her
> inability to learn driving a standard.

What makes you think I'm a new driver and I can't drive standard shift?

Talking about experienced drivers. I've heard sowhere that they use automatic transmissions in Formula 1 nowadays. Can anyone tell me if it's true? Also most buses and coaches have automatic transmissions (even in Poland) and they are driven by professional drivers, aren't they?

PS

please cut the irrelevant stuff out next time.

[soup_nazi]

Gość portalu: awalk napisał(a):

> soup_nazi napisał:
>
> >
> > Experience? Whose experience? Does not the vast majority of cars in the wo
> rld
> > have manual transmission?
> >
>
> Sorry. My experience

Well, what are your credentials to claim that manual transmission is obsolete?

> The majority of cars in the US have automatic transmissions, that's for sure.

Gee, thanks.

> s for the rest of the world, hmm..., Chinese ride bicycles and rickshaws, in
ot
> her places they 'drive' horse wagons etc.

Aren't you American by chance? If so, it must be that "buffoon American"
flavour.

>
> >
> > Never say never. Last year it happened to my co-worker in Pontiac Grand Am
>
> > 1997, bought brand new, mainly highway driven, experienced, good driver. T
> he
> > cost of reconditioned (with 6 month warranty) automatic transmission was w
> ell
> > over CAD 2,000. Brand new was much more expensive. New clutch for a standa
> rd
> > costs CAD 200-30O. In both cases labour and taxes included. What do you sa
> y to
> > that?
>
> Long time ago I bought a Honda Accord, 5 speed manual. Soon not only the
clutch
> broke down but the whole gear box as well.

Well, it must have been very tired Honda Accord.

Since that time I've been driving a
> utomatics only and never had any problems anymore.
>
> ? Granted, it is not a common thing to happen, I mean automatic
> > transmission breakdown,, but still - happens.
>
>
> OK, I should have said rarely.
>
> > >
> > Good driver (in a decent car) is not even aware of shifting gears. The shi
> ft is
> >
> > barely felt by his passenger, no more than in an automatic.
>
> I've heard this argument often but I've never seen such driver. They must be
ex
> tremely rare, perhaps extinct creatures.

Stop hanging out with wannabes, losers, and cowboys then.

>
> >
> > As for me, the only advantage of automatic vs. standard is that it is easi
> er to
> >
> > drink coffee when driving, hehehe.
>
> I often shave when going to work. :)
>
> >
> > Seriously, automatic is more convenient in city traffic, no difference on
> > highway, though. On the other hand, the sense of overall control gives mor
> e
> > driving pleasure to an experienced driver, especially in a car with more
> > powerful engine. Frankly, I'm not taking sides here - I currently own two
> cars
> > with automatic transmission, in the past I used to drive several cars with
>
> > either type of transmission. It just makes me laugh when a new or meager &
> #62driver.
> > claims that "auto" is better than "stick shift" as an excuse for his/her
> > inability to learn driving a standard.
>
> What makes you think I'm a new driver and I can't drive standard shift?
>
> Talking about experienced drivers. I've heard sowhere that they use automatic
t
> ransmissions in Formula 1 nowadays. Can anyone tell me if it's true? Also
most
> buses and coaches have automatic transmissions (even in Poland) and they are
dr
> iven by professional drivers, aren't they?

No idea. I ride a bus once in a blue moon. In Poland even less often. What
about transport drivers? Why don't they use autotrans? Aren't they professional
drivers?

>
> PS
>
> please cut the irrelevant stuff out next time.

Namely?

[Gość: awalk]

soup_nazi napisał:

> Well, what are your credentials to claim that manual transmission is obsolete?
>
Oh you want to know my credentials, don't you? Just look at the post about
'attack mode button' in Formula 1 cars. If this doesn't convince you that
manual transmission is obsolete than I can't convince you either. :)

> > The majority of cars in the US have automatic transmissions, that's for su
> re.
>
> Gee, thanks.

You're welcome.

>
> > s for the rest of the world, hmm..., Chinese ride bicycles and rickshaws,
> in
> ot
> > her places they 'drive' horse wagons etc.
>
> Aren't you American by chance? If so, it must be that "buffoon American"
> flavour.

So you don't like American buffons. May I ask where you live?

>
> Well, it must have been very tired Honda Accord.

Tired or not I've never had any problems with automatic transmissions since
that time.

> > I've heard this argument often but I've never seen such driver. They must
> be
> ex
> > tremely rare, perhaps extinct creatures.
>
> Stop hanging out with wannabes, losers, and cowboys then.

What makes you think I do such silly things? Stop imagining please, you might
get a headache.

> > Talking about experienced drivers. I've heard sowhere that they use automa
> tic
> t
> > ransmissions in Formula 1 nowadays. Can anyone tell me if it's true? Also
> most
> > buses and coaches have automatic transmissions (even in Poland) and they a
> re
> dr
> > iven by professional drivers, aren't they?
>
> No idea. I ride a bus once in a blue moon. In Poland even less often.
> What
> about transport drivers? Why don't they use autotrans? Aren't they
professional
>
> drivers?

A good question. I don't know why, but perhaps they are dumb.
>
> >
> > PS
> >
> > please cut the irrelevant stuff out next time.
>
> Namely?
>
Namely the irrelevant stuff. Otherwise, because of the length of this text
we'll get lost and won't be able to have this nice exchange of opinions.

[Gość: j]

[glory]

In formula 1 they use an "attack mode" button .Gear box is auto but driver
still controls speed using it .Acceleration is 6 times faster than... Porsche
Boxster. And beside, racing cars have more opsition than a New York
stockbroker( bone structure,engine and etc, etc) to fucks right off into
illegal 300km/h in a few secods.

[Gość: awalk]

glory napisał:

> In formula 1 they use an "attack mode" button .Gear box is auto but driver
> still controls speed using it .Acceleration is 6 times faster than... Porsche
> Boxster. And beside, racing cars have more opsition than a New York
> stockbroker( bone structure,engine and etc, etc) to fucks right off into
> illegal 300km/h in a few secods.

An attack mode button you say. I like it! Let me ask you, did you coin this name yourself or it is officialy used name for this button in the Formula 1 world?

[glory]

He,he .You right Awalk. Sometimes after knocking back few lagers I'm the
biggest bullshit talker.Of course I have no idea at all how they're changing
gears.
But I know for sure, that bus drivers in Monte Carlo were white gloves on the
job.