[KelvinAng]

Congratulations, KelvinAng. It's interesting that you didn't have to do a u-turn - maybe I only had to do one because where I live there's only one road that goes through town, so to get back to where you started you have to do a u-turn!

Thanks everyone :D I've no idea why, too. I'm guessing that for me, driving an automatic car with power-steering, stuff like U-turns are pretty easy so maybe the test officer just assumes that I can do it? Basically if I can drive along straight, and turn right, there's no reason why I cannot do a U-turn!

My bike test got postponed as the test officer was hospitalised for concussion on that day. The test was re-scheduled to a Saturday (and the test centre where I went to don't do tests on Saturdays normally).

I'm sure you'll be right, pebbles16. Just remember to indicate "left" as you exit a roundabout even if you're really just going "straight" through it.

[peebles16]

Okay first 'proper' lesson in NZ and it went really well - I love automatic cars and now realise that most of my problems with driving really were down the gear changing :yes Just drove around, practised pulling in to roadside and out a lot , got up to 80km on my first lesson :eek:, did a few u-turns and intersections and that was it :D Another one tomorrow :)

Karenx

[Tia Maria]

Okay first 'proper' lesson in NZ and it went really well - I love automatic cars and now realise that most of my problems with driving really were down the gear changing :yes Just drove around, practised pulling in to roadside and out a lot , got up to 80km on my first lesson :eek:, did a few u-turns and intersections and that was it :D Another one tomorrow

Karenx

:clap Nice one!

I'm sure the fact that I'm learning in an automatic has made it a lot easier on me. The only people who nag me about it are UK expats who are convinced I need gears, the Kiwis I've met don't bat an eyelid.

I think for late learners or nervous learners automatic is the way to go.

Great to hear it went well, I was surprised at how well my first lesson went also.

Cheers

Tia

[Flutterby]

funny you should bring up the automatic issue, my partner is pushing towards getting me an automatic, and stubborn old me whos never driven an automatic before is thinking if i'm gonna learn to drive i should do it in a REAL car (ie one with gears) i'm sure once i get there and try an automatic i'll change my mind, but its always in the back of my mind that learning with an automatic will leave me with another hurdle and extra expense later on when i want to drive a car with a stick and limit my choice of cars to buy in the mean time.

Can you put me in the possible future members, tho it wont be until sept '09

[Jo Jo]

but its always in the back of my mind that learning with an automatic will leave me with another hurdle and extra expense later on when i want to drive a car with a stick and limit my choice of cars to buy in the mean time.



Here in NZ, if you pass your restricted test in an automatic you are only allowed to drive automatics unless you are under supervision, but for your full test if you pass in an automatic you are allowed to drive a manual car!

[Jo Jo]

I think for late learners or nervous learners automatic is the way to go.



I learnt in a manual, but our car at home is an automatic, and the first time I drove it I thought how easy it was in comparison. If I'd had a choice, I'd have preferred to learn in an automatic, and would definitely have felt more confident about my test beforehand.

[jeffanar]

I think for the first few lessons Automatic is the way to go - it's scary enough being on the road without having to worry about changing gears. Then once you're comfortable on the road try a manual with a driving instructor in a dual control car (removes the fear of stalling in the middle of an intersection!) then once you've mastered that you can do it all on your own! That's how I did it anyway :D

Personally I much prefer driving a manual, and that makes it quite hard to buy a car because the vast majority are automatic. Maybe if I drove in traffic more I would get an automatic.

[Flutterby]

Here in NZ, if you pass your restricted test in an automatic you are only allowed to drive automatics unless you are under supervision, but for your full test if you pass in an automatic you are allowed to drive a manual car!

Ah, i thought that i'd have to do an additional test to be able to drive a manual, this may well be a deciding factor!

[KelvinAng]

:clap Nice one!

I'm sure the fact that I'm learning in an automatic has made it a lot easier on me. The only people who nag me about it are UK expats who are convinced I need gears, the Kiwis I've met don't bat an eyelid.

I think for late learners or nervous learners automatic is the way to go.

Great to hear it went well, I was surprised at how well my first lesson went also.

Cheers

Tia

Technically you have gears too in an automatic (well, most automatics... as Continuous Variable Transmission [the system with "infinite gears", as used on most scooters] hasn't quite caught on in cars).

In fact you do need to "change gears" to do certain things like climbing a hill, by pushing the stick to tell the car only to use the 1st gear only, or 1st and 2nd gears only, etc. Although technically you can still climb up a hill on "D" mode it's not the best way to do it :D

On most automatics you can also "change gear" by flooring the accelerator. It drops a gear and goes into high revs, useful for overtaking, climbing slopes, or drifting if combined with the handbrake :exit

And if you engage Overdrive mode (if available), it uses low-revs with big gearing for that smooth, quiet, fuel-efficient cruising at motorway speeds.

Who says automatics have no gears to worry about? :D