New driver questions?

[lukus12345]

Hi all

Not sure if most appropiate section to post to, so appologies if not?

Newly passed driver - driven a little bit each weekend for the last two weeks around my local area; havent ventured very far to be honest.

In my 30s and probably not the most confident of drivers hence leaving it so late to learn, but commitments and necessity to drive have arisen. That said, I did pass first time with 3 minors, but I want to be able to drive good and safe at the end of the day :c.

I learnt on a diesel, and while instructor said on the first lesson to add gas when pulling away; (especially on a petrol), was easily forgotten, plus easy to do with clutch only due to diesel, which I certainly had fallen foul of when learning. Though I did improve from reading best practices online and reminding myself.

However, I've now got my petrol car, and I'm finding it hard to find the biting point and the appropiate revs to get a smooth pull away without stalling or juddering?

I was also taught to "sit on the biting point" but have been told I should sit in neutral at traffic lights etc by my dad, as will otherwise ruin the clutch? But I have certainly stalled a couple of times now trying to do gas /clutch and hand brake in such a short period... My main concern is T junctions where there should be plenty of space to get out if you're nippy but worried im going to stall!

It's also leaving me a little bit of confusion about clutch control such as with bay parking /reversing. I was taught to cover brake, control speed via clutch - fine with diesel but should I also be applying any gas with a petrol for the same basis of pulling away?? For example when reversing back onto my drive which has a moderate slope to it, do I apply more gas and go softer on the clutch, or no gas and more clutch? i.e. should I be aiming to have a fully depress clutch before adding thinking of adding gas as to not be slipping the clutch??

I'm not sure if I am over thinking it and being too cautious of ruining my clutch and doing too little revs (when I think im applying a lot) and /or applying too much or too little clutch at the same time? I can quite easily add a lot of Revs and clutch up to a quite visual and audible dip to the car, but then I definitely think I'm ruining the clutch (other than the necessity of hill starts).

Edited by lukus12345 on Monday 12th November 19:16

[lukus12345]

Thanks for the replies all, was much appreciated.

Have improved greatly with respect to clutch control - haven't stalled for a while (although a couple of close ones) and reversing into drive a lot easier now, albeit, maybe a bit too fast some times.

Sitting in neutral when stationary now too!

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

(My credentials: I’m not yet a driving instructor, but I’m at a late stage of training to be one, so I’ve done a lot of thinking about how I would teach students.)

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Sunday 28th October 10:48

Would certainly suggest reiterating to students; gas > biting point more than just once or twice in the first lesson, though I can imagine some instructors over the years have resorted to turning a blind eye to it knowing it'll be the student's problem once they pass, which seems to be the impression I got i.e. taught to pass


Regarding long post, my appologies! I could have probably stripped it down much shorter but wanted to be concise, certainly don't want it to be a cause of an arguement and can appreciate it's probably a massive wall if viewed on a phone.