How did you learn to drive ?

[bmagni]

i started at 13 when i used to play tennis with my father, so i would take the car to the club and back home, it was quite "near" home, you know in mexico 10-15 mins is near home. Then some months after that we used to go across the city every weekend, so i took the car and brought it home, at home we've always had manual transmission cars, my parents dont like autos, so do i . so after that they had enough trust in me to lend me the car but not to buy me one, my father was really close into buying me a car but my mom refused cause she said it was too much of a car for a 14 year old.
ive never had an accident, just one time that a stupid lady reversed into my left front light.

[Evo]

I was 16 dad gave me the keys to his Discovery automatic I drove with out any mistakes.. When I reached home to park the car in the garage by mistake I hit the accelerator instead of the brake and I crashed the car in to the wall.. Dad did not trust me driving his car for a while but in that time we had a suzuke don't ask me what name it is coz I got no clue.. it was a manual . I steel the car anld go for couple of hours drive when I know no one will be at home.. so I learned that way.. Although the only person who caought me doing this was my older brother but good of him that he never open his mouth till this day.. . Kept driving until the day I turned 18 when I officially took my driving lisence

[sameerrao]

I must be a late bloomer - I got my car license when I was 20. I took some classes as is true for most of you. It was in a small car with twin set of pedals: clutch, brakes, throttle - one for instructor and one for you.

Needless to say I didnt learn that much as the instructor used to always keep the clutch partly in and the cluctch was pretty beat anyway.

After i got my license, I then took my parents car and drove for 200 km in two days with my grand-dad - he made go thru highways, crowded and narrrow streets, parking in all directions and other stuff. I think I trully learnt that day driving with my grandpa.

[Evo]

Originally Posted by sameerrao I must be a late bloomer - I got my car license when I was 20.

And you call your self a car entusiast .. Hehehe kidding..

I think I trully learnt that day driving with my grandpa.

Most people learn quite a lot of stuff about driving after they pass their test. And I am certainly one of them.

I also agree about the first accident theory.. That you will learn and be extra careful after your first accident. And I belive in that too..

[sameerrao]

Originally Posted by Evo Originally Posted by sameerrao I must be a late bloomer - I got my car license when I was 20. And you call your self a car entusiast .. Hehehe kidding..

Hey!!!! ... I couldnt afford a car back then anyway ... I had a little scooter to get me round town before that....

Besides look at my progress since ....

First car :
http://www.geocities.com/greatkalam/m800.gif

Second car:
http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8886

Third car (some years out in the future):
Hopefully the 80s iconic "redhead"

[Darkel]

Originally Posted by Evo I also agree about the first accident theory.. That you will learn and be extra careful after your first accident. And I belive in that too..

I also second that, we had an accident last month, I wasn't driving but I'm now 200% more careful on crossroads, I always think "and what if this guy suddently wants to go there and cuts the road in front of me etc ..." and I think it's a good thing, it taught me everything can happen, and not only to the others

The first time I drove a car was 3 years ago at school, there were some policemen there to speak about the driving license and so on, we could drive a bit on the playground and it was honnestly a horrible experience for me, it was late in the afternoon, I was the last one, that policeman seated beside me was a real asshole because he did not even help me, as if I already had my licence, hell, I had never driven any car, I stalled something like 10 times, everything with the clutch, I still don't know why we weren't allowed to use that damn accelerator :roll:
I still consider this day as the worst day of my whole life ...

Anyway last year I passed my theoretical test and I started having some lessons, now I can only drive with an experienced driver as passenger, as Insane said, it's exactly the same system here.
My driving lessons whith the instructor (a woman) were nice, I started from the beginning (unlike my first experience) and there was no problem at all

[corpse_grinder0]

when I was 12, I went to the liquer store with my cousin.. bought whatever we went to buy, and went back to the car, but he got in on the passenger, and told me the only way we are gonna get home, is if I drive. I was a bit nervous but very well determined. It was a new vw Jetta at the time... about 7 yrs ago... and stick. I had a hard time beleiving where reverse was, since I thought reverse was bottom right in all cars that were stick. Well I stalled only twice, and made it home. instantly hooked!

[topgeartom]

I'm currently learning, had about 6 lessons so far, and stalled it twice to date. Ive done most of the major manouvers. I've got 3 point turns pretty much sussed, can do reverse round corners really well, and after about 4 tries can now get very close to the kerb on parrallel parks. I'm still getting used to the clutch as its pretty much fucked on my instructors car. The biting point is really high, so its very difficult to get it immediately, or make a nice smooth gearchange quickly. I'm getting there though, and my examinersays im really really good. Ive never had any form of experience before my first lesson, and when we were about halfway through it he said "I can tell youve got this sussed, you know what your doing" which obviously made me very happy. On my seccond lesson he said "If only everyone who learned to drive was as good as you, my job would be much easier" which also made me blush rather a lot! One of main problems though, is tha im still too nervous, so i rush things and make small things really complex.

[Darkel]

Originally Posted by topgeartom I'm still getting used to the clutch as its pretty much fucked on my instructors car. The biting point is really high, so its very difficult to get it immediately, or make a nice smooth gearchange quickly.

I got the same problem 2 weeks ago when I had to drive the school car again (just for an hour tho), when you used to drive a real car (I mean, not fucked up by everybody) you notice that those are really shitty