you know when all you lovely people give advice...

postingalwaysposting

RAS wrote: »

Hi posting

Glad to see some me money going out there.

Re the driving, I had a thought a whileback when you talked about your height and weight, if you don't mind the intrusion. Also this harks back to my learner days. The instructor insisted on driving OH's car for a bit, and told me if I did not pass in that, he'd give me a couple of lessons in the School vehicle and I would be more likely to pass.

After passing, I drove all sorts as I used to hire when i needed a car. There is one make of car that cripples me and I will never drive that make again.

You are 5-1 and size 18/20. That probably means short legs and arms compared with the average human for whom the car was built and to get to the peddles and steering wheel, you need to get the seat forward. It also means that you are sitting relatively low in the car, which will affect you visibility, unless you have a very low windows.

But (unless you are a very different 18 to me), your "frontage" means that you can't get too close to the wheel, so you have to set the backrest at least further back, and possibly the seat as well.

Is there anyway, you could experiment, even in your mum's car, with different seat arrangments to find out what is optimum for you? It might make a difference. Then get dead cheeky, take someone with you and try out a few cars in a show room? As long as you do not buy one!

hi ras :hello:

yep a bit too much really :whistle: but i havent 'wasted' most of it... with the £60 i have brough a new game, a mobile, spot treatment, a new book and dvd rentals... not too bad.

the driving, yes i have short arms and legs, broad sholders (reversing isnt good for me but i do it) and a little beer belly :rotfl: anyways his car peugeot 206 (new modal) has fantastic seats, they go in out, up & down and his wheels adjustable... it just means i am in as far as i can go and up as far as i can go this means my legs ache soo much. I mean i can drive it with no problems. My mums car (old 306) i love, i have driven it before, as she is the same as me i need to do nothing and can drive it, also the seat cant be raised but i can see more than in my driving instructors car (if that makes sense). I have driven about 6 cars, minis (new modal) were my worse :rotfl:

I think its a confidance thing, the problem is i drive and everything is wrong, even if i am just driving down a one way street, in his eyes i am still doing something wrong. He rattles off loads of stuff that i have done wrong and then i go back to thinking i am never going to drive so then i go back to my new drivier mode (ie 20mph) and he then hates that. Maybe its just me? but it must be as i am now on my 6th instructor... maybe i am unteachable?

RAS

Posting

Does he rattle off loads of things you have done wrong, or does he make suggestions about what you should do? If it is the former, then I am not sure he is a good person to instill confidence.

By the way, I still view cars as potential killing machines, even though I have driven rather faster than I ought and can be quite aggressive as a driver. On the other hand, I always keep my eyes peeled for other drivers as at least one will do something stupid that requires avoidance.

postingalwaysposting

Hi ras... again

he does a bit of both, depends how he feels, but sometimes its things like, your going too slow (2mph under 30mph) you changed gear too fast (2nd~3rd @ 28mph) with the serious things he will go through them but most of teh time i know i am doing them but he and other road users put me off. Also if i am having an 'off' day and ask him something like, shall i go around this corner in 2nd... hes like you should know this and dont answer me... so if i then do it wrong he gets all flustered :rolleyes:

yep me too, i have told him when i pass i will do 20~25mph, and he laughed... he made me feel like a fool because i wanted a fiat, he basically rips me to pieces. Then next lesson he says he does it on purpose so that when i have an 'easy' lesson the following week i will see that i can do it. But as he found out that made me worse, i told the school from day one i wasnt confidant in a car, now he has got me there he is taking it back away :rolleyes: i dont understand him :rolleyes:

Emmzi

pap,

rule 1 of teaching: maintain and enhance learner self esteem. All the 'train the trainer' courses I've been on start with this.

If he isn't doing it, he's a poor teacher. Accept that it's him, and if possible move on. You may need to go through a few to find the right one!

I went through a raft of driving instructors until I found a patient, sweet guy.

kathfisch

Pap, this is not a problem with you! Your driving instructor does not sound like a good teacher, as Emmzi says. I am a confident driver but I don't think that would make me a good teacher of it, it really is a skill and it doesn't sound like he has that. Plenty of people are nervous with driving, what you need is someone sympathetic and patient. Please, please, don't give up... perhaps you haven't found the right instructor yet but that does not mean you're a bad driver or can't learn. I can understand its frustrating to go through lots of teachers but when you find the right one you'll be so much more confident

tesuhoha

Yes Pap, I agree with kathfisch and Emmzie, its not you. It sounds to me as if he's taking advantage of your good nature and lack of confidence. As well as giving your test to someone else, he's ensured that he's going to make even more money out of you. I think you do need to toughen up with him by asking him a few blunt questions about why he moved your test without consulting you first. If he's the only judge of your driving then he can do as he pleases with regard to undermining your confidence.

postingalwaysposting

hi all, he came into work (yes work ~ he has a makro card) to speak to me today, i was upstairs on lunch so i was on the phone to him... i now have a new test at the very end of july :rolleyes: but with him coming into work lots of people now know :rolleyes: i think i will carry on with him but if he moves my test/suggests i dont take it i will leave him... oh and i am not doing my pass plus with him now... :T maybe its a confidance thing but i have to overcome that...

System

Hiya PAP, is there not an independent body you can speak to? BTW, I didnt know you worked in MAKRO? I normally use Costco. Are there any major bargains to be had in Makro? Sorry for sounding selfish. Lenster

postingalwaysposting

lennymfo wrote: »

Hiya PAP, is there not an independent body you can speak to? BTW, I didnt know you worked in MAKRO? I normally use Costco. Are there any major bargains to be had in Makro? Sorry for sounding selfish. Lenster

hi len, dont know havent really thought about it... yep, hate it most of the time though :rotfl: ummm no not really, we are relaunching soon so we are supposed to be having better offers in (july) dont know if they are good or not though? i know there is a 32" tv with freeview, hd, and dvd for £99 but if that happens there wont be many

System

Hey PAP I notice in your signature that it says

Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me, for the path is narrow. In fact, just naff off and leave me alone

We have a jocular one for a useless officer:

His men would follow him anywhere - but only out of curiosity!