Hillstart in Automatic Test?

mcgraw

hi everyone

I have my test this Thursday in Naas :eek:. I have an automatic and i was wondering if i will have to do a hill start as my instructor hasnt done hill starts with me? Also wondering if anyone has done the test in Toughers?

thank you & a great site :O)

Alanstrainor

No need to worry about the hill start, it's the one manoeuvre that's omitted as most automatic cars "auto-creep" which makes it as simple as releasing the foot brake and accelerating.
Best of Luck on Thursday.

mcgraw

thanks very much. i'll be a nervous wreck but fingers crossed!!!
will let you know if i pass :cool:

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

mcgraw

hi donegalfella

i know that and thanks, i'll never go back to a manual, I had one when i first started driving and i hated it! i left it a bit late to drive and i was far to nervous especially doing the hill starts!! anyway fingers crossed for thursday!!!!!

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

mcgraw

hi donegalfella

To be honest i can never see myself going back to a manual but then who knows down the line what can happen! at the moment i LOVE my auto!

any tips for the test? dont like rescue remedy so thats out !

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

mcgraw

umm never thought of it like but i suppose i better pass my test first!!

will be back on Friday with the result!! :rolleyes: and thanks

Wishbone Ash

mcgraw wrote: »

hi donegalfella

i know that and thanks, i'll never go back to a manual, I had one when i first started driving and i hated it! i left it a bit late to drive and i was far to nervous especially doing the hill starts!! anyway fingers crossed for thursday!!!!!

mcgraw wrote: »

hi donegalfella

To be honest i can never see myself going back to a manual but then who knows down the line what can happen! at the moment i LOVE my auto!

any tips for the test? dont like rescue remedy so thats out !

mcgraw - please use normal size text! Thanks.

mcgraw

sorry i dont understand about what you mean about size?

regards

Wishbone Ash

mcgraw wrote: »

sorry i dont understand about what you mean about size?

regards

Some of your posts are appearing like this

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

mcgraw

It looks correct font when i type in box??

apologies if im doing something wrong?

Alanstrainor

Everything looks normal on my side of things, there is some scheduled upgrade work going on with the site, perhaps this is the reason?
All is well Mcgraw, no need to worry. .

cantdecide

If you don't get it this time, defo get some practice behind the wheel of a manual for the next time. I'm a big believer in autos but if you have your driving/ rules/ roadcraft sussed otherwise, adding manual shifting into the mix won't hurt you too much...

mcgraw

grand, i thought that might be the problem alright!! LOL


thanks

Wishbone Ash

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

mcgraw wrote: »

It looks correct font when i type in box??

apologies if im doing something wrong?

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Everything looks normal on my side of things, there is some scheduled upgrade work going on with the site, perhaps this is the reason?
All is well Mcgraw, no need to worry. .

Apologies mcgraw - I'm not sure what's going on. Your posts are appearing in "size 2" on my screen! :eek:

mcgraw

sorry WA - what size are they meant to be??


apologies again..im new today

mcgraw

thanks cant decide.. i'll see how i get on Thursddy, i havent been
driving that long but fingers crossed for me! have you done your test?

cantdecide

mcgraw wrote: »

thanks cant decide.. i'll see how i get on Thursddy, i havent been
driving that long but fingers crossed for me! have you done your test?

Got it in 2001.

I have the bike test on Friday. I'm confident but that doesn't mean I won't end up sobbing on here come Friday Afternoon!!!

Good luck with the test.

mcgraw

Well for you! fingers crossed for you also! i hope both of us are
celebrating at the weekend or thursday afternoon for me !!

Wishbone Ash

mcgraw wrote: »

sorry WA - what size are they meant to be??


apologies again..im new today

No need to apologise as it's obviously not your fault. Text appears in normal default size unless the poster decides to alter it. Your posts are back to normal now.


Apologies folks for bringing this off-topic.

SeanW

mcgraw wrote: »

hi donegalfella

i know that and thanks, i'll never go back to a manual, I had one when i first started driving and i hated it! i left it a bit late to drive and i was far to nervous especially doing the hill starts!! anyway fingers crossed for thursday!!!!!

A lot of learners have been in that "space" before. I quite remember my own learning days, and I lost count of the number of times I had thought "jeez this manual transmission stuff is a load of nonsense, the Americans have the right idea." Particularly when I had just jerked the car during a gear change or stalled at a junction for what seemed like the millionth time.

For that reason, I would suggest to anyone doing the car drivers license test in Ireland, or indeed anywhere in Europe, to get your full, unrestricted driving license first, then decide on whether to drive standard or automatic long term. To make that choice beforehand given the resultant limitations IMHO is foolish.

I got over my - rather immense - problems with manual transmissions (as many do) and now I have a full, unrestricted Cat B driving license. Yet, I could go into the car dealership tomorrow and buy a car with an Automatic Transmission, because noone in driver licensing or anywhere else gives two rats behinds what I drive. But now, with drivng a standard transmission being 2nd nature to me, I don't really feel the need to do so.

I cannot off-hand think of any reason why this cannot be the same for you.

But your situation does raise an interesting question, and made me curious about this:
If you take out a driving license with the 78 (Automatic Only) restriction, can you use your driving license to sit a new driving test in a manual car, or do you have to go through the whole eyesight report, DTT, 6 month wait, deal again to take a new driving test?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Wishbone Ash

SeanW wrote: »

I got over my - rather immense - problems with manual transmissions (as many do) and now I have a full, unrestricted Cat B driving license. Yet, I could go into the car dealership tomorrow and buy a car with an Automatic Transmission, because noone in driver licensing or anywhere else gives two rats behinds what I drive. But now, with drivng a standard transmission being 2nd nature to me, I don't really feel the need to do so.

I used do a bit of work now and again for a bus company. They have a fleet of about 40 buses and are forced to purchase new ones with auto transmission as they are finding it increasing more difficult to get drivers with unrestricted D licences.

However, as I have an unrestricted D licence, I was usually assigned one of the few manual vehicles that are still around while most of the other drivers get to drive around in auto luxury. One of their shuttle routes involved 2,500 gear changes during a shift :eek:. My left leg used to be numb and stiff ! (Now they have an auto on that route ).

J_R

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

That is incorrect. You need apply again for a learner permit to drive and do the test in a manual car.

Correct about the theory bit

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Wishbone Ash

J_R wrote: »

That is incorrect. You need apply again for a learner permit

I was thinking that myself.

A restricted Driving Licence couldn't be used as an unrestricted Learner Permit!

mcgraw

hi all

I wonder will i be asked questions about an automatic because i drive one?? :cool:

Enda89

While on the topic...

How easy is it to transition from Manual transmission to Auto? I drive a Manual like the majority of us here, but hypothetically, assuming an emergency situation or whatever...

How easy is automatic in relation to Manual? Is it just 2 pedals? Brake and Accelerate?

I still feel like a jackass having to do all these gear changes (yes I'm lazy) :cool:, but when buying cars second hand you have a much better choice of manual cars. That's the main reason I went manual.

Alanstrainor

The transition is as easy as it can get really, accelerate pedal to go, brake pedal to stop. Your left leg gets to rest on the foot rest the whole time. Just shift into D and off you go.

mcgraw

The auto is the best thing since sliced bread!! :O) maybe i took the easy way out but i was just far to afraid in the manual. I got beeped out of it so many times when it stalled on me, going up hills etc. It really got my confidence up and theres lots of 2nd hand autos for sale nowadays.
:D:D

cantdecide

mcgraw wrote: »

The auto is the best thing since sliced bread!! :O) maybe i took the easy way out but i was just far to afraid in the manual. I got beeped out of it so many times when it stalled on me, going up hills etc. It really got my confidence up and theres lots of 2nd hand autos for sale nowadays.
:D:D

Was it just the car- was it a real POS? Don't underestimate how many cars are actually difficult to drive. Especially the ones that are used often as learners cars. Even modern ones. My mother had a drive by wire stilo and it was impossible. The diesel was 100 times easier to drive without stalling or revving out.

mcgraw

Was it just the car- was it a real POS?

sorry i dont understand the first line?? blonde!

cantdecide

mcgraw wrote: »

Was it just the car- was it a real POS?

sorry i dont understand the first line?? blonde!

Sorry- it's a motoring technical term that's short for Piece Of.... well, you get the rest!

mcgraw

thats a new one for me! the car was grand, it was just me!!
i left it to late to start learning and so i wasnt very confident when it came to the gears etc. i used to dread driving home a mile in evening
as i had to go up a little hill!!!!

Wishbone Ash

mcgraw wrote: »

hi all

I wonder will i be asked questions about an automatic because i drive one?? :cool:

I'm not sure if there are specific questions relating to autos in a test.

Just make sure you leave it in Drive at traffic lights but apply the parking brake if appropriate. From what I read here, some instructors have been telling pupils that they must move the gear selector to Neutral when stopped in traffic/at lights! :rolleyes:

(PS - is your parking brake foot or hand operated?).

mcgraw

thanks WA..I read somewhere, maybe i read it here that if you put it in Neutral, its bad for the gear box so i think your just meant to leave it in D
and handbrake up? though my instructor keeps telling me to put in N?
i dont really want to tell him thats wrong or should i just put in N
the day of the test in case the examiner doesent know that?! LOL :D:D
its hand operated!! :cool:

Wishbone Ash

It's designed to be left in Drive. Putting it into Neutral places unnecessary wear on the gearbox and defeats the whole purpose of having an auto.

Is your instructor familiar with instructing in an auto? He may just assume that it should go into Neutral!

Any instructors/examiners out there who care to comment?

mcgraw

i dont know if he is or not WA.. I'll just leave in "D" on thursday? :eek:

Posy

Good luck tomorrow mcgraw!