Instructor's car for driving test

Olwas2014

Hello, I will be taking my instructors car for the driving test. His car adds gas as the clutch comes up so it is very easy to move off just using the clutch. I know its a bad habit but I've sort of gotten into it but the instructor hasn't said anything. I use gas on my moms car as its more prone to stalling but this bad habit affects me sometimes in moms car by shuddering while moving off or rarely but sometimes kangarooing or stalling. I mainly got into this handbrake by being stopped without using the handbrake with one foot on the brake and the other find the biting point in the instructors car. I am taking the test in his car but would I get a fault for not using the accelerator while moving off? I guess the habit isn't that hard to fix if I use gas on my moms car anyway but im curious.

Thank you

boomshakalaka

Olwas2014 wrote: »

Hello, I will be taking my instructors car for the driving test. His car adds gas as the clutch comes up so it is very easy to move off just using the clutch. I know its a bad habit but I've sort of gotten into it but the instructor hasn't said anything. I use gas on my moms car as its more prone to stalling but this bad habit affects me sometimes in moms car by shuddering while moving off or rarely but sometimes kangarooing or stalling. I mainly got into this handbrake by being stopped without using the handbrake with one foot on the brake and the other find the biting point in the instructors car. I am taking the test in his car but would I get a fault for not using the accelerator while moving off? I guess the habit isn't that hard to fix if I use gas on my moms car anyway but im curious.

Thank you

hey!

I'm pretty sure the test focusses on how you handle the vehicle in the bigger context of traffic and the road, so I don't imagine you'll be watched for your footwork.

That said I think this is a habit you should break sooner rather than later.

Not every car will function this way, so you may find it more difficult to switch cars and not stall.
This habit will wear out a clutch and lead you to repair costs in time, it's not meant to be used in this way, you're basically asking the car to take off on the power of the clutch alone.

Olwas2014

boomshakalaka wrote: »

hey!

I'm pretty sure the test focusses on how you handle the vehicle in the bigger context of traffic and the road, so I don't imagine you'll be watched for your footwork.

That said I think this is a habit you should break sooner rather than later.

Not every car will function this way, so you may find it more difficult to switch cars and not stall.
This habit will wear out a clutch and lead you to repair costs in time, it's not meant to be used in this way, you're basically asking the car to take off on the power of the clutch alone.

Thank you for this! Once I pass the test, hopefully soon I will definitely break this habit or even before the test!

Olwas2014

Olwas2014 wrote: »

Thank you for this! Once I pass the test, hopefully soon I will definitely break this habit or even before the test!

Does his car need to have L plates? I don’t remember seeing them it just has that roof box with Aviva on it and the aviva stickers on the car

J_R

Olwas2014 wrote: »

Hello, I will be taking my instructors car for the driving test. His car adds gas as the clutch comes up so it is very easy to move off just using the clutch. I know its a bad habit but I've sort of gotten into it but the instructor hasn't said anything. I use gas on my moms car as its more prone to stalling but this bad habit affects me sometimes in moms car by shuddering while moving off or rarely but sometimes kangarooing or stalling. I mainly got into this handbrake by being stopped without using the handbrake with one foot on the brake and the other find the biting point in the instructors car. I am taking the test in his car but would I get a fault for not using the accelerator while moving off? I guess the habit isn't that hard to fix if I use gas on my moms car anyway but im curious.

Thank you

Hi,

You should always give the car gas, irrespective what car you drive.

Few years ago I had a pupil who wanted a few lessons before her test. Her car, a Ford Focus. Each and every single time she moved off she would not give any gas. The car would move forward, almost stall but the engine management anti-stalling would kick in, the car would recover but with a bit of a "jerk". Sometimes barely noticeable but other times quite pronounced.

Attempted to remedy, said it was bad driving practice, explained proper procedure and talked her through a half dozen "moving off's"

She did a few by herself which she did perfectly, agreed with me that she now felt more in control of the car and off we went.

But few minutes later when moving off, again no gas. Remainder of the lesson and all subsequent lessons if I did not prompt her she did not give any gas. End of each lesson I would tell her practice moving off and she would faithfully promise she would,

But moving off at the start of next lesson, again no gas. I would again talk her through a few moving off's. but for remainder of the lessons unless I prompted she failed to set the gas. Tried everything, told her one of the testers had a bad back, giving him the odd jerk would not put him into a nice generous mood, that she was not in control of the car, a few transistors in the engine was. But all to no avail to set in her ways or perhaps just very stubborn.

She did the test and came trudging out of the test centre. She failed, few grade 2's but one grade 3. He gave her the grade 3 for stalling. She was stopped at traffic lights, moving off she had to turn very sharp left. If there is a turn on the wheel it takes more power, the engine management did not allow for this and the car stalled.

I think it is very remiss of instructors not teaching their pupils the proper Moving Off procedure, that is, to give the car gas so that they will have no problem driving any subsequent car

Olwas2014

J_R wrote: »

Hi,

You should always give the car gas, irrespective what car you drive.

Few years ago I had a pupil who wanted a few lessons before her test. Her car, a Ford Focus. Each and every single time she moved off she would not give any gas. The car would move forward, almost stall but the engine management anti-stalling would kick in, the car would recover but with a bit of a "jerk". Sometimes barely noticeable but other times quite pronounced.

Attempted to remedy, said it was bad driving practice, explained proper procedure and talked her through a half dozen "moving off's"

She did a few by herself which she did perfectly, agreed with me that she now felt more in control of the car and off we went.

But few minutes later when moving off, again no gas. Remainder of the lesson and all subsequent lessons if I did not prompt her she did not give any gas. End of each lesson I would tell her practice moving off and she would faithfully promise she would,

But moving off at the start of next lesson, again no gas. I would again talk her through a few moving off's. but for remainder of the lessons unless I prompted she failed to set the gas. Tried everything, told her one of the testers had a bad back, giving him the odd jerk would not put him into a nice generous mood, that she was not in control of the car, a few transistors in the engine was. But all to no avail to set in her ways or perhaps just very stubborn.

She did the test and came trudging out of the test centre. She failed, few grade 2's but one grade 3. He gave her the grade 3 for stalling. She was stopped at traffic lights, moving off she had to turn very sharp left. If there is a turn on the wheel it takes more power, the engine management did not allow for this and the car stalled.

I think it is very remiss of instructors not teaching their pupils the proper Moving Off procedure, that is, to give the car gas so that they will have no problem driving any subsequent car

Thank you very much for this informative answer. I will try to break this habit now in the lesson tomorrow. I’m really surprised he hasn’t pulled me up on it. Tomorrow I have a feeling I’ll be so not used to using the gas I’ll be very heaving in the pedal giving it too much gas when moving off and that might then get his attention I’ll try it anyway and se show I get on. I have two lessons left before the test so hopefully I get the habit sorted!

Thanks again