Return a car?

Flinty997

Left foot trick is a good way to learn.

A week is far too early to give up after a lifetime of driving manual. It's going to take time. Months even.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121751723#Comment_121751723

I think it's when you try and explain the pedals it falls apart. This said, it is how you should drive, your left should be on the clutch and the right should flick between the two. Another way might be too think, your car only has one gear, and it can't cut out so you only need to brake or accelerate.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121751386#Comment_121751386

mate I can’t understand what you’re saying so it’s any wonder your poor parents are confused.

If you’ve been driving autos for years bring them both out in the car and show them. I’m not having a go but what you said there makes my head hurt. It doesn’t convince me you know how to drive.

Again not saying you can’t but I think you’d be a better shower than teller.

lollsangel

I have a manual, but use of an auto too. First time I drove it, i swore never again..my problem was actually not changing down gears for junctions. Really hated it. Until somebody drove right out in front of me and i slammed on the break and realised it didnt cut out like my manual.

I put my left foot as far left as possible, when i borrow it, and for the first 10km Im extra conscious i dont need to use my left hand..just tell them practise even up and down the yard tilthey get used to it

Flinty997

From experience. The problem is not the explanation. But muscle memory. You don't overcome decades of muscle memory with an explanation. You don't overcome muscle memory that easily, not in a week. Not when you're older.

Naos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121751031#Comment_121751031

They'll get used to it. When you hop into an auto for the first time, it's easier to just put your left foot under the seat. Best pic I can find, this one on the bottom right: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61j7X5MudYL._AC_SL1000_.jpg

When do they get the hang of it, their left knee will thank them without the extra clutching!

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121752071#Comment_121752071

I'm not quite sure why your natural instinct to hit the brakes (in a manual car) would not also include hitting the clutch so unsure why your car would cut out.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121752225#Comment_121752225

People in emergency situations often forget about the clutch and stand on the brake and stall the car.

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121751448#Comment_121751448

There is no shifting. It's either park, go forward or reverse. When you want to stop or move in either direction, put your right foot in the brake.

It's not rocket science.

Flinty997

muscle memory

1. the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement.

Capt'n Midnight

Dial it down. Make sure car is in eco mode rather than sport mode. Turn on regen too.

beachhead

Wouldn't the car start in eco/comfort anyway.Then tie left foot down

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121752071#Comment_121752071

I’ve never once cut out when slamming on the brakes in a manual. Brake first then clutch second.

Flinty997

You make it sound like slamming on the brakes is a regular thing for you.

chooseusername

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121753691#Comment_121753691

You would if you just changed over from an automatic.

lollsangel

You would if someone drove straight out in front of u 🤣 and no i dont normally cut my manual out.

Core6

One other thing that they'll have to remember is to put their foot on the brake before it will go into Drive or Reverse.

They will need to keep their foot on the brake when stopped at traffic lights, etc. to stop the car creeping forwards (assuming that Renault automatic gearboxes do that)

Hill hold is so much easier too - again assuming that Renault automatic gearboxes do that.

leex

Find an empty car park at a weekend or evening - excellent place to get used to it. Any time I have use of an auto for rental etc, I take the car for a few laps of the car park to get used to it again. Take your time before hitting road until you're comfortable with it. Also tuck your left leg up towards seat to begin with.

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121751444#Comment_121751444

But you left foot brake in a Go Kart....😁

OP, at this stage €100 on a driving instructor would be money very well spent. Actually teaching someone how to drive is a much different thing to knowing how to drive yourself, and one wrong nugget of advice like using the brake as the clutch can cause utter confusion, cause people to lack confidence, get embarrassed and wan to throw in the towel.

Of course I'm not sur that's exactly what you said, or just how you described it on here, but in either case they're now confused to the point of wanting to return the car, so whatever learning process they following isn't working.

I've recently sold my parents my Automatic, and my mother isn't interested in driving it as she feels less in control, because the car is doing so much, and you can't just pop it in Neutral + Handbrake at the lights (it has no auto hold function). While it's simple when you know how, getting over that learning curve at first is more difficult than it might seem.

CramCycle

That's fair enough, I retrained my mother in law, a woman who has struggled with WhatsApp for 5 years in a day so. My anecdote is, anyone can drive an automatic with enough patience. She did struggle the first few hours but it's actually improved her driving immensely but, as I always say, anecdotes are not facts and it might not work for yours.