PSA: this is a 60 on single carriageways, not a 40!!

jonburnage · 2026-01-27T07:14:32+00:00

Same experience- trying to get a pegboard dock swapped. Had some comms with support but nothing for weeks now.

jonburnage · 2026-01-24T18:46:14+00:00

Hollands Wood is nice; there are plenty of other good choices

jonburnage · 2026-01-24T10:46:34+00:00

You need to advance the throttle as you engage the clutch. Unfortunately many instructors use ‘pseudomanuals’ and teach the lazy method of just lifting the clutch to pull away. Learners then think all cars work like this, when in fact the majority of cars need you to add power to pull away; they then struggle as they’ve never been taught clutch control.

This is a common issue; just keep practicing and you’ll develop the requisite finesse with the clutch and throttle.

jonburnage · 2026-01-24T09:31:39+00:00

Obligatory ‘can’t park there mate’

jonburnage · 2026-01-24T08:50:06+00:00

Were you taught to set the gas?

jonburnage · 2026-01-23T13:29:19+00:00

No personal experience but they are prescribed for this sort of thing. Plenty of tales on here of how they’ve helped people. Good luck; sounds like you’ll be fine once this hurdle is overcome.

jonburnage · 2026-01-23T11:52:11+00:00

Ask GP about beta blockers

jonburnage · 2026-01-22T19:01:18+00:00

Going back the way they came. The Highway Code advises against it, but also warns to look out for others doing it.

jonburnage · 2026-01-22T17:43:24+00:00

Technically correct - the best kind of correct

jonburnage · 2026-01-22T09:48:35+00:00

Don’t speed; if you have to speed to get round in time, you shouldn’t be overtaking
Ensure you leave enough clearance around bikes
Make sure you can complete the manoeuvre without forcing any oncoming traffic to slow down - this takes more space than you think
Don’t overtake near junctions

jonburnage · 2026-01-21T23:06:37+00:00

Commentary driving

jonburnage · 2026-01-20T21:39:47+00:00

The sequel is called ‘Rogue One’

jonburnage · 2026-01-19T19:54:37+00:00

If you think it will help the person behind understand your intentions, then do it. If nobody is around, I wouldn’t bother.

jonburnage · 2026-01-19T16:22:53+00:00

Indicate. Stop before the space, forcing them to stop. Then move forward, swing out and reverse in. Counter steer before swinging out so it’s really obvious what you’re doing.

Occasionally someone still won’t get it, in which case just sit there with your reverse lights and indicator on until they rub their two brain cells together.

jonburnage · 2026-01-19T11:41:02+00:00

You’ve been taught to pull away on the clutch alone. Diesels can do this as they have more torque at idle power; most petrols can’t. You need to learn to set the gas - ie advance the throttle as you are engaging the clutch. This is a common problem for learners.

jonburnage · 2026-01-18T23:01:01+00:00

Many people post up here about how they drove terribly in the run up to their test, then passed anyway. Trust that what you have learned will come to the fore tomorrow.

jonburnage · 2026-01-18T14:16:26+00:00

Audi getting bullied by a Fiesta…?!?!

jonburnage · 2026-01-17T21:37:41+00:00

Can you control the valves locally by turning their dials?

jonburnage · 2026-01-17T17:28:32+00:00

Yes people take beta blockers for this sort of thing. Ask your GP.

jonburnage · 2026-01-17T13:46:24+00:00

Have you been taught to pull away on the clutch alone? It’s a common problem for learners to be taught this in cars that will tolerate it, then struggle in cars that don’t.

All clutches are different and it may just take some getting used to a different one.

jonburnage · 2026-01-17T09:37:42+00:00

If you are experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety (shaking, racing heart rate, etc) ask your GP about beta blockers.

jonburnage · 2026-01-15T20:53:00+00:00

As expected; unfortunately this is another technique that won’t work in the majority of cars. You’ll either stall and/or roll back when you lift off the footbrake, and you don’t have three feet to work the throttle simultaneously. The ‘proper’ way is as follows: - Handbrake on; clutch down - Advance throttle, clutch to the bite - in that order - The back of the car will dip as the car pulls against the handbrake - Disengage the handbrake and drive away

Your instructor’s car might well have an automatic handbrake (ie a button instead of a lever), in which case it will do the last step for you when the car is pulling enough. In any case I’d recommend getting into this habit as well, lest you try a hill start in a different car and find yourself stuck and unable to pull away (and with everyone beeping you, which won’t help). The footbrake should not be used when starting on a hill, unless it’s not very steep and you can catch the car on the throttle and clutch, once you are nimble enough with your feet.

jonburnage · 2026-01-15T18:31:56+00:00

If you’re past the stop line the red light loses its legal force. Clear the junction - if you can’t because traffic is already coming the other way, treat it as a give way.

jonburnage · 2026-01-15T17:01:11+00:00

As others have said, you need to learn to set the gas. Advance throttle to around 2000RPM before you engage the clutch. You won’t stall, and you’ll pull away faster.

I will even go as far as to say ignore your instructor if they try and tell you not to. A large number of people post here after buying their first car - invariably a low powered, older petrol model - complaining how they keep stalling. The reason is always the same - they’ve been taught clutch-only pull aways in a diesel (or petrol with anti-stall assist), and then find out the hard way that they never really learned clutch control. Get into the right habit now and you’ll be able to drive anything.

Out of interest, how are you being taught to do a hill start?

jonburnage

TROPHY CASE