Marianna, I felt that we achieved what you wanted to achieve, which was for another look and feel for how a manual works. Not only the changing of gears, but how your mindset has to just change slightly driving a manual. A lot of this would have been done as an automatic response years ago when we both learnt in manuals. 

So I’m hoping what you picked up from today was that you need to be anticipating 12 seconds ahead, so that you can anticipate what you need to do with your gears. Whereas automatic driving means that it’s all being done for you. So what you’re doing is you’re assessing: what gear do I need, to either create a small amount of engine brake or indeed so that it’s easier to slow the car down. So coming down the gears can be more complex than going up the gears. Remember how when you’re coming down the gears you don’t always need to brake? You can simply cover the brake with your foot. Just to see what the gears are doing for you. 

The stopping process, if you remember, was the going into first gear when you’re almost stopped or at least crawling, and then bring the car to a gentle stop on your brake, especially at intersections, applying the handbrake immediately – that then secures you to be able to then move your foot to the accelerator to get ready. 

Apart from that was just keep the speed down so you can assess. When you’re going around a roundabout, because you’ve got an extra gear change it is incredibly difficult to be able to have the speed at a point where you can indicate and gear change, so keep everything crawling at the moments when you’re maneuvering, and then once you’re steering straight, bring the speed up to change gear. 

I hope that the day was helpful Marianna and I wish you every bit of luck on your up and coming travel plans.

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Sharon is very experienced when it comes to driver education. An NZTA-approved driving instructor, a defensive driving instructor in STREETALK and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Driving Educators, and a fully qualified assessor carrying out driver assessments for various NZ government organisations. Sharon is an off-road driver trainer too, so you are in experienced and patient hands.

You can contact Sharon at 021 029 28023 ( a text is always better) if you have any questions.