I am 18 since yesterday and now have my first driving lession on Wednesday and am totally scared. I really have no idea how to start the engine or get the car rolling. Any tips for me? Don't want to look like a real fool.

kupplung kommen lassen, gas geben.

On my first lesson I didn't know how to start the car rolling either, after all you're going to learn how to drive so your instructor will be expecting to teach you this. To start the car, you just have to turn the key and the engine will start "chugging" when you hear that it is about to start turning over by itself, let go of the key.

Try not to be nervous and just relax. It's great fun once you start.

Edit: Happy birthday too!

Edit 2: Also I stalled the car loads (like 8 times in an hour) on my first lesson so don't be afraid of that either.

I think everyone is scared when first learning to drive, always remember to have your hand break on before starting the car and have the car out of gear........ you will get your confidence built up with each lesson....

Will you be driving a manual or an auto?

Manual if he's learning I should think. Learning to drive in an auto would be daft.

I know someone who's failed 6 tests, 3 in an automatic (they switched from manual after failing so much). He nearly drove over a motorcyclists foot at some traffic lights on the 3rd/4th attempt

Here in teh US, we learn at 15 and all drive automatic... sucks. I bought a stick shift corolla or something for super cheap just to learn manual. it's great fun...

Really? I thought all the gears and clutch control was the first thing you learnt and then you could choose to buy and automatic if you wanted when you'd passed. If you learn in an automatic, then there must be a learning curve if you drive a manual right?

In the UK if you pass your test in an Automatic then that is all you are allowed to drive - will have to pass another test in a Manual if you want to drive one of them.

Much more sensible way of doing things really!

That's the way it should be, almost everyone in the US learns in an automatic car, and the same kind of driver license is given to everyone no matter what kind of vehicle was used during the test...

I learned in a manual car, so I don't like automatics... I get bored...

It's a manual in my case. If anyone is interested, it's a VW Golf (the latest mode).

Definitely...

We all use automatics in the driving test.

The reason why I bought a pos car was for that very fact... I'd rather ruin the transmission in a crappy car... That is, of course, if I accidently changed gears awkwardly.

Automatics are boring and that's why we have a lot of car accidents... it's so easy to not think what you are doing at times.

I'm only 14 and I know how to start a car. I've known since I was 12.

It's a little harder than that.

Driving at night in the rain and parallel parking are challenging.

I was driving since I was 15, but I didn't get a license until I was 19 or 20. Driving an automatic was easy, but learning how to drive a standard was a nerve-racking experience. I bought a standard, my father showed me how to drive it for about 10 minutes, and then I had to drive out of town with it. The car kept shutting off at red lights until I got used to the clutch and gas. I've been driving standards ever since then, though, the biggest upside being you can push start your car if the battery dies.

Yeah, Pretty much all automatic. Though the age which you can learn depends on the state. It's 16 hear and there is word they are trying to raise that.

It's 15 in West Virginia, and I just got my learner's this week. It was the first time I've ever driven a car out of a driveway, but I didn't do so bad.

I've never had a driving lesson in my life, I just taught myself by driving up and down our driveway and then just started driving when I got my learners.

i didn't need a driving lesson... some don't... it depends your level of coordination.

Not all, I know I didn't...

How dare you call me daft , was I got a semi-auto so its half and half. First time I drove a car was with my dad, a lot better than having an instructor that you don't know!

The first time I drove an auto(other than towing another car with my parents car) was only a month ago, I kept reaching for the clutch and its strange slowing down with only the brakes. I hadn't driven a car with power steering till a month or so before I got my restricted.

I learned how to drive in an automatic transmission car. I wish I had learned manual because if you know that you can drive anything. But here in the United States it is very rare to buy a new car these days that is manual. And knowing how some people drive, I prefer it that way. Those types would be trying to talk on a cell phone, shift gears, and make a turn on a downtown street at the same time need to have something taken away from them, and since so many people would likely not part from their phones, the stick shift has to go... just my hyopthesizing, though the reason I believe why automatics are so prevalent is because they are so user friendly.

I refuse to take my parent's manual transmission. Between the traffic and parking in the underground ramps it is far too risky. Plus automatics are able to better judge when to shift gears and have a smoother ride because of it.

Most cars still come in manual, it's just people buy the automatic version.

Also the smooth ride in an automatic can be accomplished in a manual if you know how to drive.

When I said most cars, I meant that the majority of the cars in the United States that people buy are automatic. Supply and demand -- most people buy automatics, and hence

And yes, the smooth ride in a manual can be somewhat accomplished, though not as close as an automatic which are able to determine the best point when to switch gears.

Start playing games like GTA and your driving will get a lot better

I've been doing so for one year now...

LOL if my driving was like it is in GTA then I would be in jail now

Pfft I wouldn't be! I'd be running around with an Uzi shooting the police. I'd then get "Busted" or "Wasted" and the cycle starts again. :-"

OMG, three hours left and I am so nervous! I might get some Vodka to relax.