Manual or Auto? Just watched Channel News Asia on my laptop in my hostel room. The news has just came out that learner drivers can now choose to learn in an automatic car, with effect from next year. After so many years of debate and complains did they finally decide to implement it.

Is it a good thing or bad thing?

Before I started my driving lessons, I've heard lots of theories from my elders that an automatic car is much easier than a manual. My dad can't drive a manual car now because he keeps stalling the engine. It has been about 20 years since he last drove a manual car. So for him, he should just stick to the automatic car.

After listening to years of people telling me that the skill to move a manual car is very difficult to acquire, I began having doubts about even learning to move the freaking vehicle. For that reason, I was pretty nervous on my first lesson.

Thank goodness the instructor then was pretty nice. His name is Khaniz. He was nice on the first lesson, although he did get nastier in subsequent lessons whenever I got him. This was probably the reason why I fixed another instructor. A much more patient and humourous intstuctor, whose teaching skills are exceptional, especially for parking. That's my favourite instructor, Isdhar. Nice and fun. So if anyone plans to go SSDC (Ang Mo Kio), remember his name. Book him. He's in Car 6.

For people who prefer the rare species of instructors, ie. the female instructors, I know of one good one in SSDC too. Pat Chua of Car 48.

Anyway, getting on to what I was saying, I came to a conclusion that I would hate manual cars before I even learnt to drive one.

After the first lesson, I realised something serious. I was seriously wrong. Yeah, wrong...

It is true that an auto car is much easier to drive. Definitely. Just start the car and it can move without you even hitting the accelerator. To go faster, hit the accelerator. To slow down, hit the brakes. So simple. Even an 8 year old can handle that.

A manual car is what some people will argue that this is actual driving. This is what driving is all about. Its true. When I drive my dad's car, I feel that the car is controlling me. But in a manual car, I feel the POWER. I know I'm in control.

Why is that so?

A manual car is more complicated. Firstly, it has 3 pedals, instead of 2. The clutch, brake and accelerator (in that order). Start the engine. The car won't move. Why? Because the car is controlled by you. Yes, it's the big U. To be more exact, it's your legs. The movement of the car is controlled by the clutch.

Another thing I love about a manual car is the fiddling around of gears. Some people, especially women, don't like gears. They hate gears. I use to hate gears. I treated them like my perpectual enemy. I remember my instructor use to frown at me saying, "Why so rough?!? Be more gentle!!!" He said the realised women tend to be rougher in handling gears as compared to guys. Guys are always more gentle with it. Does that mean that guys really treat cars as their lao puo (wives)??? You mean its true?!?

I learnt to be much gentler with the gears, and I grew to love it. I love cruising round Ang Mo Kio and Yio Chu Kang Road in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and finally 4th gear. Ahhhhh.......

One thing I want to mention is that the worse drivers on the road are the taxi drivers. One of the world's most impatient drivers. They are merciless on the road. They don't give a damn if you are a qualified driver, a "triangle" driver, learner driver or even if you arn't driving. They just hide somewhere and spy on people to see if anyone wants to sit a taxi, or they simply glue their eyes on that screen of theirs to see who's the next passenger. Then suddenly they just whizz out of nowhere and appear behind you, practically tail-gating you and horn repeatedly when you're too slow. Then, before you can even say the catch-phrase, "I hate econs", they swerve right in front of you, and suddenly stop their car, not caring if you crash into them. Even when you vigourously horn at them to prove your point, they just ignore you, always pretending to be searching for money or wiping their taxi.

Anyway, I was watching the news on the implementation of auto car learning right? Yep, they were featuring SSDC cars!!! If i'm not wrong, it was a Car61. Have I ever sat in that car? I can't remember... But watching it makes me feel so nostalgic. It made me realise how much I miss SSDC. I miss the lessons there. Very fun place to be in.
  ¶ Wednesday, September 01, 2004