Driving Simulator to pass practical test

Jestahr

Jestahr

Jestahr

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Joined
18 Jan 2011
Posts
328
Hey guys,

Not sure where to post this so here goes.

I've finally decided to stop using the excuse of public transport and learn to drive. Have been doing lessons for a month now, just passed my theory and thinking of booking my practical sooner rather than later as it's a 2 month wait around here.

To that end, I'd like to get some extra practise in and decided to check out the options of driving simulators, in particular ones designed to aid in passing a driving test.

Also are there any that can simulate (to some extent) clutch / gearbox? If yes, any cheap wheels / pedals / gearbox stuff out there?

Cheers!
 
GTA 5 :D

But anyway. A simulator is only good for learning the very basics, like actually staying on the road and not crashing in to stuff. Don't waste lots of money on it. You need to go out in the real thing because a simulator cannot repliate the feel of a real car, not even close.

Buy a cheap banger and insure it, get a parent or friend who has a full licence and find a quiet country track, back road, private land, or empty car park and start there. It's what I did back in 2002 :)
 
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I'm awesome at those arcade driving games!!
However, I don't have a car licence and I only beat those who do drive because it's a game.

By contrast, I'm crap at the motorcycle games because they never reflect the reality of it.

There is a world of difference between driving in-game and driving for real.
You will be listening for the sound of your engine, feeling the controls, responding to feedback from the wheels, reacting to sounds heard over 360º and most especially - Judging distances, along with applying forward planning and observation.
None of this really exists in games or even simulators... well, none that are affordable, anyway. Plus you will always behave differently when a mistake means hospital, licence points, fines and test failure, rather than just a bit of rage quit and a restart.

As Nasher says, get out for real, in a real car with a real supervisor on real roads with real traffic and practice for real.
 
You're better off spending your money on extra lessons, or asking a family member or friend to add you as a named driver on their insurance and just driving around for practice.
 
Nasher said:
But anyway. A simulator is only good for learning the very basics, like actually staying on the road and not crashing in to stuff. Don't waste lots of money on it. You need to go out in the real thing because a simulator cannot repliate the feel of a real car, not even close.
Click to expand...

Assetto Corsa!

Apart from you might be a bit too inclined to hoon it. :p

- as said, nothing will beat the real thing and you'd be better of looking at the options of getting more time in an actual car.
 
Believe it or not, I actually practiced the way some of the manoeuvres need to be done on GTA4? :D
Silly but it did kind of help me
 
I also think there's no point getting a simulator and wheel. I don't think it'll help in the slightest, the feel of driving a real a car will automatically render all you think your learnt on a simulator irrelevant.
 
The equipment is going to be expensive, just use the money on extra lessons. Nothing like doing it for real!
 
I found something similar that I used to have a go on to help when i was learning. It was really tricky to do maneuvers with the visibility in the cockpit. I've been driving for 4 years now and tried it again recently and it was no easier. What can you learn from that?
 
Mario kart, no wait, crash team racing. I jest.

Best thing to do, borrow a car, go with someone over 21 with a full licence on a Sunday evening to an empty park and ride / supermarket car park and practice practice practice.

No computer simulator is going to replicate the real thing.
 
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Aye don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting to learn to drive using a simulator. I just think it would help to brush up on a bit of awareness etc. All the replies so far seem to be assuming I've never actually driven a car xD

I'm not far off test ready really, done quite a few lessons as a teen and done about 20 hours in last month, literally just going over manoeuvres and mock tests atm. Just want something additional to supplement the lessons at home.
 
I ended up spending £80 a week learning to drive and had my own car as well.

Best to use the money on extra lessons , but have them at a different time of day than you normally have.
 
I actually played like 500 hours of Test Drive Unlimited with a Logitech G25.

6 hours of real driving lessons and a test later I had passed my test with no minors. No previous driving experience before that.

Wouldn't recommend it though - Just do what everyone else does and get proper lessons. I only happened to enjoy TDU and already had the wheel before I started learning to drive.

:EDIT: Also should mention I had an instructor who was considered the very best in our county.
 
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even with a g27 there isn't 1 game that simulates clutch control which is a big part of the lessons/test.

clutch pedal just seems to be a button that's either on or off for letting you change the gears
 
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