Struggling to drive

It's great that you are being funded for driving lessons but from what you have posted in the OP it seems that you realise how difficult it will be for you to progress. Take the advice of your driving instructor and be honest with them about your worries. I may well be the case that driving is not for you.

I started this thread to ask for advice on focusing on my co-ordination

Your GP might be the best one to consult, not people you don't know on an internet forum.

"Curiouser and curiouser!" thought Allira.

Learning clutch control ( ie physical co-ordination) is a very basic requirement. If you don’t achieve it after about four lessons, maybe you never will.
As far as co-ordinating what you see happening on the roads outside the car with what you need to do inside the car, this is absolutely essential for everyone’s safety.
Take advice from your instructor as to whether you should continue.
Remember in his car, he has dual controls so can take over if you are about to do something dangerous.

I am very surprised that you are receiving funding for driving lessons, which are very expensive.

What does your instructor think Mylo? Is the instructor happy with your progress? Are they taking you to quiet places to practice. Do they think you might better manage an automatic? Driving on busy roads can be very exacting ( you need to predict what other road users will do) with the actual mechanics of driving being only the start. I would suggest choosing an instructor who understands your specific needs and worries and can be honest with you.

I’m sorry for you Mylo. I know it would mean a lot to you to be more independent and you see this being possible if you had a car you were able to drive yourself. As I understand it this is only a possibility at the moment and you may not, in fact, be able to afford a car. Some of the practical difficulties you describe sound worrying to me. Please try to think this through and ask your driving instructor and your GP for their advice. I wish you all the best and hope for a good outcome for you.

Don't do it

Frankly, I think some of the replies here are overly-negative and extreme. All OP is asking for is some advice on clutch and eye coordination - and that comes with practice. So long as it isn’t a physical issue i.e. joint pain which is causing the inability to control the clutch then I would say persevere but have more frequent driving lessons. One every two weeks isn’t enough.

The skills necessary in driving soon becomes part of muscle memory. With more experience you won’t even think about the biting point of the clutch unless moving from stopped on a steep incline. Even experienced drivers will keep the handbrake on until they feel the bite and the car wanting to move forward (or back).

My single-width driveway is on an incline sloping upwards to the garage with trees and shrubs either side. I always reverse onto and up it it so I am reversing up a hill between obstacles. Both observation of the mirrors and clutch control are necessary. It really does become second nature. And don't forget you have brakes. Remember, gears are for moving the car forward or backward. Brakes are for stopping and holding. If you feel the car rolling, engage the brake and try again. Ask your instructor for more practice on this.

As for eBay, of course there are rules about how much someone can make before benefits are effected and tax becomes an issue. Plenty of information online about this. And you don’t have to take sold items to the Post Office. Royal Mail will come and collect on a daily basis and it charges marginally less for postage.

“The skills necessary in driving soon becomes part of muscle memory.”

Not if you are only driving once a fortnight.

I wonder why using taxis would cause problems?

It might be a better option, safer and definitely as cheap as, or cheaper, than running a car.

My daughter is a convert to automatic cars and says she can’t imagine driving a manual one now. I assume that when you drive one all you have to concentrate on is what’s happening around you?

MayBee70

My daughter is a convert to automatic cars and says she can’t imagine driving a manual one now. I assume that when you drive one all you have to concentrate on is what’s happening around you?

Well, there is more to it. Make sure you're in the right gear, eg R = reverse. And make sure it's in P for park when you want to stop altogether otherwise it might roll forward.
I resisted having one for a long time but do like it now.

I know someone a few years ago that drove into the entrance of our local garage ( or it might have been the post office) because she did something wrong with her automatic. That always put me off them!

The only thing you can do wrong with an automatic is press the accelerator rather than the brake which could be very unfortunate.
Much easier on hill starts as they won't roll backwards.

rosie1959

The only thing you can do wrong with an automatic is press the accelerator rather than the brake which could be very unfortunate.
Much easier on hill starts as they won't roll backwards.

Only if you remember to press the Hold button every time you switch on, otherwise it gently rolls forwards (or back)

MayBee70

I know someone a few years ago that drove into the entrance of our local garage ( or it might have been the post office) because she did something wrong with her automatic. That always put me off them!

The only thing that can go wrong with an automatic while your moving is your braking or your stearing I’d opt for the latter. By your I mean the person who is driving.
I alternate between manual and automatic all the time.

No hold button on ours not quite sure what you mean if it's in park it's not going anywhere until you select drive or reverse

rosie1959

No hold button on ours not quite sure what you mean if it's in park it's not going anywhere until you select drive or reverse

If you stop at traffic lights or in traffic, if the hold button is on, it won't roll forward or backwards even in drive. No need to keep putting it in park.

No hold button on our automatic. I drive both all the time, automatic and manual,

So do you put it in park at traffic lights or just keep your foot on the brake?

The hold button works when you brake firmly, not gently on eg a winding road. Then you just press the accelerator when you want to move off again.

No hold button on my automatic either. Just keep foot on brake at traffic lights so it doesn’t creep forwards. I’ve had automatics for over 25 years and they’re a doddle to drive.

Ours doesn't have a hold button either.
I'm another who switches between manual and automatic too.

I heard this joke - a man bought an automatic car . He rang the
Salesman the next day and said ‘I have a problem with this car - i am unable to drive it in the night. I put the gear on N for night and nothing happens. But in the day it drives beautifully - I put the gear on D for Day and it starts beautifully. . The salesman said , Mr X , the D is for Drivr , the N is for Neutral. You car won’t move, she finally falls t Ames

Ignore the last line - I don’t know what I was going to say 😂

Taxi, Taxi, Taxi - you're paying someone else to deal with the stress of negotiating modern traffic and all the problems! Well worth every penny, and don't I know it.