Give me some stick...

I get enough of that as it is... but what I mean is some 'stick shift'... I got foxed by the automatic this week... details to follow...

I passed my Californian driving test yesterday (woo hoo) so I am now legal again... I have been illegal for some time now as you are supposed to pass the test within 10 days of getting here - which is apparently not even possible so they wive that for a few days - but not a couple of months...

Phil the tester was a nice guy - he introduced himself and shook my hand - none of the usual sour-puss faced grumpy old man at he UK offices...

He said there were no trick turns... just relax and drive as you normally would... So I killed the tracktion control and fishtailed out of the parking lot into the side of a bus...

The test was really easy compared to the UK one - a few right tunrs (you can turn right at a red light in CA - which is nice - like doing a left at a red light in the UK - providing road is clear)

The 4 way stops were easy and we were soon back at the test center with no crosses or suggestions for improvements!

On the way back - I called to pick up some art materials for a charity at work and then the car would not start!!!!!

I called breakdown but sorted the problem out as follows:

Auto cars will not start in Drive or reverse (so you don't shott off into another car) - you have to start it in 'park'

You cannot remove teh key from the ignition if you switch off the engine in drive - so the car always ends up stopped in Park.

Somehow this car got itself into drive with the engine off (you cannot do this - I tested it) and so it would not start!!

No such issues with a geared car (so long as you have the clutch in!)

Once I sussed it out - no probs - I will know next time - but the lock out did not lock me out of drive with the engine off!

American cars eh?! - In Joe's Jeep he tells me the ignition key sometimes falls out when he goes round a bend and the engine just keeps on going!!!

Weird eh?

So, back to looking for cars now :-)