I learned to drive in a Mini, about 4 years ago. My Dad had a Cooper at the time, but it was in fair shite condition. He bought another Mini as a doner, and got various bits and bobs off it, like the walnut dash, the chrome grill, etc. I then got the car when he was finished, but it was absolutely dead. So, with what little bit of knowledge I had, I set about fixing it (keep in mind I was 12!). I started with the compulsory weight saving measures, removed all the seats except the drivers one, the carpets, roof lining, etc. To my astonishment, it still wouldn't go...
Then my Dad finally helped, and it turned out
all of the plugs were gone bad. So I then got a working Mini to cruise around the garden in
Good times :rolleyes: It actually belonged to yer one out of the Cranberries, apparently.
Back on topic a bit, it took me a few hours to be able to take off without spinning the wheels or redlining, to change gear smoothly, and to use the brake properly. After that, I had no problems driving it at all. Until I left it idle for a week, came back to drive, and found it just wouldn't start. So my Dad scrapped it
Anyway, you shouldn't apply for a driving test if you can't drive. Simple as that. As for down shifting, find
somewhere to practice. If you have a back garden (preferably one that's got a decent patch of grass!), go out and practice going from 3rd to 2nd. If you don't, then chances are you live on some sort of a housing estate or similar. In which case, practice driving up and down the road in front of your house (which is private property, and there are no rules explicitly forbidding you from driving there).