Passed driving test 4 months ago?

Question

I passed my driving test 4 months ago and I would consider myself to be a decent driver however this past week for some reason I seem to be bunny hopping. My car seems to bunny hop when I am in slow moving traffic or when I am moving off in first gear or have dropped down to first gear. I find my bite no problem but within a few seconds, my car starts to hop before I get into a higher gear. I also seem to experience it when making turns after my car as been in natural or first gear. What am I doing wrong? It’s embarrassing and my car isn’t the problem it’s what I am doing that’s causing the problem.

Answer 1

sounds like you're coming off the clutch too quick

Answer 2

Your goal is to be able to smoothly let the clutch pedal out (with no accelerator) and have the vehicle move ever so slowly forward. The purpose of this step is to allow you to focus solely on training just your left foot for a smooth controlled clutch movement.

Concentrated training of the left foot will help you to avoid the old herky, jerky, stall, "Here! You take the keys" routine. A routine can be so frustrating when you are first learning to drive a standard transmission vehicle.

Once you are comfortable not using the accelerator and letting the clutch out smoothly, you can practice pressing the accelerator lightly and letting out the clutch.  

After you are able to drive the vehicle in 1st gear, practice releasing the accelerator, pushing the clutch in all the way, moving the gearshift in to 2nd gear, and letting out the clutch (shift out of 1st gear at about 15 miles per hour and 2nd gear at about 25 miles per hour). Drive in the large vacant parking in 1st and 2nd gear (most slow speed turns are achieved in 2nd gear) until you feel comfortable.

Answer 3

If your nearly rolling put your foot on the clutch and then when you go to accelerate make sure you take your foot of the clutch properly!!  not half and half!! Dunno how you do that bunny hop thing i cant do it if i try!!

Answer 4

How do you know it's not the car?  May I suggst you go and find a quiet road, like on your first lessons, and practie pulling away for ten minutes or so.  A little trial and error may work wonders.

You may be letting the clutch go to much too soo, but also if you are in a higher gear and stil moving at speed as you engage 1st gear, when you let the clutch go, you will get a massive compression change that can create the symptoms you describe.

try to notice if it happens when moving from stationary, or if its in traffic when you are alternating between 1st and 2nd.  If its the latter, then you are almost certanly hitting 1st gear at too high speed.