Ned a bit of help on GTA IV!

Hello,

Ok so I got GTA IV yesterday and been playing it a little bit getting used to the controls and stuff. I have done a few missions but Im stuck on the mission called "Easy Fare" I think, where I have to pick someone up in a taxi drive to a garage and then the police chse me. I need to escape the police but finding it really hard. I know that I need to stay outside the flashing circle. But everytime Im nearly out another cop car comes from the opposite direction ad the radius ahas moved again. Ive tried 3 times, the first time I got arrested and had the start the mission again, the second time I accidently drove off a cliff and my car blew up! And the third time I somehow got to the airport and then I had 6 stars (dont know what I did) and had police helicopters after me and just got shot to death, any tips or anything? I see there is a cheat I can use, but I dont really want to do that, as Im sure there will be alot of times where I have to escape the police.

Also, how do I get side missions? I seem to just be getting them from Roman, but if Im stuck on one mission, how do I start another?

Thanks very much, sorry its long! :)

have a look at the game guide here on gamespot and see what it says about that particular mission, i cant remember that one myself have you tried going to a pay and spray to lose your wanted level?

and you get side missions when you start to meet some of the other characters in the game

If you have the PS3 version, you'll find it alot easier to drive if you switch the control layout to the classic layout in which the gas is mapped to the X button. I've never played the 360 version, so I don't how its default control layoutfeels, but you might want even want to try the classic layout even if you have the 360 version. I found it to make a world of difference on the PS3.