Can someone explain something?

Tommy B · 24 Dec 2006 at 14:51

I drive a 1.4 Golf, which has a god-awful 0-60 time of something like 12 or 13 seconds. I have friends who have similar cars like 1.4 Clios, Corsas etc etc

Whilst their cars have a faster 0-60 time on paper, all my mates claim that the Golf is much, much quicker at accelerating at faster speeds. For example, doing 30-50 in the Golf would be faster than doing 30-50 in the Corsa, even though the Corsa's 0-60 time is significantly less. Is this true with cars of this sort of performance?

Secondly, does coasting actually save petrol? A have a friend who really bugs me because of his obsessive petrol-saving habits. This bloke puts the gear in neutral and coasts just about everywhere he can. I'm the opposite, I like putting the car in the lowest gear possible and always having the ability to accelerate

Tommy B · 24 Dec 2006 at 15:03

OK.

So, putting the car in neutral and taking your foot off the clutch uses more petrol than having the car engaged in a gear and also having your foot off the clutch but without pressing on the accelerator?

So what happens if you're in, any gear, and just dip your foot on the clutch and take your foot off the accelerator whilst moving? Does that damage the engine?

Isn't the Golf a different class of car to things like Clios and Corsas? I'm not boasting as the Golf is my mum's. It's just all my friends have commented on how fast the car can accelerate at mid speeds using 3rd gear.

Tommy B · 24 Dec 2006 at 17:36

I'll have to find myself a new car then.

The reason I'm confused is if I'm driving along and I dip my foot on the clutch, the rev counter goes right down. But if I just take both feet of both pedals, the rev counter stays high, which suggests to me it must be using more petrol.

Tommy B · 24 Dec 2006 at 17:40

[TW]Fox said:
When you dip the clutch, the engine idles becuase it is no longer connected to the gearbox. Therefore, you are using fuel to keep the engine ticking over.

When you lift off completely, the fuel supply to the injectors is CUT OFF - no fuel passes into the engine, and the momentum of the car keeps it turning. It uses no fuel.

RPM does not equal Petrol Used.

Awesome.

I can't wait to prove my mate and his anal fuel saving methods wrong

Cheers everyone

Tommy B · 24 Dec 2006 at 18:27

I usually approach lights in 3rd gear, using breaks to slow down, and just dip the clutch down at the last second, then go into first, then drive off again.

Is this more economical than approaching and going 4th to 3rd to 2nd to 1st. I sometimes approach in 4th and then shift down to 2nd prior to stopping completely.

Tommy B · 24 Dec 2006 at 19:11

Matt82 said:
why not just drive as you were taught or as the highway code says?

I can't even remember now.

What's the official way of going from about 50mph to a complete stop then?

Tommy B · 25 Dec 2006 at 16:37

A car is not designed to be driven in neutral. It's common sense.

When you're in neutral, and the engine is on, the car assumes you are about to drive off and thus begins injecting fuel. Or so that's what I've gathered.

Tommy B · 26 Dec 2006 at 13:53

Matt82 said:
its amazing how little mechanical knowledge some people have (and presumably, im afraid, they drive too)

... just do what your driving instructor told you, try not to do too much thinking for yourself if you dont think the clutch wears by holding the car stationary on the clutch.

thats one thing i look for if im buying a second hand car privately... how they treat the things. id never buy a car from someone who habitually did that

Holding the clutch down when you're stationary doesn't wear it. It's only on hill starts where you hold at the biting point the damage occurs.

Tommy B · 26 Dec 2006 at 14:16

I'm starting to get sick and tired of "experts" all contradicting themselves

My driving instructor always told me to hold the clutch down at traffic lights, remain in first gear, and simply take off again when needed. He said it's only worth using the hand break and putting the car in neutral on hills or when you're going to be waiting a long time.

Anyhow, the fact is, some people are saying that putting the gear in neutral damages the engine. Some people are saying dipping the clutch whilst stationary is OK, whilst others are saying this damages the engine etc etc. I'm confused tbh.

Tommy B · 26 Dec 2006 at 14:50

Gilly said:
Without the handbrake? Whats the point?

I'm fairly sure I was told this would be a fault during the test when I was learning. Not knowing the vehicle and how to drive it.

I remember my test very clearly and the only time I used the hand break was on a hill start. I only got 4 minors, and they were for not checking the mirror and indicating too early on one occaseon.

As to your first point, I'm also confused. If I stopped at a zebra crossing, I wouldn't use neutral or the hand break, I'd dip my foot on the clutch and the other foot on the break. Then just drive off again when necessary.

It actually annoys me when my mates who have just passed their test obsessively use the hand break. I was always taught only to use it when entirely necessary. I think it's absolutely ridiculous using it at a junction, or in between having reversed and taking off again. It seems silly.

Tommy B · 26 Dec 2006 at 15:59

I see your point, but I'm talking mainly about "damage to the clutch" rather than safety. I guess I'm just lazy, but I never use the hand break unless it's completely necessary.

Tommy B · 26 Dec 2006 at 17:32

Oh please give me a break. The break lights aren't exactly eye-piecing. If you're going to complain about that you might as well make a fuss of people who opt for Xeon gas white lights fitted in their cars, because those are damn annoying.

Tommy B · 26 Dec 2006 at 19:47

Matt82 said:
he has got to be a troll.

I'm not trying to annoy people I'm just saying that claiming break lights hurt your eyes is ridiculous, especially in broad daylight.

Tommy B · 27 Dec 2006 at 21:16

Gilly said:
Aye, me too

Tommy, its spelt 'brake', just so you know

Firefox auto-spell tbh

Tommy B · 27 Dec 2006 at 21:20

Bug One said:
Tommy, you seem obsessed with not 'breaking' your clutch. Using it properly is not going to break it! The thing that knackers clutches quickly is slipping it in with lots of revs. Avoid that, and you'll be fine.

You and your mates sound like you're at that stage of all trying to out do each other with crazy methods of proving who is the better driver. You'll grow out of it. Just dont crash and dont drive like a nob. If you're thinking of things like coasting to save fuel, or not changing gear to save the clutch, you guys really should think if you can really afford to be driving!

I nearly always take my car out of gear when I'm sitting at lights etc. Its just generally non-lazy driving. Once its out, you can just sit and relax until you're ready to go. Doesn't take long to put it back in gear. But that might wear out the clutch eh

On the contrary, most of my mates milk the crap out of their cars and rev them as hard as possible to squeeze all the power out. If we were that worried about fuel we wouldn't be doing that. As I said in the OP, I have this one friend who doesn't even pay for his fuel but is still obsessed with saving fuel. Anyhow, I've explained to him why he's actually wasting fuel now so it's settled.

I wasn't saying changing gear damages the clutch. I was asking if you approach a junction in 3rd, and then just slip your foot down on the clutch until you come to a standstill - does that wear the clutch?