Coasting?

Sukh

Sukh

Sukh

Soldato
Joined
29 Jan 2007
Posts
3,596
Location
Chelsea
Well its three questions really:
1) Is coasting (Having clutch in) around corners really that bad, and why?
2) Is sitting on the biting point of the clutch at traffic lights insead of neutral and handbrake bad? (or just having clutch in all the way)
3) Is having the engine at low revs, e.g. 5th gear at 40mph bad in any way?
 
Sukh said:
1) Is coasting (Having clutch in) around corners really that bad, and why?
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I did that in my driving test, but he didn't notice.

Turning left over a short 1 lane bridge I went to change into second, only to find I was already in 2nd, went over the bridge coasting, gently let the clutch back out and continued. :D
 
Its hard for a passenger to tell if the car is coasting, i used to always do it with my driving instructor, but ive been passed for over a year, hasnt done me any harm.
 
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Dogbreath said:
Why on earth do people coast around corners? It's such a ridiculous and ultimately pointless thing to do.
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Usually because their gear selection went wrong and didn't react in time for the corner - i.e. they shouldn't have passed their test in the first place.
 
Sukh said:
Well its three questions really:
1) Is coasting (Having clutch in) around corners really that bad, and why?
2) Is sitting on the biting point of the clutch at traffic lights insead of neutral and handbrake bad? (or just having clutch in all the way)
3) Is having the engine at low revs, e.g. 5th gear at 40mph bad in any way?
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1. It's bad because it unbalances the car. There are no driven wheels to "pull" the car through the corner. So it only requires that your tyres lose a bit of traction and there is no power there to keep them going forward. So the ultimate result is that you slide off the road into a kerb, hedge or ditch. You might get away with it in the summer but in the winter - not a chance.

2. It's bad for the car yes. It chews up the clutch plate quicker and needlessly puts strain on the engine. You don't have to use the handbrake. Just whack it out of gear and sit on the foot brake. Then when the lights go green or whatever then select first and go again... Only if you're sitting on a slope do you really need to use the handbrake. It's a good idea to still lightly press the foot brake so that your brake lights are on - depending on the situation.

3. I doubt any car would have trouble at 40 in 5th. Some may struggle with 30 in 5th and normally you can tell as the engine sounds like it is struggling.
 
Nothing wrong with coasting round, say a 90º bend at low speeds around residential streets - I.e. slow down in 3rd, clutch in, shift to 2nd, turn into a street and clutch up.

Coasting on anything else is dangerous - I've seen a Skyline come off several times on a track day because the driver was coasting. By the end of the day the instructor refused to go out with him and he later mated his car with the armco.
 
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NickXX said:
Nothing wrong with coasting round, say a 90º bend at low speeds around residential streets - I.e. slow down in 3rd, clutch in, shift to 2nd, turn into a street and clutch up.
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What an odd method of driving - doesn't that feel strange?
 
Lopéz said:
What an odd method of driving - doesn't that feel strange?
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Oops, edited since you quoted. I've always done it - guess I feel more comfortable doing it this way as the clutch is already down should you need to stop immediately after cornering. Talking sub 20mph speeds though and usually just ease the clutch in as the turn finishes.
 
NathanE said:
You don't have to use the handbrake. Just whack it out of gear and sit on the foot brake. Then when the lights go green or whatever then select first and go again... Only if you're sitting on a slope do you really need to use the handbrake. It's a good idea to still lightly press the foot brake so that your brake lights are on - depending on the situation.
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So you're the one who sit's in traffic queues and at traffic lights on their brake lights! Blinding me and giving me head ache. I've a good mind to go at people with a stick sometimes.

Use the handbrake in stationary traffic like you're mean't too. Automatic drivers are the worst because they can't be bothered to shift to P.

PS obviously I understand if you're at the back of the queue that's different, but once you're no longer at the back you should get off the brake.
 
brake lights ahead of you give you headaches?

what do you do when following slow traffic, sob when people ahead slow down? either your eyes have issues or youre just a really over sensitive soul
 
( |-| |2 ][ $;10369219 said:
So you're the one who sit's in traffic queues and at traffic lights on their brake lights! Blinding me and giving me head ache. I've a good mind to go at people with a stick sometimes.
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Brake lights have never given me a headache - they're only 21 watts!
 
( |-| |2 ][ $;10369219 said:
Use the handbrake in stationary traffic like you're mean't too. Automatic drivers are the worst because they can't be bothered to shift to P.
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Are your eyes uber sensitive or something? Brake lights blinding you? Im not going to shift to P every time i am in a queue.
 
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