I can do it with all 5 gears in my petrol car, so can all my mates. In fact when me and my mates were all 17 and immature knob heads, we used to have 'clutch races' where literally all you do is go down the industrial estate find a long road and then start in first let clutch out slowly to get moving then go up the gears, whoever get to fifth first wins.
Driving a petrol after learning in a diesel
- Thread starter radar19
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I can do it with all 5 gears in my petrol car, so can all my mates. In fact when me and my mates were all 17 and immature knob heads, we used to have 'clutch races' where literally all you do is go down the industrial estate find a long road and then start in first let clutch out slowly to get moving then go up the gears, whoever get to fifth first wins.
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I went from driving an automatic for 5 years to a manual, It took me almost no time at all to adapt, apart from pulling off on the odd hill :-/
A diesel can't possibly be any different from a petrol.
A diesel can't possibly be any different from a petrol.
Soldato
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I know people are being funny but it is possible to screw up something simple easily. Like put a few cement bags in the back of some cars and it can give a bit of a surprise in handling under braking then turning, say a roundabout approach. Probably not most of the time but its possible ime
Maybe not applicable to most on this forum but re the quote above:
If the driver has driving experience and is a good driver, then you should be able to jump into any car and just drive it no problems. It makes no difference what so ever.
Yep I went from a manual turbo petrol to an automatic diesel and I haven't stalled once
No, I learnt in a diesel and then owned a Fiat Cinquecento, with about as much flywheel torque as a washing machine motor.
. Slowest street race ever? 
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I think the issue is switching from an instructors car (probably a 1.4L diesel) to a low-insurance petrol, probably 1L or thereabouts.
There's a pretty big difference!
It still doesn't take long to get used to it though.
I used to do something similar myself when I was 17 with my mates.
We also used to see who had the best clutch control and see who could pull away in the highest gear. Pulling away in 5th was never a problem, however the clutch never liked it!!
A Focus ST, it's often the method I use when there is heavy snow in my estate. The use of the accelerator will just spin the wheels.
My Instructor swapped from a petrol mini to a diesel 207 half way through when i was learning.
I then drove another petrol mini ( cooper) the day i passed and bought a petrol fiesta 1.25.
I noticed no differences.
However my 306 gti-6 has the hardest clutch to use out of all of these cars.
Its more of a car by car issue in my eyes.
I then drove another petrol mini ( cooper) the day i passed and bought a petrol fiesta 1.25.
I noticed no differences.
However my 306 gti-6 has the hardest clutch to use out of all of these cars.
Its more of a car by car issue in my eyes.
Soldato
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whilst thats true, I do firmly believe that there is a difference between the way you control the clutch and gears in a petrol compared to diesel and those differences can either help or hinder your general driving. so it is something to be aware of.
Whilst I can see where the OP is coming from, there is nothing really to learn, with time, I'm sure he'll pick it up!
That said, I do admit, when I jump from my Scania artic into my 318i, I do often think the clutch cable must have snapped in the car! By comparison, it feels like its not connected to anything!
Not that the trucks clutch pedal is over heavy or anything, they do feel very different though.
Truck or car, the clutch operates the same way, foot goes down, comes upto the bite point etc......
That said, I do admit, when I jump from my Scania artic into my 318i, I do often think the clutch cable must have snapped in the car! By comparison, it feels like its not connected to anything!
Not that the trucks clutch pedal is over heavy or anything, they do feel very different though.
Truck or car, the clutch operates the same way, foot goes down, comes upto the bite point etc......
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you can pull away in a petrol with just the clutch.
Soldato
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This is a load of bull. Not sure what diesel cars you've been driving...
The main thing I noticed between my own cars Peugeot 406 2.0 & Ford Capri 2.8i being the petrols & a pair of Rover 220's and a Mondeo Mk3 being the diesels is the engine braking more than anything.
Both the petrols were happy to be knocked into 2nd & let the revs shoot up at some speed for bends whereas the diesels tend to want to smash your face against the steering wheel if you try the same.
Both the petrols were happy to be knocked into 2nd & let the revs shoot up at some speed for bends whereas the diesels tend to want to smash your face against the steering wheel if you try the same.
no difference at all really, I drive a diesel all day for work then get in my petrol and go home
You'll be fine.
I switched to a different instructor within the same company so went from a Fiesta > 208 and from heavy steering and clutch to much much lighter and then also had to drive a 308 which was back to heavy steering and clutch. From that I've learnt I like heavy steering and clutch