How do you slow down?

Nozzer · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:28

monkeyspank said:
My misses brakes, and goes down through all the gears but with the clutch pressed in the whole time

Mine does that

She claims it's so if she needs to bring the clutch up again that she'll be in the right gear. I suggested leaving the gear stick alone until she knew which gear she wanted and got a blank look.

Apparently she was taught to do that.

Nozzer · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:29

Nathan said:
same. All this about "matching revs on the down change to slow down" sounds like excessive bs to me.

As I said, I do it for the sound

It's also a lot smoother.

Tesla · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:30

Nathan said:
same. All this about "matching revs on the down change to slow down" sounds like excessive bs to me. Just plan ahead and slow down accordingly lifting off the go pedel.

It can be useful on the track but on the weekly run to Tesco I agree, it's a load of rubbish.

Jonny69 · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:36

Lets put it this way, if I were to use engine braking in second or first it would lock the rears up, worse in the wet. Even if I heel-toed it to match the revs it would still yank the rears into a skid as soon as I let go of the accelerator. It's not good practice and will wear out the clutch and gearbox.

RoboCod · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:41

siztenboots said:
Brake pads are a lot cheaper to replace than a clutch/gearbox

Gearing down for corners is better than using your brakes simply for the fact that you have more control over the car. You make the car drive the corner as oppose to braking and free wheeling around to gear down out of the corner. More control = safer driving. Safety > Wallet

Nozzer · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:43

Jonny69 said:
Lets put it this way, if I were to use engine braking in second or first it would lock the rears up, worse in the wet. Even if I heel-toed it to match the revs it would still yank the rears into a skid as soon as I let go of the accelerator. It's not good practice and will wear out the clutch and gearbox.

If it's such bad practice, why do the semi-automatic gearboxes (F1, E-Gear, DSG etc) blip the throttle on the downshifts?

manoz · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:44

Tesla said:
I use the brakes to stop/slow the car.

So if I am in 4th doing 40mph and approach a set of traffic lights I will slow down using the brake, then just before the car starts to go all lumpy slowly depress the clutch whilst still slowing, say i get to 10mph and the lights go green then change to 2nd and accelerate away.

I don't see how changing down through the box makes you more ready to go?

I've only had about 20 driving lessons so far and I do this aswell. I'm doing the rest when I go to uni but I didn't think that other instructors would teach it differently.

GlasgowTitan · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:46

Nozzer said:
If it's such bad practice, why do the semi-automatic gearboxes (F1, E-Gear, DSG etc) blip the throttle on the downshifts?

It sounds really cool. :cool:

rare · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:47

As I said, I do it for the sound It's also a lot smoother.

I agree! Me car makes nice pops and bangs when I do it hah.

siztenboots · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:47

Captain Planet said:
Gearing down for corners is better than using your brakes simply for the fact that you have more control over the car. You make the car drive the corner as oppose to braking and free wheeling around to gear down out of the corner. More control = safer driving. Safety > Wallet

I can safely say I disagree with everything you have posted there.

Nozzer · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:48

I can't comment on DSG or E-Gear, but the F1 boxes match the revs conservatively in 'normal' mode, with a much lairier blip in 'Sport' mode for extra sound points.

Nozzer · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:48

siztenboots said:
I can safely say I disagree with everything you have posted there.

So you drive round corners with the clutch in?

penski · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:51

Barrell into the corner in fourth, stamp on the middle pedal, catch the car as it slews sideways, dip clutch, stamp on the accelerator, short-shift to second gear then go around the corner in a perfect drift, smoke pouring off both rear tyres due to the welded diff, elbow out of the window and the supermodel in the passenger seat giving you oral gratification.

Or in the real world, drive around in fourth, brake, short-shift to second or first as required and then go again.

*n

arcamalpha · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:53

My car's got a DSG 'box and it only very subtly blips the throttle on automatic downshifts. It only downshifts when the revs get to ~1000 in each gear when braking so it doesn't really contribute to engine braking. I guess it only blips the throttle to reduce wear on the clutch. Being electronic it does t perfectly every time unlike the average right foot.

As far as cornering goes, it doens't change gear when cornering in auto. In manual it will change, but that's the driver's fault!

thebrasso · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:53

I find right now I don't have to use the brakes too much because I can use a bit of accelerator sense, and ease off and not accelerate into things.

Failing that, brake a bit earlier, get my speed adjusted then take my gear.

rare · 4 Sep 2006 at 16:53

elbow out of the window and the supermodel in the passenger seat giving you oral gratification.

Thats how it is. Everytime.

I seen it.

RoboCod · 4 Sep 2006 at 17:02

siztenboots said:
I can safely say I disagree with everything you have posted there.

Disagree all you like but I'll take the word of my driving instructor over anything you have to say ta

siztenboots · 4 Sep 2006 at 17:04

Nozzer said:
So you drive round corners with the clutch in?

Approach corner , brake (two hands on steering for control ), finish braking, select gear, turn in, trail brake if desired or power oversteer if RWD.

Not sure where the free-wheeling came from.

siztenboots · 4 Sep 2006 at 17:06

Captain Planet said:
Disagree all you like but I'll take the word of my driving instructor over anything you have to say ta

Speaks volumes about his experience, get a new instructor

Nozzer · 4 Sep 2006 at 17:08

sizetenboots said:
Not sure where the free-wheeling came from.

Here.

Captain Planet said:
Gearing down for corners is better than using your brakes simply for the fact that you have more control over the car. You make the car drive the corner as oppose to braking and free wheeling around to gear down out of the corner. More control = safer driving. Safety > Wallet

siztenboots said:
I can safely say I disagree with everything you have posted there.