Is it wise to pull off in 2nd/3rd gear?

[Daff_Duck]

if you drive a 250BHP + car does it frustrate you that as soon as you have put your foot on the accelerator whilst in first gear you have to move to the next gear or block change

I know it isn't ideal due to he strain you are putting in the clutch mechanism but can/do you use a higher gear as standard to start the car moving

Thanks


Oh sorry if been asked/answered before

 

[Gibbo]

If the car does it without lugging or burning the clutch it is fine. I often pull off in second if its a downhill and I am driving very sedately, though being a V8 helps.

 

[paradigm]

Used to do it a fair amount in both the 330d and my Leon Cupra R. 1st in the 330d was far too short, and 2nd in the Leon was a simple way (in the wet at least) of avoiding massive amounts of wheelspin (that said it would still spin between 2nd and 3rd).

 

[adolf hamster]

Never driven an old tractor? Setting off in top gear is the only option because it takes that long to change gear youve stopped anyway

 

[acemastr]

My auto 330ci used to always pull off in second unless I was eager with the throttle.

 

[Django x2]

If you had any recent BMW (E60 530d, etc) onwards, and left it in D (Auto), it would always pull away in 2nd

 

[Scania]

Meh! I frequently pull away from a standstill in 4th or even 5th

 

[Clarkey]

A dry clutch and a torque converter are hardly comparable, OP is obviously talking about a manual.

 

[almoststew1990]

I quite like my car's (e46 330ci 5speed) long first gear just to get a bit of speed (and distance) before having to change. I often change into second when vans with short first gears are going into third.

 

[Firestar_3x]

Do it on slight downhills in the manual, DSG in the other car when set in Comfort or Normal mode will set off in 2nd too.

 

[ci_newman]

DSG in my car, so I don't notice it at all.

The wife's car is a 1.4 TFSI, and I always use 1st gear to pull off.

 

[Jamesyboyjim]

Only if I forget to put it in first

it'll do it, but will judder, so best avoided.

 

[Daff_Duck]

Thanks for the replies - I suppose my question is will it do any long term damage to my clutch -(excessive wear and tear) if I pull away in 2/3rd my 1st gear range is so short its like 10 ft before I am prompted to put it into a higher gear (manual) its so frustrating I get some white van man halfway down the road before I am able to get level and have to accelerate quite hard to do so..

Maybe I am a pants driver but I even though the car is 250Bhp I seem to drive it like a granny and get the urban 85BHP flipping me off I suppose it comes into its own on motorways and long roads but nevertheless

 

[Dr Who]

I just don't see the point in manuals for road use any more, especially diesels with very short first gears and DMF's.

Heavy Traffic etc, Auto's are so much nicer to use, and so much more relaxing.

 

[Simon]

D1 on mine defaults to second gear. I guess its a winter mode. (7sp DCT)

 

[ScottyJKB]

I sometimes do it by accident, more or less feels the same as 1st in my MCS.

 

[ScottyJKB]

Thanks for the replies - I suppose my question is will it do any long term damage to my clutch -(excessive wear and tear) if I pull away in 2/3rd

I'm no mechanic, but I think Gibbo gave the best advice, if you can smell burning or feel like the car is 'jerking' I'd stop.

Maybe don't do it in 3rd though... I'm assuming you have to rev a 'fair amount' for it to start in 3rd?

 

[ttaskmaster]

Car and bike can both pull away in 2nd easy enough and even the low-powered work fleet vehicles can. Sometimes it's best to, depending on conditions.

I just don't see the point in manuals for road use any more, especially diesels with very short first gears and DMF's.
Heavy Traffic etc, Auto's are so much nicer to use, and so much more relaxing.

Everyone I know who drives an auto would be ripped to pieces on this forum, for being "lazy driver" types. Even my own driving is vastly better in a manual.

Then again, with all these fantastic new cars, I expect people will instead spend their time switching between the twenty different driving 'Modes'?

 

[Glanza]

Used to do it when setting off downhill but not on the flat, granted that was more down to me being a yobbo at the time and making as much noise as possible with a screamer pipe, it suddenly got people alert looking where the noise was coming from.

 

[Jamesyboyjim]

Tried pulling away in 5th once, stalled and then was shouting to the car "why did you stall, I did nothing wrong" then looked at what gear I was in Silly me!