Myths about Motors...

[RedvGreen]

I've encountered a few very recently:

- Floor mounted Accelerator Pedals (German brands) are difficult to use from standard down-mounted hinge systems.

- Diesel only becomes economical on longer journeys vs. Petrol

- 0-60MPH manufacturer times are achieved without dipping the clutch


What are yours, and what are your thoughts on the above?

 

[Fr0dders]

manufacturers have been known to do worse than not dipping the clutch to get the best 0-60 times.

Non production tires, mild engine tuning, taping up panel gaps, removing spoilers etc.. its all been done in an attempt to get the best times.

 

[Dogbreath]

- 0-60MPH manufacturer times are achieved without dipping the clutch

That is almost certainly BS; on a synchromesh box you simply can't change quickly without the clutch as the box won't let you.

Organ pedal accelerators aren't "difficult" to use, just different. Some people don't like them, others do.

Diesels typically take longer to warm up than a petrol, but they don't need to run rich when cold like a petrol so I doubt they use more fuel.

 

[Sneaky Peaky]

All male MX5, MGF and Mini owners are gay..

This is not true - only 95% are, the rest are just bi-curious.

 

[panthro]

It might just be me but trying to heel and toe in my E46 is a lot more difficult than any of the other cars Ive owned (with standard hinged pedals).

 

[Fr0dders]

That is almost certainly BS; on a synchromesh box you simply can't change quickly without the clutch as the box won't let you.

I thought you could ?

Granted it would destroy your gearbox if you carried on doing it, but doing it was technically possible

didnt somebody do it on the top gear reasonably priced car ?

 

[nas]

an m3 is 330ci with a superchip

 

[DAIR]

All male MX5, MGF and Mini owners are gay..

This is not true - only 95% are, the rest are just bi-curious.

lol a mate of mine wanted to get one of those crap thing Rover things.... I think I may have told him the samething!

 

[4T5]

That all old Escorts are rotten.

That all old Escorts are slow.

That Torque steer is controllable. + +


*Warning*
This post contains Extreme amounts of Bias.

 

[phil675]

Skodas are rubbish.

I've never owned one, but I suggested the Octavia to my mother once and she said 'oh no, I'd never drive a Skoda' as if I'd suggested that she go on a date with a sex offender.

I understand that they used to be rubbish

 

[Jonny69]

Old cars are dangerous.

Because my ones have killed me and everyone else who's ever driven one.

 

[L0rdMike]

The S2000 has no torque.

 

[Liampope]

Hmmm - my floor hinged pedal is fine. I wouldn't even say it feels significantly different to a top hinged pedal.

As for the Diesel fuel consumption one - I thought it was the other way round - i.e. not being crap on short journeys/about town etc was the diesel strong point? For example my petrol guzzler averages low/mid 20s on short start-stop journeys, but can deliver a max of 37 mpg on a motorway cruise, whereas I would expect an equivalent diesel to be quite close to that motorway figure, but much better than my petrol on the short journeys.

Clutchless manual gearchanges - entirely possible both up and down, and a fun and potentially useful skill to learn (I have a couple of times driven a car home, once with a failed clutch release bearing and once with a snapped cable). Whether you could use the technique to increase the speed of an upshift is debatable and would come pretty much down to luck. And yes your gearbox will not appreciate it.

MX5s - ha ha, the 'owners must be gay/hairdressers' (same thing innit ) myth is an extremely effective deliberate attempt by true car enthusiasts to keep their greatness a secret. Same goes for Suzuki Cappuccinos - awesome

I'll add my own myth: Four wheel drive gives you more grip. A myth shared, in my experience, by plenty of Audi Quattro and BMW X5 owners right until they end up in a ditch in the snow.

 

[Prophet]

- Floor mounted Accelerator Pedals (German brands) are difficult to use from standard down-mounted hinge systems.

It's the one thing I don't like about BMW's. Not difficult to use but I find the angle annoying. Back when I had my 328 it took a while to get used to it.

 

[Tute]

It's the one thing I don't like about BMW's. Not difficult to use but I find the angle annoying. Back when I had my 328 it took a while to get used to it.

Going from a top down to a floor mounted felt absolutely no different to me. It took a week or so before I even noticed mine had changed.

 

[Prophet]

Going from a top down to a floor mounted felt absolutely no different to me. It took a week or so before I even noticed mine had changed.

I'm so happy for you

Saying you felt absolutely no difference.. Are you one of those people who thinks a car is just to get you from A to B?

 

[Princey]

I feel no difference either swapping between my mini and monaro.

 

[Morba]

I feel no difference either swapping between my mini and monaro.

same for me from focus to 3 series.

 

[Trifid]

Saying you felt absolutely no difference.. Are you one of those people who thinks a car is just to get you from A to B?

I don't really notice the difference and am most certainly not on of those people!

(VX220 and 120D)


Out of interest, how do you position your foot on the accelerator? do you put the whole foot flat against the pedal or lever your heal away from the pedal and use your toe/tip of your shoe?

 

[Prophet]

I don't really notice the difference and am most certainly not on of those people!

(VX220 and 120D)


Out of interest, how do you position your foot on the accelerator? do you put the whole foot flat against the pedal or lever your heal away from the pedal and use your toe/tip of your shoe?

It's when I put my foot flat against the pedal I find it annoying. I prefer to use the ball of my foot. It's personal preference at the end of the day. I just find the bottom pivot doesn't lend itself well to that kind of foot placement.