Scuzi said:
IIRC they teach you to go down through *** gears as you decelerate but have the clutch in the whole time using the brakes solely for slowing down. I think it was something to do with using gears to slow down didn't activate the brake light and as such it was seen as safer to use the brakes only to slow down.
I was told it wears the clutch out and it takes your concentrations away from what you are doing. Consequently the thing that all the cool kids are taught to do by every instructor is "Keep your clutch in at the lights and don't use your gears, let those brakes overheat like a mofo down a big hill and then ask the mechanic why your clutch bearings exploded...."
Yeah so things to learn in driving technique are:
1. Engine braking down big hills - Keep in a low gear, flash your brakelight to show cars you are slowing down, let the engine hold you back, therefore avoiding brake fade.
2. Traffic lights, put the car in neutral, handbrake on, if a car is approaching behind you, its a good idea to press on your footbrake so he knows you are not moving. This avoids you knackering your clutch.
3. Gears, come down them when slowing down, that way you have power if you need it and don't have your clutch in wearing out the bearings.
4. Lightness on the pedals, and the correct gear, be super light on the old loud pedal, and use the correct gear, the car will do a fine speed for normal driving and you will use naff all petrol.
Things to learn in maintainance:
1. This I cannot stress enough, check your oil once a week and before and after any journey over 100 miles.
2. Don't rag your car from cold, you will just break it.
3. Keep a sharp eye on your tyres, it is not uncommon for the old bill to do spot checks, especially if you are a young driver in a powerful saloon (I know myself) and getting collared for flat, bald tyres sucks. (This I have no first hand experience of
) Also keep a check on your spare tyre, it is really cack if that goes as well as one of your corners.
Things to learn in driving:
1. I was never taught this, but treat cyclists like cars, give them the same room and don't overtake them if you wouldn't over take a car doing *your* current speed. (racing cyclists move pretty fast)
2. Watch out for filtering motorcycles.
3. Check your mirror before opening your door.
4. Don't drive like an eejit, you will crash within 2 months at most. (I know you will anyway because every male does, hopefully you will scare yourself or realise that it costs more petrol before you hurt someone)
5. Get on the M6 during rushhour.
Things you can do now:
1. Complain about women parking.
2. Go to a skid pan. :
3. Do race training.
