What's the best Gear to stay in, when in traffic?

[tadz0rz]

Wouldnt starting in second shorten the life of my clutch though? Our cars have shit all torque, id have to have the revs up at like 1500 and let the clutch out really slowley wouldnt i?

[nutterbug]

It's funny how driving instructors differ so much. My partner uses the gears to slow down rather than the brakes where I was taught to use the brakes or pop it in N and coast up to the lights (Dad says new brakepads are cheaper then a new gearbox LOL). I'd never heard about 1st really only being for starting on hills etc.

[Speedie]

Back when drum brakes where the bomb gearboxes were used to slow the car faster. Now days the brakes are stronger and better then using the gearbox.
I even have a hard time choosing between R for race and D for drive when I'm in my car

[criteek]

if im in second and the car in front is slowing down and is gonna come to a stop ill just throw the clutch in straight away and let the car roll to a stop with the aid of the brake.

if the car in front then starts to move again without me coming to a complete stop ill just release the clutch, give some revs still in second and keep going, if i have to come to a complete stop i'll put it back into first.

I don't think u should really be putting it back into first without stopping

[Josh_Emerton]

Yeah never put it back into first UNLESS you're stopped. basic rule - if you feel the car sorta lurch when you take the clutch out, its the wrong gear. I almost never get that any more, but i used to get it sorta if the light turned green JUST as I got to it and i'd already short-changed to first ready to stop and then just tried to drop the clutch and go or something.

[Ozie]

best gear = "D"


thats for all the CVT lovers.....lol.

[dumb&]

Wouldnt starting in second shorten the life of my clutch though? Our cars have shit all torque, id have to have the revs up at like 1500 and let the clutch out really slowley wouldnt i?

Letting the clutch out slowly is essentially riding the clutch, kind of. And yes that will wear it out faster.

Just takes practice, if you don't feel comfortable doing it then stick to coming to a complete stop and whacking it back in first to take off. It really just comes down to personal preference.


Also with the gears for slowing down - I still do this..it's good if your car has an exhaust cos it sounds so meaty! Can't wait for wednesday

[slickthug]

im still only 2 months into manual so im also still learning.

doesnt everyone press gas while releasing the clutch when changing gears. does this mean everyone rides the clutch it just matters how much you ride it?

also why is it bad to leave the car in friction point while stopped?

[dumb&]

Changing gears while moving I use no throttle unless it's a spirited drive and I want to slip the clutch. You only need a bit of gas in first to take off simply because it's hard to get the wheels moving as they are stationary and the car weighs over a tonne.

When driving normally say 2nd->3rd->4th->5th you should simply let your foot off the accelerator, clutch in, change gears, clutch out and get back on the gas if needed. Sometimes you may need to use it a little going from 1st->2nd if you're going up a hill or whatever.


I'm not saying this is the right way to drive, it's just how I was taught.

[Speedie]

No thats right no gas pedal when changing unless you want to try and smoke your tyres. It saves you from wearing out your clutch early. And holding the clucth at friction point also wears clutch faster.

[tadz0rz]

Yeah i kinda give it a little gas when changing gears to give it a little less shift shock when changing gears.

What do you guys think of double clutching?

Probley not the best thing for daily driving but i hear this causes less wear on the transmission or the clutch or sumthing like that, cant remember what i heard about it...

[Speedie]

Waste of time double clutching for city driving

[tadz0rz]

I tend to double clutch at roundabouts for some reason....I cant do it anywhere else...

[nutterbug]

Hehe, I use the friction point instead of doing handbrake starts Lazy i know

[tadz0rz]

Big timee!! Same here, im terrible with hill starts, hopfully i dont get one on my test!!