posted by [identity profile] elanya.livejournal.com at 04:59pm on 17/07/2007
Well, different methods/thoughts, at least - 'you should do this' versus 'never do that it is dangerous/bad for your car' sorts of things. o_O
 
posted by [identity profile] gnomentum.livejournal.com at 08:40pm on 17/07/2007
Like what?

Coming from a country where manual transmissions are the norm, not the exception, the only thing I can think of is block changes (which are basically fine within reason, you have to excersise a little judgement).

But then I've never driven an automatic, and these things become second nature.. I can't remember whether there was anything else that confused me when I was learning.
 
posted by [identity profile] elanya.livejournal.com at 08:50pm on 17/07/2007
What's a block change? (Dunno if this is just not something I have gone over yet, or a terminology difference).

The main point was whether or not it is okay to take slow (or slow-ish - say driving in 2nd gear) turns with the clutch engaged (as I was shown), or whether it is dangerous (lack of motor control) and bad for your car 9because some say that the more you use your clutch, period, the worse it is for your car)?
 
posted by [identity profile] gnomentum.livejournal.com at 10:52pm on 17/07/2007
How very bizarre.. I have no idea why you would even want to take a turn with the clutch engaged! I've always tried to make my gear changes as fast and smooth as possible.

'Riding the clutch' (as my dad calls it) isn't very good for the clutch, can't see it harming the rest of the car but a clutch is pretty expensive to replace. And yeah, I'd be reluctant to recommend doing that on a turn for just the reason suggested above. After all, with the clutch depressed you're effectively in neutral - I wouldn't want to go ANYWHERE in neutral unless I was being towed.

Block changes are where you go, say, from fourth to second or third to first as you decelerate. You can use the engine to aid you in the deceleration that way, and if you're going from fairly fast to very slow or a standstill, it means you can keep your gear matched more or less to your speed - which obviously is safer. Instructors here seem to go through phases of whether they recommend this approach or not - don't know about test conditions, but in real life I'd find it hard to drive without using them on occasion.

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