P plater learning to drive auto? (1 Viewer)

[SlipStream]

loquasagacious: fortunately, no. I've never been pulled over, but I've had about a dozen "close calls". You just have to know when it's the right time (and place) to do the "wrong" things. And I'm paranoid - I'm always scanning suspicious places for patrol cars, and also treating BA XR8s/VZ SS (etc) with heaps of aerials suspect, too. I've interviewed cops before regarding road safety stuff, and I have a few uncles who have been in the force before.

braad: I read that in a magazine a few years ago and it stuck in my mind. Apparently if you're facing eye-to-eye with the cop they're less likely to get on a roll in regards to petty fines like defects, licence infringements, etc. And when you're sitting in your car looking up at them there's that psychological thing. Although I agree, you might intimidate the cop a little by getting out and approaching them.

011: cops are people too (they're not angry angry robots) and normally they're "blokes" who respond to interaction. By shaking their hands in a friendly manner you're coming across as co-operative and the cop might have a bit more sympathy on you. I see where you're coming from, though. I guess it depends on what the cop is like - it'd be like a customer coming up to you and shaking your hand; it'd be weird. In some ways in can be a mark of respect shaking their hand, but in others it can be a little condescending.

 

[braad]

loquasagacious: fortunately, no. I've never been pulled over, but I've had about a dozen "close calls". You just have to know when it's the right time (and place) to do the "wrong" things. And I'm paranoid - I'm always scanning suspicious places for patrol cars, and also treating BA XR8s/VZ SS (etc) with heaps of aerials suspect, too. I've interviewed cops before regarding road safety stuff, and I have a few uncles who have been in the force before.

i do the sammmmme thing, you can always tell the cop cars...any falcodore with the steelies on is instantly suss, they're usually slightly lower and have a bunch of aerials (even wagon)...then the XRs and SS's with heaps dark tint and a few aerials are always suss

braad: I read that in a magazine a few years ago and it stuck in my mind. Apparently if you're facing eye-to-eye with the cop they're less likely to get on a roll in regards to petty fines like defects, licence infringements, etc. And when you're sitting in your car looking up at them there's that psychological thing. Although I agree, you might intimidate the cop a little by getting out and approaching them.

far enough, i might try that, not that i ever have anything to worry about, but sometimes my mates do (well, if they're drunk they wanna shag every officer around)

 

[Gavvvvvin]

Fuck drivin a manual is hard work

 

[braad]

Thats why you be a little girl and drive manuals

that made no sense

just drive manuals all you pussies

 

[DaddyK]

driving manual is fun, not hard.

 

[SlipStream]

I think miss_gtr meant "Thats why you be a little girl and drive automatics". Oui ou non?

As with most things, driving a manual is only hard to learn if you're not patient. It also helps to have a good teacher.

 

[ToO LaZy ^*]

yeah, manual is only hard when you first start. getting first gear consistantly can be a pain in the a-hole (as i learnt yesterday).

i feel sorry for my new car stalled quite a bit.

 

[SlipStream]

Think of moving off as a balancing act like a set of scales - the more you take the clutch out, the more revs you need to input. You need to balance this. Let the clutch out too quick and you get bunny hops, too little revs and you'll stall (or the car won't like it very much). Also, don't be afraid to ride the clutch a bit until you feel the friction point - where the clutch starts to engage. But basically people stall because they don't balance their rev input to compensate with the speed of which they are taking the clutch out. Honestly, it's not that hard.

 

[loquasagacious]

Apparently the stats are that it takes just 10-15 hours to master driving a car and then a great deal more hours to master hazard perception and appropriate actions.

 

[Reshie]

So I have my P plates for auto but I want to learn to drive manual so how do I do that? Do I have to display learner plates or something?

thats the most stupidest rule ever honestly what about the people who did their licenses on Manual and some dumbass can go drive manual when they are on their greens...
ahhh!!!
I hope the rule changes!

 

[ToO LaZy ^*]

Think of moving off as a balancing act like a set of scales - the more you take the clutch out, the more revs you need to input. You need to balance this. Let the clutch out too quick and you get bunny hops, too little revs and you'll stall (or the car won't like it very much). Also, don't be afraid to ride the clutch a bit until you feel the friction point - where the clutch starts to engage. But basically people stall because they don't balance their rev input to compensate with the speed of which they are taking the clutch out. Honestly, it's not that hard.

ok
ive got 1st gear mastered..but my change to 2nd gear isnt that smooth. i always seem to get this little jerk.

any tips?

 

[mr_brightside]

Looks like this is goin to be me too..
Ive just about done all my hours on an auto and will go for my p's soonish..
But dad is buying a manual and I will have to resit DART =\

 

[loquasagacious]

ok
ive got 1st gear mastered..but my change to 2nd gear isnt that smooth. i always seem to get this little jerk.

any tips?

Hmm just try and be smooth - slow the change down a little bit if neccessary.

More importantly though is co-ordinating coming off the clutch and coming back on the accelerator - much the same process as with first gear.

It may help if you 'blip' the throttle mid change. eg if whilst the clutch is still fully depressed you tap the accelerator to raise the revs and then complete the change as normal.

 

[DaddyK]

Let the clutch out slower after selecting second, if you dump it or let it out fast it will jerk.

 

[SlipStream]

Yeh try letting the clutch out more fluently, and try overlapping the take-out of the clutch and the re-application of the accelerator a little rather than being a mechanical "clutch out, accelerator on". That should solve it.

 

[ToO LaZy ^*]

cool..i actually tried that before and it works well..but i thought it wouldnt be too good for the clutch if i added gas before the clutch was fully engaged.

so there is minimal damage done?..i dont want to be replacing a new clutch after my first year

and loq. -- cool, ill try that next time too

 

[DaddyK]

Nah, brand new car man your clutch won't need replacing for yonks. Even if it does it should be under warrenty?

 

[SlipStream]

cool..i actually tried that before and it works well..but i thought it wouldnt be too good for the clutch if i added gas before the clutch was fully engaged.

so there is minimal damage done?..i dont want to be replacing a new clutch after my first year

and loq. -- cool, ill try that next time too

The clutch is constantly wearing - when you let the clutch out there has to be some slip otherwise it'll be jerky and not smooth. The overlap isn't really harmful as you reapply the accelerator past the friction point, so the clutch has already gripped. It would be harmful if you reapplied full accelerator right at the clutch's pick up point, though. lol

DaddyK: clutches are classed as wear items so they're not covered under factory warranties...

 

[loquasagacious]

cool..i actually tried that before and it works well..but i thought it wouldnt be too good for the clutch if i added gas before the clutch was fully engaged.

so there is minimal damage done?..i dont want to be replacing a new clutch after my first year

and loq. -- cool, ill try that next time too

I'm guessing the wear/damage caused by jerky changes (to both clutch and syncos) is actually greater than that caused by to much accelerator-clutch overlap.

 

[DaddyK]

Thats why i put the question mark there coz i wasn't sure.