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I used to use car gearboxes like motorcycle gearboxes. Changing down rev-matching and dancing about on the pedals like Nureyev. Then I did the "System" at the police driving school. I was told that brakes cost less than gearboxes/clutches and I should slow down with brakes not gears. It does make sense though. I can still recite great swathes of Roadcraft off by heart (party bore).
Constable_Savage-
I used to use car gearboxes like motorcycle gearboxes. Changing down rev-matching and dancing about on the pedals like Nureyev. Then I did the "System" at the police driving school. I was told that brakes cost less than gearboxes/clutches and I should slow down with brakes not gears. It does make sense though. I can still recite great swathes of Roadcraft off by heart (party bore).
My driving instructor said the same thing, however- if you only attend to the brakes when approaching a corner you then have to change gear before tackling the corner, which if at speed can unsettle it, or simply be annoying.
If you match the revs you can (for e.g.) go from fifth to second whilst braking (say for one of the many roundabouts past Chichester) leaving you in the perfect gear to really scare the labrador around the roundabout and off down the road to the next one.
This is a great way to push the MPG down to the 9-10 area, however.
Dammit
Yes, you have to be precise, which means it's a great feeling when your blip is spot on, but you feel like you are wearing a virtual cone-of-shame when you get it wrong and the syncro has to catch your fumble.
I used to heel-and-toe in the hire cars (as I really, fundamentally didn't give a shit about them) but in the Volvo I dip the clutch, blip, into the next gear at a fairly sedate pace. Heavy flywheels don't help in some ways.