Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

You are reading a single comment by @Brommers and its replies. Click here to read the full conversation.

•

Dammit in reply to @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.

•

Brommers in reply to @Dammit

It also means that when you change down you can change down so that you're in, say, 2nd gear in the power band (say, 4-5krpm) ready for a good hard launch out. Shifting straight into 2nd at that road speed without blipping the throttle is going to be rather hard on both the box and clutch.

•

Dammit in reply to @Brommers

Yes, I would never make that shift without matching revs, it'd be an horrific thing to inflict on the gearbox.

About

Avatar for Brommers @Brommers started