Changing Down The Gears When Slowing Down.

[Tilly2]

At the risk of being ridiculed, I need to know how to stop my car, or slow down my car without changing down the gears 4,3,2,1.
I was taught to do this when I learned to drive many moons ago.

I do a lot of town driving and I am finding that constantly depressing the clutch is actually taking its toll on my left knee. (as well as the Badminton!)

I really don't know what to do with the gears, if I just put my foot on the brake. Obviously, I don't mean an emergency stop. I mean approaching a junction and stopping without going down the gears.

What do you do with the clutch and the gears?

(Try not to take the mikey, please!)

[lesmo]

I'd suggest declutching and holding the clutch out while you brake gently to a halt, then, keeping clutch out, select first in preparation for leaving junction or obstruction.
In the longer term replace car with one equipped with an automatic gearbox.

[Tilly2]

I've heard the word declutching but I have no idea what it means, lesmo.

[Peaspeculiars]

too add, Tilly, you can also hop-up gears when speeding up too (Which my instructor did encourage me to do) For example - moving from 3rd to 5th if you are accelerating rapidly. Takes a bit of getting used to, but makes sense
xx

[melv16]

De-clutching is a type of handbag, tilly:-)

[Psybbo]

Drive in second gear in town?

[Tilly2]

Right, Peas. I need to find 5th gear. I've never used it. :-)

I do tend to pootle.

[Tilly2]

I think the de-clutching handbag is the one you throw at someone, Melv.

But you have to keep hold of the handle.

[Bathsheba]

years ago, I heard of "double de-clutching"?...*shrugs*........

x x

[Tilly2]

I dind't like to mention double de-clutching, Baths. That was a step too far for me.

[ubasses]

Ooh, I had to double declutch to change down to 1st in my old Morris Minor, suppose I am showing my age now!!

[Tilly2]

^ didn't

[Bathsheba]

Who remembers using too much choke + flooding the engine? ;)

x x

[jno]

the choke was what you hung the declutching handbag on

[ubasses]

Yes, done that too, again in the Morris.

[Peaspeculiars]

...grimaces at the words Morris and Minor. My dad's been working on one for 35 years... and it's still a bucket o'rust lol...

[ubasses]

It was the rust that finally did for mine.

[Tilly2]

What is double declutching? Walloping someone twice with the same handbag before hanging it on the choke plunger thingy?

Seriously, do explain please, ubasses.

[Peaspeculiars]

Shame, Ubasses isn't it - they are lovely looking cars when all done and out and about. The rust got to the floor on his one and you could literally pretend to be a Flintstone in it at one point. Ah well, it keeps him busy and happy now he's retired he may even finish it one day :-)

[Bathsheba]

and my 15 year old Micra,..may she RIP...:(

x x

[Bathsheba]

rust I mean ^ ^ ^