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!)

[woofgang]

Tilly, take no notice of TWR. Yes brakes do fail and its as well to know what else you can do in the way of engine braking with the gears, but it may not be possible. Brakes are DESIGNED to stop the car and I can't understand why you wouldn't rely on them to do so. I am also puzzled by the thing about reading the lights and having no need to stop. Sometimes its possible to avoid stopping if you have seen the lights go red from quite a distance and are able to dawdle a bit but many of the lights around where I live are on 4 or 5 way options and you'd have no way of being able to avoid stopping.

[Zacs-Master]

People are taught to drive using the brakes to slow down and have been for at least 20 years.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Use your brakes to slow down and select appropriate gear to continue....but use the gears to slow down in slippery conditions.

[tamborine]

Cant manage gears? I drove this 4x4 automatic with inbuilt screen for mapping/tv/dvd & self parking mode. Ideal for finding elusive London routes.

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/new/touareg-fl/explore?gclid=CLzEkNa3-cYCFZHHtAod2KULKQ

[Arrods]

I'm with OG on this.

[tonyav]

Cool motor, tambo.

[ubasses]

trouble is Zac some of us need to double that and add some on when we learnt to drive.

[Zacs-Master]

I appreciate that. It's 30 odd years since I passed by test but that doesn't stop me keeping up with the advice and practices of 'modern' driving techniques.

[TWR]

Oh Tilly, there was no intension to Ridicule you, if you have passed your Driving Test, you have done well xx

[tamborine]

Very cool Tony, am half tempted to buy one but I cant send my OH's gift Xtype to scrap paradise yet :(

[tonyav]

I'll bet it makes that old X type seem like an antique, tambo.

[Davemano]

I was taught years ago to use the brakes to slow down and not go through the gears. Dependant on you speed, using the gears is putting undue stress on the clutch and this gearbox, and this advice was accompanied be the saying 'brake linings are cheaper than gearboxes' One poster says that he engages neutral gear just before stopping, but this could be dangerous if the brakes fail.

[Hopkirk]

"Brakes to slow, gears to go" is the current thinking.
Pads are cheaper than clutches.

It was all very well coming down the gears when you only had four, but now there are often five or six.

[Bathsheba]

Hopkirk,....you've virtually just repeated what I said a page or so ago! Is it cos I'm a laydee + therefore worthless in a conversation about cars?
Also, and I know I can't speak for her,...I got the impression that Tilly has more or less closed this thread. ;)

x x

[tamborine]

Dont you start Tony, I get enuf agro about my car from my kids. Theyre bluddy grateful tho when they need airport service with their families & baggage ;)

[tonyav]

Hey tambo, it gets you from A to B thats what matters.

[Hopkirk]

Sorry Bathsheba, I arrived late at the party and failed to read all the previous posts.

[maggiebee]

Do you still have to "run in" a new car?

[tonyav]

Nooooo, maggie. Just vary the revs for the first few thousand miles.

[Bathsheba]

Ok, Tone,...vary the revs???

x x