View Full Version : Changing Gears
You are slowing down towards a red traffic light and are in 2nd gear moving less than 5mph preparing to stop.
At this point (whilst still moving slightly) the lights change. Should you:
a) Pull off in second
b) Change down to 1st whilst still moving slowly and pull off
c) Stop fully, change into first and pull off
Bearing in mind that you're not driving a high spec car with great pulling off power.
:undecided:
Pull off in second. You only really need first if you're stationary.
This is one of the situations my car absolutely hates. It will chug along in 2nd before the revs pick up and off you go, otherwise you need to rev match to go into first without a jolt. It is worth pointing out that when I "go" I tend to want to get a move on :)
If you are in a lower powered car, drop it into first while rev matching, put your foot on the floorboards and away you go. You could chug in second when at traffic lights, but when at say roudabouts its better to have the power on tap as an option then sitting there waiting for the engine to pick up to get some torgue.
Most cars will be fine pulling off in second even at 5mph. You might have to slip the clutch a little though.
Personally if I was at the front, I'd drop it down to first and nail it ;) :D
Most cars will be fine pulling off in second even at 5mph. You might have to slip the clutch a little though.
Personally if I was at the front, I'd drop it down to first and nail it ;) :D
Lol, snap :D
Well I have a tiny willy I have to prove a point...
Well I have a tiny willy I have to prove a point...
I have a more underpowered willy, but I try all the same
YAAAAAAAAAAY! I just had it confirmed by a BSM driving instructor - he said that if your car can manage to pull away in 2nd then do it but if not, it's fine to go from neutral into 1st whilst moving below 5mph - it will not do the car any damage what-so-ever!
My parents just told me prior to me calling BSM that I had ruined my cars gear box because of changing from N to 1st when moving (at V V minimal speed - and even so I do it beyond rarely!)
I didn't ruin my geeeeeara box DOOBIE DOOBIE DOOOOOoooOOOoOO!
*jigs around*
My parents just told me prior to me calling BSM that I had ruined my cars gear box because of changing from N to 1st when moving (at V V minimal speed - and even so I do it beyond rarely!)
WTF.. seriously?! If thats what you wanted answered you could have asked :p The only way you'd potentially damage it going into a gear is if the speed was way to high and the car was revving too hard. No car should be revving highly at 5mph in first.
Modern cars have rev limiters to stop over revving anyway. Besides there's nothing wrong with high revs. :)
Furthermore, on tracks or tight hair pins you sometimes need to use 1st - I use 1st a lot (but it does get to over 40mph) in regular driving. :)
Stan_Lite
02-09-2007, 15:48
Would never be in that position.
When approaching a red light I am in whatever gear I was in before I spotted it, riding the clutch, ready to slam on the anchors at the last possible minute. If the light turns green, I select a gear to match my speed (easy since the clutch is already in) and floor the SOB :D
Pull away in 2nd, all the vehicles I drive have waay too low gearing in 1st to do anything above 5mph.
If my Dad were behind the wheel, he'd be in 4th and try and pull away in that ;D
On the bike it doesn't matter too much as you can gain a lot of speed in pretty much any speed.
If my Dad were behind the wheel, he'd be in 4th and try and pull away in that ;D
That's what my Dad does ;D
I'd pull away in second, never had a problem doing so.
I quite often pull away in second, but then I'm quite a lazy driver sometimes :D
I thought you had an automatic?! :p
I thought you had an automatic?! :p
No, a manual but he drives it like an automatic
"****ing get in there" *ccccrrrunch*
And we are off, good 'o
:p
Flibster
03-09-2007, 00:05
Personally if I was at the front, I'd drop it down to first and nail it ;) :D
[Punch and Judy mode]
Thats the way to do it!
[/Punch and Judy mode]
My car is a manual :p
The BM is an auto, but even then, if you pull away gently it still uses 2nd :D
Hmm, you could do a hillstart in third in mine, but not recommended.
I agree with Jarp.
Personally I'd blip the throttle and keep going in second. :)
FakeSnake
12-09-2007, 17:47
2nd for me in the scoob
changing to 1st in the mustang is NOT a good idea, no Synchro on 1st gear.. it gets very crunch unless you are stationary
pull off in second and see if the car agrees.
Mohinder
18-09-2007, 22:43
slip the clutch, drag my feet, bounce off some car doors and shoot off into the horizon
wumwumwumwummmmmmmmmmmmmah
(bike)
Heh, I don't have to worry about this kind of stuff. A max available wheel torque that can approach 14,000ft/lbs and a transmission that self-selects the proper gear means all I have to do is open all four barrels on the carby and watch all the children cry!! :evil:
Von Smallhausen
19-09-2007, 18:50
Stay in second, pull away, shatter the wondows with twin carbon fibre exhausts and savour the dump valve venting which sounds like a whores whip hitting flesh.
My car doesnt like pulling away in second at all, even slipping the clutch. I've never stalled a car as much as this one, although it's been a few days now :D Famous last words! It's not hot on non-handbraked hill starts either. The accelerator, clutch and brakes all kick in at about a 1/2mm depression of the pedals. Sensitive little flower. VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
My current car will happily pull away in second. It'll pull away in fourth if I'm nasty to the clutch. Torque ftw :)
When I eventually get the new car I won't have much control over the clutch, even though it has 2 of them. Damnit, I want my new car!
I should have added I can't put mine in first when I'm moving because it doesn't have synchromesh on first, so it would be like trying to force it into reverse while you're moving :D
If it's literally rolling at a walking pace I might sometimes double clutch it and get lucky when I ram it into first but generally I have to use second.
Treefrog
20-09-2007, 14:07
Keep going in second and accelerate gently :)
Or knock it down one and wind it open :D
Depends who's behind you.
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