Changing Gears

[Pheebs]

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:

[Garp]

Pull off in second. You only really need first if you're stationary.

[Zirax]

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.

[Will]

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

[Zirax]

Originally Posted by Le Hoff

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

Lol, snap

[Will]

Well I have a tiny willy I have to prove a point...

[Zirax]

Originally Posted by Le Hoff

Well I have a tiny willy I have to prove a point...

I have a more underpowered willy, but I try all the same

[Pheebs]

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*

[Garp]

Originally Posted by Pheebs

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 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.

[Will]

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.