#61

If you’re approaching a roundabout, it’s perfectly acceptable to change from 5th to 3rd. In fact, you might get a minor on a test if you went via 4th, if it meant you were distracted.

#62

Oh yeah, no need to go through all the gears, but you should certainly be going through some of them and not coastin up to a set of lights in 5th with your foot on the clutch

#63

Fuck that. Coast all the way. My hand very rarely leaves the gear stick so I am always ready for action.

#64

Enjoy wasting your fuel and getting through brakes far quicker than necessary.

#65

Awesome, safe, conscientious, perceptive driver checking in here.

Only chink in my armour is parallel parking. Fucking hideous at it. Think I’ve mentioned on here before that I reckon I’m somewhere on the dyspraxic spectrum (if one exists). Can just about hold spatial awareness together when travelling forwards but in reverse everything goes to absolute shit.

#66

How does that waste fuel? You are the one getting the revs up by changing down the gears.

Brakes aren’t my problem as I change my car every nine months.

#67

A car in neutral uses fuel

A car in gear without your foot on the accelerator does not

#68

Is that right? Doesn’t seem right. @marckee

#69

I’m a very good parker, but it took me ages and loads of practise to learn. Even now, if I get my space/distance/turning speed slightly wrong it all goes to fuck and takes ages. Get really annoyed with myself if it’s not straight and perfect.

#70

Modern cars with electronic engine management – fuel and ignition systems are effectively combined and controlled by one Electronic Control Unit (ECU). Take your foot off the accelerator and the ECU cuts the fuel supply to the injectors anyway so there’s nothing to be gained by coasting.

#71

But there is nothing to be lost!

#72

You remain in control of your car though, that’s definitely something you lose if your coasting.

#73

How long does it take to lift your foot of the clutch. I lose no control at all.

#74

Think you need an automatic.

#75

Yeah I remember for my test the instructor had a couple of matchsticks in the rear window indicating when you see the curb lining up with them you turn the wheel this way/that way etc. Might look into doing that for my motor 'cos I am pitiful at it. Especially under pressure.

#76

Get one of those small circular mirrors for the left hand wing mirror - lets you see the curb without any weird angle/lining up stuff and it’s much easier to tell how close you are.

#77

There’s a couple of methods that are entirely by rote without needing any sense of where anything is at any point in the process. Just about works for me. If I try to improvise while parallel parking everything goes horribly wrong in ways I can never understand.

#78

Oh so that’s what that’s for!

May well do - thank you!

#79

It’s 100% not right.

#80

Think they’re actually so you can see your blind spot which is really helpful too!