help needed in basics of driving

v_s_natarajan · 15th March 2005, 14:14

Dear guys.
I have used Automatic cars all my life and moved over to india recently.
I learnt manual shift easily but still drive with my left foot just touching the clutch pedal and whenever i brake, i press the clutch.
I am simply scared to rest my left my left foot in the dead pedal.
most of the time, my left leg is sore because of this.

My driver brakes all the time without pressing the clutch and he uses theclutch onlt to shift gears.

How do I do this?
How do experienced drivers like BHP ians do?
please teach me

Raj

Harrie · 15th March 2005, 14:24

well i use engine braking. as and when i brake i simultaneously go down a gear or two.

take the car to some ground or a deserted road where there is no one around and try practising applying the brakes alone. as you feel the car is about to stall press the clutch and if needed go down a gear. once you get the feel of it it'll be ok.

speedsatya · 15th March 2005, 16:22

riding the clutch can be dangerous .its also bad for your engine.
its really difficult to suddenly change your style of driving,but with time you will learn it.
use the clutch only to change gears or when u r starting from standstill.

Shan2nu · 15th March 2005, 16:34

Why didn't you choose the A/T option, in India too? That would have solved the whole problem.

With the kinda traffic we have here, you'll need to make more gear shifts in a day than what Schumi makes, during a whole race weekend. LOL

Shan2nu

Rehaan · 16th March 2005, 01:49

Hi V_S_Natrajan,

There is a lot of material on TBHP aldready discussing this topic in one aspect or another. Check out these threads>

1. The best way to use the clutch & brakes
2. How to change gears
3. What is double clutching
4. First or second gear
5. 4-5 gear query

Read em and then post some more follow up questions!
cya
R

rahul153 · 31st May 2010, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by v_s_natarajan

Dear guys.
I have used Automatic cars all my life and moved over to india recently.
I learnt manual shift easily but still drive with my left foot just touching the clutch pedal and whenever i brake, i press the clutch.
I am simply scared to rest my left my left foot in the dead pedal.
most of the time, my left leg is sore because of this.

My driver brakes all the time without pressing the clutch and he uses theclutch onlt to shift gears.

How do I do this?
How do experienced drivers like BHP ians do?
please teach me

Raj

The Whole idea is, use clutch + Brake when driving at very low speeds, tis is to prevent knocking and engine being shutdown

otherwise, use brake, new cars can even run in 5th gear at speeds as low as 10 though not advisable to do that

use just brake and no clutch to control the speed to a manageable level,

if u feel u may need to slow down to halt, use clutch too otherwise just shift to appropriate gear.

Pls do feel free to correct me if am wrong

aargee · 1st June 2010, 04:50

Boy you replied to a 5 year old thread; By now, Raj would been driving in tracks!!!

MileCruncher · 1st June 2010, 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by aargee

Boy you replied to a 5 year old thread; By now, Raj would been driving in tracks!!!

LOL So True!

Anyways this is a problem that many drivers suffer from. Even my wife used to press the clutch while braking irrespective of the speed. And because thats what the driving school guys taught her. Only after continuously telling about the proper braking technique has she been able to get over that habit.

The thumb rule is apply only brake if you don't need to downshift. The moment the speed reduces to something lower than what that gear can handle without knocking, press clutch and downshift.

P.S: Pressing clutch while braking can be really dangerous while driving in the hills or on wet road as the wheels get disconnected from the drive train and lose any kind of traction.

Rehaan · 1st June 2010, 13:52

Please see the existing threads on this topic linked above.

Thread closed.
R

PS - Here are some more, thanks to condor :
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...step-step.html
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...n-driving.html
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...tch-usage.html
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...t-driving.html

15th March 2005, 14:14	#1
v_s_natarajan BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: chennai Posts: 261 Thanked: 3 Times	help needed in basics of driving Dear guys. I have used Automatic cars all my life and moved over to india recently. I learnt manual shift easily but still drive with my left foot just touching the clutch pedal and whenever i brake, i press the clutch. I am simply scared to rest my left my left foot in the dead pedal. most of the time, my left leg is sore because of this. My driver brakes all the time without pressing the clutch and he uses theclutch onlt to shift gears. How do I do this? How do experienced drivers like BHP ians do? please teach me Raj
	() Thanks

15th March 2005, 14:24	#2
Harrie BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: KA 03, KL 12, TN 38 Posts: 701 Thanked: 36 Times View My Garage	well i use engine braking. as and when i brake i simultaneously go down a gear or two. take the car to some ground or a deserted road where there is no one around and try practising applying the brakes alone. as you feel the car is about to stall press the clutch and if needed go down a gear. once you get the feel of it it'll be ok.
	() Thanks

15th March 2005, 16:22	#3
speedsatya Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: bangalore/manga Posts: 3,167 Thanked: 742 Times View My Garage	riding the clutch can be dangerous .its also bad for your engine. its really difficult to suddenly change your style of driving,but with time you will learn it. use the clutch only to change gears or when u r starting from standstill.
	() Thanks

15th March 2005, 16:34	#4
Shan2nu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hubli - Karnata Posts: 5,533 Thanked: 127 Times View My Garage	Why didn't you choose the A/T option, in India too? That would have solved the whole problem. With the kinda traffic we have here, you'll need to make more gear shifts in a day than what Schumi makes, during a whole race weekend. LOL Shan2nu
	() Thanks

16th March 2005, 01:49	#5
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,188 Thanked: 36,129 Times	Hi V_S_Natrajan, There is a lot of material on TBHP aldready discussing this topic in one aspect or another. Check out these threads> 1. The best way to use the clutch & brakes 2. How to change gears 3. What is double clutching 4. First or second gear 5. 4-5 gear query Read em and then post some more follow up questions! cya R
	() Thanks

1st June 2010, 04:50	#7
aargee Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TSTN Posts: 6,353 Thanked: 10,062 Times	Boy you replied to a 5 year old thread; By now, Raj would been driving in tracks!!!
	() Thanks

1st June 2010, 13:52	#9
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,188 Thanked: 36,129 Times	Please see the existing threads on this topic linked above. Thread closed. R PS - Here are some more, thanks to condor : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...step-step.html http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...n-driving.html http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...tch-usage.html http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...t-driving.html
	() Thanks