Block gear changing is marked on the driving test, especially the advanced driving test that instructors need to do (I've got a new trainee starting next week, who is doing her part II test, will be interesting to see how she uses her gears.....)

I've only scanned the thread, and there are meany ideas, all with different merits....

as some people have said, the car you are driving will depend on how you use your gears....

an examiner recently said to one of my pupils on a test "is there something wrong with 4th gear?" as she was driving in a 30mph zone in 3rd.... he asked the question as a hint to her, that she would be marked a minor fault under "eco-driving" if she was using third instead of 4th in a 30 zone.... when she replied "the car isn't happy in 4th at 30mph, it drops the revs under 1,500 where there is no turbo, and the engine struggles, any kind of hill, or slowing down for a hazzard would cause contant gear changing..." with this reply, the examiner was happy, and didn't mark her any fault....

as for block gear changing... they like to see it on acceleration up... for example, when pulling out of a junction on a fast road.... changing as normal to 3rd, then accelerating harder, using more revs to get the speed up quickly, then dropping straight to your cruising gear (In my car 5th at 50 mph, 6th at 60 or 70......)....

on changing down if you run down throught the gears all the time without any reason, you would probably end up with a fail... this used to be taught because car brakes were crap, and engine braking was needed... however times change, and modern brakes make a mockery of the stopping distances in the highway code.... so changing from 6th to 5th to 4th to3rd, to 2nd ect is just 1) wasting fuel (and causing more emissions, eco driving again) 2) taking your hands of the whell more than ness, hence causing uness lack of control.... 3) possibly causing slowing down without brakes, and therefore without showing red lights to the vehical behind (considered potentially dangerous, as your "average" driver has two neurons in his brain that say 'red light-brake!' and they don't tend to notice of you slow without brakes) 4) uness wearing your clutch and gearbox...

HENCE, if you were driving along an a- road at 60 in 6th , and approaching a left turn (to turn) you would be expected to brake in 6th, get to the appropriate speed, then select the appropriate gear, (2nd for a tight slow corner, 3rd, if your car is happy with it , i.e. wide clear corner, speeds approx 20 mph...) any gears uness selcted inbetween time, would be marked as a fault...

this is how the DSA currently see things... (an instructor friend of mine was asking advice approaching a check test... he ended up getting a grade 5, and the only reason the examiner said he didn't get the max grade 6 was because he wasn't teaching block gearchanging!) not ness my ideas, as some of my best fuel economy has been made driving on a-roads at between 45-55mph in sixth, just feathering the throttle, using minimal acceleration, and mnimal revs (no turbo) , whereas if I was toking along an a-road on a meet, 4th would be ideal for constant power! lol....

I think I would fail this course, as I'm happy enough pootling along at 1500rpm, but if the examiner wanted me to make good progress after a limit sign, the only way would be to shift up 2 cogs to ensure I don't leave a huge smoke cloud behind me..... That may score negative points. However, if he/she doesn't mind gentle progressive in gear acceleration, then the mongrel is quite happy accelerating (gently) from 1500rpm.

A quick hijack if I may, Sharky. When I learnt to drive for the emergency stop I was taught to declutch and brake at the same time (cutting drive from the wheels). Is this still taught to learners or do you encourage them to stay with the clutch engaged until the car is just reaching the stall point and then declutch?

Chris

but if the examiner wanted me to make good progress after a limit sign, the only way would be to shift up 2 cogs to ensure I don't leave a huge smoke cloud behind me.....

Please tell me you mean down a couple of cogs!

Chris

A quick hijack if I may, Sharky. When I learnt to drive for the emergency stop I was taught to declutch and brake at the same time (cutting drive from the wheels). Is this still taught to learners or do you encourage them to stay with the clutch engaged until the car is just reaching the stall point and then declutch?

Chris

the second one.... brake first , then clutch... this gives more control if your car is not ABS equipped...... (If people actually manage to hit the clutch first, it's a fail!)

the second one.... brake first , then clutch... this gives more control if your car is not ABS equipped...... (If people actually manage to hit the clutch first, it's a fail!)

I'd argue that it gives more control even if your car is ABS equipped, but would depend on whether you relied on ABS to do the braking or not! Perhaps my instructor was just safeguarding to make sure his pupils (or just me!) didn't stall during the manouevre

Chris

I'd argue that it gives more control even if your car is ABS equipped, but would depend on whether you relied on ABS to do the braking or not! Perhaps my instructor was just safeguarding to make sure his pupils (or just me!) didn't stall during the manouevre

Chris

interesting point though... you would not be marked down at all for stalling during the emergancy stop...... all they're interested in is the stop... you will be putting your handbrake on, and the car in neutral when you've stopped anyway, so you just start the car up as he says "drive on" , maybe your instructor was just safeguarding his car from his pupils stalling I know my vRS hated being forced to stall in that manner, SO much so, that the gearbox jumped off its mountings once!!!

I think I would have been doing him a favour by damaging his D-reg Toyota Corolla

Chris

Well i tried it out on the run to tesco's tonight which can average anything from around 25-33mpg with normal driving. Well, ok the drive was in the evening with not much traffic about, the sweet spot seemed to be around 2-2.5k and i managed a rather impressive 43.9mpg. the drive seemed alright with only a few gear changes and before anyone says i wasnt in a hurry so didnt give a damm how long it took. However with SAFED and roadcraft put into practice i certainly didnt take any longer than the panic braking idiot that i was following from a distance :lol:

the panic braking idiot that i was following from a distance :lol:

Probably on the phone :thumbdwn:

Am frequently amazed at peeps driving up other people's b*ms - see it so many times that they're on their brakes 10 times for every one of mine.

Well i tried it out on the run to tesco's tonight which can average anything from around 25-33mpg with normal driving. Well, ok the drive was in the evening with not much traffic about, the sweet spot seemed to be around 2-2.5k and i managed a rather impressive 43.9mpg. the drive seemed alright with only a few gear changes and before anyone says i wasnt in a hurry so didnt give a damm how long it took. However with SAFED and roadcraft put into practice i certainly didnt take any longer than the panic braking idiot that i was following from a distance :lol:

All measured highly accurately I'm sure, and not at all from the computers innacurate readout that just goes by throttle position, gear and speed!

measured the same way as on the course :lol:

@anon, the mobile phone idiots are least of my worries its the ones who approch a speed camera in a 50mph limit at 50 and decide they better brake and go past the camera at 25mph :(

measured the same way as on the course :lol:

@anon, the mobile phone idiots are least of my worries its the ones who approch a speed camera in a 50mph limit at 50 and decide they better brake and go past the camera at 25mph :(

Probably cos they were too damn busy on the phone and only just realised.

Mental driving these days. 40 mph stretch near us - they drive at 30. They get to the 30 and speed up to 40. Go figure :confused:

Have taken no driving courses etc, just driven far far too many miles (this is re the 10 times to 1 braking ratio) and still cannot believe they can't read the road ahead etc.

Then again, to them, driving isn't the 100% priority it should be :thumbdwn:

theres a 40mph zone in a nearby town that has a camera sign with 40mph repeater on lamppost 200 yds from camera, another repeater 100 yds and one on the oppersite side of the road at camera along with one 50 yds after camera. Can you guess what speed people go through it at (hint its under 40 and no where near 40:lol:)

theres a 40mph zone in a nearby town that has a camera sign with 40mph repeater on lamppost 200 yds from camera, another repeater 100 yds and one on the oppersite side of the road at camera along with one 50 yds after camera. Can you guess what speed people go through it at (hint its under 40 and no where near 40:lol:)

Is this a 'Get a Toblerone' competition ? :P

Can't guess cos I tend to think of myself as being reasonably rational (on the road, before all of Brisky jumps on me with glee).