Another one about... Driving...

[cpjitservices]

Good morning all, I hope you've all risen well!

 

I am just wondering really how many of you 'Skip' gears when appropriate when driving ?

 

Generally, I have 2 routes to work - one route is a 40 and one is a dual carriageway national speed limit. Upon leaving my house through 30 and 40 speed limits my car barely sees 2nd and 5th gear. Where possible I go from 1st to 3rd, and if I do go into 2nd I normally go into 4th as soon as I can if road conditions etc allow, this is usually typical for the 30 and 40 mph roads however on the 40 I can now and again get 5th.

 

 

Does anyone else skip gears and do you see a benefit in doing so ?

[synaesthesia]

It used to be seen as adding more load to your engine as you're not progressing through/down ratios correctly and therefore distributing the load smoother; on modern engines frankly I wouldn't imagine it would make the slightest bit of difference.

[Joanne]

I never get the opportunity, but husband goes from 3rd to 6th in our passat on the motorway... although that will do 80 in 3rd... sooo.... :-p

[unixman_again]

With an automatic, it's not an issue. I find driving a chore and with an automatic, it is one less thing to do. I eagerly await the self driving car, so I can sit in the back and be delivered to were I want to do. I could, of course, achieve this at the mo with a chauffeur, except I can't afford one.

[sparkeh]

I only skip from 4th to 2nd when slowing for a corner or something. Engine braking from 4th to 3rd is minimal.

Can't see the benefit when accelerating though.

 

Cue discussion about engine braking

[SpuffMonkey]

Automatic all the way - I used to drive zillions of miles for work - and after the first automatic, I'd never go back to manual.

[Joanne]

I only skip from 4th to 2nd when slowing for a corner or something. Engine braking from 4th to 3rd is minimal.

Can't see the benefit when accelerating though.

 

Cue discussion about engine braking

 

I think the benefit when accelerating is mainly when going at speed. So you rev the heck out of it in a gear that gets you there fast, then slam it into eco gear

[3s-gtech]

Both of my cars are six speed, I regularly skip gears both up and down, fifth gets the least use. It's called block changing, and can be useful when driving with 'purpose' also.

[Andrew_C]

3-5 5-3 4-2 all fine when the revs are matched OK. I wouldn't do 5-1; tends to result in the pistons leaving through the sump. :0

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Most mornings I'll happily do 2-4 or 3-5. Don't often skip on the way down.

 

But then my car will happily trundle along doing 30mph in 5th

[cpjitservices]

Aye, yes I was in 4th this morning and went down to 2nd to pull into the car park, was able to slow down enough using engine breaking.

 

I do like Auto's the company car is an Auto. I dont think Im at that stage in life where I want to go Auto though. Not yet

[foofighterjim]

Possibly because my car is only 999cc I don't block change on the way up but with so little engine breaking I do so on the way down (usually 5-3 or 4-2).

 

On the bike however, sequential all the way. The V-Twin means that I only ever touch the breaks when coming to a complete stop.

Edited December 9, 2014 by foofighterjim

[Ant]

I find myself block changing going up, but not so often going down again.

 

If making progress, it's quite easy to hit the NSL in 2nd or 3rd, so change straight up to 4th or 5th and relax. No benefit as such, I think it's more of a case of not wasting time using gears I don't need.

 

Going down not so much. I know when I've been out with advanced drivers they suggest block changing down as there's no need to work your way through the gears and therefore engine braking, but I still find myself doing it. Besides, there's some satisfaction in rev matching on the way down.

[mac_shinobi]

Tried that on my car but my engine / car but it doesn't like it and just easier / quicker to go through all the gears

[plexer]

Yup all the time 6 speed box so do it when needed.

 

Ben

[cpjitservices]

6 speed gearbox, wish mine had that

[IT_Ninja]

I find driving is about feeling, the car will tell you if it is comfortable to shift gears.

 

Just don't do silly things like shifting to a lower gear at high speed cause it will hate you for it, and even make you pay for it

[3s-gtech]

6 speed gearbox, wish mine had that

 

You love your Focus - buy an ST170 and you'll get a six speed (plus a bit of poke). They're cheap now.

[cpjitservices]

You love your Focus - buy an ST170 and you'll get a six speed (plus a bit of poke). They're cheap now.

 

Aye Focus int bad at all, cheap to run and cheap on insurance etc. ST170... not a chance will anyone insure me on one of those.

[sparkeh]

Just don't do silly things like shifting to a lower gear at high speed cause it will hate you for it, and even make you pay for it

Did this by accident during a driving lesson (many, many years ago now). Was doing 70 and coming up to a roundabout, began to slow via the brakes then changed down from 5th, missed 4th and went into 2nd. Once we peeled our faces off the windscreen my instructors informed me about the importance of finding the right gears.

[witch]

Did this by accident during a driving lesson (many, many years ago now). Was doing 70 and coming up to a roundabout, began to slow via the brakes then changed down from 5th, missed 4th and went into 2nd. Once we peeled our faces off the windscreen my instructors informed me about the importance of finding the right gears.

 

Well yes, but wheras we were taught to go down through the gears, all my children were taught that 4th to 2nd was fine

[Ant]

"Brakes to slow, Gears to go"

[Andrew_C]

And the constabulary train their drivers not to use engine braking. Their cars are on the road near enough 24/7; much easier and cheaper to replace brake pads/discs than clutches and gearboxes.

[mats]

I do it when riding bikes with a 9-speed cassette on the road, the ratios are so close there's often no point changing a gear at a time. I'd gladly swap them for 6 or 7 speeds. Different story on the mountain bike and the old sturmey 3-speed, all their gears have a purpose.

[sparkeh]

And the constabulary train their drivers not to use engine braking. Their cars are on the road near enough 24/7; much easier and cheaper to replace brake pads/discs than clutches and gearboxes.

Mmm I guess if vehicles are used that much it makes sense. However after 17 years of domestic driving and engine braking I've never had a gearbox or clutch replaced.