Correct way to change down

[Garybee]

I can't believe people are actually giving serious answers to this.

Please help me. My forehead is sore from headbutting the dashboard to turn my lights on now that it's dark during my commute. Is there a better way?

Jesus wept!

[BertBert]

ahh, just thought I'd pop over for a look, what a gem of a thread!

Although I was trying to explain to Mrs Bert about thumb-up/down just the other week to no avail. Must remember to mention it again to her when we are talking about driving though next time.

And to be fair, I have seen some pretty naff gear change techniques, but it's hardly a very "advanced" topic.

Made me titter though.

Bert

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Nigel_O said:

the centering spring on a manual gear lever is only strong enough to cause it to self-centre if the driver's hand is removed while the lever is in the cross-plane of the 'H' pattern - therefore, to answer the OP, the simplest way of going from 1st to 2nd is to move the lever from the 1st gear position to the second gear position in a straight line (assuming you haven't got a dog-leg 1st gear...)

I've seen it written that the driver might angle the palm of the left hand towards the passenger side of the car to ensure a little push to the left, but in 35 years of driving, I can't ever remember a gear lever forcing itself to the right while moving from 1st to 2nd due to the self centering effect

I have! a battleship grey VW 2.0 16V Corrado. Although to be fair, it had probably been butchered and repaired using the wrong spring. Plus possibly tattered engine mounts, meant that when you gunned the thing AND PULLED IT OUT OF FIRST IT ALWAYS FOUND FOURTH! Really useful in a sports car not. I have never known any other car ever to develop so many faults.

Never buy a sports car from a certain so called sports car specialist in Bristol that can be found at the beginning of the alphabet………………………..

Edited by Mr Teddy Bear on Friday 27th November 20:05

[Thorodin]

Sounds to me as if the OP is a relatively new or novice driver and wishes to adopt improved techniques. Leaving aside the obvious point re 'advanced' forum, it might be helpful to encourage enquiries and might just benefit those critics that come into contact with novice drivers themselves.
So, to the OP: Thanks for the question. It doesn't matter which way you shape your hand so long as your palm is on top of the gear lever (it's not a stick). When you want to change up a gear (that's from 1 to 2) the gear lever should be moved (after engaging the clutch) to the position corresponding with the '2' on the knob. The same system applies with all gear changes, either 'up' or 'down'. Your thinking on the travel of the gear lever being 'up' or 'down' is mistaken I'm afraid, it's 'forward' or 'back' or 'across'. Hope that helps. Welcome to PH, there is no such thing as a stupid question, just some of the answers.

[OldGermanHeaps]

NuddyRap said:

Typically I engage first gear with my right nostril since the cartilage inside acts as a wall for pushing it in to gear. To engage second, I normally sit on it and wiggle. Going from second to first (Changing down...) isn't exactly pleasant as a result but I've yet to find a better way of doing it.

I tried your method but after the first time i sat on it the next time i tried to engage first with my nostril the smell was immense. Should i have kept my trousers and pants on when sitting on it? This advanced driving malarkey is confusing and sore.

[Red Devil]

Engaging second by this method works best after consuming an especially hot curry...

[DocJock]

Thorodin said:

Sounds to me as if the OP is a relatively new or novice driver and wishes to adopt improved techniques. Leaving aside the obvious point re 'advanced' forum, it might be helpful to encourage enquiries and might just benefit those critics that come into contact with novice drivers themselves.
So, to the OP: Thanks for the question. It doesn't matter which way you shape your hand so long as your palm is on top of the gear lever (it's not a stick). When you want to change up a gear (that's from 1 to 2) the gear lever should be moved (after engaging the clutch) to the position corresponding with the '2' on the knob. The same system applies with all gear changes, either 'up' or 'down'. Your thinking on the travel of the gear lever being 'up' or 'down' is mistaken I'm afraid, it's 'forward' or 'back' or 'across'. Hope that helps. Welcome to PH, there is no such thing as a stupid question, just some of the answers.

First rule of a patronising post? Make sure your 'advice' is correct.

OP will find changing gear a lot easier if they disengage the clutch first.

[Thorodin]

DocJock said:

First rule of a patronising post? Make sure your 'advice' is correct.

OP will find changing gear a lot easier if they disengage the clutch first.

I won't offer an explanation, you seem argumentative and rudely dismissive rather than constructive.
Are you going to offer something that is relevant to the OP? Your "Jesus wept....correct way to breathe?" indicates you might need some early learning tuition regarding driver/instructor relationships.

[BertBert]

The trouble is, I can't work out whether you are attempting a serious answer. On the one hand you seem to be trying, but on the other hand your advice is just plain wrong.
Bizaare
Bert

Thorodin said:

I won't offer an explanation, you seem argumentative and rudely dismissive rather than constructive.
Are you going to offer something that is relevant to the OP? Your "Jesus wept....correct way to breathe?" indicates you might need some early learning tuition regarding driver/instructor relationships.

[DocJock]

Thorodin said:

DocJock said:

First rule of a patronising post? Make sure your 'advice' is correct.

OP will find changing gear a lot easier if they disengage the clutch first.

I won't offer an explanation, you seem argumentative and rudely dismissive rather than constructive.
Are you going to offer something that is relevant to the OP? Your "Jesus wept....correct way to breathe?" indicates you might need some early learning tuition regarding driver/instructor relationships.

Of course you won't offer an explanation because your highlighted advice is simply 100% incorrect. The default condition of a car clutch is 'engaged' and pressing the clutch pedal disengages it. Is that constructive information helpful to you?

You also offered plenty of patronising guff,

Gear lever, not stick (a stick can act as a lever, in fact it was the original lever)
Up/down is mistaken it's forward/back (OP already clarified hs understanding in his second post)
1to2 is changing up (OP already demonstrated his knowledge of this)

...none of which answered the question asked. In fact you never did actually answer the question.

As for interacting with novices, well, this is an internet forum, not a car, so your conflating my responses here with instructor/pupil relationships is just more patronising behaviour. Basic operating of car controls instruction should be carried out in the vehicle, not the internet. My instructing history has been very harmonious and successful though, thanks.

You are correct when you say I can be argumentative though. It's why I rarely venture into this sub-forum because the psychodynamics of the place, with patronising posters competing with rigidly system-driven posters drowning out the truly helpful posters, gets me into trouble. See this thread as evidence.

Edited by DocJock on Monday 7th December 09:25

Edited by DocJock on Monday 7th December 09:25

[Thorodin]

BertBert said:

The trouble is, I can't work out whether you are attempting a serious answer. On the one hand you seem to be trying, but on the other hand your advice is just plain wrong.
Bizaare
Bert

Thanks for that. Maybe my straightforward approach is falling short of the usual mocking that happens on here, some replies are caustic in the extreme with inflated egos ruling. You do me a favour by accepting that my response to the OP was or may have been at least an attempt to take the question seriously rather than ridicule him/her, and to try to assist the OP. Thank you. I was in fact answering in a similar and positive manner to the original post. Patronising? I don't think so, although to be fair there isn't a post on p'heads that a pedant couldn't have a field day with.

Edited by Thorodin on Monday 7th December 11:08

[wilfandrowlf]

Buy an Auto

HTH

[standards]

DocJock said:

Jesus wept.

Coming soon in 'advanced driving' forum, 'What is the correct way to breathe?'...

Excellent!
And the answer to your question, on PH anyhow, is obviously 'not through your mouth'!