Honest John and Left Foot Braking?
Discussion
TimoMak said:
Every week I read the same nonsense about autos. He is obsessed. These oaps who launch their automatics into buildings while trying to park simply shouldn’t be driving, left foot braking is only going to confuse them further.
He's also obsessed with lo-profile tyres. A deeper sidewall is the cure for everything, according to HJ.The Mad Monk said:
Doubly obsessed with Michelin Cross Climate tyre. I wonder why he keeps plugging them?
Perhaps because they're bloody brilliant on any normal kind of car that you aren't clipping apexes with?Quiet, grippy in all weathers, vaguely snowed capable in the occasional couple of inches we get. If everyone fitted them to their ordinary cars we wouldn't have the annual snow chaos.
janesmith1950 said:
Can't see any meaningful advantage left foot braking on the road in a modern auto.
All sorts of reason, very useful for control while parking on a steep hill, similarly on a steep junction. Reduces the control gap while moving your foot between pedals and keeps the car more balanced as you can make a smoother transition between braking and acceleration.Going further when using a little braking into corners to get a better feel on turn in you can also use it on the way out to compensate for the way an auto in some cars will kick down abruptly. Again in some cars the time it takes between pressing the accelerator can be a bit variable so you can demand a little early and use the brake to time when you actually want to accelerate. This is tenths of seconds stuff, not necessary, but nice to be able to do.
I'd actually like the brake pedal in an EV to act with the accelerator as a front/rear torque proportioning control.
AdeTuono said:
He's also obsessed with lo-profile tyres. A deeper sidewall is the cure for everything, according to HJ.
Also the only car he recommends is a honda Jazz. If u ask him for a low slung fast rear wheel drive sports car or a comfortable family car to seat 7 he will still suggest the Honda Jazz and will tell you to put Michelin cross climate tyres on it otherwise you will explode.
For those bought up with cars that you could properly "left foot brake" (ie with throttle cables and in race or rally guise), and understand what it did and how it could be used and where, there really appears to be no reason whatsoever to use it on the road in an automatic car, presuming one has a right foot!
That's not to say you cannot use your left foot to brake or even use the accelerator, but ask yourself if it has the potential to go wrong, (eg swapping car to car, manual to auto) why would you bother?
Also, a question I don't know the answer to, if you did it in an auto on your driving test would you pass? And what about if you alternated between feet on your test?
Certainly for old codgers in autos that don't want to launch themselves into ASDA when they get mixed up, try the old technique of tucking your right foot back behind the other leg, so it is well out of the way, and use the one foot for tall the pedals that are there, it reduces the possibility of operating both at the same time and ending up in the middle of Wayne and Waynettas breakfast bap!
The last car I left foot braked properly was my old rally prepped Nova Sport, on twin Webers! That car was flipping ace fun and proper quick on the loose stuff, (brake bias and fly off handbrake too!!!)
When I finally give up on life and get an auto, it will be right foot only for me.
That's not to say you cannot use your left foot to brake or even use the accelerator, but ask yourself if it has the potential to go wrong, (eg swapping car to car, manual to auto) why would you bother?
Also, a question I don't know the answer to, if you did it in an auto on your driving test would you pass? And what about if you alternated between feet on your test?
Certainly for old codgers in autos that don't want to launch themselves into ASDA when they get mixed up, try the old technique of tucking your right foot back behind the other leg, so it is well out of the way, and use the one foot for tall the pedals that are there, it reduces the possibility of operating both at the same time and ending up in the middle of Wayne and Waynettas breakfast bap!
The last car I left foot braked properly was my old rally prepped Nova Sport, on twin Webers! That car was flipping ace fun and proper quick on the loose stuff, (brake bias and fly off handbrake too!!!)
When I finally give up on life and get an auto, it will be right foot only for me.
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