Discussion
blueflash said:
Just take your time to get use to the slush box, learn to use the J-gate ,you can almost drive them like a manual(if you want to)
I know, it's lovely! I just wish there was a way of locking it in 1st, it would be handy around town.
MartinMGBGTSV8 said:
get the brakes sorted before you need to use them to stop your 2 ton motor in an emergency.
They are fixed now, and I shall be doing a 350 mile journey with it on Sunday. Anyhow I was driving a (heavier) volvo before this which *doesn't* stop.
As for the posts asking me to do ride drive or similar - I really would like to, but the opportunity cost of getting a course at the moment is too high. Once I've graduated and am in salaried work I intend to do something like that. I do have ROADA already, and have recently ordered the full set of commentry videos from Bespoke.
I think the main differenc in my driving style so far has been far more driving on the limits of vision than of grip than before.
The main problems I find with faster cars are not the things you'd immediately expect.
It's when you're in 6th, changing lanes, under gentle acceleration. You glance over your shoulder then back and suddenly realise that you're going quicker than you thought and a lot closer to the car in front!
Similarly getting too much power on too early when you see your roundabout exit coming up is one to watch out for. You suddenly find it a challenge to carry the speed around to the exit!
When overtaking a line of cars but not them all, slotting back in can be a problem as again you're probably going faster than you thought.
I can also recommend airfield training. RWD is not so scary once you've practiced. Indeed, it's the only way to drive a real car!
chris_tivver said:
My first fast car I thought I was doing 70 or so after pulling into M3. Overtook lorry to find BiB in front, looked down with complete confidence to find I was doing 120 
Same for me when I swapped from a 216 to a 200sx....2nd day of ownership, came off a roundabout with maybe 1/2mile or so fo dual carriageway, went to overtake the slow Volvo that I would also have taken in the Rover, ran up through the gears, into fifth and inside lane, looked down at speed..... whoops! Rover would have been maybe upto 70, like you, I was pushing 120mph. Thought to myself "I'm going to have to be careful in this car or it's bye bye license." (For the record, I had two 200sxes and kept my license clean
)Yup, it's farly quick to learn what speed you are at given what gear and what level of noise from the oily bits.
Having said that, the other half stil forgets to change any higher than 4th because mway speed in that gear is bizarrely smooth in the rotary.
In most decent petrol cars the change from 3rd to 4th is a good time to look at the speedo...
Having said that, the other half stil forgets to change any higher than 4th because mway speed in that gear is bizarrely smooth in the rotary.
In most decent petrol cars the change from 3rd to 4th is a good time to look at the speedo...
WhoseGeneration said:
Erm, irrespective of car, a capable driver will always be able to know their speed.
Without looking at the speedometer.
If you can't do this, practise.
Without looking at the speedometer.
If you can't do this, practise.
True, true but if you change to a very diffefent car you need practise in that car too (height from road, noise levels, acceleration etc). Yes experience makes you better. I can swap cars with much more ease than that incident
years ago but I still think this a subject that is worth a bit of care in a very different car WhoseGeneration said:
Erm, irrespective of car, a capable driver will always be able to know their speed.
Without looking at the speedometer.
If you can't do this, practise.
Without looking at the speedometer.
If you can't do this, practise.
ACtually this takes a surprising amount of practice - although it IS an essential skill, of course.
Years ago I changed car from my student rusted-out s***box to a brand spanking new Company Car. Of course - in comparison it was virtually silent. I drove everywhere at about 100mph for the first few weeks because then the car sounded like my old one at 60...
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff