RE: Austin Maestro van: Would You Really Want To

[Paul the Painter]

It's surprisingly straightforward to drive with no clutch. Many years ago I had the clutch fail on my 924, and drove from Calais to Le Mans (including the periferique around Paris)
Start engine in neutral, get up to temperature.
Stop engine
Engage first gear
Ensuring no one in front of you, crank engine
At this point you should lurch towards the horizon
At around 3500-4000 rpm pull back on gear lever whilst letting off the throttle
Apply positive pressure, but not excessive, into second gear, it'll drop in when engine revs are at around 2000-2500.
Proceed up the gears
To change down, let off throttle
Push out of gear
Allow speed to decay
Blip throttle to 1000rpm more than required for next great down
Apply positive pressure, but don't force it, to the next great down
Engage gear
Continue as necessary
New cars with modern synchromesh are so easy, that it is almost as easy as with a clutch, although moving off from standstill would probably mean battling with electronics that don't want you to do that.

[dazwalsh]

Even if they gave me 8k to own that I wouldn't take it, what a pile of plop.

[Escort Si-130]

lmfao at "Possibly 7,995 reasons"

AUSTIN MAESTRO VAN
Price: £7,995
Why you should: You won't see another like it
Why you shouldn't: Possibly 7,995 reasons