Coasting

pinkmonkey

I have a terrible habit of coasting and I have been trying to stop myself from doing it. Any advice from anyone on how to stop doing it? I have my test on Tuesday and noone is available to give lessons or pretests so I have to go it alone..

Anyone know what the 3 most common reasons for failing are??

Thanks in advance.

WUSBDesign

Coming with a mental penalty against coasting is a tough one for me...

How about "Give your left leg a rest? It's bloody tiring..."

oneweb

Put your foot on the floor when you're not using it. That's what I was told.

Good luck!

is_that_so

AFAIK coasting is seen as "not being in control of the car". I know one person whose failure was in part due to coasting. Don't do it, it's a bad habit anyway. You could try describing what you're doing, step by step(silently is better ) Used little mantras myself like Mirror-Manoeuvre-Mirror and Clutch-Gear -Accelerate -Release-Left (Foot) on the Ground.
Good luck with the test.

chris85

if you arent changing gear or coming to a stop then put the foot on the floor.

JoeySully

its like smoking just concentrate and dont give in to temptation to keep yer foot down. there is no patch for this habbit or gum but hypnosis may help

pinkmonkey

[QUOTE=Used little mantras myself like Mirror-Manoeuvre-Mirror and Clutch-Gear -Accelerate -Release-Left (Foot) on the Ground.
Good luck with the test.[/QUOTE]
hee hee hee

my problem is that when I start breaking I hold the clutch in also instead of dropping gears slowly and releasing the clutch.......I'm finding it tough to get out of! :eek:

is_that_so

pinkmonkey wrote: »

hee hee hee
Did the trick for me.

my problem is that when I start breaking I hold the clutch in also instead of dropping gears slowly and releasing the clutch.......I'm finding it tough to get out of! :eek:

Why not just sit in the car without starting it and practise the manoeuvre? Clutch -Gear -Release- Foot on Floor and Repeat -up and down the gears. If there is an industrial estate near use that to practise just going up and down the gears. Even the open road would be fine - a quiet one preferably.

po0k

I had the exact same problem. Keep your foot planted on the ground. You're left foot is a one-trick pony, the clutch is it's purpose in life. That, and letting you slouch in the car. Adjust your seat so you can move the ball of your foot from the floor/footrest to the clutch by pivoting on your heel. Your legs will thank you. If you want to brake, take you right off the accelerator and brake with it.

Slap yourself hard in the face if you use the clutch without gearing up/down.

Go for a long (3-4 hours) drive around town. Your leg will get so tired riding the clutch that you'll be grateful to rest it on the floor.

Clare Bear

pinkmonkey wrote: »

hee hee hee

my problem is that when I start breaking I hold the clutch in also instead of dropping gears slowly and releasing the clutch.......I'm finding it tough to get out of! :eek:

I have this problem too, been doing it for years so try to get out of it as soon as possible cause I'm in to the habit now, trying to get out of it too though, it's all habit.

goofygirl

be careful!

just failed my test in swords on grade 2 faults - four for coasting....

Alanstrainor

The best advice is just to drive as much as possible and DO NOT under any circumstances coast, go for a long drive as said above and try and get your mind into the rhythm of things, ie, when slowing down to a stop: Brake (be braking throughout this), clutch, change to 3rd, release clutch, clutch in change to 2nd, release, clutch in and stop. You could also block change from 4th to 2nd if you want, i know a lot of people on here do this, but i would tend to cycle through the gears, especially for a test. Both my instructors told me to cycle through all the gears and only block change if you're late in cycling down through the gears, if that makes sense.

pinkmonkey

My seat is not adjustable as someone suggested doing. The garage had to fix the part of it that your back rests against and as a result it no longer moves from its position. Will I get a penalty for this? Or can I say to the tester "I'm happy with the seat position"

In terms of changing from 5th down to 1st as alanstrainor outlined how long should it normally take to go right through them? as in when I start breaking in 5th gear to when i finally stop in 1st (assuming i come to a finally stop rather than simply slow right down)

po0k

Get a new seat.

Brake earlier, allow yourself time to gear down according to speed and distance to the rear-bumper ahead of you, as if the lights are red, they may well go green before you come to a stop. If you're in 2nd/3rd gear, you can keep going smoothly and improve traffic flow.

Drive efficiently

Alanstrainor

pinkmonkey wrote: »

In terms of changing from 5th down to 1st as alanstrainor....)

First off most of your driving will only get you up to 4th gear and not 5th, unless you hit a dual carriage way, and when stopping you should stop in 2nd and not first. As for how long between each change, there's no set time, and it seems to me like your reasoning behind it is flawed. Consider which gear you're in to be the optimum for your current situation, as there are many factors that'll affect which gear to use, ie, engine size, speed, whether you're on a hill or not, weight in car...etc. A general rule of thumb would be to keep the rev counter between 1000 and 2000 revs on a flat surface and cycling up or down through the gears. This is assuming you're driving a petrol powered car.
Hope this helps

DarkJager

The best way to avoid this habit is to keep your leg pressed in against the seat. While this might be uncomfortable, it will keep your mind focused on what your leg is doing, and you should be able to avoid having your foot near the clutch.

hippiechickie

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Delorian

hippiechickie wrote: »

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I can see your point, I'd like to get an automatic license, drive for maybe 3 years to get used to it, and then go for a manual one once I'm used to regular driving. However, because they're not so popular in Ireland, the availability is poor and I'd have no access to one to learn in. Also, renting them can't be tough and is more expensive. And yes, they are more expensive to buy. Also, you don't have the same control or kick. My g/f has rented automatics before (she can only drive auto's) and overtaking can be a nightmare (sounds like the engine is going to drop out of the bottom).

DarkJager

Yep, you have to pass the test in the vehicle type you want to drive. If you do it in an automatic and pass, you will not be able to drive a car with manual transmission (well you might but not legally)

hippiechickie

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hippiechickie

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sebastianlieken

hey, i actually had the same problem, I had a bad habbit of coasting right up until my very last lesson before my test. my instructer only then decided to share some knowlege with me that saved my ass.

ur probably clutching to prevent stall right?... in fuel injected engines (most of everything these days), you can reduce ur speed relitive to any gear you choose, (say 5mp/h in 1st gear) and just take all feet away from all pedals...it wont stall. i really didnt know ya could do that. give it a go anyway, gives ya a new feel for the car.

also, only clutch for gears, just before braking to a stop,take off, and very slow que travel

hippiechickie

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Wishbone Ash

hippiechickie wrote: »

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It certainly has gears - otherwise you wouldn't get anywhere. It's just that the gears are changed automatically.

hippiechickie wrote:

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If you pass a test in an auto you may apply for a full licence but it will have a "78" stamped on it to indicate that the holder is restricted to cars with automatic transmission.

You could go down this route and pass the test and then subsequently get a Learner Permit to drive a manual car. You would have a Full Licence for autos and a Learner Permit for manuals.

Delorian wrote: »

the availability is poor

The availibility is poor in small cars but it's the other was around in large executive cars - it's almost impossible to get one with manual transmission.

Delorian wrote:

overtaking can be a nightmare (sounds like the engine is going to drop out of the bottom).

Perhaps in an auto with a small engine but overtaking in a 3 or 4 litre auto is silky smooth.

hippiechickie wrote: »

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Going downhill, clutching will usually increase speed! Use the brakes to slow down.

hippiechickie

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Wishbone Ash

hippiechickie wrote: »

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I did say when "going downhill".

In simple terms pressing the clutch pedal seperates the engine from the wheels. When going downhill and not accelerating, the engine provides some braking force. If you seperate the engine from the wheels without using the brakes, you would be in effect be "free wheeling" and not in control of the car. If you constantly press the clutch to prevent stalling in higher gears then you are travelling in the incorrect gear for your speed.

Swiftly press the clutch and drop to the next lower gear and allow the engine to reconnect with the wheels again.

agrajag

hey all,

test in Shannon next Tuesday, and I'm fine apart from coasting. I seem to have gotten rid of the worst of it by getting out of the habit of changing down through all the gears in sequence - now I come from 50 to 30 in 5th, skip 4th and change to 3rd, brake again to the low 20s, then into 2nd. but now I'm totally paranoid about keeping my foot on the clutch in 2nd, to the point where I've cut out a few times approaching lights, etc.

any thoughts? what exactly is the examiner looking for here?

Dave

Wishbone Ash

You just need more practise to avoid leaving it too late. They are more concerned about those who 'coast' to avoid changing to a more appropriate gear especially when cornering.

Alanstrainor

Dont worry about it, most "coasting" faults are picked up by drivers taking corners with the clutch fully depressed and not just braking/coming to stop. And it sounds to me like you've over complicated the whole changing down through the gears. Dont be saying to yourself, "oh at 30km/h i should be in such a gear", just gradually slow and change down through the gears. Dont be afraid to depress the clutch just before coming to a stop.
The examinor is looking for smooth gear changes and for you to be in control.

VW08

Im pretty sure its 3rd gear your ment to skip, not 4th.

If your in 5th, slow down and go to 4th, then slow way down and go to 2nd. You can stop the car in 2nd. When you stop, pull up the hand break, while keeping your foot on the clutch, and go into 1st, so your ready to take off. If your the one of the first 3 cars at the junction, then keep the car in 1st gear, otherwise, you can put it into neutral.

When your coming to a stop, your foot should be on the brake. Only put your foot on the clutch the second the car feels like its struggling. And come to a stop.

I had my test a few months ago, and thats what I did, and I passed!!!

Best of luck.:)

agrajag

Thanks for the replies, I do think I'm over-complicating things alright

Can't imagine why anyone would want to have the clutch in while cornering though :P

VW08

agrajag wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, I do think I'm over-complicating things alright

Can't imagine why anyone would want to have the clutch in while cornering though :P

If there going to fast around the corner, most likely.

Unless, when you say cornering you mean reversing around the corner, in which case you would need the clutch.

Wishbone Ash

Thread merged.

woop

agrajag wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, I do think I'm over-complicating things alright

Can't imagine why anyone would want to have the clutch in while cornering though :P

you would need it but not a lot in a test if at all as you shouldnt be entering a corner at speed in the first place

if you have too high a gear entering a corner youll lack power getting out so you change down before going into a corner to keep revs up and thus power when exiting so smoother but honestly not needed when learning

butterflyer

hi. i was told by my instructor that i coasted when changing down the gears especially when going downhill. so now ive managed to stop myself. at first i found that when i took my foot off the clutch there was jerkiness. i take my foot off it more gradually now but its still a bit jerky. my instructor said its grand and that its only something that i notice myself but i still feel a little anxious about it. maybe it has something to do with my car, its a vw 98 1.4L. anyone else have the same experience?

DancingDaisy

I would think that the jump is something that with practice will stop. I had the same issue in a 98 Renault Megane and it has just about stopped now, because I have become even more accustomed to the clutch!

eoin5

I'm no expert but I found that getting my speed down a lot first before changing the gear made the change much smoother, especially changing from third to second.

DancingDaisy

Going down the gears then that is definitely the way to go, but if I'm changing up the gear, a decrease in speed generally makes my engine grumble at me, cos it no longer requires a gear change!

Alanstrainor

but if I'm changing up the gear, a decrease in speed generally makes my engine grumble at me, cos it no longer requires a gear change!

Why would you slow down while changing up gear?

Cabaal

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Why would you slow down while changing up gear?

I'm also curious about this, this would cause the engine to struggle that bit when you go to the higher gear...surely you should slightly speed up and then change to higher gear

Wishbone Ash

Thread merged.

DancingDaisy

I don't decrease speed, it was just in answer to eoin5, it was what happened in the very beginning when I was first learning gears and I took my foot off the accelerator for too long and speed dropped. The engine struggled. I was making the point that it is a bad idea by using my own experience.

Sorry if I was confusing.

Rowley Birkin QC

Try keeping the cost of a new clutch in mind. Should get rid of that habit pretty quickly.

05D

Put a automatically refillable whoopy cushion on the clutch!

meremortal

Hey, this may make no sense to anyone else and may not be completely true technically - but teach yourself that..... when you change down the gears they do not come in effect until you release the clutch so you need to release the clutch each time to make each gear change count. By going from 5-4-3-2 with the clutch down is the same as going straight from 5 - 2.

Also - let the gears slow you down, as you release the clutch after changing down a gear, by releasing the clutch slowly you will feel the car pull back slightly. Now when I'm on long stretches of road with no one around, or coming to a red light with no one behind me I practice slowing to almost a complete stop without using the brake, simply by using 4 - release, 3 release, then finally, 2 release, brake, clutch, brake. (Or more specifically slight brake, clutch -just as car feels it might begin to shudder, brake.

Test in two weeks eeek!!! Good luck to everyone else too!!

Wishbone Ash

meremortal wrote: »

Also - let the gears slow you down, as you release the clutch after changing down a gear, by releasing the clutch slowly you will feel the car pull back slightly. Now when I'm on long stretches of road with no one around, or coming to a red light with no one behind me I practice slowing to almost a complete stop without using the brake, simply by using 4 - release, 3 release, then finally, 2 release, brake, clutch, brake. (Or more specifically slight brake, clutch -just as car feels it might begin to shudder, brake

Why on earth do you slow down without using the brake? That's what it's for! Gears to go - brakes to slow!

Brakes pads are a lot cheaper than a new clutch.

Try slowing down an articulated vehicle using the engine and you'll find yourself in hospital or laid out.

spaceylou

Wishbone - your not my instructor by any chance are you haha - her mantra is pretty much "brakes to slow - gears to go" was nearly saying it in my sleep after the first few lessons!!!

I'm still learning to drive (applying for test in next week or two) so I'm no expert but after reading the thread - why would anyone keep the clutch in going around a corner?? When the clutch is in, the car isn't in any gear and you have feck all control.....and the same when you are going down the gears if you keep the clutch in while you are moving the gear stick and not letting the clutch out then none of the gears are actually connecting (probably is a more technical term) so why bother wasting your time moving the gear stick around for no reason just go to the gear you are aiming for!

Overature

the most likely reason that they will fail you is
1: not making progress (driving slowely)
2: road position (be on the left hand side of the left lane)

theres more but i cant remember at the moment

daveharnett

spaceylou wrote: »

why would anyone keep the clutch in going around a corner??

Many learners tend to change down too soon when decelerating, causing a little jerk when they release the clutch, as the engine matches it's revs to the wheels.
So, if they approach a corner too fast, they will keep the clutch (and possibly brake) down through the corner, rather than have the car jerk as they enter it.

The solution is to slow down sooner, choose an appropriate gear before starting the turn, and accelerate (gently) into the corner. This makes things smoother and safer.

spaceylou

so essentially what you are saying is that it is a bad habit that learners get into?? In which case I am glad it is not an issue I have - not to say i don't have other bad habits or difficulties with this driving lark!!

meremortal

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Why on earth do you slow down without using the brake? That's what it's for! Gears to go - brakes to slow!

Brakes pads are a lot cheaper than a new clutch.

Try slowing down an articulated vehicle using the engine and you'll find yourself in hospital or laid out.

Wishbone Ash - I do not do it all the time, think you misunderstood me, its just when I'm practicing gearing down - obviously I use the brake the rest of the time! This thread is about coasting - I am just offering some advice on how to avoid it - in my thread I also highlighted what spaceylou said about gears not connecting - alot of learners drive in 5th, brake slowly and coast right along, gearing down, til they stop in 2nd.