Coasting

Jenna69

Can someone tell me what coasting is exactly? On one hand i've been told that it's having the clutch pressed while driving along and on the other i've been told that it's just having your foot hovering over the clutch while driving, which is right? I'm only driving 2 months and i tend to drive with my foot hovering over the clutch so i'm ready to change gears when the need arised but if this is wrong i want to make sure i'm stopped doing it long before i go for my test which won't be for a good while yet i'd imagine!:o:rolleyes:

DriveSkill

Coasting is when you are travelling any significant distance with the clutch in - main occassions where people do it are :

• Coasting to a Stop - when you put the clutch in too early as you are coming to a stop and therefore travel perhaps 5-10 car lengths with the clutch in. You should be on the brakes alone first and the clutch goes in just at the end.
• Coasting around Corners - As you come to a corner you will slow down and usually change gear to 2nd. You must release the clutch fully before the corner itself - common mistake is to be going around the corner while still with the clutch in.

Now, having your foot hovering over the clutch is technically not coasting however it is possible to be faulted for this during the driving test so best to get out of that habit as soon as possible. There is no reason to keep your foot over the clutch, it is tiring in the first place and not very comfortable. The danger is you will start to rest your foot on the clutch pedal itself and this has the potential of causing the clutch to 'burn out' early. Its OK to start to 'cover the clutch' (i.e. hover your foot over it) as you approach a stop and then depress it just towards the end but in normal driving take your foot away and rest it on the ground. You should never need the clutch in a hurry - if you need to stop in an emergency then just worry about the brakes - if you can get to the clutch that is great but if you cant dont worry about it! For all other times you should be planning the gear changes, stopping etc and therefore have time to bring your foot to the clutch before you need it.

Permabear

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Jenna69

Thanks guys that's a bit clearer to me now. There is a little ledge for my left foot when it's not on the clutch, i'll just have to get used to using it. Cheers, i appreciate the replies.:):)

beading

I usually drive in 4gear and before complete stop I slow down, use clutch and changing gears to 2gear and until car completly stopped (some metres) i keep pressing clutch, otherwise car doesn't drive properly. Can someone tell me, am i doing right?

erwinvr101

beading wrote: »

I usually drive in 4gear and before complete stop I slow down, use clutch and changing gears to 2gear and until car completly stopped (some metres) i keep pressing clutch, otherwise car doesn't drive properly. Can someone tell me, am i doing right?

that's coasting. you should release the clutch when you're changing gears although in that situation i would keep my foot hovering just above the clutch so i can change gear right away. the reason maybe the car doesn't drive properly is your speed doesn't match the gear you are using

sentient_6

beading wrote: »

I usually drive in 4gear and before complete stop I slow down, use clutch and changing gears to 2gear and until car completly stopped (some metres) i keep pressing clutch, otherwise car doesn't drive properly. Can someone tell me, am i doing right?

You could always just stop in 4th if you want? Keep breaking & only clutch to stop when the engine just starts to kick.

beading

What would be the best action before stopping?
Maybe i shouldn't change gears, but stay in 4gear and just slowing down until complete stop..?

**Timbuk2**

If you know you are coming to a complete stop, just leave it in 4th gear - why change down? (Gears to go, brakes to slow). Only press the clutch in just before the car starts to labour, which is about 4 car lengths from the point you will be stopping at (you will hear and feel the engine about to labour). Don't put in the clutch earlier - beginners tend to be worried about cutting out while stopping, but in reality it is very difficult to cut out while stopping - it's much easier to cut out when moving off!

sentient_6

beading wrote: »

Maybe i shouldn't change gears, but stay in 4gear and just slowing down until complete stop..?

It's the more 'modern' way to do it. Gearing down through the gears to stop is a throw back to when breaks where inefficent & gearing down helped slow the car through engine breaking. Doing the way i described above will save your clutch, & break pads are far cheaper to replace than a clutch. Coasting will burn your clutch out quicker so best to minimise your usage of it to gear changes while going up & clutch just to stop(at the end of stopping).

Hope that makes sense & isnt to scattered.

who the fug

donegalfella wrote: »

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When learning to drive from my father, riding the clutch resulted in a belt on the offending leg and a lecture about how much replacing a clutch costs.


OP examiners in the UK take a poor view of it, and we are supposed to have a pan European test so maybe the Irish ones do as well

beading

Thanks for replies
I'll try to change my habit .