stopping and changing down gears

Kajemo

Hi all
Quick question hopefully someone can help me clear it up. I have my test coming up and my instructor said that I tend to take to long moving off from stop sign or a yield that I have to stop at I tend to be in 2nd gear approaching then stop neutral then first, my question is, is it ok to say be approaching said stop or yield in 2nd gear and then go down to 1st gear and stop in first gear so that I'm ready to just move off? Sorry if silly question but with test fast approaching everything is getting all muddled!!! Help!!! Thanks in advance.

budgemook

Stop in second gear I'd say.

**Timbuk2**

Yes, it's perfectly fine to do what you are suggesting, you don't need to 'engage' neutral or anything.

As you are stopping, say in second gear, slow down until the car is just about to labour, then put your foot fully on the clutch, and move the gear into first just as you are coming to a stop, and apply the handbrake if necessary (e.g. if it is a hill).

I had the exact same issue when I was nearing my test, and my instructor suggested to do the above, and it really helps with progress as going through neutral is time-consuming and unnecessary.

A similar tip that helped me was when doing the turnabout, after you complete one part of the manoeuvre (e.g. the initial forward movement), you can move the gearstick from 1st to reverse, then apply the handbrake, then do the observational checks in preparation for the reverse - this allows you to move off as soon as you have observed all around you. If you put the handbrake on first then observe then change the gear, it takes slightly longer to get going, meaning that what you have just observed around you isn't as up-to-date (not a huge issue as you are constantly observing, even during the reverse manoeuvre).

Good luck in the test!

rab!dmonkey

What I when slowing for stop sign or for a red light that I know will be short is shift down through the gears to second, then when it gets too slow for second, depress the clutch and move the stick to first but keep the clutch pedal depressed. I then stop the car, apply the handbrake, move the stick to neutral and release the clutch. When I approach the lights/traffic (i.e: not a stop sign) knowing I'll be able to move off in a few seconds I try to keep the car rolling slowly up until the line, so I don't have to start from a stop, with clutch depressed/gear in first.

If I have come to a complete stop and I know I'll be able to move off soon I put the stick in first and bring the clutch to the bite or just below it. That way as soon as I know I can go all I have to do is drop the handbrake, apply a little accelerator and release the clutch gradually.

Kajemo

Thanks for the replies guys. Just need to practice this and fine tune a few bits. Nerves are starting to kick in now! Ahh well I'll just have to give it my best shot. Thanks again. :-)