Too much clutch?

Moody_mona

My driving instructor told me to take a break from lessons to just get some hours under my belt. I've been out with my dad a few times and he's made comments that I'm using the clutch too much, but he drives an automatic and has done for the last while so another opinion would be great please!

1) If I'm first at a junction, leaving an estate, first at a roundabout, is it ok to sit in first with the clutch depressed? He wants me to sit in neutral and I just find I'm so slow getting everything done that I miss the opportunity with the gap in traffic.

2) When approaching a stop, I'll slow, move down a gear and as I'm preparing to stop I'll depress the clutch and use the brake to stop where I want. I reallu only press the clutch when I feel like I'm going too slow for second and might cut out.

I'll be going back to lessons next week but in the mean time I want to make sure I'm not picking up bad habits, thanks!

Moody_mona

Ok I've done a few searches on posts from years ago and I think I'm happy enough with stopping, but that I don't even need to go down as far as second.

I'm not sitting at the junction or roundabout at the bite, just with the clutch depressed, if that explains point one any more

TheChizler

On point 1 that's fine, especially if you're moving off soon, e.g. if you can see other lights changing. On point 2, you should really be braking before using the clutch if you're not doing that already. Don't touch the clutch until you can feel the car about to start struggling and then pop it down in a smooth movement. What seems to work for my brother is that whenever you're disengaging the clutch it's always a quick smooth movement down, never gradually disengage it.

Moody_mona

Thanks TheChizler. I'm braking before clutch and going by the feel of the car for when I should press the clutch. Glad I'm doing that right Would it be more ideal for me to be in neutral when stopped before moving? I can understand further down at a traffic light but at a roundabout or estate when I'm only going to be able to move in a short time frame based on other traffic, I don't see the point.

TheChizler

Moody_mona wrote: »

Thanks TheChizler. I'm braking before clutch and going by the feel of the car for when I should press the clutch. Glad I'm doing that right Would it be more ideal for me to be in neutral when stopped before moving? I can understand further down at a traffic light but at a roundabout or estate when I'm only going to be able to move in a short time frame based on other traffic, I don't see the point.

The only benefit really is that it gives your foot a rest, and saves a teeny tiny bit of fuel as your transmission isn't turning (negligible), but can result in a panic to get ready again as the lights change. Personally I do it whenever I think of it, as long as I can see the other lights. I wouldn't really recommend you do it at the front unless you know you'll be stopped for a while, and you're experienced enough to change back into first automatically while doing your other checks.

Moody_mona

Appreciate the replies, thanks very much

The_Nipper_One

Generally if a stop turns into a wait it's said you should handbrake and neutral.

The exception to this is when you are at the front of the traffic, so for example if you're in the first spot at traffic lights it's acceptable to sit in 1st gear with the handbrake on and the clutch depressed.

It's one of those 1 in a million safety things, but having the handbrake on when appropriate can protect you if something unexpected happens too.

My sister was stopped at a stop sign once at the borrom of a hill waiting to join a very busy main road. She knew she would be waiting for a bit so she put the handbrake on. A few seconds later a car rear ended her with such force that it pushed her partly onto the junction. She said the only thing that stopped her being pushed out into the oncoming traffic was the handbrake. Improbable I know, just an interesting little story I guess.

EDIT:
Oh and your stopping sounds perfectly fine to me.

ManMade

Moody_mona wrote: »

Thanks TheChizler. I'm braking before clutch and going by the feel of the car for when I should press the clutch. Glad I'm doing that right Would it be more ideal for me to be in neutral when stopped before moving? I can understand further down at a traffic light but at a roundabout or estate when I'm only going to be able to move in a short time frame based on other traffic, I don't see the point.

I just finished those pesky 12 lessons this week.If you first in a queue or if there is none at a red light or roundabout, normal break and depressed clutch in first. When sitting 3 or more cars back handbrake and neutral. When waiting a while to enter a major road handbrake and 1st.

When starting off don't worry about your take off speed. After a while you'll start using the accelerator when lifting the clutch and that will help speed you up at takeoff.

Of course on a slope always use your handbrake don't get into the habit (which I have and need to kick) of balancing the clutch against the accelerator to hold the car.

Practice hill starts if you want to grasp how to use the clutch and the accelerator together and take off quicker on flatter roads.

I'm a learner too so I'm open to corrections.