Coasting.. Few Questions

CurtisBoylan · 27-01-2014 7:40pm #1

I took my driving test a few days ago and got 4 grade 2's on clutch for coasting. I often hold down the clutch going around corners and such, it's a very bad habit I have.

I just saw online today that if you pull up at lights, gear down to gear one, and stop, put your foot on the clutch ready to go and the car in gear, this can also be considered coasting? Is that true?

I'm repeating the test in two weeks and trying to sort out all my faults and make sure I've everything correct so i'm not fixing something that does not have to be fixed :-)

Thanks,

Curtis

e.r · 27-01-2014 7:43pm

Get a pretest instructor should clear up any doubts/ questions .

But you will fail test if you coast car around corners.

jimgoose · 27-01-2014 7:44pm

You mean, stop at the lights, handbrake up, footbrake applied, car in first gear? No, that is not coasting. There is some debate over whether the car should be in gear or not while waiting to go, but here's what I suggest: If you're first at the lights, leave it in gear. If you're second or further back, put it in neutral and clutch-up. And you can stop in second - no need to crunch down to first while moving. Most transmissions don't like it anyway.

CurtisBoylan · 27-01-2014 7:45pm

I have a pretest instructor, but he's quite busy so hard to ask him questions and I won't see him for at-least another week or two, trying to fix my bad habits now heh. I would of passed the test if it wasn't for coasting around corners I'm sure.

CurtisBoylan · 27-01-2014 7:46pm

jimgoose wrote: »

You mean, stop at the lights, handbrake up, footbrake applied, car in first gear? No, that is not coasting. There is some debate over whether the car should be in gear or not while waiting to go, but here's what I suggest: If you're first at the lights, leave it in gear. If you're second or further back, put it in neutral. And you can stop in second - no need to crunch down to first while moving. Most transmissions don't like it anyway.

Thanks a lot, just what I was looking for. Appreciate it.

tom_murphy112 · 27-01-2014 7:47pm

I was told the only gear you can have your foot on the clutch is first and reverse gear.. where it is called clutch control otherwise it is called coasting

tom_murphy112 · 27-01-2014 8:11pm

Hi Curtis,

Just out of topic, I see that you did your test recently in Finglas.. can you give me a rough idea of the route you were taken.. it would help greatly as I have mine coming up in couple of weeks

Thanks,
Tom

SamAK · 27-01-2014 8:18pm

CurtisBoylan wrote: »

I just saw online today that if you pull up at lights, gear down to gear one, and stop, put your foot on the clutch ready to go and the car in gear, this can also be considered coasting? Is that true?

Don't know if it's considered coasting but i'd always go for the safest option, and if your foot slips off the clutch while you're waiting, the car will lurch forward. Not good!

stealinhorses · 27-01-2014 8:51pm

My instructor tells me to be stopped in first gear, with my foot on the clutch when I'm first or second in the queue waiting at lights. Seems only logical, otherwise you're scrambling to get moving if the lights change suddenly.

He also said coasting is frowned upon greatly. He always says brake first until the car is nearly stopped and only then apply the clutch to prevent cutting out.

CurtisBoylan · 27-01-2014 9:34pm

tom_murphy112 wrote: »

Hi Curtis,

Just out of topic, I see that you did your test recently in Finglas.. can you give me a rough idea of the route you were taken.. it would help greatly as I have mine coming up in couple of weeks

Thanks,
Tom

Hey Tom,

I cannot remember a lot of it, but I know we went down into the village, turned left, then turned left by a pub, in around housing estates around the village area. I went at 2 so they do not take you very far due to traffic around that time, he will take you around the shops, and schools if they're off to see how you deal with hazards and parked cars.

I watched the ISM route videos on their website and followed all 4 routes they have for a few days myself in Finglas, most of the route I did was a mixture of all their videos together, so if you're looking to get used to the area, it's a way to start.

I have my repeat test booked for 3 weeks, let's hope this one goes well, I don't have 85 euro to throw around :P

Hope it goes well man,

Curtis.

No Pants · 28-01-2014 6:09pm

I wouldn't gear down to first, it should be enough to gear down to third and...stop. As for using the clutch when cornering, that's a bad idea, both for real life, but especially for the test. You're telling the instructor that you feel you need to slow down, but you're not using the brake.

SamAK · 28-01-2014 6:16pm

No Pants wrote: »

As for using the clutch when cornering, that's a bad idea, both for real life, but especially for the test. You're telling the instructor that you feel you need to slow down, but you're not using the brake.

I was taught to always have the car under control with engine braking, no free-wheel. Especially so descending hills, used to be in third gear a lot with no EB, then I realised that I should be in second. More control.

No Pants · 28-01-2014 6:51pm

SamAK wrote: »

I was taught to always have the car under control with engine braking, no free-wheel. Especially so descending hills, used to be in third gear a lot with no EB, then I realised that I should be in second. More control.

If you want to test that control, press the clutch pedal when descending that hill and watch the car pick up speed.

SamAK · 28-01-2014 6:56pm

No Pants wrote: »

If you want to test that control, press the clutch pedal when descending that hill and watch the car pick up speed.

Great for diesels, not so effective with a petrol engine!

No Pants · 28-01-2014 6:58pm

SamAK wrote: »

Great for diesels, not so effective with a petrol engine!

I did it coming down the village side of Howth hill a couple of years ago, just to see what would happen. Car picked up noticeably. 1.8l petrol hatchback, tyres inflated correctly.

CurtisBoylan · 29-01-2014 11:02am

Some great advice here, thanks! It'a a really bad habit I have but I'm working on it and it's nearly fixed just waiting on my next test appointment now :-)

tom_murphy112 · 29-01-2014 6:24pm

CurtisBoylan wrote: »

Hey Tom,

I cannot remember a lot of it, but I know we went down into the village, turned left, then turned left by a pub, in around housing estates around the village area. I went at 2 so they do not take you very far due to traffic around that time, he will take you around the shops, and schools if they're off to see how you deal with hazards and parked cars.

I watched the ISM route videos on their website and followed all 4 routes they have for a few days myself in Finglas, most of the route I did was a mixture of all their videos together, so if you're looking to get used to the area, it's a way to start.

I have my repeat test booked for 3 weeks, let's hope this one goes well, I don't have 85 euro to throw around :P

Hope it goes well man,

Curtis.

Thanks Curtis.. trying to work my ass off for this test... I have been practising the routes from this video http://www.adischoolofmotoring.com/?page_id=266
Can't seem to find the link for the ISM route videos, can you post the link please :P ?

Thanks very much,
Tom

CurtisBoylan · 29-01-2014 9:58pm

tom_murphy112 wrote: »

Thanks Curtis.. trying to work my ass off for this test... I have been practising the routes from this video http://www.adischoolofmotoring.com/?page_id=266
Can't seem to find the link for the ISM route videos, can you post the link please :P ?

Thanks very much,
Tom

Oops, thats the one I meant. They are great and very relevant. I used them and they helped a lot. Make sure you also learn off some rules of the road/signs. You can get one grade two mark and it can be a borderline to a fail/pass. Also make sure you park exactly in the middle of the bay, I had pretty decent parking but still got a grade two for it. Silly I know, but I failed by then anyway on coasting :P

Greyfoot · 05-02-2014 4:51pm

CurtisBoylan wrote: »

stop, put your foot on the clutch ready to go and the car in gear

Hope you passed the test since.
In real life keeping the clutch pressed actually wears out clutch faster, also resting your foot on the clutch pedal slightly promotes premature wear.

SamAK wrote: »

Great for diesels, not so effective with a petrol engine!

On the contrary, petrol engines have inherent engines brake, diesels less so

miss choc · 06-02-2014 9:31pm

I am a terror for coasting now I am trying to get out of the habit picked up bad ones as Dad taught be basics in the past some would not be taught now ie going down gears 4, 3,2 1, and I have a bad habit of not braking enough going round mini roundabouts always tell a learner dont have the family member teaching get an instructor.

CurtisBoylan · 20-02-2014 2:55pm

Passed today in Finglas, such an amazing feeling and the tester made me feel so confident in the way he spoke. I saw he wasn't typing into his iPad for mostly the entire test and thought I had a grade 3, got back to the centre and heard everyone around me failing then he took out the book for me to sign and told me I passed ;D only a few grade 2's for late signals. Happy isn't a word to describe it ;D

Coasting.. Few Questions

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