Stick or Automatic Transmission?

[dops7107]

But can I ask you a question, when you're slowing down from say 75 mph, and you're in 5th and you're coming to a junction, roundabout or traffic lights and you need to come to a stop, how would you carry out that manoeuvre?

Knock-knock! Excuse me for butting in here, but I've been wondering about this. Proper technique tells you to downshift through the gears to match engine speed with road speed, assisting the brakes with engine braking. My technique has evolved into doing almost all of my deceleration in fifth, assuming I have given myself enough distance to slow safely - I try to coast in fifth unless there are cars behind me. If I need to slow down quuickly because I'm in a rush or there's traffic ahead, then I would use engine braking more by downshifting. My opinion is that it is not unsafe to allow the car to slow naturally and use the brakes during the last distance before stopping. This saves brake pads, the clutch and fuel all in one. Of course it depends on road and traffic conditions.

Besides, brakes are very reliable and effective nowadays - I wonder just how much engine braking contributes to cutting stopping distance (which normally is only of importance in emergency stops)?

 

[mpw]

I once had a clutch cable snap on me and had (the alternative being not going to the pub) to drive only changing gear by matching the engine speed to the gear I was selecting. Although I wouldn’t choose to drive that way it was actually quite a interesting drive as you had to concentrate on the road pre-empting traffic lights and other traffic while driving as smoothly as possible.
The only really hairy moments were ramming it into first when starting from stand-still at lights etc.

 

[Angelus]

I haven't read the other posts but personally i prefer to drive a manual. It's commonly said that if you want your car to drive you, buy an automatic but if you want to drive your car, buy a stick. I just prefer having more control. Also if you're driving in snow or icey roads it's more preferable to drive a stick. If you break you'll skid but if you manually downshift the engine will naturally slow you down.

 

[iGav]

My opinion is that it is not unsafe to allow the car to slow naturally and use the brakes during the last distance before stopping. This saves brake pads, the clutch and fuel all in one. Of course it depends on road and traffic conditions.

Besides, brakes are very reliable and effective nowadays - I wonder just how much engine braking contributes to cutting stopping distance (which normally is only of importance in emergency stops)?

It's not really about reducing the braking distance as such, it's more about carrying out the maneuver in a safe and controlled manner whilst anticipating potential situations. But making use of engine braking has the flip side of not requiring you to depress the brake pedal as hard, and thus contributes to prolonging pad and disc life.

However for me, making effective use of the gears and engine braking is a safety issue, at all times during a slowing down maneuver by changing down and matching engine and road speed you have available the absolute optimum acceleration capability of the car should it be required, and there has been times when I've been put in an unsafe situation by other drivers and have made use of that capability, had I been in the incorrect gear or even free wheeling (e.g. in neutral) at the time, it would likely have resulted in an accident.

It could of course be argued that in some cases that in a car with a significant amount of torque, that you can get away with being in a higher gear whilst still experiencing reasonable acceleration from lowers speeds, but that then begs the question, why drive a manual at all if you're not willing to make use of the gears and instead opt to let the torque do the work?

 

[dops7107]

I once had a clutch cable snap on me and had (the alternative being not going to the pub)

I take it you didn't drive back?

But making use of engine braking has the flip side of not requiring you to depress the brake pedal as hard, and thus contributes to prolonging pad and disc life.

humm, yes I suppose that's definitely true. I actually went out driving the other night and found myself shifting down the gears more than I thought I do - it's a subconcious thing I think. Actually it reminded me of the time my dad was teaching me to drive and telling me to "Get your foot off that clutch!!" whilst I was breaking... oops, edit, I mean braking. Or he was breaking me, whatever

 

[Peterkro]

I once had a clutch cable snap on me and had (the alternative being not going to the pub) to drive only changing gear by matching the engine speed to the gear I was selecting. Although I wouldn’t choose to drive that way it was actually quite a interesting drive as you had to concentrate on the road pre-empting traffic lights and other traffic while driving as smoothly as possible.
The only really hairy moments were ramming it into first when starting from stand-still at lights etc.

Its interesting that most people who have a clutch cable go just give up,as you say its quite easy to drive without a clutch.From a stop I found the easiest way was just to turn off the engine then restart it in 1st.

 

[mpw]

I take it you didn't drive back? ...

Actually I did.

Its interesting that most people who have a clutch cable go just give up,as you say its quite easy to drive without a clutch.From a stop I found the easiest way was just to turn off the engine then restart it in 1st.

It's the firts time I've thought about it in 10years and I happen to be driving a Renault Clio again, this time a new one with a semi-auto 'box (chosen by a women at work not me, I just inherited it when she left).
That Renault ‘box is a POS and thinking about it I think I was making smoother changes that night then this thing does now!
It’s worst habit is when I’m pulling out at a junction and someone bearing down on you flashes to let me out. I’ll accelerate fine for the first half second or so and then as it feels the need to change up a gear it’ll pause for a full second with no power leaving you sat there like an idiot waiting for it to decide what to do.
I’ve very nearly been hit by oncoming traffic because of that twice in the last year.
Hopefully I should be getting the OK from work to replace it (should’ve been last month) so I’m eyeing up a Fiesta ST or one of the out-going Clio 182’s.

 

[xraydoc]

(late to the thread)

I prefer to drive a stick.

I currently drive a Honda Accord Coupe V6 6-speed. It has a very fun transmission.

My wife, however, can't drive one, and is somewhat resistant to learning, so not sure what will happen when the lease on my car is up next year.

 

[Melkor]

I prefer manual as we call it here. Lets you go faster, an you can really drive the **** outta the car.