The Retirement Thread

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Dave7

Legendary Member
Location
Cheshire
Many years ago on a safe driving course we were advised to use the left foot for braking in an automatic car. I have done so ever since. Something about saving a mili second or so when emergency braking.

When I worked for a division of Shell a number of us went on a safe driver/driver awareness course. It was very good. We were in manual gear boxes and part of the course was driving through a built up area and not being allowed to touch our brakes, it was all down to the gears. I learned a lot from that.
 

PaulSB

Squire
Must admit I have never even tried an automatic. I want to change gear when I decide.
Yes, this is my view. I've hired automatics and been OK with them. What I find though is I don't feel as though I'm driving the car. I like to drop down a gear going into a bend, on a steep ascent, approaching a roundabout.

The automatics I've driven didn't allow that.
 
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pawl

Legendary Member
It's amazing how stupid seem people are. They try to climb Snowden in T shirts, flop flood shorts. It might be beautiful at the bottom but by the time they get to the top the temp has dropped by 25 deg, its foggy, raining and blowing a gale. Many have been caught out. I heard of one woman who climbed up wearing stilleto heels. DER

Some years ago I was part way up Snowdon stopped to have a swig of coffee Weather was looking decidedly iffe A group.came up pretty much as you described Except my group wed more up market as two of them were carrying Harrods shopping bags By the time I’d finished my coffee the clag had come down Reversed my foot steps back to Beddgelert camp site .
 

Dave7

Legendary Member
Location
Cheshire
Yes, this is my view. I've hired automatics and been OK with them. What I find though is I don't feel as though I'm driving the car. I like to drop down a gear going into a bend, on a steep ascent, approaching a roundabout.

The automatics I've driven didn't allow that.

It is a different experience. There are plus and minus both ways. I enjoy what I would call relaxed driving and auto suits me. I have had a 3 litre and now drive a 1600 Astra (and everything in between).
Sue converted to a 1300 Corsa which my daughter now drives and enjoys.
I passed my test in 1964 and have driven all sorts up to 3.5 ton vehicles but would not willingly swith back to manual.
Each to his own etc.
 

Dave7

Legendary Member
Location
Cheshire
Some years ago I was part way up Snowdon stopped to have a swig of coffee Weather was looking decidedly iffe A group.came up pretty much as you described Except my group wed more up market as two of them were carrying Harrods shopping bags By the time I’d finished my coffee the clag had come down Reversed my foot steps back to Beddgelert camp site .

I love Beddglert and had many happy holidays there (even though it rained such a lot there.
 
When I worked for a division of Shell a number of us went on a safe driver/driver awareness course. It was very good. We were in manual gear boxes and part of the course was driving through a built up area and not being allowed to touch our brakes, it was all down to the gears. I learned a lot from that.

Not sure where I heard this but I heard of a mechanic who was servicing the local doctor's car in a very rural garage many many years ago

The car was very well used as it was travelling all over the area all times of day and night visiting patients

Lots needed replacing due to normal wear and tear

except the brakes - they were hardly worn at all
so when the doctor came to pick the car up he commented on the state of the brakes
the doctor replied that he hardly ever used the brakes - didn;t see why there were needed expect at the end of a trip

he literally knew the roads so well that he could drive round and just be going at the right speed and in the right gear for every corner all the time just through thinking ahead and not rushing
bit extreme - but a lot of people could drive a lot better by thinking ahead more - or at all!!!
 

PeteXXX

Cake or ice cream? The choice is endless ...
Location
Hamtun
In trucks I was originally taught to slow down with gears but things moved on and now it's better, apparently, to slow down with brakes as they're cheaper to replace than a worn out clutch & gearbox.
 
Yes, this is my view. I've hired automatics and been OK with them. What I find though is I don't feel as though I'm driving the car. I like to drop down a gear going into a bend, on a steep ascent, approaching a roundabout.

The automatics I've driven didn't allow that.

Mine had "flappy paddle" gear changes if you want to use them
I can either have it in normal auto - in which case the paddles just suggest that the gear changes up or down - it will do it if it feel it can be done

If I put it in S more then the paddles become more effective - but if I try to over-rev it or under rev it then it will change up/down anyway
I have used it properly for the first time yesterday when I wanted it staying in first on a very slippy road and not changing up to second unexpectedly
it is useful for slowing down at lights etc - and also works well when joining a motorway when I want to accelerate but not stay in second ot third too long
 
Went to ASDA before and I got glared at!!!

I needed some potatoes and as I wandered up the fruit and veg aisle there were a few people stuck in front of me
Turned out there was a trolley parked directly across the aisle and blocking the whole thing

me being me - I just looked around to check if someone appeared to be about to move it - and then gently moved it over to the side and down a bit to get it out of the way

I found my potatoes and was just turning to put them in my trolley and I noticed a woman by the one I had moved GLARING at me


which I find hilarious
probably not what she was wanting
 
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