Save up to 15% with Adrian Flux insurance!

General Which gear

Currently reading:
General Which gear

i would add that it depends on the car and gearbox setup you have. With my previous Panda 1.2 I would always go through the gears on up and down shifts as it was a long geared 5 speed box and with less torque so jumping a gear would curtail progress too much. On downchanges the skinnier tyres made it more prone to lock up if missing out a gear when downshifting although admittedly I was a beginner driver so my technique wasn't as polished back then either.

In the work Galaxy diesel, block shifting downchanges are essential to get the thing slowed down as the 6 speed is really long so you have to go from 6th to 3rd before you even notice any engine braking.

As the 100hp is a close ratio box you can usually jump a gear without a problem (I hardly ever use 5th for that reason)
 
OK then in my opinion 30 miles on 100hp is best if you do in 4th gear for normal driving 3 rd for quick driving .Engine will not suffer because 100 hp is more then enough to pull in low revs .i.e some bikes can pull from standstill in 5th gear due to the weight power ratio and Panda is not heavy.
 
doctorchris said:
I believe that the correct gear for ambling around at 30mph in a 100HP is a Trilby hat, houndstooth jacket with a white shirt and a dreadful, yellow tie!
Your wife, if with you, should adopt Crimplene and excessive amounts of facial makeup!
Click to expand...

Read this not long after you posted it, read it again a day later and got it - correct gear - very clever. I think a 100hp would be way too fast for me - off to check the wardrobe think I might have that ensemble.
 
trackdayqueen said:
Do people miss gears out on changing up or down?
Click to expand...

Yep, I do.

ThisBitterPill said:
I often go from 4th to 6th when I'm just getting up to speed rather than trying to actually accelerate fast....

Quite partial to dropping from 6th to 4th for those special overtaking moments....
Click to expand...

6th to 4th, they normally only do 30 in 60's her so I find 3rd better :slayer: :p :eek:

Advanced Driver said:
Learners and advanced drivers have been taught block changes for many years now.
Click to expand...

Advanced driver yes, Learners :confused:

You a driving instructor out of interest?

Just mum was a was tought the 3rd to 5th (5speed Yaris) when getting her training, but told never to teach a pupil this (although I've now addopted it also).

Jon.
 
If joining a crowded motorway, for instance, I'd get up to a matching speed in third and probably miss out a gear or two to cruise at the general speed of the traffic; when braking to slow (rather than stop) I'd wait till I judged the traffic conditions and what's coming next before changing directly from fifth/sixth into the gear that I need next; brake with the brakes - going through every gear, especially coming down the 'box, serves no purpose.

I've found a useful way to judge a car's responsiveness in a short test run is to take it near to maximum revs in second and change straight into fifth to see how it copes (make that third and sixth for a six-speed box) - gives an idea of how the gear ratios stack up and exposes dips in the torque curve or excessive turbo lag.
 
Advanced Driver said:
No, I'm not a driving instructor, but I was taught block changes when I was a learner, which was approx 7/8 years ago. I'm pretty sure that most driving instructors teach block changes these days, but I could be wrong.
Click to expand...
Yes we do but is more practical to downshift i.e 5th to 3rd or 2nd than 3rd to 5th (latter works when you got experience)
 
trackdayqueen said:
Fair enough. Guess I was always taught to go through the gears, so I would actually select 5th momentarily before dropping to 4th in the event of an overtake.

Ditto on downchanges combined with heel and toeing quite a lot of the time. It's something I learnt when I was racing.
Click to expand...

I find it impossible to heel and toe the Panda. The brake pedal sits far to far out compared to the throttle (for me anyway) only ever managed it properly in my Celica.
 
Advanced Driver said:
Block changing up the gears is useful when you want to accelerate quickly to a certain speed, eg. the speed limit. I often accelerate to 70mph in 3rd gear, and then jump to 6th gear. There is no need to use 4th or 5th, it'll just put a bit more wear on the gearbox and clutch. For normal/gentle driving I do use all of the gears though, and don't rev it as high.

If you have been changing through the gears for a long time then you will probably find it very difficult to switch to block changing, and it will probably feel strange. Once you have cracked it though you will probably find it much better. It's also easier for you because you haven't got to move your arm and feet as much.
Click to expand...

Hmm, i'm not sure the wear on the gearbox though is anything to worry about. I must admit, I wouldn't contemplate ever using block changes as I can't see how it's better for me, but that's just me. Guess i've learnt that even approaching a 2nd corner in say 5th I will heel and toe all the way down the gearbox quickly as it gives better control of the car at speed.

I think my problem with block changing is that the RPM is not so straightforward to match on say downchanges, so that will inherently put more wear on the gearbox than going down the gears and heel and toeing. It would also be less smooth too.
 
Simonlamondphoto said:
I find it impossible to heel and toe the Panda. The brake pedal sits far to far out compared to the throttle (for me anyway) only ever managed it properly in my Celica.
Click to expand...

It's not the easiest car to heel and toe in. The upright driving position and the pedal layout doesn't help. With practice though I find it absolutely fine.
 
trackdayqueen said:
Hmm, i'm not sure the wear on the gearbox though is anything to worry about. I must admit, I wouldn't contemplate ever using block changes as I can't see how it's better for me, but that's just me. Guess i've learnt that even approaching a 2nd corner in say 5th I will heel and toe all the way down the gearbox quickly as it gives better control of the car at speed.

I think my problem with block changing is that the RPM is not so straightforward to match on say downchanges, so that will inherently put more wear on the gearbox than going down the gears and heel and toeing. It would also be less smooth too.
Click to expand...

For bends, you select the gear before the bend, so you aren't really going around the bend in 5th. I agree that it would feel strange though if you have always been using all of the gears.

I find that it is usually fairly easy to get close the the correct rpm when changing gear. If you're within 1000rpm then it isn't usually too bad.
 
Advanced Driver said:
For bends, you select the gear before the bend, so you aren't really going around the bend in 5th. I agree that it would feel strange though if you have always been using all of the gears.

I find that it is usually fairly easy to get close the the correct rpm when changing gear. If you're within 1000rpm then it isn't usually too bad.
Click to expand...

Ahh, I tend to select the gear whilst i'm braking for a bend, so as I heel and toe you have to go throught the box to be able to do it smoothly if you see what I mean.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Technical Gear linkage
Replies
2
Views
155
koalar
koalar
G
Technical Reverse gear problem
Replies
3
Views
176
koalar
koalar
T
Technical Gear cable problem
Replies
4
Views
275
The Panda Nut
The Panda Nut
T
Technical Gear stick problem.
Replies
3
Views
178
varesecrazy
V
M
General Which way do Scuttle panel clips go?
Replies
2
Views
184
MountainRunner
M
Back
Top