Technical Good driving practice

[1stDucato]

My Ducato owner's h'book provides Fuel economy figures (p264) indicating they are for "departure in 2nd gear".
1. Would such a practice be advisable - regardless of fuel economy considerations - even in the case of my heavier Autocruise Tempo with an AUW of 3-3.5k kg ?
2. If so does this imply one should only select 1st gear where e.g. hill starts require it ?

 

[jackwhoo]

I suggest setting off in 2nd gear would only be applicable to an empty or very lightly loaded panel van. On level road or down hill road only.

 

[Jockstrap]

Oh the increased decision making in a manual .

 

[Communicator]

From somewhere in the distant past I remember the statement "Get it rolling in first gear, then change up into second.".

 

[lycopersicum]

Downhill, I start in second; it saves time, feels smoother.

Not downhill, I occasionally start in second by mistake. It works but it strains the van and feels sluggish. Can't accelerate as needed, for instance, to enter a busy roundabout safely. There's a bit of lurching as the ECU fights the impending stall. Regardless of fuel economy, it just doesn't feel good.

 

[1stDucato]

From somewhere in the distant past I remember the statement "Get it rolling in first gear, then change up into second.".

Yes: I've already found that to prevent a jerky start I need to change to 2nd as soon as it starts to move. I suppose a cynic would say that the handbook reflects Fiat's desire to be able to claim the best possible mpg figures

 

[lycopersicum]

Same; I find it smoothest to either shift to second almost immediately, or to rev it to 3000 in first for a fast start or a very steep hill start.

 

[bugsymike]

Manufacturer put 1st gear in the gearbox to be used, if you pull away in second you are increasing the wear on the clutch.
I only had one van that you could do that an early Iveco Daily 2.5 with a "Dog Leg" gear lever, first gear was like a crawler gear, it was only 80 hp but could have a max.vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes and also tow 3.5 tonnes at the same time legally, something few vehicles can do.
Thinking back I did have a 1947 vintage Karrier Bantam recovery vehicle, the original petrol engine had been replaced with a Perkins 4.203 3300cc diesel engine, you could pull away in top gear (fourth) max speed was 25mph and it could tow a 12 tonne lorry.