Driving school lessons in a diesel car?

[spud75]

Too many years in an underpowered Holden Apollo Executive (the only 16 valve Toyota motor with a carburettor??!!) and automatic. Great for lazy peak hour stuff, but the 6-speed manual Octavia Scout is just fabuleux - throw in a very grunty 2.0 TDI and I'm in heaven.

Been reading a few DSG woes in the Skoda/Octavia thread and I'm so glad I have this slick little 6-speed Manuel (he's from Barcelona )

Walked into Audi dealership ready to part with cash and said what diesel manual wagon can I get?

Response was, base model a4 sedan manual, base model Q3, or base model A3. I said, no I want a manual wagon, even a petrol. The sales thought for a few seconds, then said, "you will have to buy a Skoda".

I was looking at the RS anyway. So before I had driven one, I ordered a diesel Octavia RS. I had driven a base model octavia wagon petrol auto before though. rented one for a week. A week later I drove an RS diesel DSG. I am so glad I got the manual. DSG's and I just dont get along.

So now, I have owned a VR Commodore V6 5sp manual, a Barina 1.2 manual, an Astra 1.8 manual, an A4 1.8T manual, and the current A3 1.9tdi manual, and the RS diesel manual.

I think the biggest killer on our roads is lack of attention. Part of this is people learning to drive autos only, one hand on the wheel, the other on the phone. Hard to text and drive when you need to change gear. Driving a manual becomes second nature, but it still requires more involvement than press to go, press to stop autos.

I cant see my next car being an auto.....

[BluChris]

To answer Bluey's question and horrify the rest of you... yes studies have been done and new drivers have fewer crashes in an auto because of the reduced cognitive workload (i.e. don't have to divide attention between so many things). Before you bite my head off both my wife and I drive manual.

How well you feel your children/partners drive is more likely down to the fact that being on this forum I expect you have all taken extra care to instil good habits.

[Ryeman]

I've always thought that if I was just learning to drive in this hectic world I'd want to concentrate on traffic management issues and only when I felt I was feeling fully confident would I want to then adapt to learning this skills for a manual.

[brad]

To answer Bluey's question and horrify the rest of you... yes studies have been done and new drivers have fewer crashes in an auto because of the reduced cognitive workload (i.e. don't have to divide attention between so many things). Before you bite my head off both my wife and I drive manual.

How well you feel your children/partners drive is more likely down to the fact that being on this forum I expect you have all taken extra care to instil good habits.

When I got my licence, Dad insisted I learn on an automatic so I could concentrate on the core job of actually driving. We only had 3 months on Ls back then so it was probably a good idea. I also did the test in his automatic.

The day after I got my licence I picked up a 2nd hand Torana 1200 manual and kangaroo hopped the 10 km home. I'd ridden manual motorbikes for years before but cars weren't as forgiving of ham-fistedness.

I think it was a good strategy & don't like the current "auto licence" thing. I believe it's one of the reasons my daughter won't get her Ls as the only car available for her to learn on is a manual.

[kaanage]

BTW, talking to my partner, we both agree that driving a manual seems better for driving concentration and awareness. Wonder if any proper studies have been done...

To answer Bluey's question and horrify the rest of you... yes studies have been done and new drivers have fewer crashes in an auto because of the reduced cognitive workload (i.e. don't have to divide attention between so many things).

Herein lies the issue - new drivers are coming to terms with the whole driving experience so manual shifting is a distraction from road awareness since it hasn't become 2nd nature to them, yet. But I believe that Bluey is questioning the general driving population and I think (but need a proper study to confirm) that he is correct and that manual drivers will, overall, have higher levels of driving concentration and awareness.

I think the biggest killer on our roads is lack of attention. Part of this is people learning to drive autos only, one hand on the wheel, the other on the phone. Hard to text and drive when you need to change gear. Driving a manual becomes second nature, but it still requires more involvement than press to go, press to stop autos.

Total agreement here.

Personally, I would like all cars to be sold with non-synchro, dog (crash) boxes so that only people who really know what they're doing can drive.

Back to the original subject, my niece is learning to drive on a manual Bluemotion Golf which has the added advantage of basically restarting itself when she stalls it so she is less of a hazard to other drivers while she gets the mechanics of clutched starts sorted.

[spud75]

Back to the original subject, my niece is learning to drive on a manual Bluemotion Golf which has the added advantage of basically restarting itself when she stalls it so she is less of a hazard to other drivers while she gets the mechanics of clutched starts sorted.

Brilliant. No more stalling, then switch ignition off and on again, just push the clutch in and away we go. That that would certainly improve the whole learning to drive a manual experience.

I learnt to drive a manual 1n a 1980 alfa GTV with stuffed 2nd gear synchro and the gearbox at the rear diff so long floppy feel from the leaver, and had to ease it in gently to get it in to 2nd with low revs. You would floor it from the lights, then wait for the revs to drop while you clutch coasted, ease it into 2nd, then away you go.

No I dont now floor it form the light sin 1st gear everytime I take off. With a diesel, 2nd is much better as you ride the torque curve