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#11
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fbloogyudsr wrote: > "Mistyloowho" > wrote > > HELP! I have been driving a standard now for about...ohhh, 2 days and it > > is snowing out while I am at work. Supposed to be a nightmare commute in > > the morning and I cannot miss work. I am nervous. I am still working on > > the hill-starts and have only stalled about 3-4 times but still working on > > going after a full start. I am very concerned about driving a manual in > > the snow and ice tomorrow, its supposed to be very slippery. Any advice > > from you manual drivers for a newbie?? > > 1) shift as early as possible (use the highest gear you can) And do it slowly, deliberately, and gently. > 2) never actually stop - treat stop signs as yields. Unless there's somebody watching. Oh; waitaminnit; you're in Massachusetts? Forget it. And Floyd, what's the matter with you? Don't you know *nobody* stops for stop signs in MA? > 3) pick a route w/o hill starts - at your stage, in snow, you'll not be able > to start on them. Actually, she may well be able to do so. For sure she isn't likely to stall the car because the wheels will slip instead of stalling the car. This could be the learning experience she needs. > 4) don't use engine braking. I'd agree for RWD, but disagree on a FWD car. This will promote some understeer, which is controllable by declutching or overbraking the rear. Another valuable skill to learn at low speeds. It also presents the opportunity to learn how to develop controllable *oversteer* with either left foot braking or handbraking. IOW, Misty, if you can find a big open space like a parking lot, go mess around with the car. Start making a turn at slightly too fast a speed and then try using the handbrake to throw the rear end around where you want it (Plus, it's about the only way to do 'donuts' in a Cavalier!). Also try turning while going a bit too fast - to feel the front end slide. Then, without lifting off the throttle, gently apply the brake with your left foot to see what happens. Above all, *DON'T PANIC* when your car slides. Sliding is your friend. Just learn how it can be as helpful as it is treacherous. -- C.R. Krieger (Slip-sliding away ...) |
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#12
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Motorhead Lawyer wrote:
> fbloogyudsr wrote: > >>"Mistyloowho" > wrote >> >>>HELP! I have been driving a standard now for about...ohhh, 2 days > > and it > >>>is snowing out while I am at work. Supposed to be a nightmare > > commute in > >>>the morning and I cannot miss work. I am nervous. I am still > > working on > >>>the hill-starts and have only stalled about 3-4 times but still > > working on > >>>going after a full start. I am very concerned about driving a > > manual in > >>>the snow and ice tomorrow, its supposed to be very slippery. Any > > advice > >>>from you manual drivers for a newbie?? >> >>1) shift as early as possible (use the highest gear you can) > > > And do it slowly, deliberately, and gently. It's a good idea to shift out of first quickly when you get going, but after that it doesn't really matter. > > >>2) never actually stop - treat stop signs as yields. > > > Unless there's somebody watching. Oh; waitaminnit; you're in > Massachusetts? Forget it. And Floyd, what's the matter with you? > Don't you know *nobody* stops for stop signs in MA? Yup. Downshift to first and roll on idle (no gas) until it's clear and then gently accelerate. > > >>3) pick a route w/o hill starts - at your stage, in snow, you'll not > > be able > >>to start on them. > > > Actually, she may well be able to do so. For sure she isn't likely to > stall the car because the wheels will slip instead of stalling the car. > This could be the learning experience she needs. And spinning the tires is *not* good. If that happens and you're still stuck you should roll backwards a little while turning the wheel so you avoid the slick spot you just created next time. > > >>4) don't use engine braking. > > > I'd agree for RWD, but disagree on a FWD car. This will promote some > understeer, which is controllable by declutching or overbraking the > rear. Another valuable skill to learn at low speeds. If you're (un)lucky you can get oversteer too. I drove a FWD Nissan one winter and I noticed that if you let off the gas while taking a corner hard the rear end would step out. The BMW I drive now is much more predictable, it *always* oversteers. :-) > > It also presents the opportunity to learn how to develop controllable > *oversteer* with either left foot braking or handbraking. IOW, Misty, > if you can find a big open space like a parking lot, go mess around > with the car. Start making a turn at slightly too fast a speed and > then try using the handbrake to throw the rear end around where you > want it (Plus, it's about the only way to do 'donuts' in a Cavalier!). > Also try turning while going a bit too fast - to feel the front end > slide. Then, without lifting off the throttle, gently apply the brake > with your left foot to see what happens. Above all, *DON'T PANIC* when > your car slides. Sliding is your friend. Just learn how it can be as > helpful as it is treacherous. Damn, why can't it get a bit colder here so the lakes freeze... :-( > -- > C.R. Krieger > (Slip-sliding away ...) > Ulf ..cc (if/when it works) |
#13
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Motorhead Lawyer wrote:
> fbloogyudsr wrote: > >>"Mistyloowho" > wrote >> >>>HELP! I have been driving a standard now for about...ohhh, 2 days > > and it > >>>is snowing out while I am at work. Supposed to be a nightmare > > commute in > >>>the morning and I cannot miss work. I am nervous. I am still > > working on > >>>the hill-starts and have only stalled about 3-4 times but still > > working on > >>>going after a full start. I am very concerned about driving a > > manual in > >>>the snow and ice tomorrow, its supposed to be very slippery. Any > > advice > >>>from you manual drivers for a newbie?? >> >>1) shift as early as possible (use the highest gear you can) > > > And do it slowly, deliberately, and gently. It's a good idea to shift out of first quickly when you get going, but after that it doesn't really matter. > > >>2) never actually stop - treat stop signs as yields. > > > Unless there's somebody watching. Oh; waitaminnit; you're in > Massachusetts? Forget it. And Floyd, what's the matter with you? > Don't you know *nobody* stops for stop signs in MA? Yup. Downshift to first and roll on idle (no gas) until it's clear and then gently accelerate. > > >>3) pick a route w/o hill starts - at your stage, in snow, you'll not > > be able > >>to start on them. > > > Actually, she may well be able to do so. For sure she isn't likely to > stall the car because the wheels will slip instead of stalling the car. > This could be the learning experience she needs. And spinning the tires is *not* good. If that happens and you're still stuck you should roll backwards a little while turning the wheel so you avoid the slick spot you just created next time. > > >>4) don't use engine braking. > > > I'd agree for RWD, but disagree on a FWD car. This will promote some > understeer, which is controllable by declutching or overbraking the > rear. Another valuable skill to learn at low speeds. If you're (un)lucky you can get oversteer too. I drove a FWD Nissan one winter and I noticed that if you let off the gas while taking a corner hard the rear end would step out. The BMW I drive now is much more predictable, it *always* oversteers. :-) > > It also presents the opportunity to learn how to develop controllable > *oversteer* with either left foot braking or handbraking. IOW, Misty, > if you can find a big open space like a parking lot, go mess around > with the car. Start making a turn at slightly too fast a speed and > then try using the handbrake to throw the rear end around where you > want it (Plus, it's about the only way to do 'donuts' in a Cavalier!). > Also try turning while going a bit too fast - to feel the front end > slide. Then, without lifting off the throttle, gently apply the brake > with your left foot to see what happens. Above all, *DON'T PANIC* when > your car slides. Sliding is your friend. Just learn how it can be as > helpful as it is treacherous. Damn, why can't it get a bit colder here so the lakes freeze... :-( > -- > C.R. Krieger > (Slip-sliding away ...) > Ulf ..cc (if/when it works) |
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