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1141

General Discussion Area / Re: Best way to steer

« on: 15 June 2010, 11:00:07 »

i can remember years ago driving down a winding country rd at 3am in thick fog doing 70mph, with no lights on. very stupid stunt then by a young wreckless idiot 

Yeah, I cringe when I think back to the crazy things I've done in cars over the years.

Doesn't stop me though!   

The thing that worries me is will my son do the same when he's old enough to drive?  Mind you, petrol will probably be 10 times the price by then.   

Its nearly that now, at the prices I used to buy petrol for when I first drove!!

I remember being able to fill my 2.3 Firenza to the brim for about £13-£14 (on pay day).

1142

General Discussion Area / Re: Best way to steer

« on: 15 June 2010, 10:47:53 »

i can remember years ago driving down a winding country rd at 3am in thick fog doing 70mph, with no lights on. very stupid stunt then by a young wreckless idiot 

Yeah, I cringe when I think back to the crazy things I've done in cars over the years.

Doesn't stop me though!   

The thing that worries me is will my son do the same when he's old enough to drive?  Mind you, petrol will probably be 10 times the price by then.   

1143

General Discussion Area / Re: Best way to steer

« on: 15 June 2010, 10:43:05 »

The point of the 'feed through' or 'push pull' method of steering is not that it is any better than one way or another, it is just a standard way of teaching people as they learn to drive.

If done correctly it also means that you always have both hands on the wheel (unless changing gear etc.) and are then in full control at all times. You are told while learning that you are just brought up to a standard, how you drive after you pass your test is up to the individual. I guess some people either don't know they can do what they want, or are just comfortable as they are.

For me the 'arm over' is the way to go, or of course there is the 'left hand only leaning on the door' method which comes in a close second, but only if it's sunny and the window is open 

Jeez you must have a long left arm 

I used to be able to do both    I had left and right hand drive cars at the same time. 

Yeah, I checked he wasn't one of our LHD friends first 

My mate has a Mustang he imported from the US, catches me out every time I see him on the road and he has a passenger... "who the heck is that driving Craig's car!!!"...

1144

General Discussion Area / Re: Best way to steer

« on: 15 June 2010, 10:26:34 »

Yep. apparently, that is officially recognised to be the best position for immediate reaction to direction change.

Out of interest, saw a lot of things demonstrated at the time that I never got the chance to try, but amazed me that it could be done on a normal road. One instance was a total direction change and accelerate away at over 70mph!! totally amazing to watch an accomplished instructor just make it seem so easy and polished. Lots of smoke and squeeling, but so slick and exacting. He also managed to put a 6ft wide car through a 6ft 4 ins gap (without touching anything....) at over 60mph, whilst his passenger hung out of the window shooting blanks at a pursuing car.....Fantastic.

Our house has a garage like that too!

Seriously though, it is amazing what some of these guys can do.  I've seen a few of those car stunt shows... I know the cars are modified to suit, but you can't deny the control and precision required.

1145

General Discussion Area / Re: Best way to steer

« on: 15 June 2010, 10:17:21 »

The point of the 'feed through' or 'push pull' method of steering is not that it is any better than one way or another, it is just a standard way of teaching people as they learn to drive.

If done correctly it also means that you always have both hands on the wheel (unless changing gear etc.) and are then in full control at all times. You are told while learning that you are just brought up to a standard, how you drive after you pass your test is up to the individual. I guess some people either don't know they can do what they want, or are just comfortable as they are.

For me the 'arm over' is the way to go, or of course there is the 'left hand only leaning on the door' method which comes in a close second, but only if it's sunny and the window is open 

Jeez you must have a long left arm 

1146

General Discussion Area / Re: Best way to steer

« on: 15 June 2010, 10:07:52 »

I was taught "defensive and offensive driving" by the M.O.D many years ago, they SPECIFICALLY mentioned the traditional 10-2 position of hands was not conduisive to immediate reactionary driving, and only suitable for low speed manoevers.

(now I've opened up the can of worms..................)

Out of interest, how did they tell you to do it?  Quarter to three track style?

1147

General Discussion Area / Re: Best way to steer

« on: 15 June 2010, 09:33:38 »

I only ever fed-thru to pass my test.

It's ok if you want parallel park at a snail's pace but utterly useless in real life.

1148

General Discussion Area / Rear door demister/blower thingies

« on: 19 June 2009, 07:51:59 »

My '95 Elite has the blowers in the back doors to demist the windows.

Now I'd assumed this was std equipment on Elites but I had a fellow ABS/OOF member round last night and he reckons they're mega rare optional extras.

What was std equipment on '95 Elites?  Does anyone have an old sales brochure with the options and prices?

The car was originally owned by Vauxhall and is a 3.0L manual which is quite rare for an Elite.

1149

General Discussion Area / Re:  All that was said about WIM was true

« on: 11 January 2008, 16:01:17 »

What does the autobox upgrade do?