Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: r1 on 25 February 2012, 23:21:35

Title: is this good driving?
Post by: r1 on 25 February 2012, 23:21:35
been out with a mate tonight and hes got some sort of honda and 98 per cent of the time he changes gear 1-3-5 not useing 2 or4 says this is better as less wear and tear on the gearbox and clutch.
so is this a good way to drive?
to be fair the car wasnt screaming in first and the car didnt judder so maybe hes right
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: Lazydocker on 25 February 2012, 23:22:48
Used to be quite common... Personally I don't see the point but whatever floats
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: Turk on 26 February 2012, 01:47:06
The way I see it is, car manufacturers spend millions developing optimum gear ratios etc, but there's always someone that knows better.  ::)  ;)
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: jtypecav on 26 February 2012, 02:02:39
Reminds me of my grandpa in the car back in the day. I'd just got a cassette walkman for xmas and he turns to me hearing me fwd'ing past some crappy track and says.. careful andrew, every press of that button is one more use deducted from that mechanisms lifespan!!  :D  :D 

And a load spread evenly means wear will be even. The Ascii ate two F20 3rd gears before I put an F28 in it, so as far as I can tell not using 2nd and 4th just puts more miles on the cog that takes the most abuse! Crazy for these days! Maybe when gearboxes were made out of wood an nails...
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: r1 on 27 February 2012, 11:41:55
glad iam doing something right then.
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: tigers_gonads on 27 February 2012, 12:39:16
Got to admit, I tend to box shift 4th down to 2nd or going up 3rd into 5th
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: OOMV6 on 27 February 2012, 12:54:40
been out with a mate tonight and hes got some sort of honda and 98 per cent of the time he changes gear 1-3-5 not useing 2 or4 says this is better as less wear and tear on the gearbox and clutch.
so is this a good way to drive?
to be fair the car wasnt screaming in first and the car didnt judder so maybe hes right

It really depends on what the car is capable of. With the 3.0 MV6 it seems no problem to do 2nd to 4th and 3rd to 5th, if you're not in a racing mood. Smaller engine cars. I wouldn't recommend it. As for less wear and tear on gearbox, that sounds like a load of rubbish to me. It just means 2nd and 4th out-live the other gears. So when the box starts playing up, you're left with 2nd and 4th and R. So in the end, you'll end up starting in 2nd! Sounds like a false economy to me - and a "legend" that has been passed down generations. We have to remember that the cars now are not, generally speaking, the unreliable things our parents / grandparents drove.
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: mantahatch on 27 February 2012, 13:05:27
I would dearly love to know how you chage from 1st to 3rd etc. My box just changes for me with no problems at all  ::) ::)
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: OOMV6 on 27 February 2012, 13:07:26
I would dearly love to know how you chage from 1st to 3rd etc. My box just changes for me with no problems at all  ::) ::)

It is called a manual gearbox. You know, the one that needs the third pedal  ;)
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: martin42 on 27 February 2012, 13:16:39
3 pedals!!!!!!,dont confuse me any more than i am already 2 are more than enough  ;D
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 27 February 2012, 13:24:53
Many were called and few were chosen.....or is that just BMW Auto's!

Very interested to hear hows its less wear as what you will end up with is a box with more wear on 1-3-5 and less on 2-4......hence you coudl argue the box is likely to wear out sooner as the wear is not spread over all available gears.

The only thing that might last longer is the syncros on 2-4.....but there no use anyway as hes not using them!
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: OOMV6 on 27 February 2012, 13:47:19
been out with a mate tonight and hes got some sort of honda and 98 per cent of the time he changes gear 1-3-5 not useing 2 or4 says this is better as less wear and tear on the gearbox and clutch.
so is this a good way to drive?
to be fair the car wasnt screaming in first and the car didnt judder so maybe hes right

So, I think from the general consensus of opinion, the answer is a resounding NO.
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 27 February 2012, 14:44:34
I only use that downhill and have no hurry..
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: bootie on 27 February 2012, 16:01:58
Same here, 3 to 5 downhill and in no rush. I normally like to use all the gears in the box, starting with R then 1,2 etc as I have to reverse first to get to the turn point in the road.

Have to agree with the nay sayers though...it's not 'good' driving, it's not even 'good' gear changing. Arguably, changing gear may not be considered as one of the factors influencing driving skills since the advent of the automatic gearbox.
Of course there will be those who cry WRONG!  Changing gear on a manual set up is one of the great skills required to drive well.... correct gear selection for the situation, being able to use the engine as a brake...not so easy with a slush box.

Worms in an open can escaping?????? :y
Title: Re: is this good driving?
Post by: OOMV6 on 27 February 2012, 16:11:53
Same here, 3 to 5 downhill and in no rush. I normally like to use all the gears in the box, starting with R then 1,2 etc as I have to reverse first to get to the turn point in the road.

Have to agree with the nay sayers though...it's not 'good' driving, it's not even 'good' gear changing. Arguably, changing gear may not be considered as one of the factors influencing driving skills since the advent of the automatic gearbox.
Of course there will be those who cry WRONG!  Changing gear on a manual set up is one of the great skills required to drive well.... correct gear selection for the situation, being able to use the engine as a brake...not so easy with a slush box.

Worms in an open can escaping?????? :y

Indeed. ;) With modern cars, assuming you're not racing, there is no need for engine braking. The brakes are there for that. And a lot easier and cheaper to replace than engine, gearbox, clutch components.