We have all done some silly things.......................

[normanandsue]

Just read this on another site, can't help feeling sorry for the couple

https://www.obantimes.co.uk/2019/05...nHpyAcXP__uSm5QqDFgKLtnUkLBlwRfMuCe8j0BqdqGuk

 

[pappajohn]

As I said in another thread yesterday.. NEVER rely on the handbrake alone, always leave in 1st or reverse gear as well.

 

[Podney]

As I said in another thread yesterday.. NEVER rely on the handbrake alone, always leave in 1st or reverse gear as well.

When I learnt to drive,that was standard advice. Only 48 years ago.
Don’t they teach them nuffink nowadays?

 

[mikebeaches]

Just shown Mrs mikebeaches because she always complains I pull the handbrake on too hard...

 

[jollyrodger]

At a place called Ganavan

Now renamed Gonavan

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[TheAleMan]

It's a good habit of mine...I always leave in gear, even our toad outside our house.

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

My first car was a Vauxhall Viva, the handbrake was poor. One day I pulled the handbrake so hard I pulled it out of the floor! Don't think that the rust helped

 

[pappajohn]

When I learnt to drive,that was standard advice. Only 48 years ago.
Don’t they teach them nuffink nowadays?

Nah, they keep changing things
I was taught to slow down using gears and stop using brakes..... Daughter passed her test a couple of years ago....... Use brakes to slow down, press clutch as late as possible for whatever gear you're in and stop, change to first gear after stopping.

 

[TheBig1]

My parents house is on a steep hill and so I always leave the car in reverse, handbrake on and wheels turned to the kerb. Have seen several vehicles roll away down that hill. The worst being a 7.5 tonne courier lorry, left with the engine running. It rolled backwards down the hill bouncing off the parked cars and crashed into a wall at the crossroads at the bottom of the hill. Thankfully nobody hurt and no traffic at the cross roads. Would of loved to hear the driver explain that to his boss. Four cars badly damaged and the lorry. Insurance paid out quick though

 

[ambulancekidd]

My first car was a Vauxhall Viva, the handbrake was poor. One day I pulled the handbrake so hard I pulled it out of the floor! Don't think that the rust helped

I did something similar on a Morris 1800, was parked up in a quiet place with a girlfriend & we were getting a bit amorous when I realised that the car was moving!

I'd taken the car out of gear to stop it from digging into me but, I got such a fright that I tore the handbrake clean out of its mountings (the only mountings which happened that night ) & there was no rust in sight.

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[andyman]

I went out one lunchtime to the local cob van. stood in the queue and suddenly someone shouted oh ****. Looked across the road to see a berlingo van disappearing down the ditch.
Got talking to the owner who said I don’t have a lot of luck. He used to be a chippy but had to give it up, due to cutting most of his right hand off in circular saw accident
.

 

[The general]

My first car was a Vauxhall Viva, the handbrake was poor. One day I pulled the handbrake so hard I pulled it out of the floor! Don't think that the rust helped

I remember the viva well even after full adjustment the handbrake full on the lever was at right angles !!!!

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

I did something similar on a Morris 1800, was parked up in a quiet place with a girlfriend & we were getting a bit amorous when I realised that the car was moving!

Did the earth move for you darling? No just the car

 

[Jev88]

I think it was. Vauxhall Victor as a very small child I kicked the hand brake off whilst playing in the car ..... Dad sprinted after me across the field reached in and stopped the car.

 

[Spriddler]

Nah, they keep changing things
I was taught to slow down using gears and stop using brakes..... Daughter passed her test a couple of years ago....... Use brakes to slow down, press clutch as late as possible for whatever gear you're in and stop, change to first gear after stopping.

To my disbelief my son's instructor told him the same. His reasoning was that replacing brake pads was cheaper than replacing gearboxes.
I don't go with that assumption that the gearbox will wear prematurely. I suppose it will wear more than if one didn't change down but not enough to justify his reasoning. In addition, I change down as I slow so that I'm always in a gear where I can accelerate if necessary to avoid a hazard and in a lower gear, appropriate to the road speed, the vehicle always feels more under control.

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[DavidG58]

It does make auto gear boxes so much safer

until

one day in MH parked in a lay by checking maps, take a while, forget you are still in drive, get up and start walking back for something, realise you are moving forward

no harm done, this time

 

[Paul an Jane MK]

I had a Citroen XM many years ago, unbeknown to me handbrake worked on front disk brakes (which is a fairly daft idea as front brakes cool drastically when stationary) and yes I had been stupid and not left car in gear whilst parked on a hill.

As I walked back to my car a large number of old ladies were congregated around the rear of my car.

They had been complete saviours and seeing my car starting to move had stopped it rolling down the hill!

 

[pappajohn]

I remember the viva well even after full adjustment the handbrake full on the lever was at right angles !!!!

As a school leaver I worked in a Vauxhall dealers stores.
We sold more handbrake cables than anything else.
It was proven at the factory at the time, they Do stretch.

 

[WESTY66]

Nah, they keep changing things
I was taught to slow down using gears and stop using brakes..... Daughter passed her test a couple of years ago....... Use brakes to slow down, press clutch as late as possible for whatever gear you're in and stop, change to first gear after stopping.

As did my daughter, couldn’t help wondering how that helps in icy conditions!!

 

[pappajohn]

I was always told a handbrakes primary function is as an emergency brake if the main brake system fails.
It's secondary function is as a parking brake.

Ever wondered why, at MOT, it's tested with the brake rollers turning THEN the brake applied in the same way the main brakes are tested ?
The wheels aren't turning when you're parked, are they! .
If it was purely a parking brake the brake would be fully on and the effort needed to either start the wheel turning from standstill or start the rollers slipping would be recorded.

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[Parrot Face]

TRUE STORY: One day my mate went to work as a supervisor on the docks in Liverpool. Shortly after the start of his shift one of his staff came running to him telling him he seen a car drive into the River Mersey. They both ran to the scene and saw a few bubbles coming to the surface. They immediately rung the police and within minutes The police, fire brigade, ambulance service and coastguards arrived to take over matters. Soon after, Radio city had a Helicopter flying overhead and both local stations were providing listeners with updates on the recovery. My mate then realised there was nothing he could do so went for his breakfast. He then thought he'd tell his missus about the drama and decided to phone her so headed for his car to get his phone. When he got to the car park ….no car??? He then had to go head bowed and humbly tell the police officer leading the search that it might, just might be his car in the Mersey. The officer made him stand and watch the crane retrieve his car from the river. Then he was told that as the owner he had to open the car to see if there was anyone inside. Then he had to open the boot for them. And there in front of everyone they spotted the many many boxes of Viagra. "Whats all these then Mr Gerard". "Well I just came back from Goa yesterday and brought all the lads a few boxes as there cheap over there" my mate replied. "Ah so your also a drug dealer as well Mr Gerard". Fortunately the police officer wasn't interested in anything other than making my mate feel bad about not putting his handbrake on properly!

 

[gus-lopez]

As I said in another thread yesterday.. NEVER rely on the handbrake alone, always leave in 1st or reverse gear as well.

You'd fail the driving test when we were taught doing that.

I don't go with that assumption that the gearbox will wear prematurely. I suppose it will wear more than if one didn't change down but not enough to justify his reasoning

It will wear far quicker staying in 5th, or 6th as most will shake the vehicle to bits below certain speeds. I had a transit that you couldn't have in 5th below 40 & 4th below 30 . Just to slow.

. In addition, I change down as I slow so that I'm always in a gear where I can accelerate if necessary to avoid a hazard and in a lower gear, appropriate to the road speed, the vehicle always feels more under control.

Exactly so that you are always in control. Too high a gear & you have none + you cannot get yourself out of a predicament if one suddenly arises.

Ever wondered why, at MOT, it's tested with the brake rollers turning THEN the brake applied in the same way the main brakes are tested ?

Never seen that? Certainly not done here.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I remember the viva well even after full adjustment the handbrake full on the lever was at right angles !!!!

I had a Viva HC the handbrake bracket splitter rots off the back axle. But before failing all together it bends, making the lever go high, ordering a new cable doesn't work. I considered tieing a knot in it though
Terrible car.

 

[The general]

Here’s a question , hgv ( when I drove ) had exhaust brake did any light vehicles have them ? I don’t think so

 

[The general]

I had a Viva HC the handbrake bracket splitter rots off the back axle. But before failing all together it bends, making the lever go high, ordering a new cable doesn't work. I considered tieing a knot in it though
Terrible car.

I love my viva maybe cause FIRST car but I remember well removing rubber blanks on floor well to let the water that came thru the windscreen seal to eventually find its way to the floor well then into road had to remove carpets to help the process !

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[The general]

The viva hc shifted thou !

 

[Richard n Ann]

I love my viva maybe cause FIRST car but I remember well removing rubber blanks on floor well to let the water that came thru the windscreen seal to eventually find its way to the floor well then into road had to remove carpets to help the process !

me too

 

[nicholsong]

Nah, they keep changing things
I was taught to slow down using gears and stop using brakes..... Daughter passed her test a couple of years ago....... Use brakes to slow down, press clutch as late as possible for whatever gear you're in and stop, change to first gear after stopping.

Maybe that makes sense, because nowadays youngsters are more likely to subsequently drive an automatic where the changing down option is not available.

Geoff

 

[tonyidle]

Maybe that makes sense, because nowadays youngsters are more likely to subsequently drive an automatic where the changing down option is not available.

Geoff

I was taught to change down too and for years I did so - not necessarily down though all the gears though. Then for a period I had an auto so didn't, then a manual so continued with auto habits, and now two auto vehicles. These latest do change down and there is not much if any lag if acceleration is needed. In conclusion I think any advice is irrelevant - just do what feels right for the circumstances. Manual gearbox wear through excessive downchanges is a reality. Synchromesh bears the brunt unless the driver can double-declutch and is often the first part to fail in a modern gearbox.

 

[tofo]

As I said in another thread yesterday.. NEVER rely on the handbrake alone, always leave in 1st or reverse gear as well.

i get a boli??ing from daughter for leaving her car in gear i have always left manuals cars in first gear

and our autos in park ,except for forgetfull moments
in which case i get reminded its not in park

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