Learning to drive with a hybrid stop/start
Discussion
I presume that cars with stop/start technology would eliminate learner drivers from stalling ? I also presume that you wouldn't stall at juctions and hill starts, if you had the stop/start or perhaps the hill start assist tech.
I can't say I have ever driven a car with stop/start and was wondering what driving instructors would say on the subject.
Also, I still presume it is the case that if you learn and pass in an auto, then you still are not allowed to drive a manual ?
I can't say I have ever driven a car with stop/start and was wondering what driving instructors would say on the subject.
Also, I still presume it is the case that if you learn and pass in an auto, then you still are not allowed to drive a manual ?
John_S4x4 said:
I presume that cars with stop/start technology would eliminate learner drivers from stalling ? I also presume that you wouldn't stall at juctions and hill starts, if you had the stop/start or perhaps the hill start assist tech.
Nope - out in a BMW Mini today and the driver managed to stall a couple of times.John_S4x4 said:
Also, I still presume it is the case that if you learn and pass in an auto, then you still are not allowed to drive a manual ?
Yes. You can drive a manual as a learner though, L Plates and accompanied.Are you allowed to pass a manual driving test with hill start assist?
I quite like stop-start in a manual, because it only stops when you move the gear to neutral and let your foot off the clutch. It starts again when you put your foot on the clutch; thus you control when it stops and when it starts. In my wife's auto Merc, it stops when you come to a complete stop, whether you want it to or not. I find myself trying to keep creeping in order to prevent it stopping. When you want to start moving again, if you have been using a brake hold feature, when you put your foot on the accelerator the car releases the brake, starts the engine, and engages the drive. It is hard to make it do this very smoothly.
I quite like stop-start in a manual, because it only stops when you move the gear to neutral and let your foot off the clutch. It starts again when you put your foot on the clutch; thus you control when it stops and when it starts. In my wife's auto Merc, it stops when you come to a complete stop, whether you want it to or not. I find myself trying to keep creeping in order to prevent it stopping. When you want to start moving again, if you have been using a brake hold feature, when you put your foot on the accelerator the car releases the brake, starts the engine, and engages the drive. It is hard to make it do this very smoothly.
waremark said:
Are you allowed to pass a manual driving test with hill start assist?
Yes. From the DSA's book:
6.12 HILL ASSIST
Many new vehicles are being fitted with a 'hill assist' device as standard. This system allows a driver, when moving off on an uphill or downhill gradient, a couple of seconds to move their foot from the footbrake to the accelerator before the device releases the footbrake automatically. If this device is fitted drivers still have to coordinate the controls and take the correct observation when moving off; consequently vehicles fitted with such a device are suitable for the the practical driving test.
Vaux said:
waremark said:
Are you allowed to pass a manual driving test with hill start assist?
Yes. From the DSA's book:
6.12 HILL ASSIST
Many new vehicles are being fitted with a 'hill assist' device as standard. This system allows a driver, when moving off on an uphill or downhill gradient, a couple of seconds to move their foot from the footbrake to the accelerator before the device releases the footbrake automatically. If this device is fitted drivers still have to coordinate the controls and take the correct observation when moving off; consequently vehicles fitted with such a device are suitable for the the practical driving test.
waremark said:
Thanks. You still have to coordinate clutch and accelerator, but you no longer have to deal with the handbrake, so I have no doubt that hill starting is easier with hill start assist. Quite generous of DSA to allow use of it on test.
Generous or sensible ? I recently took my taxi test in my Laguna. It has the automatic hand brake release - I checked with the examiner and he said no problem. There are some cars on the exemption list but they have to keep up with technology and the reality of cars on the roads. Another interesting case is the Mercedes W124 ( and a few other models fitted with the foot operated parking brake ) when equipped with a manual gearbox . I am just about to add a manual E250D to my collection since I was offered it at a price too good to pass up .
The difficulty with such a car on a driving test is not releasing the parking brake but that it is impossible to apply it with your left foot still on the clutch pedal - therefore the accepted routine of handbrake then neutral must become neutral , foot off clutch , apply parking brake .
While one can adapt to doing this in day to day driving , it may not be acceptable on a test .
Even with automatic cars ( I have had two with the FOPB ) I don't like the arrangement since I use my left foot to brake , then , once stopped , have to do a 'soft shoe shuffle' transferring right foot to brake pedal before applying the parking brake with my left foot .
Thankfully , this silly device is confined to only a few recent models( although LHD cars have been afflicted with them for much longer , especially in the USA ) .
The difficulty with such a car on a driving test is not releasing the parking brake but that it is impossible to apply it with your left foot still on the clutch pedal - therefore the accepted routine of handbrake then neutral must become neutral , foot off clutch , apply parking brake .
While one can adapt to doing this in day to day driving , it may not be acceptable on a test .
Even with automatic cars ( I have had two with the FOPB ) I don't like the arrangement since I use my left foot to brake , then , once stopped , have to do a 'soft shoe shuffle' transferring right foot to brake pedal before applying the parking brake with my left foot .
Thankfully , this silly device is confined to only a few recent models( although LHD cars have been afflicted with them for much longer , especially in the USA ) .
Pontoneer said:
Thankfully , this silly device is confined to only a few recent models( although LHD cars have been afflicted with them for much longer , especially in the USA ) .
I had a 98 C200 estate(w202?) manual with this type of parking brake. I have always assumed it was quite common across the Merc range. Got quite used to it at the time but find it awkward if not using it regularly. Can't imagine anyone turning up for a test in one!. I did recently prepare a US citizen for the UK test; BMW 520d (F10) auto, electric parking brake, reversing sensors etc etc!!7mike said:
Pontoneer said:
Thankfully , this silly device is confined to only a few recent models( although LHD cars have been afflicted with them for much longer , especially in the USA ) .
I had a 98 C200 estate(w202?) manual with this type of parking brake. I have always assumed it was quite common across the Merc range. Got quite used to it at the time but find it awkward if not using it regularly. Can't imagine anyone turning up for a test in one!. I did recently prepare a US citizen for the UK test; BMW 520d (F10) auto, electric parking brake, reversing sensors etc etc!!Pontoneer said:
Another interesting case is the Mercedes W124 ( and a few other models fitted with the foot operated parking brake ) when equipped with a manual gearbox . I am just about to add a manual E250D to my collection since I was offered it at a price too good to pass up .
The difficulty with such a car on a driving test is not releasing the parking brake but that it is impossible to apply it with your left foot still on the clutch pedal - therefore the accepted routine of handbrake then neutral must become neutral , foot off clutch , apply parking brake .
While one can adapt to doing this in day to day driving , it may not be acceptable on a test .
Even with automatic cars ( I have had two with the FOPB ) I don't like the arrangement since I use my left foot to brake , then , once stopped , have to do a 'soft shoe shuffle' transferring right foot to brake pedal before applying the parking brake with my left foot .
Thankfully , this silly device is confined to only a few recent models( although LHD cars have been afflicted with them for much longer , especially in the USA ) .
There will be no problem doing this on a driving test, as long as you keep control of the car there will be no fault to record.The difficulty with such a car on a driving test is not releasing the parking brake but that it is impossible to apply it with your left foot still on the clutch pedal - therefore the accepted routine of handbrake then neutral must become neutral , foot off clutch , apply parking brake .
While one can adapt to doing this in day to day driving , it may not be acceptable on a test .
Even with automatic cars ( I have had two with the FOPB ) I don't like the arrangement since I use my left foot to brake , then , once stopped , have to do a 'soft shoe shuffle' transferring right foot to brake pedal before applying the parking brake with my left foot .
Thankfully , this silly device is confined to only a few recent models( although LHD cars have been afflicted with them for much longer , especially in the USA ) .
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