Overlap - failing miserably.

[KardioKate]

Never had a problem in my previous cars, but the Laguna I've currently got is driving (hehe) me insane.

I can not seem to control it at junctions properly. I don't know whether it's the sensation of speed but I can't get it right, and allow time for a good gearchange and then make the turn.

I always end up fluffing it and H&T'ing to get me around the situation / changing gear while braking (even if I do manage to rev match on the way down - not the point) Which obviously isn't very good.

What can I try to help with this?

[Dr Jekyll]

KardioKate said:

Never had a problem in my previous cars, but the Laguna I've currently got is driving (hehe) me insane.

I can not seem to control it at junctions properly. I don't know whether it's the sensation of speed but I can't get it right, and allow time for a good gearchange and then make the turn.

I always end up fluffing it and H&T'ing to get me around the situation / changing gear while braking (even if I do manage to rev match on the way down - not the point) Which obviously isn't very good.

What can I try to help with this?

Try planning for an imaginary give way line a couple of car lengths back from the junction.

[anonymous-user]

start by deliberately changing down much too soon and work back from there

should be OK after a few dozen practices tops IME

[MC Bodge]

KardioKate said:

I always end up fluffing it and H&T'ing to get me around the situation / changing gear while braking (even if I do manage to rev match on the way down - not the point) Which obviously isn't very good.

What can I try to help with this?

What is it that you are aiming to do? You're arguably 'fluffing it' with a more technically-advanced technique that can help maintain the balance and smooth progress of the car.

As others have said, braking very early and down-shifting before the junction/hazard is the way to do it initially.

Obviously, there are times when separating the phases is the natural thing to do.

Personally speaking, I sometimes deliberately separate the braking and shifting whilst driving -for something to do/an exercise.

As far as I can tell, though, separating the phases of controlling a vehicle into unnecessarily discrete steps is in no way superior to overlapping (with the use of heel-toe), with no real benefit other than obeying an arbitrary rule. Having learnt to heel-toe and to keep the car balanced as much as possible (and the equivalent on a motorbike), reverting to separate driving inputs always feels like a retrograde step.

Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 20th March 09:26

[Dr Jekyll]

MC Bodge said:

KardioKate said:

I always end up fluffing it and H&T'ing to get me around the situation / changing gear while braking (even if I do manage to rev match on the way down - not the point) Which obviously isn't very good.

What can I try to help with this?

What is it that you are aiming to do? You're arguably 'fluffing it' with a more technically-advanced technique that can help maintain the balance and smooth progress of the car.

Planning to heel and tow is one thing. The OP's point is that he's having to heel and toe because he finds he doesn't have time to do things the way he wanted.

[R0G]

JPJPJP said:

start by deliberately changing down much too soon and work back from there

should be OK after a few dozen practices tops IME

I do that with every new vehicle I get into until I am used to it

[KardioKate]

Thanks for all the replies, guys

Had a drive out and getting it... slowly. I think the trouble with the laguna is nothing actually feels connected. You get zilch feedback from the clutch / steering / gearstick which all my other cars have had - hence the feeling out of controlness.