Drive in busy traffic

booksale

I have driven in city centre with my friends for a few times. I found myself using the clutch a lot in the slow traffic so the car can crawl without cutting out. Is it correct? I did try to release the clutch and just do the gas, but am always scared of cutting out. Indeed, it did happen.

How to control the car in busy traffic? THANKS.

**Timbuk2**

If it's start stop traffic, then you will end up putting in the clutch a lot. It's normal enough. However if traffic is just moving slowly, it's best to keep it in gear so as to keep the car in control.

Try going to an empty car park and going really slowly in 2nd gear - you might be surprised how slow you can actually go without cutting out.

ADIDriving

The other poster is correct. I would also add, if you are moving continuously but very, very slow you would stay on the clutch.

booksale

THANKS, guys.

If the traffic is moving very very slowly, should I:

1. stop (ready in 1st gear) for a little while and wait until the car in front leave me a bigger gap then I move forward?

or

2. following the car in front moving, put my foot on the clutch?

which one is better?

ADIDriving

Each situation is slightly different. Ready the words "very, very slow" I would say creep continuously using clutch control. While keeping a safe gap, do keep up with the vehicle in front.

Alanstrainor

Driving is rarely black and white. As ADIDriving says, each situation is slightly different. Using the clutch heavily in slow stop start traffic is the norm. But if second gear is required, don't be afraid to use it.

Leeg17

I don't want to hijack the thread, so I figured it's better to add to this one instead of making a whole new thread.

I passed my test around 3 months ago, but the one thing I struggle with occassionaly is the same as the OP, driving in heavy traffic. Mam's car is a 1.6 Golf Tdi Diesel. As Timbuk2 said I tried to see how slow I could go in second gear without it cutting out and it's around 10kmph. Any less than this and it feels juttery and could cut at any time. There's times when if I'm driving in second gear very slowly, it feels juttery and I drop to first, only to find it revs and I have to gear up again. How can I overcome this?

Also what exactly do you mean by "using the clutch heavily"? When I'm in traffic, especially in this car as opposed to the instructor's car that I learnt in, I find I'm lifting/dropping/lifting the clutch alot more. Whereas before I could let the car creep by during lessons (it was petrol). I see cars in front of me not touching the brake at all, and I'm behind them constantly slowing, accelerating, slowing..

Thanks for any help.

ADIDriving

leeg17: The lower gears are more powerful and a 1.6 would be more powerful then an instructors car. But do make sure yhat you are not going too heavy on the gas?

Alanstrainor

Leeg17 wrote: »

Also what exactly do you mean by "using the clutch heavily"? When I'm in traffic, especially in this car as opposed to the instructor's car that I learnt in, I find I'm lifting/dropping/lifting the clutch alot more. Whereas before I could let the car creep by during lessons (it was petrol). I see cars in front of me not touching the brake at all, and I'm behind them constantly slowing, accelerating, slowing..

Thanks for any help.

When i said "Using the clutch heavily", i just meant using it a lot, it was a poor choice of words on my part!
The diesel will be much more eager to start off than a petrol of a similar size, so you could probably get away with just gently lifting the clutch as opposed to using both clutch and accelerator. Both engine types drive differently so it's just about getting used to the diesel.

Leeg17

I find I could creep along easier in the instructor's petrol, and in my mom's diesel it powers along, even at low speeds. It's difficult to get used to, but as long as I know it's fine to be lifting/pressing/lifting the clutch more than other drivers if I need to.

If I'm in traffic and just tapping the accelerator so it doesn't cut out I find it goes too fast for the slow moving traffic and I end up pressing the clutch/brakes again.

Then again a 1.6 diesel probably isn't the best option for a first car

Alanstrainor

Leeg17 wrote: »

I find I could creep along easier in the instructor's petrol, and in my mom's diesel it powers along, even at low speeds. It's difficult to get used to, but as long as I know it's fine to be lifting/pressing/lifting the clutch more than other drivers if I need to.

If I'm in traffic and just tapping the accelerator so it doesn't cut out I find it goes too fast for the slow moving traffic and I end up pressing the clutch/brakes again.

Then again a 1.6 diesel probably isn't the best option for a first car

A 1.6 diesel is no rocket ship! Trust me!:D

It'll just take some getting used to, just ease off the clutch slowly and gently move forward, there's no need come off the clutch too quickly.

ADIDriving

Leeg17 wrote: »

If I'm in traffic and just tapping the accelerator so it doesn't cut out I find it goes too fast for the slow moving traffic and I end up pressing the clutch/brakes again.

Just to clarify, you don't need to tap the accelerator. The car can drive be coming up on the clutch only. If you tap the gas you get too much power. But once you come off the gas all that power is gone. Before you go in heavy traffic practice coming up to your biting point with the clutch, then release the brake (either one) and come slowly higher on the clutch. The car will drive without you touching the gas.