Trainers for speed awarement course were awful and one made a lewd remark at me

Richard53

To be honest, when I read the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be a complaint about the footwear provided on the course.

thescouselander

GTE_Boy wrote: »

Can't you change gears then?

Well that rather depends on what mode the gearbox is in. It's possible override the gear selection using the flappy paddles at any point but the box will go back to full auto mode if the revs go too low/too high or if the computer things you're holding an inefficient gear for too long. The alternative would be to knock the box into fully manual mode but that sort of defeats the point of buying an automatic. It would be far better to simply activate the speed limiter or use the cruise control.

Joe_Horner

thescouselander wrote: »

I thought the course I went on was too basic to be of any use. There was a lot on hazard perception but I doubt that any of the content would have been news to anybody.

You might well think so, but then professional drivers go and do this sort of thing which kinda forces a re-think of how "aware" your fellow drivers might be!

Some of the advice given was a bit suspect too. For example the instructor suggested driving round in specific gears to hold a speed - 2nd for 20 mph, 3rd for 30 mph etc etc. Not really a practical proposition in my automatic car.

That's actually pretty good advice, especially in an auto where it'll stop any tendency for the box to hunt between (say) 2nd and 3rd around town.

GTE_Boy

thescouselander wrote: »

Well that rather depends on what mode the gearbox is in. It's possible override the gear selection using the flappy paddles at any point but the box will go back to full auto mode if the revs go too low/too high or if the computer things you're holding an inefficient gear for too long. The alternative would be to knock the box into fully manual mode but that sort of defeats the point of buying an automatic. It would be far better to simply activate the speed limiter or use the cruise control.

So you stick it in drive and let the car control you?

thescouselander

GTE_Boy wrote: »

So you stick it in drive and let the car control you?

No. Speed is controlled using the throttle and brakes, obviously.

victor2

thescouselander wrote: »

Some of the advice given was a bit suspect too. For example the instructor suggested driving round in specific gears to hold a speed - 2nd for 20 mph, 3rd for 30 mph etc etc. Not really a practical proposition in my automatic car.

Joe_Horner wrote: »

That's actually pretty good advice, especially in an auto where it'll stop any tendency for the box to hunt between (say) 2nd and 3rd around town.

Not if the "auto" is a Prius or similar...

thescouselander

Joe_Horner wrote: »

That's actually pretty good advice, especially in an auto where it'll stop any tendency for the box to hunt between (say) 2nd and 3rd around town.

victor2 wrote: »

Not if the "auto" is a Prius or similar...

Or indeed any modern automatic. Can't say I've ever observed this sort of thing in any of the automatics I've driven.

facade

Personally, I fail to see why you would buy a car that changes gear by itself and then start messing with gear levers/paddles.

In 30+ years of driving automatics, I can only recall messing with the shifter once (apart from if I want to go backwards ) and that was selecting 1 in a rangerover to go down a slope that I doubt if I could have walked down.

I am aware of this hunting between gears thing, but I can't say I've ever experienced it, but I've only ever driven one of these new fangled dual clutch 'boxes.

Johno100

jobdone1 wrote: »

Stupid idiot. When you kill or seriously hurt someone when speeding rambert my comment

Short memory? You've already expressed your holier than thou attitude on this thread, post #17 wasn't it.

Bettie

I recently had a 20 mph course and after a few days I had an email survey with rating boxes on various points and an opportunity to comment. You may get one too, mine went into spam and I did well to spot it.