Teach your children to drive stick, properly.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Cobb

When I was driving the geo metro I had I use the excuse it was a stick shift to keep people from driving it. I had a friend from another country originally and he looked insulted. He said all the cars in his country were stick shift.

Not every car in Brazil is manual, but automatics only caught popularity in the 90s when the import restrictions were lifted.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by Cobb

I hope she had gap insurance.

Say what you will about me, but I don't.

On another note, how about that engineer and the level of training in that railroad? Being alert and reacting quickly is great and we should all hope for that. Bringing the train to a complete stop before grabbing the phone to call it in is even better.

[Thenorm]

Originally Posted by UltArc

Still bums me out a 528 isn't a five series with a 2.8 (2.0), anymore :/

now its a 5 series with the power of a 2.8 inline 6 (powered by a 2.0T).

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by Cobb

The real trick is using all 3 petals at the same time vs the 2 and hand brake.

My sidekick has the clutch switch bypass so I can start it in gear to climb out of a sticky situation.

But you don't have to use them all 3 at the same time, no?
Just release the clutch gently until you feel it starts to grip. That alone will prevent the car from rolling back, or at least make it happen much slower.
Then you take the right foot off the brake and hit the accelerator.
Since the clutch is already set sharp you only have to release it another tiny bit to make it grip more. Easy as what.

We don't have a lot of hills here but we do have waterways with lots of traffic and bridges that open to let the boats through while the cars wait on the slopes toward the bridge.
The hill brake test is taken very seriously here.

I used to do first timer motorbike rider lessons.
Before we let people roll off with a bike we set the bike against a raised sidewalk block and made them work the (hand controlled) clutch, gas and brake to gently power the wheel onto the edge and off again.
With nothing else to worry about most people mastered that within a few minutes.
Once it got in their system they automatically did it right when on the roll.

[Joris]

When I ride along with a friend, and he uses the handbrake to pull away from even the tiniest slope I cringe. I never understand why it is so hard for them to just drive away the way RedDevil mentions.

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by Thenorm

now its a 5 series with the power of a 2.8 inline 6 (powered by a 2.0T).

And they don't call it a 520.

[California98Civic]

When my mom taught me to drive stick, she wouldn't let me have the car until I'd proven I coild easily and quickly start from off on a steep incline without rolling backwards: clutch, gas, and hand break.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

It's just easier and feels more natural to do it with the handbrake.

[RedDevil]

I would use the hand brake if the grade is too steep, like 20%, or if not accustomed with the car. But clutch slip alone is enough to prevent rollback in most cases, when you operate it properly.

Natural is just what you're accustomed to. I had a car with a bad handbrake once (my Golf Diesel) it is nice to not need it.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by RedDevil

I had a car with a bad handbrake once (my Golf Diesel) it is nice to not need it.

My dad had a Brazilian-assembled Renault Clio II with the Brazilian-only 1.0L 8-valve engine, and its handbrake has never operated decently after he bought it. I once had to start it at a grade and I was kinda scared. I'm not really used to do the starts without the handbrake, and it had been a problem for me in the driving license test.