Well, hello to both fellow riders. I did 3 levels of Keith Codes School and 1 level of the Kevin Schwantz's advanced class before I started racing.

My intention was never to hit the track, just to be a better rider on the street. I can honestly say that Keith's school has saved my life while on the street.

Remember, if you can learn to ride your bike without spending your 10 dollars of attention on shifting, braking, etc, etc... you might just save your butt.

Okay, back to our screaming sarcasm school of shifting or coasting discussion.



Mark

 

I put it into neutral and let the clutch back out. I keep alert just in case I need to get it into gear if needed. (I do know how to double clutch) I never ever had to. I just coast to a stop if nothing is in back of me but if a car is in back of me I do use the brakes so the brake lights will be visible to them.

When I turn my car off I just leave everything the way I left it. Air Cond. on, Radio on, If the driving lights or fog lights were on they will not be when restarting. The computer will turn off anything that will mess up the starting procedure.

 

His book twist of the wrist 2 is my bible

 

I generally downshift when slowing the car. However, I usually don't down shift into 1st gear. This is a habit from when I learned drive a clutch on MGB's and Austin Healey Sprites, where 1st gear was not syncromesh (boy am I dating myself).

Regarding shutting off all acessories, I try to do it as much as possible. I used to not care, but when ever I brought my MINI to the dealer for service, they returned the car with all accessories off. I thought I should do the same.

 

You know, that reminds me... I NEVER shut my headlights off. I turn them on and leave them on which means during the day, my headlights are still on.

I like the fact they go off by themselves.

Mark

 

I usually coast until the rpms get almost to 1100 or so then clutch in...whatever gear im in at the time.

Ill usually shut the radio off (if its even on) so it is off when i get in... other than that it doesnt matter to me.

 

I don't think that is acurate. Unlike a 1982 Buick, there is no draw from any of the systems because the computer interupts all power until the car has started [this is the basis for my "debate" with my wife.] Mini's [and the majority of modern cars] interupt the power cycle of accessories upon start to reduce the chance of a battery overload.

I agree about the clutch. I do see the reasoning behind downshifting into a lower gear to slow the car and maintain some control but I think it adds a minimal amount of wear to the clutch. Also coasting actually will cost you gas instead of saving it. As you shift down and remain in gear, the fuel injection stops and you are burning no gas ; the cars transmission is keeping the engine alive [try it sometime with the current MPG displayed onthe tach and you will notice it go to 99 mpg. While in neutral, you are burning enough gas to keep it at idle. The amount is small and has a small waste of gas.

 

Downshift - love the dynamic braking and the growling of the tiger under the hood!

Leave everything on - let God (or at least the OBC) sort it out.

 

OFF TOPIC [but hey, its my thread anyway ]
To IwashMyCar,

Nice rims. How are my old Bridgespokes treating you. you bought them from me last September.

 

First id like to say that this is not a rant... now likw ricky bobby says "WITH ALL DUE RESPECT"...


I feel that many general manual driver dont understand how the dynamics of engine - clutch - trans. If you use a manual correctly it will last a great amount of time. Smoothness is the name of the game but also goes hand in hand with accuracy of the rev matches. I have been in car when people downshift to over pass the car slows down before it moves forward due to no blip.

Shifting does not kill transmissions, i have rebuilt many

Drivetrain shock does. Shock makes cases flex which mis-aligns parts, breaks parts.

Especially from my subaru days(awd being the point) if you do not get accurate with shifts and downshifts etc, since power goes to all 4 wheels the ride will be jitter and harsh.

Drive your minis

Now a/c and radio i might have to start turning off

 

OMG - Finally found the correct post related to A/C.........

Other than that - this whole thread is a double clutchin' joke.

 

"granny shiftin' non double clutchin when you should" lol

 

Anyone with any kind of mechanical knowledge knows it's a much better idea to shut the ac off prior to shutting the car off however but on days like today where it's just shy of 100, forget that... I'll take my chances with mold.



Mark

 

I sometimes try to see how much mpgs i can squeeze out on a tank of gas, so i coast, in neutral, sometimes. Other times i downshift. I do most backroad driving so there arent many cars to get in the way of the coasting on these very hilly roads around here.

In the winter, i shut the heat off, just because i dont like getting in my car to a fan blasting me with freezing cold air, thats the only reason i have to do so. Generally i dont use the ac, but when i do, id shut it off as well, obviously because i dont want my car to fill up with even more hot air than whats already in there.

I have an after market stereo, so i cant be sure of this, but i was under the impression that when you shut the MINI off, it actually will lower the volume if its too loud, and it will shut fog lights off as well.

 

I typically just leave it in gear until the revs drop pretty low then downshift or brake and put in neutral. Lately I'm trying to wear the brakes out before my maintenance plan expires, so I'm using the brakes way more than normal.

I leave everything on but the lights and a/c when I actually use it. I try to turn the a/c off about a minute or less before I shut the car off and just run the fan to try to get rid of excess moisture.

 

I wouldn't say I never coast, but the majority of the time I'm downshifting.

I turn everything off with the exception of the fan... AC gets turned off, for sure, but I don't always turn the fan off.

 

that's a chuckle - that school made that point pretty strongly too. i remember hearing it at NHIS, and also out in Sonoma.

i would not have wanted to be one of their mechanics... shoveling against the tide...

 

i try to maximize coasting and be safe at the same time, i am now consistently getting low 40s mpg