rush hour traffic

[Torell]

can't find this using the search so i thought i'd make a thread
what's your technique for driving in rush hour traffic local and highway

so constant slow down and speed up and slow down and speed up
you get the idea, so annoying

refers to manual transmission
automatics have it easy

 

[jersey_emt]

I'll keep it in gear until I hit at least 4000-4500rpms..and just let it coast down if I need to slow. Doing 15mph in first and letting off the gas slows you down fairly quick.... it minimizes shifting and doesn't hurt gas mileage too much (gas mileage is based more on throttle position than RPM, plus, face it, you're not going to get good mileage in stop and go traffic anyways).

If traffic is moving, and I constantly have to shift from 2nd to 3rd and back, I'll oftentimes shift without using the clutch.

 

[elias1974]

I'll keep it in gear until I hit at least 4000-4500rpms..and just let it coast down if I need to slow. Doing 15mph in first and letting off the gas slows you down fairly quick.... it minimizes shifting and doesn't hurt gas mileage too much (gas mileage is based more on throttle position than RPM, plus, face it, you're not going to get good mileage in stop and go traffic anyways).

If traffic is moving, and I constantly have to shift from 2nd to 3rd and back, I'll oftentimes shift without using the clutch.

SHIFT WITHOUT USING CLUTCH???

What do you use...?

 

[jersey_emt]

My right hand. You don't need the clutch if you match the RPM's right.

 

[Torell]

ok i'm not that good yet, wow

any others?

also in the situation where your coming to a light with all stopped cars
the green arrow turning left just turns while you're almost stopped
the cluth and brake are pressed together
you're in first, what now?

edit: also what other situations have you encountered that require more than basic knowledge of shifting gears

 

[elias1974]

you big rpm matcher...

 

[protegemp52000]

Live 5 min. from my job, hehe. Not rubbing it in or anything... (braindead

 

[fkmp5]

Live 5 min. from my job, hehe. Not rubbing it in or anything... (braindead

yeah, but you don't get to enjoy it either

what am I saying, you enjoy it more 5 mins more than I do.. the protege5 stays at home while i go off to work in my company car.. it's an automatic 04 civic, so rush hour doesn't bother me at all

 

[TX Speed Demon]

On the way home I never manage to get fast enough to get it out of 2nd gear. 45 minutes to go about 5-10 miles. I live really close distance wise, but have to go on 3 different highways to get to work and all the junctions really clog up.

On the way to work it only takes me about 15 minutes. go figure

 

[Pesty]

I personally take the service roads or back roads when it gets really backed up.
In my P5 and my Prelude before it, I actually enjoy the longer drive to work.
If there is no traffic it's 30 min doing 80 to my second job. It's 10 min. doing
45 to my first, but when traffic backs up (which it frequently does in Dallas),
I'd rather come to a dead stop for 2 min at a light, then be able to actually DRIVE for
3-5 than have to stop every 15 seconds and never get over 20mph.

To answer the original question, if traffic is going over 10-15mph I'll just leave it
in second. If it's under 15, I'll just keep it in first the whole time. I try to shift
as little as possible. What I really hate is when you can get up to 45-50 for
about two seconds and then have to slow right back down.

 

[DeanSweet]

it's simple, go to work at 5am and come home at 2pm? no traffic to deal with at all...

 

[NJP5Guy]

45 minutes to go about 5-10 miles.

that would ABSOLUTELY DRIVE ME NUTS. the area i live in is quite packed but thats just insane...i'd have to move.

 

[JOS3]

can't find this using the search so i thought i'd make a thread
what's your technique for driving in rush hour traffic local and highway

so constant slow down and speed up and slow down and speed up
you get the idea, so annoying

refers to manual transmission
automatics have it easy

yeah, us autos do have it easy. we just have to worry about someone plowing into us rather than shifting AND someone plowing into us