Gear change indicator

[Anonymous]

HI Guys, Yes it is just a prompt. The car does not know what the road and traffic conditions are like. It is only the driver that knows this, and that is why you drive to the road and traffic conditions. By being in a higher gear going downhill the car will start to run away. therefore there is no engine retardation which means the car is now technically out of control. Downhill In a 30mph zone 2nd gear would be appropriate so as to maintain control and let the gear retard the car without needing to brake most of the time (This is to stop brake fade on long hills). In a flat 30mph zone 3rd gear should be selected giving the car the correct amount of engine response. You can then accelerate out of trouble quicker and have a better slowing down response should you need it. The saying is GEARS for going BRAKES for slowing. Gears should not be used to slow the car except when going downhill as described above. IT is far easier and cheaper to replace brake pads than it is gearboxes. Slow the car down first and then select the correct gear for the speed of the car. This will save wear and tear on the mechanical parts of the car, eg gears,clutch,driveshafts etc and will give a much smoother and controled ride.

 

[Anonymous]

HI Guys, Yes it is just a prompt. The car does not know what the road and traffic conditions are like. It is only the driver that knows this, and that is why you drive to the road and traffic conditions. By being in a higher gear going downhill the car will start to run away. therefore there is no engine retardation which means the car is now technically out of control. Downhill In a 30mph zone 2nd gear would be appropriate so as to maintain control and let the gear retard the car without needing to brake most of the time (This is to stop brake fade on long hills). In a flat 30mph zone 3rd gear should be selected giving the car the correct amount of engine response. You can then accelerate out of trouble quicker and have a better slowing down response should you need it. The saying is GEARS for going BRAKES for slowing. Gears should not be used to slow the car except when going downhill as described above. IT is far easier and cheaper to replace brake pads than it is gearboxes. Slow the car down first and then select the correct gear for the speed of the car. This will save wear and tear on the mechanical parts of the car, eg gears,clutch,driveshafts etc and will give a much smoother and controled ride.

:text-goodpost: How do you know all this technical stuff? I agree with it as it's the way I've been driving for YEARS (too many to admit to :lol: ) but wouldn't begin to call myself technically informed. My dear old dad taught me to drive when I was 16 and I've managed this far without a car telling me what to do so I intend to ignore the thing :thumbup:

 

[Anonymous]

Hi RCZ1, The car may well use less fuel when in 5th gear at 30mph, but 5th gear does not give you any immediate response in acceleration or slowing down should you require to do so. Being in a 30mph zone means that you are in a danger zone and therfore should be in the correct gear for the road and traffic conditions. It is the control of the car that is required in a 30mph zone and not the need to save fuel.

Thanks !! I feel vindicated now ! :thumbup:

 

[Anonymous]

Hi guys, many thanks for the thumbs up and welcome to the black art of the System of Car Control. It is so dark that only people in the know can see it. BangorRCZ you did ask the question as to how I know all this technical stuff. The answer to your question is that in 1986 I joined my local group of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and after training, passed my 1st car Advanced driving test in Jan 1987. The IAM are predominantly into the training of the police driving system, The System of Car Control from the book Roadcraft. The acronym for the system is IPSGA, which stands for Information Position Speed Gear Acceleration. This 5 feature hazard system along with excellent use of the controls, observations, anticipation and awareness has to be demonstrated on test with the emphasis on making progress with the utmost safety. It is from within this background that I have gained valuable knowledge and experience in how to drive a car in the correct manner. From this experience in 1994 I went onto become an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and have taken 10 driving tests in total. I hold a licence to drive car, motorcycle and HGV Class 1 and have Advanced certificates in car, motorcycle and HGV. I also hold the Cardington Special Driving Test for instructors only. Cardington is the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) Training centre in Bedfordshire where all driving examiners are trained.

 

[RCZ1]

I take on board what you say jrs but the example I gave would obviously not be carried out in heavy traffic, there's no way you get up to 30mph in rush hour traffic ! On clearer roads, then I would do it and I certainly wouldn't be in 5th going down hill. I always drive to the conditions / traffic, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi RCZ1. I was deliberately not being critical of your driving as that is a very wrong thing to do. My comments were made for information purposes only and I gave scenarios as to what should and would happen in those circumstances. The examples I gave would help a pupil understand why a certain gear would be selected for the conditions and speed of the vehicle to achieve maximum control in all situations. I would be informing a pupil of exactly the same things irrespective of the test being taken. (Advanced or L test). The gearbox accounts for a large number of test failures as it is one of the most misused elements of a vehicle. The fact that this debate has taken place means that we are already thinking about the way we drive our cars. This in turn means that we are considering our actions, making us more aware and improving our driving standards without us even being aware of it.

 

[RCZ1]

Very good point made :text-goodpost:

 

[Anonymous]

I know this has already been raised in this thread but I was drifting along in commuter traffic this morning (in 4th) and suddenly noticed the indicator suggesting 6th so I thought I'd give it a go. I've always thought you had to work through the gears sequentially so this was a surprise, and a pleasant one too, when it shifted effortlessly. :clap: Even more of a surprise a short time later when it suggested going from 2nd to 4th! What a car :thumbup: :dance:

 

[Anonymous]

I know this has already been raised in this thread but I was drifting along in commuter traffic this morning (in 4th) and suddenly noticed the indicator suggesting 6th so I thought I'd give it a go. I've always thought you had to work through the gears sequentially so this was a surprise, and a pleasant one too, when it shifted effortlessly. :clap: Even more of a surprise a short time later when it suggested going from 2nd to 4th! What a car :thumbup: :dance:

Hi BangorRCZ, this is what we call in the trade as BLOCK gear changing. This can be done when changing gears up or down. The idea is that progress is made using the INTERMIDIATE gears (gears for going, brakes for slowing). Once you reach the required speed an appropriate gear can be selected to maintain the steady speed depending on road and traffic conditions. Similarly as the vehicle slows down, it is not necessary to change down through each of the gears in turn. Once the vehicle has slowed down to the required speed, then select the appropriate gear for the speed of the vehicle.
Gears up - first to third, second to fourth, third to fifth or sixth are all common.
Gears down - from any gear to first (stop), fourth to second, fifth to second, fifth to third are common.
Gears should not be used to slow the vehicle as gearboxes, clutches, driveshaft’s etc are costly to repair and replace. Brakes are cheaper and easier to replace.
This is how new learners and Advanced Motorists are taught how to use the gears. :greetings-wavingblue:

 

[Anonymous]

Hi jrs

Thanks for the info. I'll have a go experimenting with skipping gears changing down, too, although I often take it into neutral and coast to a stop (naughty, I know) when approaching a stop or lights.

Lorraine

 

[Anonymous]

When approaching traffic lights use the 2 second rule. Only a fool brakes the 2 second rule. This takes 2 seconds to say and is the following distance you should have between you and the vehicle in front in good conditions (double if wet). When approaching traffic lights if you are within 2 seconds of the lights changing, keep going. If you are outside 2 seconds you will have plenty of road to stop at the stop line safely.
Use the 3 phase method of braking. Lightly at first then progressively getting harder, easing off the brake towards the end of the braking zone. The car should come to a very slow speed with no brake pressure at the last few feet, keeping both hands on the wheel. If this can be done before the lights change simply change from whatever gear you were in to first or second and drive away.
If you do have to stop. Handbrake, Neutral and rest both feet. (don’t use hill start function) When you get red/amber, select first gear, go on green. :greetings-wavingblue:

 

[FGRob]

[
Gears should not be used to slow the vehicle as gearboxes, clutches, driveshaft’s etc are costly to repair and replace. Brakes are cheaper and easier to replace.
This is how new learners and Advanced Motorists are taught how to use the gears. :greetings-wavingblue:

Hi jrs.

Understand what you are saying, but I always use my gears to slow me down, coming from a track oriented view the last thing I want is brake fade so you don't use the brakes in the same manner, this for me then continues with my normal driving style. If your brakes fail due to over use there's not much point in saving your gearbox and clutch.

Rob.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi FGRob, race track driving is totally different to road driving. To stop brake fade in road driving you should select a lower gear at the top of a hill (on the flat) to go down. Selecting a lower gear is the one time in road driving when the gear is used as a retarder. Brakes are used as necessary depending on the steepness of the decent. On uphills a lower gear should be selected (on the flat) at the bottom of a hill to go up. :greetings-wavingblue:

 

[Anonymous]

hi there i have not got the gear change indicator , plus peugeot will get back to me soon (hopefull) to say i should or should not have it in my car. the first dealer that i got the car from say no i should not but did not look into it. so when other people say they have it on there RCZ'S i when to a other dealer to ask them and they call peugeot in france to find out , but as i say earlyer i am waiting for a rely to that.

 

[GT RCZ]

Hi we do not have it either on our 200bhp GT.

Interested to hear how you get on

 

[Anonymous]

peugeot has ask me to take the car in to have a close look at the cpu and dail up in the car for two day , but they still have not told me if i should or should not have the gear indicator. i will be very mad :evil: if they have the car for two days and said i should not have it in the car. .does any one know why they would want to dail up and look at the cpu in the car? :eusa-think:

 

[Anonymous]

I dont have it in my 200hp GT...on the first setting on the washer stalk there is just a horizontal line across the screen, press the stalk and it goes to driving info, continue pressing it shows run 1 then run 2 then back to blank screen with horizontal line (when I use cruise control then that info is shown above the line). Not really interested in that feature though. I go by revs and road conditions personally.

 

[Anonymous]

Definitely: The 200 THP does not have this feature!

and....

I don´t need it!

doc

 

[Anonymous]

took the car in today will tell you all if i should or not have it

 

[Anonymous]

i have it on mine-but your not missing out cause its of no benefit as i see it,