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However, it's more convoluted to use. You have to engage the clutch, put the shifter in neutral, and release the clutch again This is how you should drive if y

However, it's more convoluted to use. You have to engage the clutch, put the shifter in neutral, and release the clutch again This is how you should drive if you know you're going to be stopped for more than a few seconds. 'Convoluted' doesn't come into it - it's the default.

dogma1138 10y ago
I want to see the people who cycle the clutch twice at a red signal.
- Ntrails 10y ago
  When stopped you have two options in a car, sitting with your foot on the clutch (which is flat out bad) and putting the car in neutral. Putting the car in neutral is basically one meaningful action - changing gear, yes you have to depress the clutch move the gearstick to neutral and then let the clutch go - but to describe that as "cycle the clutch twice" is madness. Am I missing something?
  - Dylan16807 10y ago
    You have to take it back out of neutral, making two cycles of the clutch. No madness involved.
- mnw21cam 10y ago
  Most people in the UK? At least, if they want to pass their driving test.
- usrusr 10y ago
  What else is there to do? I don't text in the driver's seat, putting the gear in neutral gives my limbs something to do. (It happens to involve the clutch, but that is "automatic", as in "muscle memory", even though I drive less than once a month)
- apetrovic 10y ago
  If I'm expecting to stop more than few seconds, I put my car in neutral. Every time. For last, let's see, 28 years since I have my driving license.
- rascul 10y ago
  You can often take it out of gear without the clutch.
- jperras 10y ago
  Hi. I do this all the time if I'm going to be stopped for more than 2-3 seconds.
Reason077 10y ago
I've driven manuals most of my life. Before stop/start came along, I was in the habit of just holding the clutch pedal down while stopped at intersections or in traffic. Anecdotally, I think most drivers do the same. Now, when driving stop/start equipped vehicles, I always try to use it. But in a manual, it does takes more thinking and effort and I wonder how many casual drivers actually bother. The thing is, most of the time you don't really know how long you're going to be stopped for. Will that light take 3 seconds or 30? A manual makes you decide whether to stop the engine, but an automatic just does it every time without having to think about it or perform extra steps. (although, you can override it if you know it's going to be a short stop by just pressing the brake lightly.)
- djsumdog 10y ago
  I drove a WRX for five years and the clutch was kinda heavy. Not terrible, but enough that I'd put the car I'm neutral at a red light of I was there for more than five seconds. I'm glad start stop is supported on manuals this way. It makes sense. I thought the stop start systems didn't really save much fuel, but I've read some real world tests that clock in at 8~10% savings. All that idle time does really add up.
- mnw21cam 10y ago
  > I was in the habit of just holding the clutch pedal down while stopped at intersections or in traffic. If you take a driving test in the UK and do this, that would be a minor fault. You can only have a few minor faults before you fail the test. The rationale is that you need to be in full control of the car at all times, and when you set off you mustn't drift backwards at all. The easiest way to do this without needing three legs is to use the handbrake. Unless you have a diesel engine that has enough torque without any pressure on the accelerator pedal to pull away.
  - JetSetWilly 10y ago
    There's lots of minor faults that don't reflect how people actually drive. For example if you are turning right and waiting for oncoming traffic to clear, then someone pauses and flashes their lights to let you turn, if you then turn that would be a minor fault in Driving Test conditions - where you are supposed to ignore the driver inviting you to turn and sit like a diddy. Also you are allowed 15 minor faults before failure, which is quite a lot really.

dogma1138 10y ago

I want to see the people who cycle the clutch twice at a red signal.

Ntrails 10y ago
When stopped you have two options in a car, sitting with your foot on the clutch (which is flat out bad) and putting the car in neutral. Putting the car in neutral is basically one meaningful action - changing gear, yes you have to depress the clutch move the gearstick to neutral and then let the clutch go - but to describe that as "cycle the clutch twice" is madness. Am I missing something?
- Dylan16807 10y ago
  You have to take it back out of neutral, making two cycles of the clutch. No madness involved.
mnw21cam 10y ago
Most people in the UK? At least, if they want to pass their driving test.
usrusr 10y ago
What else is there to do? I don't text in the driver's seat, putting the gear in neutral gives my limbs something to do. (It happens to involve the clutch, but that is "automatic", as in "muscle memory", even though I drive less than once a month)
apetrovic 10y ago
If I'm expecting to stop more than few seconds, I put my car in neutral. Every time. For last, let's see, 28 years since I have my driving license.
rascul 10y ago
You can often take it out of gear without the clutch.
jperras 10y ago
Hi. I do this all the time if I'm going to be stopped for more than 2-3 seconds.

Reason077 10y ago

I've driven manuals most of my life. Before stop/start came along, I was in the habit of just holding the clutch pedal down while stopped at intersections or in traffic. Anecdotally, I think most drivers do the same. Now, when driving stop/start equipped vehicles, I always try to use it. But in a manual, it does takes more thinking and effort and I wonder how many casual drivers actually bother. The thing is, most of the time you don't really know how long you're going to be stopped for. Will that light take 3 seconds or 30? A manual makes you decide whether to stop the engine, but an automatic just does it every time without having to think about it or perform extra steps. (although, you can override it if you know it's going to be a short stop by just pressing the brake lightly.)

djsumdog 10y ago
I drove a WRX for five years and the clutch was kinda heavy. Not terrible, but enough that I'd put the car I'm neutral at a red light of I was there for more than five seconds. I'm glad start stop is supported on manuals this way. It makes sense. I thought the stop start systems didn't really save much fuel, but I've read some real world tests that clock in at 8~10% savings. All that idle time does really add up.
mnw21cam 10y ago
> I was in the habit of just holding the clutch pedal down while stopped at intersections or in traffic. If you take a driving test in the UK and do this, that would be a minor fault. You can only have a few minor faults before you fail the test. The rationale is that you need to be in full control of the car at all times, and when you set off you mustn't drift backwards at all. The easiest way to do this without needing three legs is to use the handbrake. Unless you have a diesel engine that has enough torque without any pressure on the accelerator pedal to pull away.
- JetSetWilly 10y ago
  There's lots of minor faults that don't reflect how people actually drive. For example if you are turning right and waiting for oncoming traffic to clear, then someone pauses and flashes their lights to let you turn, if you then turn that would be a minor fault in Driving Test conditions - where you are supposed to ignore the driver inviting you to turn and sit like a diddy. Also you are allowed 15 minor faults before failure, which is quite a lot really.