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Post by Grampa on Jul 27, 2022 14:49:43 GMT
Had two or more cars for as long as we've been married and hopping from one to the other has never been a problem - until I got the Elgrand - means going from manual to automatic, hand parking brake to foot operated parking brake and right hand indicator to left hand indicator.
I've put the foot parking brake on a few times in the Elgrand when my mind says I was pushing in the clutch - finally got over that and I stalled the Mini the other day because I forgot to put the clutch in when coming to a standstill!
And lost count of the number of times I've switched the wipers on just before turning - oddly enough I do it more often jumping from the Elgrand back into the European cars which makes me think that a right hand indicator stalk (like it always was when I started driving) is the most natural side to have it on a RHD car.
Am I just getting to old of a dog to learn new tricks or do any of you suffer the same?
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Post by Blarno on Jul 27, 2022 15:23:20 GMT
I almost always stall the wife's Fiesta when coming to a stop because I'm so used to an auto. Ironically, moving away is not a problem, neither is changing gear once moving. It's just coming to a junction.
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Post by Grampa on Jul 27, 2022 15:29:35 GMT
Glad it’s not just me!
It’s when coming to a halt that I used to push the foot brake on (thankfully - would have been interesting to do it at 50mph!). It’s always been coming to a halt in previously driven autos that I’ve gone for the clutch - which has never been a problem as there was nothing for my foot to find.
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Post by Tim on Jul 27, 2022 16:31:21 GMT
I hadn't driven the Micra for quite a while until recently so had a couple of issues with the clutch but only, strangely, when stopping, i.e. I parked the car, pulled the handbrake on and then lifted my foot off the clutch while the car was still in gear with engine running. Fortunately the handbrake is strong enough to stall the car.
When we had the Alphard I never had the indicator/washer problem but even a year after we got rid of it Mrs Tim occasionally turns the wipers on in the BMw or Micra instead of indicating left!
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Post by LandieMark on Jul 27, 2022 17:48:26 GMT
Not cars, but I am in and out of different tractors these days and in the odd one with a proper old fashioned gearbox instead of a forwards/reverse shuttle, I inevitably end up switching the indicators on to try and change direction.
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Post by Martin on Jul 27, 2022 17:50:28 GMT
We’ve got two automatics with electric handbrakes, keyless entry/start and memory seats, so it’s all very easy. Some of the controls work differently, but nothing that ever causes any issues.
I don’t remember having any issues driving a manual when we had the Boxster, but this dog is older now so who knows what it would be like now.
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Post by Big Blue on Jul 27, 2022 18:22:22 GMT
If I ever get a manual hire car I also forget the clutch bit at junctions/ coming to a halt. Also no issue pulling away and gear changing.
I’ve had issues in the past with indicators left / right when I went from the CRX to the 325 but that’s like 25+ years ago.
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Post by Alex on Jul 27, 2022 18:44:30 GMT
If I ever get a manual hire car I also forget the clutch bit at junctions/ coming to a halt. Also no issue pulling away and gear changing. I’ve had issues in the past with indicators left / right when I went from the CRX to the 325 but that’s like 25+ years ago. Thats pretty much where I'm at when it comes from going from auto to manual. I always stall it at the lights but gear changes are no problem. |
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Post by Martin on Jul 27, 2022 18:54:16 GMT
I’m trying to remember the last time I drove a manual….  edit: I can’t think of one since we sold the Boxster almost exactly 4 years ago. Every hire car I’ve had has been an auto, even the smaller stuff in Thailand / Malaysia and the only loan cars I’ve had since then have been autos (X5 / 7 series). |
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Post by Grampa on Jul 27, 2022 19:16:26 GMT
So glad to hear all this  Shows just how quickly operating a car becomes intuitive when it’s so easy mess up when doing something different. |
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Post by Stuntman on Jul 27, 2022 19:30:23 GMT
I sometimes go for an imaginary Engine Start button on the Cayman after being in the other two cars, and I sometimes go for the stupid electric handbrake switch with my right hand in either the Yaris or the M3 after being in the Cayman  At least all three cars have six-speed manuals and three pedals! |
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Post by Stuntman on Jul 27, 2022 19:34:50 GMT
I also forget to use the fuel filler flap release switch in the Yaris (the other two cars don't need one, you just press the flap) and the filler is on the left hand side on the Yaris but the right hand side on the other two cars, so I need to think about this consciously now when I go to fill up. And also, the fuel filler on the Cayman is ahead of the A-pillar, whereas on the other two car it is behind the C-pillar, so again I have to consciously remember where to position the car at the pump |
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Post by Martin on Jul 27, 2022 19:36:42 GMT
I sometimes go for an imaginary Engine Start button on the Cayman after being in the other two cars, and I sometimes go for the stupid electric handbrake switch with my right hand in either the Yaris or the M3 after being in the Cayman At least all three cars have six-speed manuals and three pedals! Do you have to manually apply the handbrake in the Cayman? I don’t think I’ve ever touched the handbrake button in either car. |
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Post by Stuntman on Jul 27, 2022 19:41:27 GMT
^^^ It's more when I first get into the car and try to move it off my drive, or from where I have parked it. When parked, I (almost) always leave the car in gear and with the handbrake engaged.
Edit - the other two cars both have a traditional handbrake lever, in the centre of the car.
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Post by ChrisM on Jul 27, 2022 20:12:15 GMT
I don't have much of an issue switching between cars, manual or auto, small or large. When I first got the Scenic in 1998 I did occasionally have an aberation with lights/wipers as the Honda had indicators on right stalk, wipers on left. And once when my parents were on holiday I performed an emergency stop in the Volvo (auto) just around the corner from home as I went to change gear from first to second... only ever done that once in an auto, and that was the occasion ! (hit the brake pedal thinking it was the clutch - I usually brake with my right foot in an auto). I still don't have a problem with the various positions of light switches in the cars, Captur is on the indicator stalk, other cars have it as a rotary switch on the dash, but gosh do I hate electric handbrakes with a passion. 5 years with the Kuga, and I still prefer a good old-fashioned lever
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Post by Blarno on Jul 28, 2022 8:10:37 GMT
I sometimes go for an imaginary Engine Start button on the Cayman after being in the other two cars, and I sometimes go for the stupid electric handbrake switch with my right hand in either the Yaris or the M3 after being in the Cayman At least all three cars have six-speed manuals and three pedals! Every time I get into Jo's Fiesta or the works Transit, I try and stick the key in the dashboard to the left of the wheel. Without fail. |
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Post by Tim on Jul 28, 2022 8:13:19 GMT
Another thing I keep forgetting with the Micra is that it's not keyless go so I invariably walk up to it, press the fob while it's still in my pocket, jump in, put the seatbelt on and then remember I have to put the key in the ignition.
The solution to this seems to be that I should get the M5 and Fiat sorted so I'm driving old fashioned cars more and leave the 430 to Mrs Tim......
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Post by rodge on Aug 12, 2022 12:58:00 GMT
Same with the above here.
Although having driven in the US for the past 8 years and then being on the right hand side of the road in California and Europe this year, I’ve noticed that I often go for a starter button in my own car (there’s none) and I have on occasion reached for the gear stick with my right hand when stopping and going to put it into park.
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 12, 2022 17:35:38 GMT
I’m generally ok so far. Maybe because we’ve had both cars for ages, I’m used to both of them.
When I first got into the Mini, I did have a moment trying to turn it on, thinking why won’t it start - I have my foot on the brake…and then realised of course it wanted my foot on the clutch!
Oddly you can have your Mini with either a normal handbrake (as ours does) or an electric one (as the green One happened to).
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Post by PG on Aug 15, 2022 9:42:45 GMT
I’m generally ok so far. Maybe because we’ve had both cars for ages, I’m used to both of them. When I first got into the Mini, I did have a moment trying to turn it on, thinking why won’t it start - I have my foot on the brake…and then realised of course it wanted my foot on the clutch! Oddly you can have your Mini with either a normal handbrake (as ours does) or an electric one (as the green One happened to). I did exactly that the other day when our Mini (automatic) was in for service and MOT and they gave me a loaner manual Mini. Cue much puzzlement as it failed to start, before I engaged my brain and took my right foot off the brake put my left foot on the clutch. |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 15, 2022 9:48:32 GMT
I generally don't have a problem although they've moved the start button on the new Qashqai from where it was (and in the same place as the X3 i.e high on the dash to the left of the steering wheel, to underneath the climate control unit, above the centre console, where it's not as obvious.
When I get in I generally find myself haphazardly prodding in the general area of the lower dash until I come across it.
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Post by Ben on Aug 15, 2022 13:51:21 GMT
Considering what I do, I guess I'm used to swapping between (many) cars. Some do take a bit longer to get used to than others though (like Tesla and their stupid screen).
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Post by PetrolEd on Aug 15, 2022 14:14:46 GMT
No problems with the gearbox and clutch but I do struggle with things like keyless go as I forget to lock the 911, a lot. I forget to stick the electronic handbreak on in the Volvo, a lot. Driving them, just remember the XC90 won't stop in anything like the time of the 911 so I can suddenly panic with 20 metres to go to a junction and of course you can't take a roundabout in quite the same speed.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 15, 2022 14:25:11 GMT
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Post by johnc on Aug 15, 2022 14:55:35 GMT
Wow - that's some flying lesson! |
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