Sandringham 6x6

[sako243]

Testament to the fact that the night before last whilst it was nice and quiet in the roads with proper gear selection I got a leaky braking Range Rover 30 odd miles home, only needed to touch the brakes twice in that 30 miles by planning and anticipating others actions.

 

[Wildefalcon]

I've always used engine braking where I can, loved my manual diesel Freelander for that, I now have a petrol auto with almost no engine braking so have to use the brakes, I did try putting it manually into 1st on a steep hill but it just over revved the engine.
The only time I had to drive differently was doing St. John ambulance driving course where it was "gears to go, brakes to slow", brake down to the right speed for a corner then select the correct gear.

I think that the philosophy is that modern brakes are so good nowadays, that engine braking is not needed, and so that's the thinking in the testing.

My Landrover, on the other hand, is not modern. So I'll engine brake.

 

[fizzy]

I think that the philosophy is that modern brakes are so good nowadays, that engine braking is not needed, and so that's the thinking in the testing.

My Landrover, on the other hand, is not modern. So I'll engine brake.

Try telling that to lorry drivers in the Alps or Pyrenees.
I was at Tesco petrol station in Glyneath a while ago. Tanker in there doing a delivery. Smoke pouring from the brakes. He had come down the old road which is very steep. Young chap. I asked if he had used exhaust brake and low gear. No need for that he says. Modern brakes are good enough

 

[bourbon]

Why is it always tanker drivers? Years back I was in my T25 on the road to Barmouth. You go up a sharp steep hill, then it's a long decent on the other side. Following a cement tanker at a reasonable distance, then smoke starts out of the rearmost brakes. I pulled into the oncoming lane and flashed my lights and sounded the horn. No response. Then had to pull back in sharpish to avoid a head on with a police car. Bit further down, there is a layby. Tanker pulls in. I grabbed my fire extinguisher, yanked the hand brake on and out looking for flames. Copper turns up about to give me a rollocking. Me points to brakes. Driver got it instead!

 

[8ob]

Try telling that to lorry drivers in the Alps or Pyrenees.
I was at Tesco petrol station in Glyneath a while ago. Tanker in there doing a delivery. Smoke pouring from the brakes. He had come down the old road which is very steep. Young chap. I asked if he had used exhaust brake and low gear. No need for that he says. Modern brakes are good enough

As wrong as it is they don’t teach them to use the gearbox for slowing down anymore, they are taught that gears are for going and brakes are for stopping

Bob

 

[dan.taylor.1]

As wrong as it is they don’t teach them to use the gearbox for slowing down anymore, they are taught that gears are for going and brakes are for stopping

Bob

Aren't a lot of modern trucks autos now?

 

[Wildefalcon]

That's a fair point. And there's a lot to be said for gearboxes for disabled people. I had one in a golf and it was quite good. Much easier on the left knee.

Just massively too complicated to repair for my taste.

Apparently most young people do their driving test in a disabled car and only have a disabled licence as a result.

 

[addjunkie]

That's a fair point. And there's a lot to be said for gearboxes for disabled people. I had one in a golf and it was quite good. Much easier on the left knee.

Just massively too complicated to repair for my taste.

Apparently most young people do their driving test in a disabled car and only have a disabled licence as a result.

Wont be long before manual cars are a thing of the past. Mini no longer do manuals, anything hybrid tends to be auto, then you've lectric cars…..Some brands a manual is an extra

 

[8ob]

Aren't a lot of modern trucks autos now?

Some are, great on a run but horrid things for shunting, drove an auto Mercedes tractor unit yesterday, really nice truck to drive but reversing has no feel, its almost an all or nothing feel.

Bob

 

[brewdexta]

Our Leaf has the equivalent of engine braking. Take your foot off the accelerator and it uses regenerative braking and the brake lights come on. If you press the "one pedal" button, it is more aggressive perfect for the hills around here.

The Ranger is front disks, rear drums and a 10 speed auto and fair flies downhill but I could stick it in a low gear. Never really tried as I don't drive like a nutter. I'm guessing engine braking will kick in if the wet belt goes

The Kawasaki Mule is drums all round and CVT auto. If you take your foot off the throttle, then you have zero engine braking. It has high and low box so I tend to stick it in low box and drive it slowly down hills, just above the threshold where the transmission belt disengages. Off road where that's too fast, you have no option but to rely on the brakes. I've just serviced them. Evidently the John Deere Gator is the same transmission wise, but I think they have disks, at least up front.

 

[fizzy]

Our Leaf has the equivalent of engine braking. Take your foot off the accelerator and it uses regenerative braking and the brake lights come on. If you press the "one pedal" button, it is more aggressive perfect for the hills around here.

The Ranger is front disks, rear drums and a 10 speed auto and fair flies downhill but I could stick it in a low gear. Never really tried as I don't drive like a nutter. I'm guessing engine braking will kick in if the wet belt goes

The Kawasaki Mule is drums all round and CVT auto. If you take your foot off the throttle, then you have zero engine braking. It has high and low box so I tend to stick it in low box and drive it slowly down hills, just above the threshold where the transmission belt disengages. Off road where that's too fast, you have no option but to rely on the brakes. I've just serviced them. Evidently the John Deere Gator is the same transmission wise, but I think they have disks, at least up front.

I always used manual mode on my Ranger. Often got brake fade on rear drums but I do drive it like I stole it. The newer model is less sporty to drive but does have rear disks as well.

 

[fizzy]

Anyway sorry to drift on @sako243 thread.

 

[sako243]

Meh doesn't matter. It's a bit one sided if km just posting pictures.

 

[Seadog]

This is absolutely not taught any more. If I am following a car downhill you can guarantee nine times out of ten the car in front will ride the brakes all the way down it is an absolute given they will if the conditions are poor and it is drizzle or foggy!

I use engine braking in my auto (Tiptronic box). Why wouldn't you, unless you haven't been taught to drive properly?

 

[RWD3M]

Meh doesn't matter. It's a bit one sided if km just posting pictures.

Well, if you don't mind a little bit of drift...

Some years ago now, 85/86 if memory serves, on holiday with family in North Devon, coming down Porlock Hill in a Rover SD1 2600 auto and had a complete brake failure (fairly certain I just boiled the brake fluid)! I can assure you, you do get engine braking in an auto when you whack it into 1st at about 60

As luck would have it, I'd not long MOT'd it so the hand brake, such that it was, was still working and it saved me form certain embarrassment.

 

[dobbslc]

That's a serious hill!
With longs drops in certain places!!!

 

[owas]

I use engine braking in my auto (Tiptronic box). Why wouldn't you, unless you haven't been taught to drive properly?

At my speed awareness course the answer was so the person behind knows you're slowing down,aparantly less rear end crashes since more cars are now auto.

I still do in my 110 though, havnt changed the front pads/disks in the 10 years I've had it.

 

[Seadog]

They should be far enough behind to react to a change in speed with shunting you. We all know that in real life very few people are.
I enjoy seeing the look of panic and, subsequent pulling back of people sitting on my rear bumper.

 

[fizzy]

They should be far enough behind to react to a change in speed with shunting you. We all know that in real life very few people are.
I enjoy seeing the look of panic and, subsequent pulling back of people sitting on my rear bumper.

I seem to be one of the very few these days who reads the road far ahead. My wife constantly terrifies me. Cars in front braking and she is still accelerating. And she is far from the worst

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

I seem to be one of the very few these days who reads the road far ahead. My wife constantly terrifies me. Cars in front braking and she is still accelerating. And she is far from the worst

My partner was awful for that when she first started driving.

But is now actually pretty good, between a "grey fleet defensive driving course" from her employer, and choosing to daily drive an MX5, she's hyperaware of what's happening around her on the road.

However, unprompted she easily slips into thinking that any other vehicles she drives have the braking efficiency and cornering capabilities of her tiny little roadster... I am tempted to put a sticker on the steering wheel of the truck "this is not your MX5, brake early and gently".