Foot brake and a driver used to manual

[renault12ts]

This is how lots of EXPERIENCED automatic drivers do it , and is exactly as it ought to be .

A good habit to get into at an early stage , therefore VERY helpful to the OP

But wrong ( And I've been driving autos for more than 30 years, in fact closer to 40 ).

 

[219]

Not wrong . FWIW , I've been driving autos just as long (must be a 'mile millionaire' in them by now) .

It IS 'wrong' the way most people drive manual cars , going sequentially up and down the gears , the way novices are taught at driving schools , and one of the first things that is drummed out of people as soon as they take advanced lessons .

Just because a lot of people do something , and never progress beyond the novice stage , does not make it 'right' .

God gave most of us two feet , and Mercedes-Benz put two pedals in front of them : it is as illogical to drive an automatic car using only one foot as it would be to hop around on only one foot instead of walking .

Just because a lot of people start out on manual cars , and get 'used' to driving them using the right foot to brake , does not mean that using the same foot to brake in an automatic is 'right' also .

'newbie' automatic drivers would do well to start out using the automatic brake pedal as they would the clutch to control the movement of the car when manoeuvering at low speeds , since the operation is essentially the same : lift the pedal , the car starts to move &vv ; later they can progress to using the left foot when slowing for planned stops . Before long , it WILL become second nature , and a MUCH more efficient way of driving the car .

Reluctance to do this is just the same as many peoples' reluctance to even TRY driving an automatic - there is some irrational fear that cannot be explained .

 

[alfsmate]

When I was a lad I worked for the Evening Standard and they had an old Fordson Van that had the clutch pedal on the left, throttle pedal in the middle and the brake pedal on the right. Now that was interesting the first time you drove it. I have driven a 220CDI now for six years and never had a problem with the foot operated parking brake. As for using the foot brake I tend to use my right foot, but sometimes when in traffic, use the left foot.

 

[Dave Lewis]

I've always used both feet on an auto (nearly 40 years). You can 'cover' the brake pedal in stop-start traffic and in town, cutting down on braking distance - the brake pedal on a 124 is quite high relative to the throttle pedal, and especially at high speed, the time taken to transfer your foot from the throttle to the brake is worth a lot of distance. I too can jump into a manual and revert to right foot braking with no problems at all.

 

[SilverSaloon]

never had a problem and i switch from autos to manuals regually. never get confused in either.

 

[SLKrazy]

Big thanks to everybody on this thread
This is my second time with an auto and have never thought of trying the "Rally" method of braking with my left foot. Reading through these experienced auto drivers posts it seems to make sense to carry out this procedure.
Could be interesting though in an emergency stop manouver

 

[219]

Practice the technique on quiet roads until you get used to it , and only adopt it if you feel comfortable doing it .

 

[G.O'Rilla]

Make sure you educate the missus (assumption)especially if she has never driven an auto.

That's going to be my wife's problem when ours turns up in 3 weeks time ............

 

[speedwell]

I have the oposite problem, failling to use the clutch/change gear when I get in a manual.

 

[James Rothwell]

I go between auto/manual on a daily basis. I use right foot to drive in the auto, I don't see the point of using left foot as you don't use the brake and the throttle at the same time unless you're on a track in a turbo'd petrol car in the wrong gear as you commit yourself to a corner.

 

[JoeMerc]

i've nearly pressed the "Clutch/E-brake" pedal a few times in panic. whats more I've also tried moving the Transmission before realising it felt funny in my hand I kinda miss manuals but at the same time i've found loads of relaxing benefits from auto

 

[JonMad]

I don't see the point of using left foot as you don't use the brake and the throttle at the same time unless you're on a track in a turbo'd petrol car in the wrong gear as you commit yourself to a corner.

Is that speaking from experience by any chance?

Having just moved to an auto (still driving a manual most of the time) I've not tried left foot braking in it, though I used to practice it in a manual car and did use it a bit on trackdays. Also heel/toe most of the time on road and track in a manual car.

Have only had the M-B a few weeks but haven't touched the parking brake yet at all. Nor had any unexpected left-foot-down-expecting-a-clutch emergency stops. Yet...