[izzywilson123]

Hey,
A few weeks ago I passed my test in a diesel Renault Clio. When you start off in the Clio you just had to raise the clutch to the biting point and you would happily start- no problems at all.
Now, I bought a petrol fiat panda and have been driving it for the last 2 days on and off. I'm really struggling with getting used to stopping and starting in my panda using the clutch. It seems as though you need to use gas before you bring up the clutch when you want to start which is really different for me. There seems to be no biting point...thus the terrible stalls.
What I'm concerned about and need advise about is concerning using the clutch at roundabouts and junctions in the petrol panda. As you need gas before clutch to get it moving and stop stalling,I'm concerned about breaking at roundabouts and junctions when I dont want to apply the handbrake. I can easily move off when I have the hand break on because it's just like a hill start.....but at roundabouts when I don't want to put the handbrake on how can I stop myself rolling? If I'm going to go over to the gas to move off then I will have to take my foot off the break and thus have the possibility of rolling.
Hopefully you will understand my situation and help me :-)

[kumori]

Is the car a 1 litre? if it is not you should not be having so much problems (my old 1.2 set off in 4th with little acceleration). however it could be down to the clutch cable being gone, do you have to have the clutch to the floor before it will change gear?

[*Interrobang*]

Your car should have a biting point. I haven't driven a Panda at all, but my petrol car (a Corsa) certainly does. If necessary, play around with it when the car is parked. I normally put about 1500 revs on, and bring up the clutch until the revs drop and the car bonnet moves. If you don't need a lot of speed (when parking for example, or moving in heavy traffic), my car will manage on fewer revs. I don't tend to use the handbrake at junctions unless on a hill (or I'm moving onto a fast moving road), so you should be able to move off without rolling or stalling. You don't need to necessarily find the bite every time before you move off either (if on flat) - I often (say when the lights are changing), add some gas and then just start bring the clutch fully up - when you've effectively reached the 'bite' (and gone past it), the car will move.

It does take a while to get used to petrol, but persevere!

[JO53PHS]

Is it the 1.2 engine? I currently drive a Fiat Punto 1.2 8V (mind blowing performance right there) and it took some getting used to after learning to drive in a 1.5 diesel. My driving instructor's car was virtually impossible to stall - the only time I stalled it in 20 hours of lessons was when I accidentally left it in 4th and tried to pull away normally. You could bring up the clutch and apply only a small amount of throttle, and you'd get going without problems.

When driving the Panda, don't think about pulling the clutch up and getting on the accelerator at the same time. You want to get the revs up before you start to lift the clutch, and then maintain those revs as you pull away.

You'll get used to it after a few weeks. But make use of the handbrake if you're pulling away on anything more than a slight slope. The amount of revs and clutch slippage (particularly in a petrol) required to pull away successfully when rolling backwards down a hill is not going to do your clutch any good in the long term.

[Phantom Shadow]

I learnt in a diesel and have driven in 2 diesels over the last 2 years since passing. Just bought a 1.4 petrol and found no problems adjusting - but this is after 2 years of practice where I use the accelerator anyway to move off quicker. Make sure you have some gas when you bring up to bite point and that should help as you'll have a bit more power to help against stalling.

Found in mine that I can even move off just by bringing the clutch to biting point, I though it was just diesels that could do that and petrols needed some gas as they don't have much power at idle speeds?

[fermium3]

one bit of advice - never mix the fuels up! once put diesel in my petrol car (used to have a diesel and just got the petrol), ruins your day as the car wont start and it costs loads to remove!

[UniMastermindBOSS]

I just posted this in another thread

In a petrol car (i.e. 1.2 Punto) you can raise the clutch slowly and the car will start, even up a slight hill. No acceleration necessary (although when you set off at traffic lights, or onto a roundabout you'll want to use a bit of gas so you don't creep forward at 2mph lol)

Doesn't matter how much gas you use, as long as you release the clutch slowly enough it won't stall

[hypercaine.]

I learnt in a petrol and I could move off just using the clutch, I can also do it on my moms petrol too. I could also do it in the diesel I test drove the other day, on my mates petrol though I did experience what youre speaking about, my dad said it was to do with the clutch being worn and slipping; there didnt seem to be a clear biting point at all and it needed a lot of revs before it started going.
Although my dad did go onto say that all cars are different and thats just a fact of driving, im sure youll get used to it eventually.

[Left Hand Drive]

There is no real difference!

negged?! Why Ive driven both! I learned in a diesel and went straight to a petrol there is hardly a difference at all.

[Camoxide]

You have to use a bit of gas to stop it from stalling.

You can sit on the bitting point with a 1 litre petrol but it's not worth the effort to easy to stall without using gas.
Likewise you can pull away with just the clutch on a petrol.

[The_River]

I drive a 1.4 petrol ( passed my test in it ) learned in a petrol car too. I sometime drive my mothers/brothers car both are diesel ( 2.0 ). Honestly I feel like I have to do less in their cars if that makes sense. Or maybe they just have really good cars compared to me... When I get a good job I might switch to a diesel or stay I'm not sure but I love driving will be fun anyway Normally I never need to accelerate when moving off unless im on a hill or something.

Anywho just relax the car is still new to you. give it time soon you will be able to do everything in it without thinking just reflex. Just remember to ease your foot off the clutch slowly and if you are on a slope going up hill remember to accelerate give your car the extra little help it needs use the handbrake for a hill start! If you feel like you are going to stall or you are going so slow you might stall put it into first and kind of half press the clutch if that makes sense in traffic. At roundabouts if you are there for lets say less than 5 seconds its ok to just use the brake but if you are there for more use the handbrake. thats the way i was taught. I don't want to seem like a bitch here but you can't have your car rolling back its not good for you or the people behind you. You use the bleedin handbrake before you damage your car and someone else's. what happens if a pedestrian walks behind you ?

[scriggy]

I managed to get my petrol car started on a slight uphill in 3rd gear today. Felt like a boss afterwards.

[izzywilson123]

For all of those who asked, my panda is a 1.1...which probably explains why it is easy to stall. I'm going out on my own today for the very first time, any advise for that?

[SillyEddy]

(Original post by izzywilson123)
For all of those who asked, my panda is a 1.1...which probably explains why it is easy to stall. I'm going out on my own today for the very first time, any advise for that?

Enjoy it?

Don't think heavily about your training, just let it show through. You passed afterall. I found that it was nothing new or nothing tricky to get into a new car just days after I passed and drove around just fine.

Just take it steadily - What we did (mother's car, so of course we didn't want to bin it straight away) is we took the car to the place where I did my first driving lesson, in the back-roads in the countryside, and I drove it from there. I set up the car, got used to the controls, and just drove. It was good fun. A few days later I was driving on my own, and years later, I'm still just fine with it. You'll be bound to make mistakes, but learn from it. I found it easier not having to impress an instructor or a parent when I could go out. All those niggly questions about how driving actually works (can the gear stick be accidentally pulled into neutral? For instance) could finally be tested and I could just get used to the vehicle I was in. No ballsy manoeuvres, just getting to know what I was doing. I felt a lot more confident, and it was nice just to be able to drive.


Before, you learnt to pass the test. Now, you learn to drive for real. It's not difficult... The rules remain the same, but you'll learn how best to apply them.

[Daydreamer18]

I had this problem too - I learnt in a diesel car, and then began to drive a petrol fiat which are very, very easy to stall. My dad thought I was using it as an excuse, but he got in my car and stalled it twice in 5 mins, even though his car is petrol too. I know many other people who have had this problem too.

My advice, though, is that you just need practise. You'll get used to it soon enough. If in doubt, just put a little more gas on - it won't do any harm. Bring the clutch up slowly. Don't rush and don't panic.

[KCLeblanc]

(Original post by izzywilson123)
For all of those who asked, my panda is a 1.1...which probably explains why it is easy to stall. I'm going out on my own today for the very first time, any advise for that?

Just find a quiet place to practice.

Although deisel cars are harder to stall the main problem is just that getting used to a new car is harder when you're inexperienced.

When I was learning my instructor left BSM so replaced his Corsa with a KA. I then also started driving my folk's Polo. Both times it took time to get used to the new car (especially the clunky old Polo).

Now I've been driving for a while (quite a long while), I can just get in an unfamiliar car and drive.

Practice, oh and if you have to opportunity to try different cars (in an insured and legal situation) do it.

[JC.]

A four pot diesel drives just like a petrol V8 - i.e they don't like to rev and there's a lot of low down grunt.

Just set the revs a bit higher before you lift the clutch pedal and you're sorted. Failing that, get a bigger engine

[NewFolder]

(Original post by fermium3)
one bit of advice - never mix the fuels up! once put diesel in my petrol car (used to have a diesel and just got the petrol), ruins your day as the car wont start and it costs loads to remove!

How the hell did you manage that?! A diesel fuel nozzle won't fit into the port on a petrol car!

(Original post by izzywilson123)
Hey,
A few weeks ago I passed my test in a diesel Renault Clio. When you start off in the Clio you just had to raise the clutch to the biting point and you would happily start- no problems at all.
Now, I bought a petrol fiat panda and have been driving it for the last 2 days on and off. I'm really struggling with getting used to stopping and starting in my panda using the clutch. It seems as though you need to use gas before you bring up the clutch when you want to start which is really different for me. There seems to be no biting point...thus the terrible stalls.
What I'm concerned about and need advise about is concerning using the clutch at roundabouts and junctions in the petrol panda. As you need gas before clutch to get it moving and stop stalling,I'm concerned about breaking at roundabouts and junctions when I dont want to apply the handbrake. I can easily move off when I have the hand break on because it's just like a hill start.....but at roundabouts when I don't want to put the handbrake on how can I stop myself rolling? If I'm going to go over to the gas to move off then I will have to take my foot off the break and thus have the possibility of rolling.
Hopefully you will understand my situation and help me :-)

I find no difference between diesel and petrol really. Some say diesels are harder to stall etc, but I don't really think they are.

The difference will be in the clutch, it will have a different biting point, all cars do. All it takes to become a successful driver of a different car is practice - you will get better at driving it with practice. It can take quite a long time, but it will happen eventually. Displaying P plates may make other drivers more understanding of you if you do stall it, so it may be worth getting some.

If you are really worried about it, just find a quiet place to practice - some industrial estates are useful for this.

All cars are different in quite a few ways - mine has the indicator stalk on the right hand side and the wiper one on the left. I'm completely used to it now, but when I first had the car I ended up putting the windscreen wipers on to exit roundabouts a lot Also, the biting point is VERY high up on my car, so it rolled back a lot when I first started driving it :P Now these two things are natural to me, if I drive anyone else's car it gets stalled as I just take the clutch out to where the biting point would be on my car. If anyone else drives my car, it's quite entertaining to watch due to them not being used to the indicator stalk and high biting point

[Nuffles]

(Original post by NewFolder)
How the hell did you manage that?! A diesel fuel nozzle won't fit into the port on a petrol car!

Oh believe me, I've done it too. Although mine was on a Morris Minor - obviously pre-dating the narrow fuel necks of modern petrol cars.

I don't see why it's this way around though, it's much better to put diesel in a petrol car than it is to put petrol in a diesel. I managed to fill up with diesel without realising and drove the car until the engine stopped. Having drained the tank and the fuel line and turning the engine over without the plugs in, I reprimed with petrol and it fired on the second turn of the key. On the other hand, it's pretty much game over if you run a diesel engine on petrol until it stops.

Also, I freaking loved having the indicator stalk on the right rather than the left. It was on the right in the Mog, and in a Civic I drove a while back. It's weird to start with, but so much better than having it on the left. You can indicate and change gears at the same time, which is useful in a surprising number of situations.

[CurlyBen]

(Original post by Nuffles)
Oh believe me, I've done it too. Although mine was on a Morris Minor - obviously pre-dating the narrow fuel necks of modern petrol cars.

I don't see why it's this way around though, it's much better to put diesel in a petrol car than it is to put petrol in a diesel. I managed to fill up with diesel without realising and drove the car until the engine stopped. Having drained the tank and the fuel line and turning the engine over without the plugs in, I reprimed with petrol and it fired on the second turn of the key. On the other hand, it's pretty much game over if you run a diesel engine on petrol until it stops.

Also, I freaking loved having the indicator stalk on the right rather than the left. It was on the right in the Mog, and in a Civic I drove a while back. It's weird to start with, but so much better than having it on the left. You can indicate and change gears at the same time, which is useful in a surprising number of situations.

Narrow filler necks aren't to do with petrol/diesel, they were introduced to stop cars with catalytic converters being filled with leaded petrol.