Top 8 Driving Myths
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Published: March 17, 2009
Think you know everything about driving? You’re not alone. But it turns out a lot of the common assumptions about cars and how to use them have become distorted and skewed. Indoctrination – both legislative and cultural – is often to blame but often it’s just simple misunderstanding that’s to blame.
Here Kahn News debunks 8 myths. Have you got any of your own?
You shouldn’t cross your hands on the wheel
Remember when you first drove a car and crossing your hands on the wheel felt so perceptive and easy? And do you remember how your driving instructor forced you into that clumsy wheel shuffling motion required to pass the driving test? Well, there’s the reason all track day instructors have to do the opposite, and make people keep a firm ten-to-two grip on the wheel, crossing hands if necessary. Of course, what works on the race track doesn’t in all situations work on the road but if you really want to feel what the steering is up to you need to forget what your driving instructor told you and trust your instincts.
Four-wheel drive gives you more grip
Yes, all-wheel drive helps you put the power down. But there are those blinded by hype and of the opinion it also magically improves grip in ALL situations. Um, no – you still have the same number of tyres as everyone else. And in the snow that means your 4×4 is going to slither about just like any other car. And no, Mr Impreza driver, you’re not immune from understeering off roundabouts if you go in too fast. You can get on the power harder and earlier than those with two-wheel drive and you’re less likely to get stuck in mud or snow but all-wheel drive doesn’t equal immortality.
Real men switch the ESP off
You’ll often hear car hacks talk disparagingly of ‘electronic nannies’ with regard to traction control and electronic stability systems. This is macho nonsense of the worst kind and back in the real world these systems do a very good job of keeping us on the black stuff. Over the years the black boxes have got steadily cleverer and less intrusive too, meaning there’s less and less reason to reach for the off button unless you’re out on a trackday. And if that’s not enough some manufacturers are now fitting mid-way ‘hero’ settings to their systems, for those juvenile moments you’re not grown up enough to contain yourself.
Drivers cars have to be rear-wheel drive
Rear-wheel drive will always be the purist’s chassis set-up of choice. But some maintain that a proper driver’s car (whatever that is) absolutely, positively has to put its power down through its back wheels. Oh yeah? Try telling that to the hot hatch driver who just left you for dead on that back road. Or the rally rep that left your over-tyred supercar foundering in the rainy conditions. Rear drive has its place but there are plenty of front-drivers – from the Lancia Fulvia to the latest hot Clios – that count among our favourites, not to mention four-wheel drive heroes like the Audi RS4 and assorted Imprezas and Evos.
Smaller engines use less petrol
Accepted wisdom has it that the smaller a car’s engine is the less petrol it will use. As ever though this is a simplistic notion that fails to take into account huge variables such as weight, aerodynamics, driving style and traffic conditions. Not convinced? Try filling a small engined supermini with people and luggage and compare your motorway fuel consumption with that of an understressed luxo-barge, or indeed your spec sheet’s ‘official’ figure. The obsession with CO2 emissions clouds the issue further, with some supposedly green cars actually proving surprisingly thirsty outside of their unrealistic test cycles while supposed gas guzzlers prove more frugal.
Manual gearboxes are always better
Manual gearboxes are more involving for keen drivers, no question. But actually better? That’s becoming more difficult to argue. Traditionally autos were slower, more sluggish and thirstier than manuals. But modern self-shifters have got smart. For example, most Mercs equipped with the latest 7G-Tronic gearbox are, like for like, faster and more frugal than their manual counterparts. And the DSG gearboxes seen across VW-group cars shift so fast and so smoothly it makes choosing a manual seem like the Luddite’s choice. Add to this that you can more easily left-foot brake two-pedal cars for smoother, faster driving and the case for the old stick shift looks shaky.
Thereís no replacement for displacement
Big cube engines like AMG’s 6.2-litre V8 used in the C63 might be fun but increasingly look rather outdated by the latest crop of small displacement motors. Need proof? Porsche’s 409bhp 911 GT3 isn’t exactly slow, and that makes do with a mere 3.6 litres. Others have employed turbo or supercharger technology (in some cases both) to give smaller capacity engines a bit more oomph, notably VW with its 1.4 TFSI motor and BMW with its mighty 302bhp twin-turbo 3-litre six used in the 135i and 335i. Across the board engines are getting smaller and more powerful, not to mention more efficient, to the benefit of all.
Tagged with: Driving
