This question came up on a radio program, Click and Clack, Tom and Ray--on NPR. They said that on older cars keeping the clutch pedal depressed when stopped did wear the clutch out, but that newer cars have been redesigned to avoid this problem.
-----Original Message----- From: Dean Forshee <steeling@CREATIVE.NET> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Date: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 6:50 AM Subject: Proper Clutch use
>I have an ongoing debate with my wife regarding the proper way to drive our >Vanagon. I am in the habit of waiting at a traffic light or stopsign with >the Van in first gear, with the clutch fully engaged. My wife says that >that is hard on the clutch and that I should take it out of gear and put it >in neutral. I've owned a number of standard shift vehicles in the past and >don't recall any problems resulting from my (allegedly) bad habit... so I >put it to the listee group - is there any downside to waiting at a traffic >light or stopsign in first gear with the clutch all the way engaged? I'd >love for the list to help settle this debate. Thanks. -Dean. > |
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