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Good for you ddc.   You obviously appreciate the ability to keep wear and tear down. I'd like to bet that you also agree that these driving skills give even greater control of the vehicle.

Bertie

Hi, mickeyb.   After my appenticeship in 1956, enquired at Corpoation bus depot ref. bus driving.   Had friends in coach business.   They said get PSV licence, then chuck Corporation job.   2 guys took me out in standard Leyland double decker.  Put me in cab, and told me where to drive.   Had never driven anything bigger than a car. First attempt to pull off, I "kangarooed". It was scary; like being on ocean waves. Any how, got over that.  Had to double declutch, of course.  Gear change dead slow, like you say.  And no power steering; massive diameter steering wheel.  Made one other mistake.  On a hairpin corner, let wheel pass through hands for straightening up.  The thing was a blurr, and when I grabbed it to stop it, I nearly went round with it.   Passed muster but didn't take job though.  Wages lowsy - could improve them by overtime - cleaning buses and sweeping depot.  I said "no thanks", and bolted for the door.

Often see that model bus at vehicle rallies and it brings back memories of one of the scariest test drives I ever took.

Bertie 

Hi Supatramp.  If the police can drive a vehicle correctly, the gearbox and clutch should outlive the time the car is in service.  My last vehicle, a 1997 Golf 1.9TDI estate, was my every day car and tow car for 5 years. 18 months ago, I parted with it with 86,000 miles on the clock.  It's still going strong on all it's original transmission, including the clutch.

Police driving?  good subject for a new thread, methinks!

Bertie

The Driving Standards Agency are the Goverment department that conducts all driving tests and controls the driver training industry. They coined the phrase "gears are for going, brakes are for slowing" some 15 years ago and pupils are taught nowadays to change the speed first, using brake or accelerator, then change to the gear that matches the new speed. Modern braking systems are far superior to those of the last century.

I've not had to replace a clutch yet and two of my cars did nearly 100K each over 2 years with mostly beginners driving.

Wow Caz. "last century". That sounds a long way back.  Hope you don't upset fellow campers, who are still tugging with motors built in the last century.  You are right up front on brakes; my first car (1938 vintage) had rod and cable type. And brake fade was common.  That made engine braking down hill essential.  I have had this occur on a long down hill run, with no braking power left at the bottom.  Not to mention balancing to get all 4 to come on together.

But, even on modern cars, some of the past driving methods do benefit car and driver.  No need to double declutch on modern gearboxes, but when a smart change-down (e.g. from sixth to third) is needed, then that method saves wear on syncromesh, and avoids shock on transmission.

Like most of us old 'uns, I can safely handle very old vehicles as well as the modern ones.  A lot of the younger drivers cannot claim this, simply because they have not been taught the skills.  Though not necessary on modern cars, this does not mean that they are not a handy back-up.

One of the hardest challenges I ever met was, when a friend loaned me his very old Austin 7, the accelerator being BETWEEN the brake and clutch pedals.  Try that for the first time in stop/start traffic!

Bertie