Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Glyn on 12 January 2008, 17:48:44
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I have a 2.2 auto. It runs perfectly fine for eg my wife as she uses her right foot for the throttle and brake with her left foot tucked safely out of the way.And indeed if I try and drive like that I too have no problems.
However I have always been a left foot braker right foot throttle,and having driven autos for the past 35 years never had a problem till I got the Omega.
The problem is, for eg,approaching a junction,roundabout or somewhere you need to slow down but not necessarily stop. You are left foot braking, right foot off the throttle,decide you don't have to stop, so right foot back on throttle left foot off brake and away you go.If however you put your throttle down before you have your left foot off the brake, the engine sort of dies and will not pick up revs for quite a few seconds. Can anyone tell me if this is normal,possibly the computer not letting it rev as it thinks the brake is still on,if so is there a way round it.
Hope I,ve described it clear enough.
Cheers Glyn
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Shouldn't make any difference, as far as I'm aware.
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I have a 2.2 auto. It runs perfectly fine for eg my wife as she uses her right foot for the throttle and brake with her left foot tucked safely out of the way.And indeed if I try and drive like that I too have no problems.
However I have always been a left foot braker right foot throttle,and having driven autos for the past 35 years never had a problem till I got the Omega.
The problem is, for eg,approaching a junction,roundabout or somewhere you need to slow down but not necessarily stop. You are left foot braking, right foot off the throttle,decide you don't have to stop, so right foot back on throttle left foot off brake and away you go.If however you put your throttle down before you have your left foot off the brake, the engine sort of dies and will not pick up revs for quite a few seconds. Can anyone tell me if this is normal,possibly the computer not letting it rev as it thinks the brake is still on,if so is there a way round it.
Hope I,ve described it clear enough.
Cheers Glyn
Not tried it on my omega (and can't coz it's broken) so can't say for sure, but this is definitely common behaviour on many modern cars.
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MY wife's Astra auto (drive-by-wire as I think is a 2.2) definately 'switches off' the transmission when you're stopped with your foot on the brake. I find that you have to wait a second between lifting your foot from the brake before it 'turns' the transmission 'on' again. If you don't wait - like Mrs Andy B :-? - the transmission comes in with a thumps cos the revs have already risen a bit before the transmission has decided to play.
I don't have any delay when I drive my 3.0 auto with 2 feet.
::) Paul M is the expert on this! ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Left foot braking is primarily a performance driving technique, and if anything, is detrimental to safe, everyday driving. Although I have used it myself for steep hill starts in my auto Elite, when my handbrake went through a 'not to clever' spell.
The following link may be of interest:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-foot_braking
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MY wife's Astra auto (drive-by-wire as I think is a 2.2) definately 'switches off' the transmission when you're stopped with your foot on the brake. I find that you have to wait a second between lifting your foot from the brake before it 'turns' the transmission 'on' again. If you don't wait - like Mrs Andy B :-? - the transmission comes in with a thumps cos the revs have already risen a bit before the transmission has decided to play.
I don't have any delay when I drive my 3.0 auto with 2 feet.
::) Paul M is the expert on this! ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D
My Wife's Astra is the same but I use my right foot to operate the throttle and the brake. When pulling away from a stand still there is a second or two delay when pulling away, not to sure why it does that to be honest seems crazy!!
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Hi All,
I also have always driven auto's for over 35 yrs using both feet.
I don't have any problem as described with my 3.2 unless of course my foot co ordination is such that I don't try moving off with the footbrake on !!
Maybe I'll try it next time I go out.
Roger
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A new way of Heal and Toe I suppose!
Personally I always use my right foot for both those pedals, weither Manual or Auto, I believe this is both more practical and safer.
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Left foot braking is primarily a performance driving technique, and if anything, is detrimental to safe, everyday driving. Although I have used it myself for steep hill starts in my auto Elite, when my handbrake went through a 'not to clever' spell.
The following link may be of interest:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-foot_braking
I have driven Automatics for a long time and always brake with the left and accelerate with the right. It is not detrimental to safe everyday driving and infact, I can respond quicker driving this way.
If you have never used your left foot to brake it does take practice to master (preferably not on a public road).
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I have a 2.2 auto. It runs perfectly fine for eg my wife as she uses her right foot for the throttle and brake with her left foot tucked safely out of the way.And indeed if I try and drive like that I too have no problems.
However I have always been a left foot braker right foot throttle,and having driven autos for the past 35 years never had a problem till I got the Omega.
The problem is, for eg,approaching a junction,roundabout or somewhere you need to slow down but not necessarily stop. You are left foot braking, right foot off the throttle,decide you don't have to stop, so right foot back on throttle left foot off brake and away you go.If however you put your throttle down before you have your left foot off the brake, the engine sort of dies and will not pick up revs for quite a few seconds. Can anyone tell me if this is normal,possibly the computer not letting it rev as it thinks the brake is still on,if so is there a way round it.
Hope I,ve described it clear enough.
Cheers Glyn
Perfectly normal on the dbw omegas (2.2/2.6/3.2)
In fact seems normal on all dbw vx's .......both my 1.8 veccies did it and my 2.2 omega does it.
It seems to me that when the brake is applied the ecu cuts the ignition.....ie it thinks why do you need spark when youve got your foot on the brakes.......you need all the stopping power.
I discovered this when i tried to bed in some brake pads on one of my veccies 'the quick way' .......ie brakes lightly applied and loads of throttle........the veccy was having none of it.......and engine only picked up when i fully took my foot of the brake pedal.
HTH
Edit............should have added......when i discovered the above on one of my veccies, i tried it on the other one.......the same....and then i tried it on my omega......the same :y
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Hi All,
I had to go out this evening so I deliberately tried to see if my 3.2 did the same.
I definately do not get the same response as Glyn.
If I hold on brake with left foot, and right on accelerator to move off, then release footbrake, it leaps forward like a greyhound leaving the trap.
I don't know if this helps or hinders. Maybe the 3.2 is different ?
Roger
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My 2.6 responds as normal if you apply power while holding the brakes with the left foot.
I had a 2.2 vectra a few years ago that shifted into neutral of its own accord when held on the foot brake. That gave an odd delay when pulling away. This was documented in the user's manual. Could the 2.2 Omega have the same feature?
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Thanks for the replys.
Big Roger and Mike Collins, yes mine is fine and reacts just as yours do,and also if I am travelling at any speed much over say 10 15mph and press the brake whilst keeping the throttle on then release the brake its no problem. It only happens in the circustances I described.eg almost at a stop gearbox in freewheel. Sorry if I can't explain very well.
Turk I strongly but politely disagree with your comment about my driving syle being detrimental to safety,when I believe obviously the opposite.
Though I would agree were we talking about manuals.And until about a month ago I had 30 years accident free driving to put in my defence.
Cheers Glyn
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I suppose if a person only ever drive auto's, then it's safe enough. As a rule for ordinary everyday driving on a manual vehicle, the right foot is for brake and throttle control, the left is for the clutch. If there is no clutch, the left foot is not used. The link explains why.
I've tried left foot braking (apart from the steep hill start I mentioned), but found I had less brake feel. I have both auto and manual Omegas. My braking just isn't second nature when L/F braking on the auto.
At the end of the day...if it works for you, stick with it. :y
I don't know what a driving instructor or examiner would say on the subject. Would we fail the driving test if we applied left foot braking, on either kind of car ? Anyone on here know what the official view is ?
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I don't know what a driving instructor or examiner would say on the subject. Would we fail the driving test if we applied left foot braking, on either kind of car ? Anyone on here know what the official view is ?
Don't do it. Just use your right foot.
That's what he said when i was 'invited' to attend a speed awareness, course last year & I left foot braked. :-[
"Although I wasn't pressing both pedals at the same time .... I might!" :-?
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Original booklet says dont do it for autos..
For manuals I use this technique before for some special purpose but for auto I dont think this is normal..
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left foot braking is fun. There are quite a few fast but twisty roads road our way and as long as you know the roads you can keep the power on and dab the brakes going into the bends. Only done this in the Cavalier though
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This is not a topic to create a black and white issue of. The vast majority of people should not use left foot breaking. It creates confusion, and in cases of the unexpected can cause reflex reactions to affect the wrong peddles. It is an advanced technique, but being competant with LFB does not make you a better driver on the roads necessarily because on the roads the only true factor to rate yourself against is the safety of others, which can be equally achieved by slow careful driving. However for those that are more technically able, LFB allows a lot more control of the car and makes driving at a higher speed in the same conditions just as safe. not so important is the autobox as the driven wheels. LFB only really works if you can keep your right foot on the power. it allows you to drag the breaks, which affect the front more than the rear, while keeping the power down the rear, this resistance on the front vs acceleration on the rear moves the weight over the front wheels aiding in traction to the front. This is very useful to move the weight balance of the car depending upon the corner approaching. Certain very tight corners can have a large car like an omega understeering, not normal as RWD cars tend to over steer at the limits, a little bit of LFB allows weight to transfer over the fronts maintaining traction and therefore control. You can however over apply LFB, hence practice on an open/empty road being important before ever applying in general. This effect i also use deliberatly in certain circumstances. Over applying LFB moves a lot of weight over the front wheels, in circumstances where you have wanted to 'drift' the rear end, (granted usually just for fun, never to enhance control or safety) it makes the rear very light, allowing a drift to commence at a much lower speed. This has two effects, makes drifting as a learner a lot easier, and secondly means that should you make a mistake and drifting becomes a nasty spin, simply let go of the break, the weight balance moves back over the rear, the tyres grip almost instantly because you were not going fast enough to drift at that speed anyway and control is restored, within sizable margins.
Personally i love it mainly for the 'safe fun' described above, only used on visably empty roads, with no-one else in the car. i've never made a mistake that wasnt rectified by removing the LFB however i've never been tempted to try it around traffic.
I have also made use of the general skill when driving a FWD car, they understeer a lot, and a bit of weight over the front has recoverd control on a slippy island or two and also in the snow and ice.
I didn't just guess at this either, i have an instructional DVD from one of norways best rally drivers who teaches the principles on a snow and ice covered special stage.
It does allow me to misbehave more than i may have otherwise done, but also, everyone can get caught out by horrible conditions once in a while, this technique, if well practiced, can recover you even when the usual "steer into the skid" fails to work.
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left foot braking is fun. There are quite a few fast but twisty roads road our way and as long as you know the roads you can keep the power on and dab the brakes going into the bends. Only done this in the Cavalier though
Actually i first tried this in a cavalier, Koni'd up on 17's 40 profile, i loved that car, drifting a FWD car i must have been mad.
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As soon as i bought the omega auto, i had my left leg removed and freeze dried for posterity. ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Left foot braking is primarily a performance driving technique, and if anything, is detrimental to safe, everyday driving.
Over many years i have driven autos & i have always used my left foot to brake, infact there was a sitiuation some years back when a young boy came from behind a stationary bus on his BMX & to this day i believe it was because i always covered the brake when driving around town that i stopped in time, if i hadn't & used my right foot, i'm sure with the extra time it took to swap pedals i would have surely had him. I'll never forget the look on his face as this dirty great SD1 screeched to a halt just inches from him (i bet he never forgot too)
I've never had any problems left foot braking :y
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I don't do it as a matter of course, but the trail braking effect described by The Doctor can be used for a bit of fun. I can brake properly using my left (it's something you need to practice a little if you've never done it, cos you won't have the level of feel and control required) but in normal driving in RWD cars I just heel-toe.
I must say I'm surprised if the DBW engines in the Omega have this "feature" where it won't allow you to apply power while the brakes are applied. I've heard of this in VAG cars, and it would drive me insane to not be able to blip the throttle on downshifts, it's much smoother than just dragging the clutch to pull the revs up. If this is true then I'm definitely not buying a 3.2 Omega in future, something I have considered.
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I don't do it as a matter of course, but the trail braking effect described by The Doctor can be used for a bit of fun. I can brake properly using my left (it's something you need to practice a little if you've never done it, cos you won't have the level of feel and control required) but in normal driving in RWD cars I just heel-toe.
I must say I'm surprised if the DBW engines in the Omega have this "feature" where it won't allow you to apply power while the brakes are applied. I've heard of this in VAG cars, and it would drive me insane to not be able to blip the throttle on downshifts, it's much smoother than just dragging the clutch to pull the revs up. If this is true then I'm definitely not buying a 3.2 Omega in future, something I have considered.
Many modern DBW units do this...
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Don't think my 3.2 does this (guess I'd better try it!) even so, I'd be very surprised if it was the case on a manual too.
Kevin
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i always left foot brake when driving an auto(primarily because my right leg is knackered) but i always make sure my right foot is completely off the throttle before my left foot is on the brake because i was told by someone a long time ago that to do otherwise would damage the transmission.
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www.driving-school.co.au/faq.htm
Why can’t I use the left foot for braking in an automatic car?
Here are four reasons why instructors teach to only use one foot in an automatic.
Under heavy braking the left foot must push against the floor to brace your body. You will have total control of brake, accelerator and steering during an emergency.
It is less confusing to switch from an automatic to a manual vehicle.
The left foot, resting on the the brake pedal, may inadvertently push down the brake pedal and light up the brake lights whilst accelerating.
There is less chance of a mixup between accelerator and brake. After a lifetime of using two feet, older drivers may get confused, pressing the wrong pedal. The ones that had used the right foot only all their lives are less likely to have trouble later on.
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I've tried it and it just doesn't feel safe...to me, but I drive both Manual & Auto's.
As I've said before, if it works for you, that's all that matters. :y
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www.driving-school.co.au/faq.htm
Why can’t I use the left foot for braking in an automatic car?
Here are four reasons why instructors teach to only use one foot in an automatic.
Under heavy braking the left foot must push against the floor to brace your body. You will have total control of brake, accelerator and steering during an emergency.
It is less confusing to switch from an automatic to a manual vehicle.
The left foot, resting on the the brake pedal, may inadvertently push down the brake pedal and light up the brake lights whilst accelerating.
There is less chance of a mixup between accelerator and brake. After a lifetime of using two feet, older drivers may get confused, pressing the wrong pedal. The ones that had used the right foot only all their lives are less likely to have trouble later on.
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I've tried it and it just doesn't feel safe...to me, but I drive both manual & auto.
As I've said before, if it works for you, that's all that matters. :y
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ps
The double posting of my last entry is a result of using my mobile as a modem...and getting a call half way thru posting. Doh !! :-[
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ps
The double posting of my last entry is a result of using my mobile as a modem...and getting a call half way thru posting. Doh !! :-[
Delete one then ...... and we'd have never known. ;) :y :y
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Many modern DBW units do this...
I tried it today with my low blow TD Astra 1.7 ....... it baulks down if you brake hard enough to put the lights on - not straight away but after a couple of seconds.
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Delete ? :-? I was hoping the "powers that be" would have intervened.
Ok, so I'm not the sharpest tool in the box when it comes to anything other than bog std. posting.