There are also bad habits behind the wheel. Some of them have an impact on the life of the car.
Anyone who loves their car treats it appropriately gently and considerately. And avoids classic operating errors. Above all, the transmission, brakes and steering will thank you for it. Five no-gos for drivers.
Hand on the gear stick
The casually laid right hand may look cool, but it is neither good for driving safety nor for the service life of the vehicle. While driving, both hands should always be on the steering wheel in order to be able to react appropriately in the event of a sudden emergency. If you still want to put your arm down, you should definitely not do this on the gear stick, as this exerts pressure on the gearbox via the gearshift sleeve. This increases wear.
Foot on the clutch
Not only novice drivers like to put their foot on the clutch pedal so that they don't have to look for it long when changing gear. As a result, the clutch does not close properly, so that the friction linings constantly rub against each other and wear out quickly. But the left foot does not only belong next to the pedal while driving. Even at the traffic lights. Standing on the pedal there with a gear engaged not only prevents the start-stop system from switching off the engine, but also puts unnecessary strain on the mechanics, namely the clutch spring and release bearing.
Steering and braking
Maneuvering can be hard work. If you want to steer your car into or out of a parking space, it shouldn't be made more difficult by constantly stepping on the brakes. Because steering and braking at the same time not only stresses the mechanics and tires, but also the arm muscles. And at least on a reasonably level road, there is no reason to have to secure the car from rolling away while maneuvering.
Rolling reverse gear
Those who want to get out of or into a parking space quickly tend to change gears while the car is still rolling. At least when going backwards you shouldn't do that. The gear for reversing uses its own gear, which is usually not synchronized. Incidentally, different from the forward gears. If you cut into the gear too early, you run the risk of creaking and increased wear and tear. The advice to rest when changing direction also applies to automatic vehicles, where the brake bands and the multi-plate clutch would be unnecessarily stressed.
Breaking shifting
Generally speaking, a steady hand is recommended when shifting gears. Even if you know it from professional racing and rally drivers, the slamming of gears in everyday cars is a burden on the clutch and transmission. Even modern cars need a little time to synchronize engine and gear speeds. The driver should give them to them.