Vauxhall Corsa B (1993 - 2000) - some advice please!!

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Wed 18 Nov 2009 21:14
some advice please!! - sizzler
HI there,
I have just passed my driving test and got a corsa club d 1.7.
Would like some advice if you would not mind!? I have always driven petrol cars and this is my first diesel any advice on when is best to change up gears???
I feel that sometimes i'm changing up too soon and others not soon enough!!
I know I have to get used to the car but i am driving from plymouth to wales tomorrow for the first time and dont really want to be looking a fool on route if you know what i mean.?

sorry if this seems a silly question to ask i'm sure it'll raise a few eyebrows and get afew giggles. But some advice would be gtreatly appreciated.
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Wed 18 Nov 2009 21:18
some advice please!! - Old Navy
Change up at about 2000 to 2500 rpm.
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Wed 18 Nov 2009 22:01
some advice please!! - Dave_TD
You'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. Just try a few different ways to see what happens and settle on the one that seems easiest.

FWIW I would change up at a point where the next gear will require about 1500rpm, if that makes sense. A diesel engine has a lot more low-down "pull" than a petrol. There's not much point ever going over 3500rpm in a diesel Corsa even if you need to make a quick getaway (say at a roundabout), because the power actually starts to fall away at that point. Much better to execute a swift change into the next gear and surf the wave of torque.
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Wed 18 Nov 2009 22:00
some advice please!! - slowdown avenue
when it gets noisey change up
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Wed 18 Nov 2009 22:02
some advice please!! - Dave_TD
when it gets noisey change up


It's a diesel Corsa, it will always be noisy! ;-)

EDIT: To sizzler, I forgot - you can't over-rev a diesel engine so don't worry about damaging it, if you leave a gearchange too late the car will just stop accelerating.

Edited by Dave_TD {P} on 18/11/2009 at 22:04

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Wed 18 Nov 2009 22:43
some advice please!! - Lygonos
you can't over-rev a diesel engine <<


Just don't slip into 2nd at 70mph, when looking for 4th ;-)
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Wed 18 Nov 2009 22:57
some advice please!! - 1400ted
You'll soon get an instinctive feel for it...then you won't ever look at the rev counter again.......most useless bit of instrunent clutter on the dash of my Suzuki diesel.....and it's an auto too...so I need it even less !...... Enjoy the torque....biggish mill in a little car...I had the 1.7 Punto TD...went like rip !
Good luck and have a good, safe run.

Ted
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