E60 Discussion Anything and everything to do with the E60 5 Series. All are welcome!

Are u a left-foot braker?

Old Oct 31, 2008 | 08:06 PM
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Sometimes, I just dont understand why the car in front of me have their brake lights on for about 10 minutes of driving on the highway. Then I realized that maybe their left foot is on the brake. Who brakes consistently with their left foot? I only do it to shift weight properly, brake boost for turbo, and maybe sometimes turning for more control. I dunno but it just annoys me. Wen I was driving onthe belt pwky today, those freakin brake lamps in front of me annoyed the hell outta me. didnt know that guy was actually braking!!!
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Old Oct 31, 2008 | 08:12 PM
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Oh ya! I hate that! Either their brake lights are broke or they're resting their foot on the brake pedal and activating the brake lights like you said...

I hope those people burn their brake pads.
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Old Oct 31, 2008 | 08:59 PM
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most of the time its taxi cabs.....i think the brake lights are just broken
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Old Oct 31, 2008 | 09:02 PM
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It's actually quite scary when I see them taking off from a stop, driving for a good amount of time, while the brake light is still on. It clearly means they are driving with both feet, the brake is still depressed, while the right foot has the accelerator down. So dangerous. Not to mention, terrible for the car and the brakes.

Where some people learn how to drive is beyond me.
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Old Oct 31, 2008 | 09:25 PM
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I think thats how they use to teach kids how to drive way back in the day....I know my grandparents use to use their left foot for the brake. Kinda scary riding along with them when I was a kid
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Old Oct 31, 2008 | 11:39 PM
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Ok, this is maybe a bit off topic...

Before the E60, I have driven a manual for about two years. On my first drive in the E60 (an automatic), at the very first stop street, I forgot it was an automatic, and out of habit, depressed the "clutch". Let's just say the E60 has VERY GOOD brakes!!!
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Old Oct 31, 2008 | 11:44 PM
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All those left-foot brakers come from a generation that never learned to drive manual. Anyone who learned from manual knows it's impossible to brake with your left foot (what about your clutch...? Use your right foot? hhahaha).

I've met a few friends who brake and accelerate with left and right feet respectively... and what I mean when I say 'respectively' is in regards to the previous 'brake and accelerate' and NOT in regards to their practice of such.
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Old Nov 1, 2008 | 02:55 AM
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Originally Posted by BigMike' post='709426' date='Nov 1 2008, 03:44 AM
All those left-foot brakers come from a generation that never learned to drive manual. Anyone who learned from manual knows it's impossible to brake with your left foot (what about your clutch...? Use your right foot? hhahaha).

I've met a few friends who brake and accelerate with left and right feet respectively... and what I mean when I say 'respectively' is in regards to the previous 'brake and accelerate' and NOT in regards to their practice of such.
you are totally wrong sir.

nearly everyone in the UK has a manual driving licence, and whilst i agree its very dangerious and wrong in an automatic to brake with your left foot (unless you only have a left foot)

but most aspiring "rally" drivers use there left foot to brake in manual cars, and also use "toe & heal" its so you can keep on the gas and brake at the same time, so as not to loose any revs...so its not impossible, its widly used.
when i go out in my impreza STI i always use my left foot to brake when driving "enthusiasticly"

you should never clutch and brake at the same time...you should be in the right gear before you need to brake.

if you watch sabine schmit of the nurburg ring fame, you will see that she always brakes with her left foot, and there is no quicker driver round there than her. (she drives the "ring taxi", a mapped E60 M5)

but for narmal driving i agree you should not use your left foot (manual or auto)
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Old Nov 1, 2008 | 03:36 AM
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Left foot braking can reduce reaction time but maintaining even the slightest touch of the brake pedal mile after mile will rapidly accelerate brake pad wear. Not to mention the previously noted issue of following drivers not knowing when REAL braking is going happen!
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Old Nov 1, 2008 | 03:59 AM
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Originally Posted by benstone' post='709422
you are totally wrong sir.

nearly everyone in the UK has a manual driving licence, and whilst i agree its very dangerious and wrong in an automatic to brake with your left foot (unless you only have a left foot)

but most aspiring "rally" drivers use there left foot to brake in manual cars, and also use "toe & heal" its so you can keep on the gas and brake at the same time, so as not to loose any revs...so its not impossible, its widly used.
when i go out in my impreza STI i always use my left foot to brake when driving "enthusiasticly"

you should never clutch and brake at the same time...you should be in the right gear before you need to brake.

if you watch sabine schmit of the nurburg ring fame, you will see that she always brakes with her left foot, and there is no quicker driver round there than her. (she drives the "ring taxi", a mapped E60 M5)

but for narmal driving i agree you should not use your left foot (manual or auto)
that kind of driving is different. i do it too
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