Originally Posted by benstone' post='709422' date='Nov 1 2008, 03:39 AM

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!!!

Originally Posted by E60714' post='709765' date='Nov 1 2008, 11:59 PM

I took driver's ed about three years ago and we were taught NOT to use the left foot at all on an automatic.

Originally Posted by Dr Dave' post='709463' date='Nov 1 2008, 06:55 AM

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)

Originally Posted by Dr Dave' post='709559' date='Nov 1 2008, 11:46 PM

i hear what you are saying big fella,

but you said " Anyone who learned from manual knows it's impossible to brake with your left foot "

but as i said most of us limeys learned from manual, and most of us brake with our left foot (when driving hard admittidly)
so right back at ya


(i know what you mean mike)
good luck.

Originally Posted by Rudy' post='709802' date='Nov 1 2008, 08:03 PM

I don't think that, if done properly, the "heel-toe" technique that you're referring to requires the left foot on the brake. The way I was taught to heel-toe is to use the right foot on both the gas and the brake while the left foot does the clutching. The way you describe it to work seems very counter-intuitive and also seems quite a bit more difficult to execute.

Originally Posted by Dr Dave' post='710694' date='Nov 3 2008, 07:08 AM

hi rudy..if you read my post mate, i said left foot to brake AND they ALSO use heal and toe method.

Originally Posted by Rudy' post='710749' date='Nov 3 2008, 03:18 PM

... Yes, there are racers who left-foot brake but they don't do it while performing a heel and toe downshift. There's simply no connection between the two techniques...