How does not being able to see the bonnet affect your driving style?

sbasak · 18th April 2006, 19:33

Nowadays, for most cars, the bonnet is so low, it can't be seen from driver's seat. For small cars eg. Alto, Santro, WagonR it is not a problem. Also, I know after few weeks of driving, a "sense of clearence" is developed.

But the real problem is when I have to drive a different car in congested road. With so many autos and rickshaws on sides, I feel quite nervous. Even Indica seems to be difficult to drive (let alone other long bonnet cars) for occassional driving!

I've noticed on road that several drivers lean forward during driving (in Indica, Esteem etc.)

On abroad, it is not so big problem as cars strictly follow lanes and distance between cars are quite wide.

But in Indian streets, where sometimes even walking is difficult, I find it quite annoying.

What you guys think of it?

S Pathak · 18th April 2006, 19:42

Initially I used to think like you are currently doing. I used to drive an Ambassador and graduated to a Santro and a Zen. Having driven these vehicles in the most conjested roads of India, all I can tell you that after sometime, it becomes a non-issue.

Don't think too much. Just drive, albeit carefully in the initial few months.

Surprise · 18th April 2006, 19:50

While driving different cars, which Iam not used to, I maintain safer distance. I will move only to a distance where Iam sure it will not hit.

The original gap inbetween will be known when an auto guy on the side evaluates and attempts to pass other side. But after driving few kms, we can minimize the gap inbetween so that the autowalas dont get into it

Mpower · 18th April 2006, 19:55

I lean forward only during parking.

But yeah, if you are not used to the car than you need to be careful and maintain more clearance to traffic.

k36 · 18th April 2006, 20:18

For me, migrating from M800 to Swift this is a bothering issue.

I've seen a number of cars with flagstaff kind of rod on the LHS front corner of the car. This is high enough to be visible to the driver. I suppose it is used primarily for judging the length of bonet.. any ideas on this?

lamborghini · 18th April 2006, 23:02

This is quite a big pain in cars like the NHC and even Palio to an extent.
In the palio and fiesta, you tend to develop a sense of judgement in a 2 - 3 weeks after which, everything becomes easy.
Cheers

veyron1 · 19th April 2006, 15:09

judgement errors usually happen only at parking speeds. the WORST car to park would be the cielo- no matter how much you lean, you still can't get inch-precision. the easiest has to be the reva.

adya33 · 19th April 2006, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by veyron1

judgement errors usually happen only at parking speeds. the WORST car to park would be the cielo- no matter how much you lean, you still can't get inch-precision. the easiest has to be the reva.

You are wrong. The worst is Matiz. That car feels so big from inside but actually is very small. So when parking when you feel that if you move even a little you will touch another car. After getting out of car you find to be half cars length remaining.
This was one of the biggest reason why I hated driving Matiz during my car learning days.

supremeBaleno · 19th April 2006, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by k36

I've seen a number of cars with flagstaff kind of rod on the LHS front corner of the car. This is high enough to be visible to the driver. I suppose it is used primarily for judging the length of bonet.. any ideas on this?

You are right. That's the idea behind the flagstaff without the flag.
Some use a fog lamp mounted on the front bumper, for the same purpose - my friend has one on his zen.

elf · 20th April 2006, 01:20

Try using the hazards to park - they're usually at the extremities of your car & a good indicator(!) where your vehicle ends.

I've seen some cars have their hazards wired into their reverse lamp switches as well.

If your problem is not parking, & you can't judge the end of your car, you're doing something fundamentally wrong

kpzen · 20th April 2006, 08:36

Mostly the error in judgement occurs at parking speeds....but the side rear view mirrors do help a lot in parking....Cielo was the toughest to judge while parking and 800 the easiest to drive n park...

v.tec · 20th April 2006, 09:17

i think the worst car in reversing atleast is the skoda octavia..its impossible to see or have any idea how far to reverse..as the rear glass is at an angle where you cant see much behind..
i have not had a problem till date regarding the bonnet..infact i place my seat low..and thus even if a bonnet is easily visible..i still cant see it..though i agree.. with lamborghini that it does take sometime to get used to the assumption one has while driving a car

prabuddhadg · 20th April 2006, 09:36

Every once in a while, I drive my colleagues' cars and most of these cars do not let you see the bonnet. I had first thought (since my car is an 800) that it would be a major issue. In fact the first time I got into a Santro, it was in the middle of a huge 8PM jam and my friend had just lost his nerve and wanted someone else to take over. But it was pretty simple. When I suspected I was too close, I flicked in the light and the reflection on the back of the car in front indicated how far I was.

karthik247 · 20th April 2006, 12:36

It doesn't affect my driving at all. Once u get used to driving cars like these, its a piece of cake.

And for those who graduate from an Ambassador or so, its gonna take a bit time to adjust. Other than that i don't think its an issue at all. If u know how to drive, it dosen't matter what kinda car ur in..

SLK · 20th April 2006, 14:37

Though I don't drive a car with a big bonnet. It won't affect my driving....
Its only in tight situations at almost standstill speeds that I would need to see the edges.

18th April 2006, 19:33	#1
sbasak BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CCU-LTN Posts: 607 Thanked: 16 Times	How does not being able to see the bonnet affect your driving style? Nowadays, for most cars, the bonnet is so low, it can't be seen from driver's seat. For small cars eg. Alto, Santro, WagonR it is not a problem. Also, I know after few weeks of driving, a "sense of clearence" is developed. But the real problem is when I have to drive a different car in congested road. With so many autos and rickshaws on sides, I feel quite nervous. Even Indica seems to be difficult to drive (let alone other long bonnet cars) for occassional driving! I've noticed on road that several drivers lean forward during driving (in Indica, Esteem etc.) On abroad, it is not so big problem as cars strictly follow lanes and distance between cars are quite wide. But in Indian streets, where sometimes even walking is difficult, I find it quite annoying. What you guys think of it?
	() Thanks

18th April 2006, 19:42	#2
S Pathak BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 48 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	Initially I used to think like you are currently doing. I used to drive an Ambassador and graduated to a Santro and a Zen. Having driven these vehicles in the most conjested roads of India, all I can tell you that after sometime, it becomes a non-issue. Don't think too much. Just drive, albeit carefully in the initial few months.
	() Thanks

18th April 2006, 19:50	#3
Surprise Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,529 Thanked: 462 Times	While driving different cars, which Iam not used to, I maintain safer distance. I will move only to a distance where Iam sure it will not hit. The original gap inbetween will be known when an auto guy on the side evaluates and attempts to pass other side. But after driving few kms, we can minimize the gap inbetween so that the autowalas dont get into it
	() Thanks

18th April 2006, 19:55	#4
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,399 Thanked: 1,735 Times View My Garage	I lean forward only during parking. But yeah, if you are not used to the car than you need to be careful and maintain more clearance to traffic.
	() Thanks

18th April 2006, 20:18	#5
k36 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 132 Thanked: 21 Times	For me, migrating from M800 to Swift this is a bothering issue. I've seen a number of cars with flagstaff kind of rod on the LHS front corner of the car. This is high enough to be visible to the driver. I suppose it is used primarily for judging the length of bonet.. any ideas on this?
	() Thanks

18th April 2006, 23:02	#6
lamborghini Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,164 Thanked: 5,933 Times View My Garage	This is quite a big pain in cars like the NHC and even Palio to an extent. In the palio and fiesta, you tend to develop a sense of judgement in a 2 - 3 weeks after which, everything becomes easy. Cheers
	() Thanks

19th April 2006, 15:09	#7
veyron1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,424 Thanked: 54 Times View My Garage	judgement errors usually happen only at parking speeds. the WORST car to park would be the cielo- no matter how much you lean, you still can't get inch-precision. the easiest has to be the reva.
	() Thanks

20th April 2006, 01:20	#10
elf BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,035 Thanked: 16 Times View My Garage	Try using the hazards to park - they're usually at the extremities of your car & a good indicator(!) where your vehicle ends. I've seen some cars have their hazards wired into their reverse lamp switches as well. If your problem is not parking, & you can't judge the end of your car, you're doing something fundamentally wrong
	() Thanks

20th April 2006, 08:36	#11
kpzen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Faridabad Posts: 5,609 Thanked: 1,882 Times View My Garage	Mostly the error in judgement occurs at parking speeds....but the side rear view mirrors do help a lot in parking....Cielo was the toughest to judge while parking and 800 the easiest to drive n park...
	() Thanks

20th April 2006, 09:17	#12
v.tec BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 251 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	i think the worst car in reversing atleast is the skoda octavia..its impossible to see or have any idea how far to reverse..as the rear glass is at an angle where you cant see much behind.. i have not had a problem till date regarding the bonnet..infact i place my seat low..and thus even if a bonnet is easily visible..i still cant see it..though i agree.. with lamborghini that it does take sometime to get used to the assumption one has while driving a car
	() Thanks

20th April 2006, 09:36	#13
prabuddhadg BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 811 Thanked: 82 Times View My Garage	Every once in a while, I drive my colleagues' cars and most of these cars do not let you see the bonnet. I had first thought (since my car is an 800) that it would be a major issue. In fact the first time I got into a Santro, it was in the middle of a huge 8PM jam and my friend had just lost his nerve and wanted someone else to take over. But it was pretty simple. When I suspected I was too close, I flicked in the light and the reflection on the back of the car in front indicated how far I was.
	() Thanks

20th April 2006, 12:36	#14
karthik247 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR, HYD Posts: 2,710 Thanked: 30 Times	It doesn't affect my driving at all. Once u get used to driving cars like these, its a piece of cake. And for those who graduate from an Ambassador or so, its gonna take a bit time to adjust. Other than that i don't think its an issue at all. If u know how to drive, it dosen't matter what kinda car ur in..
	() Thanks

20th April 2006, 14:37	#15
SLK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nomad Posts: 1,798 Thanked: 1,416 Times	Though I don't drive a car with a big bonnet. It won't affect my driving.... Its only in tight situations at almost standstill speeds that I would need to see the edges.
	() Thanks