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      06-26-2017, 09:47 AM   #1
crabu2
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2 handed driving

In the past, I've always driven with one hand, unless I was being aggressive. With this car, I'm finding myself most always driving with 2 hands. I don't know why, but I'm wondering if others are doing the same.. As in driving with both hands most of the time.

I'm wondering if I'm doing it because the steering is numb. It's very precise, but none the less, it's numb as can be... I can't really feel the road.
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      06-26-2017, 10:35 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crabu2 View Post
In the past, I've always driven with one hand, unless I was being aggressive. With this car, I'm finding myself most always driving with 2 hands. I don't know why, but I'm wondering if others are doing the same.. As in driving with both hands most of the time.

I'm wondering if I'm doing it because the steering is numb. It's very precise, but none the less, it's numb as can be... I can't really feel the road.
You should never drive with one hand on a car with aribags....most likely you will be driving with your hand on the top of the wheel... If something happens and your airbag goes off you will self knock your face out with your own hand
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      06-26-2017, 10:50 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by pikcachu View Post
You should never drive with one hand on a car with aribags....most likely you will be driving with your hand on the top of the wheel... If something happens and your airbag goes off you will self knock your face out with your own hand
Most of my one handed driving is at the 4 or 8 position because I like to rest my elbow on something.. But, at times, I do drive one handed on the top half of the steering wheel.

What gets me is that my hands feel glued to the 9 and 3 position now.. 2 handed driving..
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      06-26-2017, 11:06 AM   #4
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I realize some folks view 2-handed driving as sissy or old fogey, but allow me to tell you a short story:

I was driving our MB GLK350 on a 2-lane road about a year ago when an oncoming full-size pickup came completely into our lane on a curve. I had both hands on the wheel (about 10 and 2). I swerved onto the shoulder without over controlling the car or going off into the weeds. There was about 2 feet of clearance as the clueless, still-heads-down, idiot driver passed by. It was all over in 2 seconds. I didn't have time to sound the horn or even utter an expletive. That's how quick you can die.

I continue to drive like an old fogey - 2 hands on the wheel. Considering the ever-increasing number of distracted drivers (texting, no doubt), I think this is good technique. At least you have a chance...
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Last edited by 3.0L; 06-26-2017 at 11:12 AM.. Reason: correct typo
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      06-26-2017, 11:09 AM   #5
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I agree with you, the BMW steering is too light and I find myself driving with 2 hands the majority of times. On the highway especially, I feel myself constantly making minor adjustments to keep the car straight vs. other cars I've driven in the past.
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      06-26-2017, 11:32 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3.0L View Post
I realize some folks view 2-handed driving as sissy or old fogey, but allow me to tell you a short story:

I was driving our MB GLK350 on a 2-lane road about a year ago when an oncoming full-size pickup came completely into our lane on a curve. I had both hands on the wheel (about 10 and 2). I swerved onto the shoulder without over controlling the car or going off into the weeds. There was about 2 feet of clearance as the clueless, still-heads-down, idiot driver passed by. It was all over in 2 seconds. I didn't have time to sound the horn or even utter an expletive. That's how quick you can die.

I continue to drive like an old fogey - 2 hands on the wheel. Considering the ever-increasing number of distracted drivers (texting, no doubt), I think this is good technique. At least you have a chance...
+1 on driving with 2 hands. 85% of the time, I'm driving 9 and 3 because of habit from years and years of autocross. 9 and 3 is best situated for handling emergencies and quick precise response.
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      06-26-2017, 11:46 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crabu2 View Post
Most of my one handed driving is at the 4 or 8 position because I like to rest my elbow on something.. But, at times, I do drive one handed on the top half of the steering wheel.

What gets me is that my hands feel glued to the 9 and 3 position now.. 2 handed driving..
4-8 is not too bad...

the sport steering is really nice to squeeze so i'm most of the time grabbing it with both hands
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      06-26-2017, 12:05 PM   #8
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I really love the adjustability of the 2 series seats and steering wheel

I'm able to properly position myself so that I'm comfortable at 9:30/2:30 and optionally use the arm rest on the door
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      06-26-2017, 12:31 PM   #9
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It's partly a generational thing. Are you a young guy, OP? My son is 18 and a very good driver (he races karts) but when I see him in his Ford Explorer with one hand on the top of the wheel, gangsta-style, I ask him to humor me and drive with two hands. Not only is one-handed potentially more dangerous, I tell him, but it's a really cheesy affectation, a poseur move. At first he was irritated by my opinions on this but I have noticed in the last six months: no more gangsta-style driving. He gets it.
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      06-26-2017, 12:56 PM   #10
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1 hand is mandatory for texting while driving

BarryJl or others with kids, WTF is the deal with snapchat videos taken while driving? When did that become a thing? It's never anything cool just around town bullshit. Maybe I am hitting old man status but I just cannot for the life of me grasp the draw of posting every single minute boring aspect of one's life.
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      06-26-2017, 01:02 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by BEM-S4 View Post
1 hand is mandatory for texting while driving .
2 handed texting/1 knee steering is much faster/efficient.....

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      06-26-2017, 01:05 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fbsm View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by BEM-S4 View Post
1 hand is mandatory for texting while driving .
2 handed texting/1 knee steering is much faster/efficient.....

So much better - but that's for skilled drivers only.

Believe it or not, I am 100% serious, I was looking for phone mounts the other day and actually came across one that mounts to the steering wheel.

Edit: here it is. What the hell is the world coming to? I'd be a fan just to thin the world of the chronically stupid were it not for the fact they could take innocent people along with them.

Car Mount, Costech Steering Wheel Stand GPS Rubber Band Holder for Iphone 6,6s,6plus,5s ,Samsung Galaxy S6,S5,Note 5,4,3,Other Not More than 5.5 Inch Moblie Phone (CM1009-Red) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XK6AHV8..._J1uuzbGPDJ9NA
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      06-26-2017, 01:10 PM   #13
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So how are you supposed to drink your Latte and eat your Egg McMuffin with both hands on the wheel?
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      06-26-2017, 01:12 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bimmerfile View Post
So how are you supposed to drink your Latte and eat your Egg McMuffin with both hands on the wheel?
Unless you have a third hand, don't do it.

There is no such thing as multi-tasking. Sure, you can juggle the chores, but all suffer, including other people.
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      06-26-2017, 01:17 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEM-S4 View Post
Believe it or not, I am 100% serious, I was looking for phone mounts the other day and actually came across one that mounts to the steering wheel.
]
The steering wheel mount is a bitch on canyon roads.....you'll get motion sickness trying to text while driving with the steering wheel mount
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      06-26-2017, 01:18 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by bimmerfile View Post
So how are you supposed to drink your Latte and eat your Egg McMuffin with both hands on the wheel?
Practice young padawan....practice
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      06-26-2017, 01:27 PM   #17
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Probably 50/50 for me. Been driving since 1989, owned mostly manuals, auto x, and drive extremely defensively. My hand position is largely based on what's going on around me. I find the steering weight to be completely acceptable in any mode and don't find the "feel" terrible at all. People bitch and moan about NVH in luxury cars and then bitch and moan when the steering doesn't have the grainy feel of hydraulic steering. Go drive some other late model cars if you want to feel disconnected steering.
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      06-26-2017, 01:54 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crabu2 View Post
In the past, I've always driven with one hand, unless I was being aggressive. With this car, I'm finding myself most always driving with 2 hands. I don't know why, but I'm wondering if others are doing the same.. As in driving with both hands most of the time.

I'm wondering if I'm doing it because the steering is numb. It's very precise, but none the less, it's numb as can be... I can't really feel the road.
I have had my car for about a month. It is my first BMW and yes, I feel I have two hands on the wheel most of the time. The steering is very sensitive.
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      06-26-2017, 04:37 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BarryJI View Post
It's partly a generational thing. Are you a young guy, OP?
I wish I was young.. In the next few years, I'll be 50.
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      06-26-2017, 05:28 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crabu2 View Post
I wish I was young.. In the next few years, I'll be 50.
You are young. 13 years ago, I was 50.

Two handed driving here as the default, with intermittent periods of arm resting on longer trips.
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      06-26-2017, 06:33 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sportstick View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by crabu2 View Post
I wish I was young.. In the next few years, I'll be 50.
You are young. 13 years ago, I was 50.

Two handed driving here as the default, with intermittent periods of arm resting on longer trips.
I've actually dug into this a fair bit as I've had arthritis pretty much forever (broken bones as a kid) and nerve damage (car accident). My orthopedic surgeon suggested switching to 8 and 4 every once in a while on long trips, just for a few minutes. Believe it or not since your hands are facing up (more or less) instead of down it makes a huge difference and keeps you feeling much fresher. Still perfectly safe w two hands on the wheel and good range of motion.

I wouldn't drive like that on twisty back roads but on the highway when it's basically straight it's perfectly fine.
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      06-26-2017, 06:57 PM   #22
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when i was 20, i built an evo 5 with imported parts from new zeland, "kempys".

I was a block from my house when a car ran a stop sign, it t-boned me. I was driving with one hand at 12:00. Air bag blew my arm back while i was still gripping wheel.

To this day, i have a weird bump "bone spur" in my left hand that hurts during rainy days and after a few days on track. I sometimes have to wear a hand wrap glove.

Driving with 2 hands, 9 & 3 gives you the most control of the car. Your seating should also be closer than you think. You should be able to sit back and rest your wrists on top of the wheel. This is the propper seating and hand positioning.
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