wongstonn

Here I am out here in Oz, and while unafraidf to ask most of the inevitable innocaently stupid questions I've stiull gotr these in my head.

I have a UBD street map of my new home, Melbourne. However, I understand that 'everyone' uses the Melways map. But everytime I go into a bookshop like Angus and Roberston I can never find it. Am I going mad? Where do you get the Melways map? I feel like a complete twit to ask.

What's the local (Victoria) jargon for the 'Highway Code'? What book do I buy for my wife to study it from?

And even stupider.....

I've just hired a car that automatic. OKay, so:
P = Park
N = Neutral
D = Drive
R = Reverse
What is '1', '2' and what is this 'overdrive' button thing I have?

Thanks

Neil The Dim

kiwichild

the automatic car shift:

1 is sometimes L
2 is usually always 2 but can be S

Think of 1 or L as first gear. 2 or S as 2nd-3rd gear and D as 3rd-4th gear

You should really start in N move to 1 or L then into 2 then D

Always use 1 (0-15KPH)or L at very low speeds or coming down or going up very steep grade, 2 or S for for moderately steep grade and slowish speeds (15-40 KPH)

Use D for speeds over 40 KPH

An automatic is clutchless not gearless ( they have things called "bands" on the gearbox drive (spline). When automatics can detect the road and act accordingly ( computerised one day maybe) then their will no longer be a 1/L and 2/S

MAPS: A map book is a map book. Which one is only a preference thing. All streets and suburbs are still the same. UBD is fine Why shell out good money just cause others prefer melway?

If UBD was shit no one would buy it and they'd stop publishing it

kiwichild

Forgot the overdrive thing. Overdrive is a cruise thing that you usually employ when you are out on a long road trip where the speed limit is continuously at say 100 KPH or more. (not for use in built up areas or where speed limits change over short distances)

kiwichild

PS: Feel free to leave me some Karma ( you hit the blue button at the bottom left corner) for being so damn helpful

Pootle

I've seen melways and vic roads maps for sale at post shops.
Pootle

ps we use both and they are very useful!

kirsty&al

Hello,

You're more likely to get a Melways in a newsgent or Big W than in a normal bookshop.

For "normal" driving conditions you put the car in D and it does everything for you. You use 1 and 2 (and 3 on our car) for steep hills to stop the car changing up and down too much - it's a way of telling the car to stick in this gear (or lower) while we go up this hill. For example, going up the twisty road that leads to the top of Arthur's Seat I put our car into 3 and it goes up smoothly - remember to put it back into D when you get to the top. (Note I got this information from the car manual when I was trying to workout how to use the CD multichanger )

Cheers
Alistair

gogdownunder

yeh, saw Melway today for $33 in Big W.

UBD seem to be swamping the Melbourne market I think, it won't do them any good cos

1/ any map reference you get in Melb will be a Melway number cos that's what everybody already has

2/ UBD haven't got their act together. Nearly bought a property last week backing on to a park. UBD didnt have a name for the park but Melway called it the "Proposed Healseville Freeway". :scared:

Nice work UBD

ABCDiamond

I've been driving automatics for 30 years, and always start in D and stay in D. Only ever use 1 or 2 if it's a VERY steep hill, and I haven't found one in Australia like that yet

gogdownunder

Dead right, have found 1 & 2 useful for getting off wet grass in an auto. getting bogged on a lawn can make you look like a bit of a tosser

ABCDiamond

It made me wonder if I have been driving it the correct way, so I did a quick search, and found a very detailed page titled "The Use of Automatic Gearboxes" by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents at: http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/advi..._gearboxes.htm

It starts of with "Automatic gearboxes and modern derivatives are becoming more common but some drivers are uncertain as how to make the best use of them". So it is not an unusual question to ask

Banksia

Sydney Morning Herlad Column 8 reports on a reader who uses the 1940 edition of Gregorys on the basis that if the address isn't in that edition, it's not worth going there.

wongstonn

First, thanks for the responses.

Second, thanks for not picking me up on the atrocious spelling in my first post of this thread.

Neil

helinuk

A good link ABC
I have to confess I usually use D. I used D to get up and down "Arthurs seat" at Mornington no problem.
The only time I came upstuck in uk using D. was going round a bend on a country lane in the snow, I did a slow motion skid into a bush! I learnt afterwards I should have moved into 1or 2 whilest it was snowing.(my excuse was that it was only just after buying/ driving an automatic in Uk -I hadn't come across snow for 6 yrs!)

Neil everyone seems to use Melways as a reference in Melbourne. From estate agents to your childs school when telling you how to get to the class picnic or sports event. And of course Bordy and Co usually give the BE meet up location as a Melways ref
try this as a download for the your wife :http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrpdf...inginVicRR.pdf
for the Highway code. I might be wrong but think you can buy it from book shops too.

wongstonn

Excellent, thanks.

You know, when we met last October (?), one just knew that you'd figure a way out of getting to Oz, even though you didn't seem to know at the time how you'd do it. Everything OK? Son doing okay at college?

helinuk

Hi N eil and wife
will send a pm don't want to bore everyone on BE!