[bvanzyl]

I was pulled over yesterday and warned that I was not
allowed to use engine braking in the town limits.

My car is a fully auto QP GTS. I was driving in sport
manual mode, and downshifting.

Anyone else
ever had this happen? I explained to the officer
that the car is an automatic. Is this strictly
engine braking? I love the blip on downshifts in
sport manual mode, and would hate to have to
now drive in auto just to avoid the po-po. The
officer informed me that they will ticket
next time. WTF?

In auto mode, or manual mode (without sport button
depressed) the car will select a lower gear
when rolling and slowing down without the brake, the only difference
will be that you won't hear the blip as the car is basically Lexus-like
quite in auto mode. If I have this happen again, I'd like to have
some information to help me (if it truly is engine braking, then I guess
I will have to drive in fully auto, or roll the dice).

[GTJoe]

I don't think there's any getting around that it is engine braking when you throw it in a lower gear and the revs jump (and noise level). I thought the restrictions were for diesel truck noise but this guy probably wanted to make a point with you. I'd roll the dice.

[bvanzyl]

Originally Posted by GTJoe

I don't think there's any getting around that it is engine braking when you throw it in a lower gear and the revs jump (and noise level). I thought the restrictions were for diesel truck noise but this guy probably wanted to make a point with you. I'd roll the dice.

Lol. I think I'll roll the dice. Cops have NOTHING better to do here. RCMP R a joke. Funny, all crotch rocket bikes are ignored. I know the radio chatter - black Masearti, pull him over. I know the Sobeys don't get the same treatment. I guess I was born into the wrong family. Sobeys basically own this town.

Cheers.

[GTJoe]

Originally Posted by bvanzyl

Lol. I think I'll roll the dice. Cops have NOTHING better to do here. RCMP R a joke. Funny, all crotch rocket bikes are ignored. I know the radio chatter - black Masearti, pull him over. I know the Sobeys don't get the same treatment. I guess I was born into the wrong family. Sobeys basically own this town.

Cheers.

Get a "I shop at Sobey's" bumper sticker, you're all set.

[TBigs]

Oh, mercy! Those boys have it out for you, BVZ!! You might want to invest in some doughnuts and coffee, maybe some oats for their horses too!

But this is the sticker you need: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...FratPolice.jpg

[bvanzyl]

Lol. Thanks for that T. My new tattoo.

[nick 55]

Technically speaking, any time you remove your throttle input(ie:lifting your foot off the gas pedal at all) you are engine braking. So if you coast to a stop, or coast to slow down, you are, by his definition, breaking the law. The law was put in place to reduce noise from trucks(lorries if you are on the east side of the pond) by restricting them from using "Jake" brakes. A "Jake" is essentially a mechanical device that holds the exhaust valves open to vent pressure from compression and power strokes. That is something that is completely driver selectable by flipping a switch.

Sounds like your officer was just being an ass this time. Technically, by his theory, anyone who coasts down from speed without applying brakes is engine braking. I'm sure if he rear- ended you because you slammed on your brakes to prevent engine braking he would find fault with that also.

Nick

[bvanzyl]

The police have been looking out for me ever since I got the car. A local officer (who has a kid that plays soccer with my boys) told me to be careful. Several people have complained about the noise and claim I was speeding. The issue I found is that in sport manual mode, the car SOUNDS like it's going 185 mph, especially in 1st, even if your are well within the speed limit - people have a perception of speed simply based on the sound coming from that amazing engine. Anyway, I'm going to continue to drive the car as usual, and when/if I get stopped again, I'd rather go to court. As mentioned above, everyone engine brakes whether they know it or not when coming to a stop with the foot off the throttle prior to engaging the brake I.e., letting the car select a lower gear as the revs go down. . From what I have read here, the only difference is that in my car, it's more obvious because of the matching blip and having the valves open in sport mode.

Perhaps the officer was having a bad day. BTW, this particular cop is known for ticketing Doctors, judges, and nurses on their way to work. In one case, he ticketed a judge, and that morning was appearing in front of the same judge for a criminal case. Lol. Not sure how things went.

If you live in a small town, there is an unwritten rule - don't be too flashy with your money. Where I live, it's worse given that even the Sobeys keep a low profile. We worked hard for our current financial situation, and I'm not about to try to hide our money because some feel that we are showing off. What's the point in earning your reward, and then feeling awkward about it? Sorry to quote you again Nick55, but life really is too short.

[nick 55]

That sucks. Sounds like you need a souped up Mustang to run around in your town. Maybe find some kid with one and buy him an exhaust for it. Take the attention off of you....

Nick

[russarch]

I'd like to know what charge the officer will give you. Engine breaking is a legitimate method for slowing your car while reducing break wear. If its an issue of noise, then isn't it incumbent on the officer to prove that the noise was excessive or in violation of local noise ordinances. Good luck proving that. "Yes your honor, I stopped this gentleman for engine breaking because his car kind of sounded louder than normal for a few seconds. I don't know exactly how loud it was, because it happened so quickly and I had no way of measuring the sound."

[nick 55]

Are there any Harley owners in your area? Most likely, their bikes are louder than your car ever will be.

Nick

[TBigs]

Originally Posted by bvanzyl

The issue I found is that in sport manual mode, the car SOUNDS like it's going 185 mph, especially in 1st, even if your are well within the speed limit - people have a perception of speed simply based on the sound coming from that amazing engine.

Yes, definitely. I've had people think I'm punching it when I'm just puttering along but not shifting until 5 grand or so. That Italian opera makes it sound like you're trying!!

Originally Posted by bvanzyl

The police have been looking out for me ever since I got the car. A local officer (who has a kid that plays soccer with my boys) told me to be careful. Several people have complained about the noise and claim I was speeding.

That really sucks. I can totally understand that you don't want to go out of your way to hide your success. I feel the same way, after busting my ass for so many years. Time to enjoy a bit. I'm not sure what I would do in your position. I'm not big on conflict, so I'd probably try to be friendly with some of the cops (I bet your soccer buddy and his kids, and even his cop friends, would love a ride!) and keep sport off in town and drive her a bit more like I *didn't* steal her and then open her up out of town. On the other hand, making friends with the judge would be great too! LOL

[soon teoh]

I would take the po po for a ride..... and explain thet the car has a mind of it's own!!!

[bvanzyl]

The father of one of our friends is a judge, but alas, he doesn't handle traffic cases. I'm sure I can always call in a favour or two regardless.

Of course, my wife likes to remind me that she warned me that this would happen. Lol. Her mantra last year was "Why do you have to drive that thing in sport mode? It's so loud".

Yeah, Tbigs, I may just have to have my finger on that sport button when my spider senses start tingling.

[michaeladler]

What a crock! If this happens again say to the cop :al-Qaeda: and tell him that the police would be far better off hunting for terrorists living amongst us than downshifting noise in a QP GTS. At the time of 9/11, I lived in Coral Springs, FL and after the attack, found out that Mohamed Atta the lead terrorist also was living in Coral Springs, two minutes from my house, in a condo. He had been stopped for a minor driving infringement and had no drivers license with him and the cop let him go!