10 to 2 Anyone?

"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll) 11/27/2013 at 17:56 • Filed to: driving etiquette

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I know that I'm a little late to the game watching the newest Petrolicious. You all have seen it by now, so let's cut right to the chase. This guy drives a nice car, but the way he holds the steering wheel really puts me off. His right hand constantly on the shifter, his left hand on the BOTTOM of the wheel! He's not even doing the Douchebro handle, a.k.a. right hand on shifter, left hand on TOP of the wheel.

The Douchebro still gives you a modicum of control should something go wrong. You can still give it almost half a turn to the left or right. But gripping it at the bottom? While giving it the beans?

I rode passenger on a trip to Berlin with a mate this summer, he did this, and he scarcely used the indicator ON THE AUTOBAHN. After kindly mentioning this to him, I just decided to pray and turn a blind eye.

So, where do YOU grip the wheel?

I may not be perfect, but I try hard to do the 10 t0 2 thing. I sometimes find myself doing the douchebro, but at least I try!

Saracen > Klaus Schmoll 11/27/2013 at 18:15

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9 and 3, or just my left hand at 9 (right hand is always ready to get to 3)....I never got the whole driving with one hand at 12.

GhostZ > Klaus Schmoll 11/27/2013 at 18:16

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11 and 4. It's a weird grip, but it keeps my right hand low and lets my left hand (the dominant one) have more control over the wheel.

True story, but my old Mustang had a weird, rounded steering wheel:

And those pockets made it impossible to do 10 and 2 comfortably, however , by keeping my right hand low enough that if I needed to suddenly jerk the wheel to the right, I could just move my right hand across my front to the left. It would snuggle in that pocket and pull the wheel at the bottom (while my hand on the top pulled toward the right). If I didn't have power steering though, that probably would have hurt.

Long story short, I could get that wheel lock to lock without shuffling hands or moving around, by just using those indentations, basically letting me get those last 90 degrees before lock by moving my arms, not my wrists.

Thing is, if you have big (or even normal) hands, they'd just get stuck. I have small hands, so sliding them in and out and around the wheel was no problem.

Aaron James > Klaus Schmoll 11/27/2013 at 18:18

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I've driven "Douchebro" style since before either word was an actual thing. Like since before the Internet. I always feel like I have the most control that way. If needed I can bring my right hand to the wheel quick enough but I can always change gears or put it in neutral whenever I need to. Sure on the highway I might steer with my right hand to give my left hand a break.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Klaus Schmoll 11/27/2013 at 18:26

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9:35 -3:10

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Klaus Schmoll 11/27/2013 at 19:47

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Agreed. I find myself slipping into doing it every now and again, but I try to have a better hold at 9 and 3.

I won't really have a choice when I get the Spit, Lada or Fiat on the road. None of them have power steering.

Ferrero1911 > Klaus Schmoll 11/27/2013 at 19:58

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I love that you call it the "Douchebro."

I try to keep my hands at 9 and 3. Sometimes I catch myself keeping my right hand ready to shift (not on the shifter, not on the wheel, just kind of hovering.) I'm actively trying to keep that from becoming a habit though.