Changing to Reverse Gear.

[Headtime]

What would happen is say whilst driving at 70mph on a motorway, I put the car into reverse gear? Would the car slow down gradually, or would it result in spinning the car off the road and disintigrating the engine?

[Oneeyedvic]

Very tempted to say why don't you try it..... Disintigrating engine very quickly, probably a fire, closure of motorway for 8 hours on a Friday afternoon, very frustrated motorists......

[country_boy]

You wouldn't get it into gear but you'd have some nice tunes to listen to! Try it at 5-10 miles an hour, you'll see what I mean!

[tomd]

I don't think it'd go, it'd just chunk, rattle and screetch but the gear wouldn't engage. My friend did this while driving a 4 speed, expecting to shift it into 5th. The funniest thing was he just looked confused and tried again.

[Del68]

If you actually depressed the clutch and forced it into reverse the first thing you would experience is a bone shattered racket of mangled gear cogs from the gear box. The drive shaft will have sheared, and if you are lucky, not come up through the floor or through he bulkhead into the cabin, if you are in a front wheel drive car you would probably lock then shear the drive shafts to the wheels, go in to a spin and have written off the whole car as replacing engines, drive trains and gear boxes are v expensive. Enjoy the ride!

[ianess]

Tried that once.....the gearbox was never quite the same again and it didn`t even go into reverse but made the most horrible screeching noise. I thought I was in 3rd changing into 4th but was in fact in 5th. Not recommended.

[Headtime]

Cheers all. Thought so! I don't think I will try it.

[j2buttonsw]

There is nothing like giving yourself 3 stars and ignoring the people who bothered to answer you. That's what I love about this site...

[Ray the DJ]

Why did you ask this question? Are you thinking of trying it? If so, let me know when and where. I'll stay in home that day.

[bluedolphin]

It used to be a popular pastime with rental cars in Australia back in the 70'S but u need two or 3 pairs of hands to do it......

[Phantaxus]

Didnt Jeremy Clarkson do this on top gear while he was testing the Jaguar XJ220. Jaguar were not amused

[Headtime]

Mr j2buttonsw, not giving myself 3 stars. The 3 stars were for everyone who replied.