Driving an Automatic

[Lord Tyrion]

In a weeks time I am picking up my first automatic car. I've driven one before for a week and I did test drive one. Driving one full time is a different thing altogether though.

One question that immediately springs to mind is:

Is P only used when you are parked up and stopping, turning the engine off etc? If the stop is temporary do you use N?

Any other tips that the manual will not tell me?

 

[Slab]

In a weeks time I am picking up my first automatic car. I've driven one before for a week and I did test drive one. Driving one full time is a different thing altogether though.

One question that immediately springs to mind is:

Is P only used when you are parked up and stopping, turning the engine off etc? If the stop is temporary do you use N?

Any other tips that the manual will not tell me?

Very good :clap:

 

[User62651]

In a weeks time I am picking up my first automatic car. I've driven one before for a week and I did test drive one. Driving one full time is a different thing altogether though.

One question that immediately springs to mind is:

Is P only used when you are parked up and stopping, turning the engine off etc? If the stop is temporary do you use N?

Any other tips that the manual will not tell me?

If the stop is temporary you'll just sit on the brake, longer than that in put it in park, neutral isn't used much - might be useful if it conks out and you need to push it!

tip: Get you left foot well out of the way when you start on an auto, force of habit will have your left leg looking for an imaginary clutch and hitting the brake instead!

 

[USER1999]

I just stick it in D, and use the brakes. N is pointless, as im not going to bother using the foot operated parking brake as it is rubbish and i dont trust it. P is for when i get home, and want to take the ignition key out.

 

[BubbaP]

Yep, tuck your left leg under the chair for the first few hours is a usual one.

 

[guest100718]

mine doesn't have park. just neutral .

 

[G.U.R]

As above only ever used P when at a level crossing that was going to be down a while, other than that its D and foot on the brake. I've been driving it a year and still catch myself going for the clutch!

 

[Rooter]

I will never go back to a manual now. hate driving my wife's car so much!

Just wait for the traffic jam brake light police to moan at us all!!

 

[guest100718]

I will never go back to a manual now. hate driving my wife's car so much!

Just wait for the traffic jam brake light police to moan at us all!!

i doubt I'll ever go manual again either.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Just wait for the traffic jam brake light police to moan at us all!!

That was one of the areas I was thinking about. When at lights do you go into neutral, park or keep in D and annoy the overly sensitive driver behind you by keeping on the brake ?

 

[GreiginFife]

Some have a hold brake that keeps the car in drive but safely stationary.
Like most above, enjoy driving manual every now and again but wouldnt go back, the auto box copes with the power so smoothly.

 

[jim8flog]

When stopped at lights etc I keep the car in drive with my foot on the brake because the car goes in to ECO mode and turns the engine off. The engine restarts as soon as you lift you foot off the brake. For some reason it does not go in to ECO mode if put it in to Park.

If you have never driven an auto in winter in slippery conditions remember to switch the gearbox to 'ice mode' before pulling away. If it has a sports mode this keeps the car in each gear for a little bit longer to maximise acceleration.

 

[Blue in Munich]

The only issue with holding it on the footbrake, apart from the lack of consideration for the poor sod behind, is that the part of the brake clamped by the pads will not cool as quickly as the remainder of the disc and can lead to warping the discs.

Leave it in D and use the handbrake for me, although mine is now 10 years old and doesn't have all the modern technology so that may not be the best way for yours if you have ECO mode, hill hold or anything similar.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

My van (VW Transporter) is auto (it also has well used mirrors ) and I just leave it in D, and go/brake accordingly. When parking up, I stick it in P, no more. I only also put the hand brake on when I get home and my day is finished. My own car is still manual but the next one will defo be auto, auto is so much easier to drive slower.
When my wife first went over to an auto, she did the left foot brake thing which would have been ok if I hadn't just undone my seat belt to jump out only for her slamming on the brakes and throw me into the windscreen......oh how she laughed

 

[Bunkermagnet]

The only issue with holding it on the footbrake, apart from the lack of consideration for the poor sod behind, is that the part of the brake clamped by the pads will not cool as quickly as the remainder of the disc and can lead to warping the discs.

Leave it in D and use the handbrake for me, although mine is now 10 years old and doesn't have all the modern technology so that may not be the best way for yours if you have ECO mode, hill hold or anything similar.

Whilst I agree in principal, I would say that unless you have just done a hard brake from speed it should be ok. What I do find is that brake discs dont last with the modern pads, to a point where my van wil have a set of pads and discs together when the pads need changing. That might just be VW pads though....

 

[Hobbit]

I just leave it in D till I'm parking up, then it goes to P. Don't think I've ever used N...

 

[splashtryagain]

D whilst driving then P when parked - can't remember the last time I used N - or come to think of it 2,3,4 either!
Once converted you'll never go back, just be ready for the first drive emergency stop at every junction!

 

[Jensen]

Must be the exception, when I was waiting at traffic lights I used to pop it in neutral and apply the footbrake (Mercedes)

 

[GreiginFife]

Must be the exception, when I was waiting at traffic lights I used to pop it in neutral and apply the footbrake (Mercedes)

Mercs since 2010 have all had hold brakes where you press the foot take pedal one stationary and it activates the hold (doesn't affect the stop/start either).
Danger of being in neutral with your foot on the brake is that if hit from behind and your foot slips off the pedal you are going to shoot forward with no resistance.

 

[MarkE]

Neutral and handbrake if i'm stopping for any time. Left foot braking for me in an auto. Much prefer a manual though.