What's the point of Neutral on an Automatic gearbox?

rudebhoy

rudebhoy

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At the risk of appearing stupid -

Picked up the new car yesterday, it's the first automatic I've had. Like my last few cars it has an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function. If I select Drive but take my foot off the accelerator, it sits there quite happily, so there doesn't appear to be any need to slip it into Neutral like I would do with a manual gearbox?

Am I missing something here?
 
rudebhoy said:
At the risk of appearing stupid -

Picked up the new car yesterday, it's the first automatic I've had. Like my last few cars it has an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function. If I select Drive but take my foot off the accelerator, it sits there quite happily, so there doesn't appear to be any need to slip it into Neutral like I would do with a manual gearbox?

Am I missing something here?
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Isn't it something to do with having the ability to push the car in neutral

Auto car was get you to select it to be able to drag your car through

Means the wheels move freely I believe rather than have to turn the engine

Something like that
 
Without a neutral it would mean the car starting in gear and that’s never a good idea. It also allows you to “roll” the car if needed.

Agreed that the actual uses are limited with hold brakes and “park” functions (which are mainly just neutral with handbrake on).

I’d say the main reason you’d need it is if you broke down and needed to push the car.
 
GreiginFife said:
Without a neutral it would mean the car starting in gear and that’s never a good idea. It also allows you to “roll” the car if needed.

Agreed that the actual uses are limited with hold brakes and “park” functions (which are mainly just neutral with handbrake on).

I’d say the main reason you’d need it is if you broke down and needed to push the car.
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Surely you start the engine when the car is in P (Park)?
 
I thought it was if the car ever needs to be towed.
When the car is in P it has a small hook that slots into a gear cog this is what stops the car rolling.
 
GreiginFife said:
Yes, which is just neutral state with handbrake on. The gearbox doesn’t have a “park” state.
Click to expand...
Just copied this from the internet.....

Your automatic transmission has a device known as a parking pawl. This device locks the transmissions output shaft, preventing it from moving when your shifter is in Park.
 
banjofred said:
Just copied this from the internet.....

Your automatic transmission has a device known as a parking pawl. This device locks the transmissions output shaft, preventing it from moving when your shifter is in Park.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected. I know that in both of mine it’s just a neutral state with “parking brake” on. I can remove the parking brake and the car would roll.

This is handy if the car faults before starting.
 
My neighbour somehow managed to stall her Merc, it jammed and wouldn't start when the gear stick was in Park position, it only started when it was put in neutral.
 
When I am stopped (handbrake on) with the car in neutral (e.g. at traffic lights) there is no necessity to put my foot on the footbrake to put it in to drive.
 
rudebhoy said:
If I select Drive but take my foot off the accelerator, it sits there quite happily, so there doesn't appear to be any need to slip it into Neutral like I would do with a manual gearbox?
Click to expand...

If I select neutral with the parking brake on the revs drop quite noticeably on my car and depending on the situation goes in to eco mode ie the engine turns off.
 
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