Driving an Automatic

Firefly

I haven't driven much recently because I've had a shoulder injury so have taken the opportunity to have some work done on my car. I told the mechanic not to rush as I didn't need the car.

Typically DS2 has a hospital appt on Weds and I need to drive him there, but ... DS1 is on holiday and has left me with his pride and joy. He's told me I can borrow it; I'm 3rd party insured to drive it; he wouldn't mind. The fact it's an automatic is fantastic because I don't need to change gear on my dodgy shoulder, however ...

I've not driven an automatic for 20yrs since I drove in the USA.

Can I remember? Is it wise for me to do so? People have said it's easy ... but is it really. I don't want to destroy his pride and joy!

Inactive

Best advice is to tuck your left foot well back from the pedals.

Remember not to put the vehicle in to Park until the wheels have stopped turning.

That's about it.;)

Lemonade_Pockets

D for forwards
R for Backwards
P or N for stationary

Left pedal to slow down. Right pedal to go faster.

Thats about the long and short of it.

Given that you've been driving for at least 20yrs i would guess your a competent driver. In which case you will have no problem what so ever.

If in doubt go somewhere quiet to get the feel back first.

N.b When your parking @ the hospital just remember that the car will creep forwards (or backwards) without you touching the accelerator.

MX5huggy

Maybe ring your insurer or buy day insurance so that you are fully comp and then you will relax and not have any problems at all.

zappahey

Inactive wrote: »

Best advice is to tuck your left foot well back from the pedals.

This.

And then tie it back so that it can't go anywhere. I've done some rather impressive emergency stops when I've tried to put my foot on the clutch.

Firefly

Thanks everyone. When I get to the top of the hill and have to pull out on to the main road I can't visualise how I'll do that without it rolling back when I've only got two pedals.

The normal handbrake, clutch, biting point, slow release of handbrake won't work then, will it?

Yes I'm a reasonable driver and don't worry about driving anywhere but I've only ever had old cars never nice shiny sporty convertibles!

Pssst

Make extra allowance when approaching corners/changing direction/stopping as the automatic may have a tendency to taken longer to slow down !

Dave101t

i always take in the dimensions of the vehicle for parking and manouvering purposes as this saves 'hoping' when doing a tight turn/park.

worried_jim

You don't need the brake on the hill leave it in drive and when you remove your foot from the brake it wont roll back, my Honda will sit on a slope with no break required- light changes hit the gas and you are away. dead easy don't worry!

thevinternet

Firefly wrote: »

Thanks everyone. When I get to the top of the hill and have to pull out on to the main road I can't visualise how I'll do that without it rolling back when I've only got two pedals.

The normal handbrake, clutch, biting point, slow release of handbrake won't work then, will it?

Yes I'm a reasonable driver and don't worry about driving anywhere but I've only ever had old cars never nice shiny sporty convertibles!

You don't need to worry about this - modern automatics shouldn't roll back on hills, they are designed not to do it. You'll just continue to creep forward if you take your foot off the break. If it's a very steep hill, you might roll back an inch or two, but then you'll start moving forward again. Use the handbrake if you're wary to begin with. Hope this helps. xx

Firefly

Dave101t wrote: »

i always take in the dimensions of the vehicle for parking and manouvering purposes as this saves 'hoping' when doing a tight turn/park.

Ooh it does fancy beepy things to help you park! I've already planned my route so that I don't have to do anything complicated or fancy and will avoid single track lanes!