Please help me drive my new automatic tomorrow

hothothot_3

very excited to get my new car tomorrow, yet excited/apprehensive that I have never had to drive an automatic before. Some family members have had automatics but that was in the 80s when there was just reverse neutral and drive. My new car has gears like this and looks a bit strange especially what 1 and 2 is for? I know P is for park - do you use this as a handbrake also? thanks. :beer:

P
R
N
D
1
2

hewhoisnotintheknow

yeah use p when you parked, i never use the handbreak (although its good to use it every so often to stop it seizing up)

also just use 1 foot, not two

1 and 2 is for ice, when you are stuck in mud etc, you will never use em!

Rikki

I swap from a manual to automatic depending on which car I use.

I use the handbrake and P when I have parked up on a hill.
2nd gear can be used when pulling away in snow and ice.
I use N neutral when stopped in traffic lights, rather than drive and foot on the brake.

You can use 1 and 2 when setting off, then into drive and using the car as a manual. This can be helpful when trying to maintain a lower speed limit, in a 20mph or 30mph zone.

hothothot_3

Thanks thats great. What I have heard is that it is dangerous to change the selector thing whilst driving, you should only do this when stopped. So if I stop at traffic lights on a hill, do I put it into P or N, or do I use P and handbrake? Once the light is green you just slide into D? Also, tomorrow will be lots of snow and ice, is it safe to use 2 or 1 to start off and then slide it into D whilst car is moving?

HotLegs

I drive an automatic too and I have a button that I can press and D3 appears on the screen, tbh I don't really know what it's for but I have it in my head it's for getting ahead of everyone else when the lights turn green

HotLegs

hothothot wrote: »

Thanks thats great. What I have heard is that it is dangerous to change the selector thing whilst driving, you should only do this when stopped. So if I stop at traffic lights on a hill, do I put it into P or N, or do I use P and handbrake? Once the light is green you just slide into D? Also, tomorrow will be lots of snow and ice, is it safe to use 2 or 1 to start off and then slide it into D whilst car is moving?

I just keep my foot on the break and then zoom like a nut when the lights change. During my lessons I was told to just put the handbrake.

hothothot_3

HotLegs wrote: »

I just keep my foot on the break and then zoom like a nut when the lights change. During my lessons I was told to just put the handbrake.

funny how driving an automatic is supposed to be easier, yet I feel petrified, Ive always found the more simpler something is designed the more difficult it is to understand. My OH thinks I am a mad man to want to drive tomorrow, especially with the weather, but I got a bargain and I feel like im going through a mid life crisis at 25, I feel too impatient to wait for this beauty

Rikki

hothothot wrote: »

Thanks thats great. What I have heard is that it is dangerous to change the selector thing whilst driving, you should only do this when stopped. So if I stop at traffic lights on a hill, do I put it into P or N, or do I use P and handbrake? Once the light is green you just slide into D? Also, tomorrow will be lots of snow and ice, is it safe to use 2 or 1 to start off and then slide it into D whilst car is moving?

There will be a button on the gear shift, you press this in as you change gear.

Stop at traffic lights , brake and change to N if you are going to be queuing a while. Then D as the lights change, off brake and away you go.

The roads are mainly gritted so I would just use D till you get used to the car. Maintain low even rev's when driving in the snow.

P is best left for parking only. Hand brake only for hill parking.

You'll need to find a hobby for your left foot as will be bored.

You'll be fine, it's easy really.

computershack

hothothot wrote: »

Thanks thats great. What I have heard is that it is dangerous to change the selector thing whilst driving, you should only do this when stopped.

OK...modern cars won't let you put it into anything that'll damage it although it can still be forced. When stopped on a hill waiting to move off as per a hill start, leave it in Drive. 1-4 are for when you want control over it, such as changing down to descend a steep hill although again, modern autos are good at this.

In short, stick it in D to go forward, R to go back and when you've parked, P. Use N if you're going to be stood for a while, i.e waiting for a level crossing.

HotLegs

hothothot wrote: »

funny how driving an automatic is supposed to be easier, yet I feel petrified, Ive always found the more simpler something is designed the more difficult it is to understand. My OH thinks I am a mad man to want to drive tomorrow, especially with the weather, but I got a bargain and I feel like im going through a mid life crisis at 25, I feel too impatient to wait for this beauty

Be careful Mr Hot I was driving to the gym on friday and minicab in front of me skidded into a lamppost, I haven't driven since because I'm too scared after seeing that.

tr82

Weirdest thing for me going to automatic was stopping on a hill ... no fumbling about with gears, handbrake & bite points. Just take your foot off the accelerator and come to a halt ... such a weird sensation, just "hanging there" ... LOL

Hope you have great fun in your new car :-)