Automatics at traffic lights

Gloomendoom

I can't say I've ever been bothered by other peoples' high level brake lights while waiting at traffic lights.

philbostavros wrote: »

God knows how I managed with my old Ford Consul Mk2 Lowline??

Back in the 1950's my granddad made a similar comment when my dad ordered the optional heater and a boot lock for his Ford Popular.

Iceweasel

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

That's a VAG thing. For ages I was thinking it was coincidence that I kept seeing people's fog lights on one side only dimming as if the bulb had just gone after they turned out of a street.


Now I find it's actually SUPPOSED to do that. Why I don't know, but there's a lot of people who actually want to have the stupid feature turned on where it's default is off, judging by the various VAG forums.

It's a 'cornering light' function.

TrickyWicky

Well I always leave my foot on the brake and the shift in drive. It's just the way i do it. If I'm going to be sat there for a while (eg traffic jam, highways have screwed up the light timings etc) then I'll shift into N and put the handbrake on. I'd never use the handbrake in drive though as some larger autos will still pull away.

Manual drivers I think are a tad inconsiderate to us auto drivers. Auto drivers have to use their gearbox a different way to manual drivers. The more shifting we do the more mechanical wear there is on the autobox. If it's left in drive, the torque converter takes the strain. This is perfectly ok for the TC as they're designed to be 'sloppy' and sluggish below 1k rpm. Most of them can take the strain upto 2k rpm for about 20 seconds before being destroyed due to the sheer brute force of the ATF against the impeller blades.

fannyadams wrote: »

AH!
that explains ALL the inconsiderate drivers who seem to sit at the lights with their brake lights on.

See what I mean about manual drivers?

fannyadams wrote: »

They MUST have automatics and HAVE to sit there with their foot on the brake and hence illuminating the entire front interior section of my car with their high level brake lights.

As explained above, autos work differently to your manual pile of rust. If you don't like the way they operate please do feel free to write to every automatic car manufacturer across the planet and demand they turn off the brake lights after X amount of seconds.

fannyadams wrote: »

Those Poor things... they have my sympathy..

On the contrary, you have ours. Your inferior manual boxes are nothing but trouble. Synchros that get knackered and grind teeth, become hard to get into gear, clutches that cost a fortune to replace and then more physical work at the same time as checking blindspots and mirrors. I think we auto drivers have quite a pleasant time to be honest.

fannyadams wrote: »

Oh, and I'll STILL beat you off the lights in my manual car (into gear when other lights sequence through amber, handbrake off when we are at red & amber and I'm gone on green

Get real. You clearly have little understanding of how an auto even works to declare how much faster you are. In an auto you're already in gear. Take your foot off the break just as the lights are about to change and you're already rolling. Tap the gas and you're away. With sport mode / kick down activated you've got no chance.

skegyuk

Most automatics will have an auto part function, this will put the handbrake on for you when stopped and come off when you press the accelerator, all while still in D.

TrickyWicky

skegyuk wrote: »

Most automatics will have an auto part function, this will put the handbrake on for you when stopped and come off when you press the accelerator, all while still in D.

I've had 4 and not one of them have had this.

Still think that 'most' do?

Gloomendoom

skegyuk wrote: »

Most automatics will have an auto part function, this will put the handbrake on for you when stopped and come off when you press the accelerator, all while still in D.

Some autos may have this feature, as may some manuals, but I think it is fair to say that most automatics will not have an auto parking brake function.

Stooby2

I was taught to leave an automatic in drive at lights as being stationary for a couple of minutes is not going to damage the box in any way.

I was also taught to apply the handbrake as if you are hit by another car - especially from behind - the brakes are on and your foot comes off the brake the car won't go anywhere.

I was also taught to put my foot on the brake before releasing the handbrake, then to release the brake and apply the the accelerator (all with my right foot) as this avoids the potential problem of pedal confusion as your brain registers the move across the pedals.

C_Mababejive

Previously thrashed to pieces on this forum. To digress...sitting idling for excessive lengths of time in turbo diesel vehicles,,allegedly bad for the turbo ..i.e overheats..

reeac

Hintza wrote: »

I doubt I have used my handbrake in the the last 12 months.

Don't they have any hills where you live?

reeac

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Get real. You clearly have little understanding of how an auto even works to declare how much faster you are. In an auto you're already in gear. Take your foot off the break just as the lights are about to change and you're already rolling. Tap the gas and you're away. With sport mode / kick down activated you've got no chance.

An auto also has the advantage of a torque converter which gives you lower initial gearing plus seamless raising of the gearing [no gear changing delay] up to maybe 30 mph depending on the car. Very advantageous at times.