How to drive an automatic

---lee---

ailuro2 wrote: »

Sorry I started a debate...

Why? We like a debate

---lee---

Canucklehead wrote: »

I passed my Driver's test in Ontario, Canada in the early 80s...automatics are in the majority in Canada...and as said previously don't drive with both feet (automatic fail on test as it is a dangerous practice!!)

That's interesting - did you do your IAM test in an auto?

My observer encouraged me to use the auto for the test as the manual car I use does not have a very smooth gear change between 2nd and 3rd (one of those stupid MPV things with the gear lever on the dash probably with 100 miles of flexible linkage to the gearbox) but I persevered with the manual as it would have been out of the ordinary here to use an auto (but acceptable). I guess from what you say it would be the reverse in Canada with most people taking the test with the auto.

Minerva69

Ooh what an interesting debate I've just passed my driving test in an auto and I was taught to do nothing with my left foot and use my right foot for braking and accelerating. The description of general driving in the Telegraph article is also how I was taught, and I've been told not to sit with my foot on the footbrake at lights as it dazzles other drivers.

Now all I need to do is find a nice auto car that I can afford to buy :rolleyes:

---lee---

Minerva69 wrote: »

I've been told not to sit with my foot on the footbrake at lights as it dazzles other drivers.

I've come up with another solution to that one. Disconnect the brake lights I only drive about 20 miles a day but usually spot around 4 cars with no working brake lights at all. That or they are using their feet through holes in the floor to stop.

I drove today using the handbrake method including city driving with plenty of stops and starts. I've hit a technical glitch in that I think my handbrake needs adjustment as the car sometimes 'lutches' < inch after I've fully applied the handbrake and am releasing the footbrake when pointing downhill. Of course, it could be that it's because it does not get used much and needs a bit more breaking in. I think I'll opt for a cunning combination of the two using the handbrake where I expect to be stopped for say 30 secs or more and see how I get on with that.

Remember, your brake lights are another signal to other drivers, just like indicators. You don't want to be sitting over the brow of a hill (or similar) in a queue without showing your brakelights :eek: They can buy the unprepared driver vital seconds.

Now all I need to do is find a nice auto car that I can afford to buy

The more powerful the car (within reason) the easier they are to drive. This applies even more to autos as some power is lost in the torque converter. Modern diesels with small engines produce a lot of torque at low revs and so make excellent automatics. Something like a 1.5L DCI would be ample. For petrol, anything less than 1.8/2L would be torturous to the extreme. Make sure you get a test drive and are satisfied with all aspects of the car – doubly so if buying new and planning to keep for a few years. I find that autos vary considerably between manufacturer. Some are excellent and seem to suit your driving perfectly, whilst with others they just seem to be at odds and out of pace with your driving at all times - that's one reason why a good test drive over varying road conditions is important.

You might also want to pickup a suit of armour as once the L plates are off it’s open warfare and you are fair game to all the nutters – not that I’m trying to put you off! My wife only passed her test a couple of months ago and has been amazed at how differently she is treat without the L plates

jackieb

Years ago, most automatic cars advertised the fact that they were automatic, by having an 'auto' or 'automatic' sign on the boot. Why did manufacturers stop doing that? I don't see any point in telling everyone what kind of gearbox you have, but I was just wondering.

movilogo

Using left foot in auto is ONLY advisable if you are already an expert driver. A novice should never use it initially.

Autos are supposed to be easier to drive - but this thread made them look complex

Autos also do offer engine braking! The transmission doesn't disconnect engine as soon as you press brake. Most standard autos use a hydraulic torque converter - which gradually disconects drive at lower RPM.

saxmund

I don't see why you should worry about having your brake lights on at traffic lights, they're not exactly blinding.

I usually drive a manual and when driving automatics I find the following cause me problems:

You can't use the clutch to micro-control your speed when manouevering or reversing. You should be able to use the car's ability to "creep" in Drive or Reverse, controlling it with the brake, but this isn't always as controllable. For example, last year on holiday I drove an A Class mercedes which couldn't creep on anything but the flattest of surfaces, meaning you sometimes had to juggle gas and brake when manouevering into a tight space.

To use engine braking going down hill you will have to use the gear selector, or if one gear lower is good enough, you can use Sport mode which I believe is usually one gear lower than it thinks it should be.

When accelerating, overtaking etc kickdown is often not as predictable or as instantaneous as you expect in a manual in the right gear, you also can't prepare for an overtake in the same way unless you manually select a lower gear first. Unfortunately, the gear selector is not usually as easy to use as a manual gearstick. The A-class I mentioned above, if you used the "down a gear" option, it seemed to want to be in sports mode for the rest of the day.

You can have problems if you need to be in a higher gear than usual (for example slipping in snow or mud) but some autos do have a Snow or "up a gear" setting.

In most circumstances it's very easy and... very boring.

---lee---

saxmund wrote: »

I don't see why you should worry about having your brake lights on at traffic lights, they're not exactly blinding.

:j

You can't use the clutch to micro-control your speed when manouevering or reversing. You should be able to use the car's ability to "creep" in Drive or Reverse, controlling it with the brake, but this isn't always as controllable. For example, last year on holiday I drove an A Class mercedes which couldn't creep on anything but the flattest of surfaces, meaning you sometimes had to juggle gas and brake when manouevering into a tight space.

Yes, I can see what you mean by that. Try a proper car though and it should not be an issue. It's not something that I've ever encountered other than on very steep slopes where the car will not creep unless gas is applied.

To use engine braking going down hill you will have to use the gear selector, or if one gear lower is good enough, you can use Sport mode which I believe is usually one gear lower than it thinks it should be.

Yes, that will be the same as a manual then.

When accelerating, overtaking etc kickdown is often not as predictable or as instantaneous as you expect in a manual in the right gear, you also can't prepare for an overtake in the same way unless you manually select a lower gear first.

Yes, that will be the same as a manual then. i.e. the best way to overtake is observe, select the appropriate gear, observe again, move out, observe again then overtake. To be able to overtake properly using this system, you need a powerful car (unless your overtaking something very slow moving). How instantaneouse the acceleration is depends on the car, engine, turbo etc.

Unfortunately, the gear selector is not usually as easy to use as a manual gearstick. The A-class I mentioned above, if you used the "down a gear" option, it seemed to want to be in sports mode for the rest of the day.

Again that sounds car specific. Most auto's have a selector and you simply select 1, 2, 3, D, N, R and P. There can however be a delay before the gear is engaged and in some circumstances the gearbox will simply ignore the instruction if it would cause the engine to explode for example.

You can have problems if you need to be in a higher gear than usual (for example slipping in snow or mud) but some autos do have a Snow or "up a gear" setting.

Any decent auto should allow you to lock the gearbox in any gear at any speed - i.e. 3rd at 10 MPH.

In most circumstances it's very easy and... very boring.

I can see why you would say that but I genuinely enjoy driving both. When I am driving a manual and am stuck in stop start traffic, I often think I wish I was in the auto. When I’m in the auto I never think, hmm, I wish I was in the manual. I find in the auto I can keep my hands on the wheel at almost all times. I have more time to observe, plan and anticipate what other drivers are doing without having to be concerned about when to change gear. My observation is that most people that drive manuals do not use the gearbox properly or change gear at the right time. They are often in inappropriate gears and choose the worst possible moments to snatch a gear change. Going up the gears without considering block shifting and changing down through the gears unnecessarily whilst slowing is very common. Some of these practises are distracting and downright dangerous.

Anyhow, I like em both manual and auto however I would conceed that there can be a greater element of control with a manual - but only when driven properly which is rare. I also think this has been a very interesting thread with varied opinions.

saxmund

---lee--- wrote: »

:j

Yes, I can see what you mean by that. Try a proper car though and it should not be an issue. It's not something that I've ever encountered other than on very steep slopes where the car will not creep unless gas is applied.

I think it was a tad underpowered...

On a couple of the other points: I know it seems obvious that you can manually select gears, but I think a lot of people forget you can do it when in an automatic, and just drive in auto mode.

I have to admit I prefer a manual; I prefer the element of (percieved at any rate) greater control. However, I rarely drive in stop-start traffic and regularly drive long distances on my own when I prefer having more to do.

Canucklehead

---lee--- wrote: »

That's interesting - did you do your IAM test in an auto?

My observer encouraged me to use the auto for the test as the manual car I use does not have a very smooth gear change between 2nd and 3rd (one of those stupid MPV things with the gear lever on the dash probably with 100 miles of flexible linkage to the gearbox) but I persevered with the manual as it would have been out of the ordinary here to use an auto (but acceptable). I guess from what you say it would be the reverse in Canada with most people taking the test with the auto.

Good evening: Yes..did my Road test in an automatic then drove an manual thereafter...learned how to drive in a half ton truck with 3 speed on the column...however obtained my motorcycle licence first, on a 400cc Yahama.. the only woman at the test site...all the guys had 125cc And yes, most people I know took road test in an automatic.

HTH

Canucklehead