How to drive an automatic

Andy_Edinburgh

> Hear Hear. I have had many "ding dongs" with Honest John and others who favour "two feet automatic driving" In my opinion, VERY DANGEROUS PRACTICE.

Agreed - it's a highly questionable practice, and in any case not needed because every automatic I've ever driven (at least half a dozen cars between new and fifteen years old) have shown enough "creep" at idle to permit manouvering with the right foot resting lightly on the brake pedal ready for immediate application if needed. Never needed to use both feet...

derrick

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good evening: Yes..did my Road test in an automatic then drove an manual thereafter... And yes, most people I know took road test in an automatic.

HTH

Canucklehead

You cannot drive a manual if you pass your test in an auto, until you pass in a manual.

Inactive

derrick wrote: »

You cannot drive a manual if you pass your test in an auto, until you pass in a manual.

I believe he ( she ) was talking about Canada.

Of course a Canadian Licence isn't valid in the UK after a given time period, so no doubt he / she will have since taken a UK Driving Test where an Automatic Licence does not cover a Manual vehicle.

economiser

Only just seen this thread. Amazed at the anti left foot braking brigade. Seems obvious. Two pedals, two feet, one for each pedal. I drive autos and manuals regularly and never have had any trouble adapting. Just because you brake with your left foot doesn't mean you have to drive with your foot on the pedal anymore than you drive a manual with your foot on the clutch all the time.

Live and let live and do what you find best.

Canucklehead

Inactive wrote: »

I believe he ( she ) was talking about Canada.

Of course a Canadian Licence isn't valid in the UK after a given time period, so no doubt he / she will have since taken a UK Driving Test where an Automatic Licence does not cover a Manual vehicle.

Good morning: Definitely 'she' (hint is in my post where I say 'only woman' ) I exchanged my Ontario (Canada) licence for UK version awhile back... they wouldn't give straight exchange for car or motorcycle so can only legally drive an automatic or ride a teensy bike.

HTH

Canucklehead

lucy_w86

I have just read through this long discussion about automatics but am still a little confused. I know you have D and then some have 1-2-3.
When and why would you use 1, 2 or 3 instead of just D?

Inactive

lucy_w86 wrote: »

I have just read through this long discussion about automatics but am still a little confused. I know you have D and then some have 1-2-3.
When and why would you use 1, 2 or 3 instead of just D?

I would use them in slowish moving traffic, to stop the Auto box from continually jumping up and down all gears, however this isn't totally necessary.

lucy_w86

Inactive wrote: »

I would use them in slowish moving traffic, to stop the Auto box from continually jumping up and down all gears, however this isn't totally necessary.

So would 1 be the slowest and 3 the fastest?

Can you change into these gears whilst moving?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

1 2 and 3 on most boxes set a higher limit beyond which the box will not change gear.

Normal driving you use D, but on steep descents you might drop into 4 or 3, to help control the speed of the vehicle without resorting to using the brake.

On twisty roads where you're making progress it can make a lot of sense to use 3 or 4, this holds the engine at a higher rpm but also reduces the number of gearchanges, which makes for a smoother drive and increased control and handling.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

lucy_w86 wrote: »

So would 1 be the slowest and 3 the fastest?

Can you change into these gears whilst moving?

1 is first gear. 3 is 3rd gear. The difference between 3 and D is that the car, when in 3, will not change into 4th or 5th gears.

You can change into whatever gear you wish while driving but the car will decide if the change will happen - for instance the car's ECU will not allow a change into 2 when you're doing 60mph, as you'd spin out of control and wreck the gearbox (and the car).

One thing to note is that a 5 speed automatic gearbox will normally have 4 forward gears, and reverse (5 gears total). 6 speed autos have 5 forward gears and reverse.