Small auto cars with hill hold/hill assist

sonypc100

rach_k wrote: »

Would it be worth spending a few hours with a driving instructor, in her car, to give her confidence and offer a few tips? It sounds cheaper than buying a new car and, honestly, she should be able to do it herself anyway.

She can do it and has been driving it for a few months but shes still not at ease with it.

Its her choice to change and I am just assisting in sorting it out.

She has issues with her left shoulder so although she is more than capable of using the handbrake at any point in the journey it is required it is less painful for her if she only has to use it when parking up - which is pretty much the case when you have hill assist on an automatic.

forgotmyname

None of the auto's i have ever owned have ever rolled backwards.

And i rarely used the handbrake either. Stick it in park instead.

EssexExile

forgotmyname wrote: »

None of the auto's i have ever owned have ever rolled backwards.

And i rarely used the handbrake either. Stick it in park instead.

My Honda will happily roll backwards in drive, having had automatics for the last 30 years it was a bit of shock the first time it happened.

neilmcl

sonypc100 wrote: »

Its easy for me and maybe its easy for you but its not for her.

Which is precisely why you should be out their and showing her how to do it, and as I said build up her confidence.

sonypc100

EssexExile wrote: »

My Honda will happily roll backwards in drive, having had automatics for the last 30 years it was a bit of shock the first time it happened.

Yeah same for her. She’s had auto’s for over 30 years and hill assist has always been a standard and integral part of an automatic car so like you say - bit of a shock when it’s missing.

facade

The problem is "automatics" now use that dual shaft/dual clutch system. They have to disconnect the engine from the wheels when stationary or the clutch will wear out. You need a "proper" small torque converter auto. The Koreans still use them, so that is Hyundai i10, KIA Picanto, KIA Venga, Hyundai ix20, also Vauxhall Agila from around 2008 ish, I looked at one when I bought the woeful Renault Nee-San and thought it was too small to get a 'bike in the back.

Also the 1.6 Astra from about that time, but they suffer from the transmission cooler failing in the radiator, which fills the gearbox with engine coolant and the radiator with transmission oil.

Gloomendoom

neilmcl wrote: »

Are hill starts with automatics really that difficult, is using your handbrake such a pain?

It depends on how steep the hill is and how the handbrake releases. Some are either on or off.

It's easier just to use both feet on the rare occasion one is starting off on a precipice.

Gloomendoom

facade wrote: »

The problem is "automatics" now use that dual shaft/dual clutch system. They have to disconnect the engine from the wheels when stationary or the clutch will wear out

Some dual clutch autos use multiplate wet clutches that can simulate creep. Apparently, without undue wear.

facade

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Some dual clutch autos use multiplate wet clutches that can simulate creep. Apparently, without undue wear.

Hmmm....

Dual clutch is what puts me off these "modern" autos, I need a torque converter to crawl along in congestion stop starting and not getting above walking pace, for about 40 minutes a day, I can't see any clutch taking that, whereas the torque converter just warms the fluid up a bit.
Also, starting off the converter produces torque multiplication to get going, whereas the clutch types must thrape the proverbials off the engine and use the slippage to get the wheels up to the same speed, which must cause wear.

One would be alright if I did a lot of fast A road and motorway work so it never had to change gear, creep or start off, but I could easily mess with a conventional gear lever myself for that sort of driving

Gloomendoom

facade wrote: »

Hmmm....

Dual clutch is what puts me off these "modern" autos, I need a torque converter to crawl along in congestion stop starting and not getting above walking pace, for about 40 minutes a day, I can't see any clutch taking that, whereas the torque converter just warms the fluid up a bit.(

Couldn't agree more. Both my wife and I have cars with old school slushboxes behind big turbo-diesel engines.

My experiences with dual clutch transmissions hasn't impressed me at all (Skoda and Seat).