Driving an automatic Car

[Whickerman]

I need to go to the US, and will be hiring a car. I've never driven an automatic, and had no worries until i just checked a website that recommended using lower gears when going downhill to reduce braking. How do you select lower gears in an automatic? Thought there was just reverse, drive, park and neutral?

[robber1]

Depending on the car you hire, most have D (drive) then gears of 3, 2 &1. Whilst driving you simply shift into 3 to keep it in third, or 2 to keep it in second etc. There are variations of course but operate the same way. To go back to full auto, shift back to D.
I have multitronic automatic which gives me 6 gears and will drive like a manual box without a clutch. Or I can use it as a full auto.
Unless a hill is very steep you dont have to change gear though to go down it. I would advise you to just use Drive if you feel unsure about it. Controlling your descent on a hill using the brake is acceptable and I doubt if it will be a worry to you. Enjoy your holiday, all will be well.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

drive it as you would here in D drive,there really is no need to use any other setting,i have driven autos in the USA a lot and there is no need to use 1,2,3,gears.reducing speed is done by braking on a auto not by changing down gears.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

also your gear will be selected by the speed you travel at,there is no need to use anything other then D

[stewey]

In the northern states and in Canada, the lower gears, 1 or 2, are sometimes used to enable you to start off and/or continue moving through deep snow.

[robber1]

If an auto is left in D whilst going down a hill, the car will go faster and faster unless controlled by braking. Only whilst travelling on the flat or up hill will the box select an appropriate gear. Unfortunately, the weight of the car lets the car run on.
Some auto boxes (Audi) can sense if the car is going down hill and selects a lower gear, but this is not standard on most automatics. Therefore it is best to assume that the car which is hired will not fullfill this function and to drive in D with small braking adjustments when required. Or if the driver feels comfortable with the car, select a lower gear.

[stewey]

Robber1, I have to say that you are really complicating the situation for Whickerman. I don't know what kind of automatic-drive you are used to but over here in North America you simply move the gear-shift to D and drive along and use the accelerator to give it more or less gas, depending upon your desired speed. The engine does all the work for you: that's why it's called 'automatic'.

[Neilzulu1]

Driving an automatic car is like driving a bumper car,its really easy.

[stewey]

Sorry..........oops......should have said 'petrol'!:}

[robber1]

Well Stewey, Whickerman seemed to like my first response. My second was really a reply to Normanthedog.
Whickerman was asking about going down a steep hill with an auto, not driving under normal conditions.
BTW, I buy and sell cars, repair cars, drive HGV's too, and have driven automatics for 35 years. Anybody who just leaves an auto in D is not getting the best out of it but its OK if that is what the driver wishes. Anyway I wasnt intending to get into a discussion about it. Read my first post and read the question.

[Whickerman]

Thanks for all your help guys. I wasn't aware that there were 1,2,3 options, so thanks for that. To be honest, it probably would have made me bloody nervous if I hadn't found out first. I reckon that if I can drive using a gear stick I should be ok, thanks to all your answers.

[stewey]

I still say that you are complicating the matter. The poster is going on holiday in a different country, driving on a different side of the road, driving a different car, facing different traffic signs, lights, regulations, etc: simple is what he wants (I imagine). So, to make it simple, put it in D and drive. By the way, I think Norman should have got the stars: he came up first with the most sensible answer. P.S., I've been driving 'automatics' for 41 years.

[kempie]

To be honest stewey in what way is moving a lever from D to 3 (or any other gear) in any way complicated?

Downhill engine-braking by selecting an appropriate gear reduces the possibility of brake fade.

http://www.rospa.com/RoadSafety/advice/driving /automatic_gearboxes.htm

[Panic Button]

If you follow the Rospa advice you might as well get a manual gearbox!
Whoever wrote that makes a simple subject incredibly complicated.
Just stick it in D and forget it.

[stewey]

Hello, Kempie: use 'cruise control'.......ah, there's another kettle of fish. Anyway, going out for a couple of wobblies; maybe talk to you guys later.

[stewey]

What would you like to drink, Panic?

[NORMANTHEDOG]

robber1,for someone who has had about as much experience as i have had in the motor trade,you are talking a load of $hite,tell me what does a automatic gearbox do when you are going downhill and braking.......yes, you got it,the gears automatically go down.so please dont talk rubbish.

[nightmare]

To Stewey,
you stated a few answers back that the low gears, 1 and 2 are used for setting off and moving through snow.
That is very strange, when the recommended setting on my BMW for snow is M3 i. e. in third gear - less chance of wheel spin.
Anyway, when you drive a manual transmission car in snow, you always try to keep in as high a gear as possible for the speed at which you are travelling

[stewey]

Precisely, nightmare, you are right. Thats what you do in snow with a manual transmission. However, my previous post to which you refer is regarding an automatic transmission: different story in snow all together..........use D1 or D2.

[Alltorque]

For straightforward holiday motoring in USA, with an Automatic, there are really only 3 "selector lever" positions you need : P for Park, D for Drive and R for Reverse. No, I know it's not getting the "best" out of the auto 'box but you're on holiday in a strange car/land so keep it simple and enjoy.....................and it's not your car and you won't break it anyway.