automatic drive cars

[rickoshea]

As a driver of 45 years and always driven manual gearbox cars my daughter has aquired an automatic citreon car which i am insured to drive my question is, is there a correct way to drive an automatic car ? do you for instance put it in park at traffics lights or traffic queues with handbrake on or off I would be grateful for advice

Thanks in advance

Rick
a very young 72

[samak]

You only use "park" when you are parking.
It is easiest just to select drive when you start and leave it there until you get where you are going. The footbrake is sufficient to hold the car at traffic lights.

[moonraker558]

You don't need to put it into the park position just cover the brake with your foot or use the handbrake. If you are not used to driving an automatic car I have found in the past the easiest way to get used to it is to drive with your left foot (clutch) tucked right back so you don't get the urge to reach for the clutch pedal when changing gear.

[samak]

And sit on your left leg ! So you don't try to put the clutch in and brake instead...

[rickoshea]

to Samak and moonraker558 you are so right about the left foot and I do tuck it under, thanks for the prompt and helpful advice, you are nighthawks like me ,be lucky like me.

[moonraker558]

moonie to my AB friends.

[sigma]

Don't forget, when you get back into a manual car that it has a clutch and you need to use your left foot. I came back from the States after having a week driving an automatic, get into my manual car, got to a set of traffic lights and forgot about depressing the clutch pedal. Doh !!!!

[gina32]

if you are going to be stuck in traffic for a while, i.e road works and temp lights just put the car into neutral then you dont need to use the brake

[R1Geezer]

D for forwards, R for back wards, drive with one foot, never use the hand brake like you would for a manual whilst driving, I never use it full stop. Put it in P for parking. When stopped for a few seconds just keep foot on main brake, for longer waits put it in N if on flat or P if not. In traffic lift off let the car creep. Forget you have a left leg at all times, do not listen to the few plonkers who insist on using both feet, they will crash the care or crash their head through the windscreen!

Some have triptronic but I've never seen the point frankly.

[rickoshea]

Thanks to all you out there for your kind help

[JonnyBoy12]

I would strongly advice removing your left leg for the length of the journey, as you may well touch the brake pedal by mistake. I do not know any driver who has not done this by mistake, and you almost go through the screen. Repeat keep your left leg right out of the way.

[rickoshea]

thanks JonnyBoy12 you have been a great help

[sir.prize]

Don't forget the handbrake completely. It can be very useful on hill starts.

[Postdog]

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1015826.html

A little while ago I askeda question about autos cos of concerns like yours. The best advice I got to convince was that it was like driving a dodgem (only steerable). I got one and I love it.More to the point I love driving off from hills now, I love the lack of effort needed, and I have never had a wrong pedal problem.

There are plenty of comments elsewhere, just serach automatic cars.

[Postdog]

convince me that should have said

[R1Geezer]

makes no difference in an automatic sir.prize

[sir.prize]

R1Geezer - it makes a difference to me. I drive a Peugeot 3008 Crossover Automatic. The hill-start assist handbrake is positioned in the centre console. If I stop on a gradient using the foot-brake, as soon as I remove my foot the car will move backwards before I have chance to depress the accelerator. The hand brake holds the car stationary until the accelerator 'kicks-in'.

[R1Geezer]

fair enough, my car stays there.

[Postdog]

I don't need the handbrake on hills either.

[SpikeyBush]

I got an auto after my back went and I couldn't drive a manual comfortably. Lovely to drive but more to go wrong. With 182k on the clock now the gearbox has a mind of its own. Tiptronic mode averts this 'moment' my car has when it decides to rev between 2nd and 3rd until the valves & pistons dance around on the bonnet with each other.

My next car will be manual with a pack of painkillers.

[sandyRoe]

I know next to nothing about cars, but isn't 182K from any car fairly good?