Never driven an automatic before...

Never driven an automatic before...

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rptsport

60 posts

183 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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My four-penneth... I HATE sitting behind someone with their foot on the brake at the lights - especially when it's dark nights. Driving a low sports car I get a face full of brake lights....!!

Apparently some automatic cars show brake lights when stopped temporarily - can't remember which or what the mode is since I don't yet drive an auto. Lexus also has a brake foot lever to press on & off - feels strange like a ratchet. Don't know what was wrong with an old fashioned hand brake...

EK993

1,925 posts

251 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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I just keep my foot on the footbrake - along with 99# of other cars on the roads over here. Never had a problem with my retinas being burned out by the brake lights of the car in front of me either.

Sump

5,484 posts

167 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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rptsport said:
Lexus also has a brake foot lever to press on & off - feels strange like a ratchet. Don't know what was wrong with an old fashioned hand brake...
I love it, seems like such a logical place to stick it on an auto.

gixxer

103 posts

261 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Just use the parking brake when you park on a slope. Automatics oftimes use a parking brake pawl, to lock the transmission, which could be damaged if you try to shift the transmission from Park to another position if the car is on a slope, and the pawl is under a load.
If it makes a "bang" sound or the car lurches a bit when shifting from park, you should have used the parking brake.

bobbo89

5,216 posts

145 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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EK993 said:
I just keep my foot on the footbrake - along with 99# of other cars on the roads over here. Never had a problem with my retinas being burned out by the brake lights of the car in front of me either.
I'm the same, I've also owned and still do own some very low cars and its something I've never even noticed. There must be some delicate little flowers out there!

jmorgan

36,010 posts

284 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Handbrake (if manual) and leave it in D. Never bother with pPark, leave the gearbox to sort it out. Unless I am in a jam and not going to move for ages.

Monkeylegend

26,389 posts

231 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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RichB said:
Monkeylegend said:
Footbrake for a short stop or hold function for longer. It's not my fault Mercedes design it so the brake lights stay on.
Doesn't Merc have a park position on the gear selector?
Neutral and park.

NDNDNDND

2,022 posts

183 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Oh, and automatics are very boring to drive, so maybe take your breakfast with you so you've got something to do.

Tractor lad

150 posts

106 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Never use the handbrake in our auto M135i.
I find if you use them all the time, they can bind; especially when you live by the sea.

PanzerCommander

5,026 posts

218 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Tractor lad said:
Never use the handbrake in our auto M135i.
I find if you use them all the time, they can bind; especially when you live by the sea.
Other way around surely?

Lack of use means it will start sticking, if you continually use it it will wear at exactly the same rate as a manual.

Tractor lad

150 posts

106 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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PanzerCommander said:
Other way around surely?

Lack of use means it will start sticking, if you continually use it it will wear at exactly the same rate as a manual.
A persistent brake grumbling issue on our 335d was solved by not using the handbrake. I've stuck to not using one ever since (in an auto).

Studio117

4,250 posts

191 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Tractor lad said:
Never use the handbrake in our auto M135i.
I find if you use them all the time, they can bind; especially when you live by the sea.
Back under a new name vlad?

daniel1920

310 posts

118 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Also important, don't go to press the clutch down in an auto... First few times I drove one reflex reaction kicked in when slowing. Really is impressive how hard you can push the brake pedal with your left foot biggrin

Nickbrapp

5,277 posts

130 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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OMG RETINA BURNING LED BRAKE LIGHTS!!!!!!!!!




aeropilot

34,592 posts

227 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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chopper602 said:
Whats the matter with N for neutral, with the handbrake on? Why slide it all the way to Park (and panic the driver behind when your reverse light comes on) ?
Exactly.

Putting it in P at traffic lights (or similar situation) is stupidity.


Howard-

4,952 posts

202 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Put it in neutral if you're sitting there for a while, with the handbrake if you're on an incline, just as you would with a manual.

cerb4.5lee

30,594 posts

180 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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NDNDNDND said:
Oh, and automatics are very boring to drive, so maybe take your breakfast with you so you've got something to do.
Agree with this, two pedal cars are so boring and relaxing to drive you tend to stop concentrating really quickly.

I remember the first time I drove an automatic and I thought I was doing well forgetting about my left foot but then I got back on the drive and almost put myself through the windscreen as I lifted my left foot up and thought it was the clutch because I was so used to a manual.

PanzerCommander

5,026 posts

218 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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cerb4.5lee said:
Agree with this, two pedal cars are so boring and relaxing to drive you tend to stop concentrating really quickly.

I remember the first time I drove an automatic and I thought I was doing well forgetting about my left foot but then I got back on the drive and almost put myself through the windscreen as I lifted my left foot up and thought it was the clutch because I was so used to a manual.
Depends entirely on the automatic wink

Otispunkmeyer

12,593 posts

155 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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Marvib said:
I generally put it in N if stopped/expect to be stopped for more than 10 seconds.

Watch out for left foot braking it can hurt smile

Edited to change P to N, been two years since I had an auto.

Edited by Marvib on Monday 6th July 22:48
I go to N and hand brake on if a long stop and the car wants to roll. Otherwise just N and sit. No point going all the way to P as you have to pass through R and flash you reverse lights at the guy behind. Ditto on the way back down to D. In N, D is just one click away.

I had read that if you've just done some heavy braking, its not advisable to sit there with your pads clamped to a hot disc. You may leave a residue-y patch on your discs and then wonder why you get juddering the next time you brake.

cerb4.5lee

30,594 posts

180 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
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PanzerCommander said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Agree with this, two pedal cars are so boring and relaxing to drive you tend to stop concentrating really quickly.

I remember the first time I drove an automatic and I thought I was doing well forgetting about my left foot but then I got back on the drive and almost put myself through the windscreen as I lifted my left foot up and thought it was the clutch because I was so used to a manual.
Depends entirely on the automatic wink
DCT/S-Tronic/PDK/slush they all send me to sleep but appreciate most people nowadays love the two pedal/paddles set up(as its fashionable) but I prefer the old school stick and three pedal way.

The two pedal way is quicker for sure but more enjoyable it certainly isn't.