Adjusting to an auto after years with a manual
Discussion
Just make sure you remember your left leg is redundant. I've known of people go to put the clutch down and press somewhat sharply on the brake instead!
I moved over to an auto for day to day use last May after 15 years only driving manuals. It's not as engaging in some ways but for day to day driving it nice and easy.
I moved over to an auto for day to day use last May after 15 years only driving manuals. It's not as engaging in some ways but for day to day driving it nice and easy.
caelite said:
I remember when my work upgraded all of our vans, from old manual Iveco Dailies to automatic Merc Sprinters. I had been driving the old Iveco's for 9 hours a day for a solid 6 months. Spent the following month or so in the Mercs with the whole left side of my body flailing around uncontrollably as I drove along.
A mate switched from a VW LT motorhome to an auto Sprinter a few years ago having never driven an auto before. Not long after buying it he was panicking about it needing a new gearbox as it was banging into random gears and refusing to take up drive on occasions.After building himself into a froth about it over a period of a few weeks and ranting about being stitched up he took me for a ride in it to demonstrate what was wrong with it; I laughed my tits off. He's a racing driver, so instinctively drove it using his left foot, but he was overlapping like you do in a racing car and loading it against the brake whenever he was pulling away, the combination of which caused the gearbox brain to have a melt down as it didn't know if he wanted to stop or go!
As soon as I'd finished taking the piss he tried his right foot and it was magically fixed!
I prefer 'proper' autos.
I know people who have not been able to get on with 'automated manuals', others who don't like CVTs, me included. I prefer torque convertor autos.
I agree re comments about out fixing left leg to the floor. This is probably the most important thing initially.
When first getting used to manouevring, beware of reversing , then stopping, perhaps being distracted or putting seat belt on etc. then, when ready to drive forward, just pressing accelerator and shooting off backwards as car is still in reverse but has been held on the brakes. I've seen it done, twice; once on my driveway when car went into the hedge. Quite important if doing a 3-point turn on something like a harbour pier or a cliff-top car park.
They're quite easy to get used to, but you just need to think about where the selector is until it becomes second nature.
Don't just rely on "P" for parking, always use the park brake as well. Put park brake on first, then P, which allows any slack in the transmission to be taken up before P is engaged. Others will disagree, but in many cases the P simply relies on a small pawl or pin in the gearbox; they can break if mistreated.
Always ensure car is stationary before selecting P. I've been with drivers who ram it into P just as the car is stopping, not very comfortable, or good for the car. Probably not possible to do with newer cars due to electronic control.
Read the handbook re various 'gear hold' options.
They can be far more relaxing in stop/start traffic. Modern ones provide far better results than early ones. Engine torque delivery can affect the drive quality of an an auto. Some are better than others.
I know people who have not been able to get on with 'automated manuals', others who don't like CVTs, me included. I prefer torque convertor autos.
I agree re comments about out fixing left leg to the floor. This is probably the most important thing initially.
When first getting used to manouevring, beware of reversing , then stopping, perhaps being distracted or putting seat belt on etc. then, when ready to drive forward, just pressing accelerator and shooting off backwards as car is still in reverse but has been held on the brakes. I've seen it done, twice; once on my driveway when car went into the hedge. Quite important if doing a 3-point turn on something like a harbour pier or a cliff-top car park.
They're quite easy to get used to, but you just need to think about where the selector is until it becomes second nature.
Don't just rely on "P" for parking, always use the park brake as well. Put park brake on first, then P, which allows any slack in the transmission to be taken up before P is engaged. Others will disagree, but in many cases the P simply relies on a small pawl or pin in the gearbox; they can break if mistreated.
Always ensure car is stationary before selecting P. I've been with drivers who ram it into P just as the car is stopping, not very comfortable, or good for the car. Probably not possible to do with newer cars due to electronic control.
Read the handbook re various 'gear hold' options.
They can be far more relaxing in stop/start traffic. Modern ones provide far better results than early ones. Engine torque delivery can affect the drive quality of an an auto. Some are better than others.
Shaw Tarse said:
Don't press "the clutch" with your left foot!!
The reverse is also true. Once you've acclimatised to an auto, when you get back in a manual, you may find that you forget to use your left foot on the clutch and end up stalling when you come to a halt.Of course, you could always use your left foot on the brake and drive your car like it's a go-kart. I taught myself to do this when I had an auto. If you're going to do it, make sure you teach yourself when the road is quiet as it takes a bit of practice and time for you left foot to learn to modulate correctly.
The only time I had a problem during the initial adjustment was when driving quicker than normal, you may forget you are in an auto. For example when completing an overtake you may feel the urge to change up, don't.
Sport mode is useful for overtaking and tighter bends, in the latter case it helps to get you in the right gear or closer to it for the exit. An auto will tend to change up when you come off the throttle and brake for a bend, on the exit as you press the throttle you will get, nothing, nothing, kick down three gears. This can be particularly exciting in a powerful rwd car.
I use left foot braking, but I could do it before using it in an auto. Ironically after only driving an auto for a year I started to press the clutch in a manual instead of the brake, only did it once though and realised straight away.
Sport mode is useful for overtaking and tighter bends, in the latter case it helps to get you in the right gear or closer to it for the exit. An auto will tend to change up when you come off the throttle and brake for a bend, on the exit as you press the throttle you will get, nothing, nothing, kick down three gears. This can be particularly exciting in a powerful rwd car.
I use left foot braking, but I could do it before using it in an auto. Ironically after only driving an auto for a year I started to press the clutch in a manual instead of the brake, only did it once though and realised straight away.
Day 1 no need to overcomplicate things, just get in wearing a shoe on your right foot only and drive and I guarantee within a few miles you will feel like you have always been driving one.
Day 2 you can start practising left foot braking, don't forget to wear you left shoe as well, do it when there is nobody behind you initially.
Day 3 you can practise the left arm draped over the back of the passenger seat while you drive everywhere using one handed steering.
Day 4 concentrate on keeping your foot on the footbrake at traffic lights with the gearbox in drive to blind those sitting behind you.
Day 5 you are now a fully affiliated automatic wafter and you will love it.
Day 2 you can start practising left foot braking, don't forget to wear you left shoe as well, do it when there is nobody behind you initially.
Day 3 you can practise the left arm draped over the back of the passenger seat while you drive everywhere using one handed steering.
Day 4 concentrate on keeping your foot on the footbrake at traffic lights with the gearbox in drive to blind those sitting behind you.
Day 5 you are now a fully affiliated automatic wafter and you will love it.
Very topical thread for me!
have broken my left leg/ankle twice (once as a teenager and again 14 months ago) and then had a severe infection in the same from a steroid injection... long story cut short it's looking like a fusion operation on the cards later this year but in the short term I need to swap my manual for an auto.
As a guy who H&T's on the commute to work just for giggles, wondering if this is going to kill my inner driving joy......
have broken my left leg/ankle twice (once as a teenager and again 14 months ago) and then had a severe infection in the same from a steroid injection... long story cut short it's looking like a fusion operation on the cards later this year but in the short term I need to swap my manual for an auto.
As a guy who H&T's on the commute to work just for giggles, wondering if this is going to kill my inner driving joy......
I switch from my manual everyday car to auto hire cars fairly regularly.
It's quite easy to not do anything stupid as the hire cars are always different to my normal manual, so straight away my mindset is different.
I've only gone to press the "clutch" once or twice at very low manoeuvring speeds, apart from that it's easy
It's quite easy to not do anything stupid as the hire cars are always different to my normal manual, so straight away my mindset is different.
I've only gone to press the "clutch" once or twice at very low manoeuvring speeds, apart from that it's easy
Sometimes feel you need to pre-plan things: rather than use kick down to overtake (which can be abrupt), slide the gear lever over to sport mode, it'll drop a ratio more smoothly.
Same when braking for roundabout, like said above, Autos often head or stay in the highest gear possible, switching to sport & again change down manually approaching bends/roundabouts helps make smooth progress.
If in stop/start traffic, a decent size auto will happily pull away in M2 on the level, saves the varying engine note.
Always check the lever is in D position before pulling away - always better to go forward rather than back.
Never had a problem swapping from Auto to Manual but both cars I drive are quite different in many areas too.
Same when braking for roundabout, like said above, Autos often head or stay in the highest gear possible, switching to sport & again change down manually approaching bends/roundabouts helps make smooth progress.
If in stop/start traffic, a decent size auto will happily pull away in M2 on the level, saves the varying engine note.
Always check the lever is in D position before pulling away - always better to go forward rather than back.
Never had a problem swapping from Auto to Manual but both cars I drive are quite different in many areas too.
On my auto I need to 'prime' it for a snappy getaway ie roundabout. Gently accelerate whilst holding the car against the brakes - then prod it a bit whilst coming off the brake. Nice smooth but quickest launch.
If I don't do this and just accelerate harder, it'll pull away in second, and the a split second later wake up and grab first, which is all a bit messy.
You can just mash the throttle, it'll grab first from the off, but that can be a bit too much and lacks appropriate decorum - nothing worse than wheelspin accompanied by a thrashy four pot diesel soundtrack thinking it's making a bid for freedom..
If I don't do this and just accelerate harder, it'll pull away in second, and the a split second later wake up and grab first, which is all a bit messy.
You can just mash the throttle, it'll grab first from the off, but that can be a bit too much and lacks appropriate decorum - nothing worse than wheelspin accompanied by a thrashy four pot diesel soundtrack thinking it's making a bid for freedom..
Because I can't find the 'questions you're too embarrassed to ask' thread I'll ask here.
When in an auto and stationary (lights/traffic etc...) what is the correct procedure? Leave in D and hold the footbrake / leave in D and put on hand brake / knock in Neutral / knock into Park?
Swapping between my manual ST and wife's auto Lupo caused no end of hilarity. I always seemed to forget what to do for the first two minutes
When in an auto and stationary (lights/traffic etc...) what is the correct procedure? Leave in D and hold the footbrake / leave in D and put on hand brake / knock in Neutral / knock into Park?
Swapping between my manual ST and wife's auto Lupo caused no end of hilarity. I always seemed to forget what to do for the first two minutes
KarlMac said:
Because I can't find the 'questions you're too embarrassed to ask' thread I'll ask here.
When in an auto and stationary (lights/traffic etc...) what is the correct procedure? Leave in D and hold the footbrake / leave in D and put on hand brake / knock in Neutral / knock into Park?
Swapping between my manual ST and wife's auto Lupo caused no end of hilarity. I always seemed to forget what to do for the first two minutes
Leave in D with either your foot on the brake of auto hold if you have it so the car behind knows you are ready to go at a moments notice. The brake lights on will mean they are less likely to drive into you. Works even better in the dark.When in an auto and stationary (lights/traffic etc...) what is the correct procedure? Leave in D and hold the footbrake / leave in D and put on hand brake / knock in Neutral / knock into Park?
Swapping between my manual ST and wife's auto Lupo caused no end of hilarity. I always seemed to forget what to do for the first two minutes
Don said:
Auto for going places, manuals for fun.
Does that work with paddles being 'fun' too? I'm considering a paddleshifter for my first auto in my next car, but I don't drive to work so it's essentially a practical weekend car. If the paddleshifter is significantly less fun than a manual then that cuts down my potential choices a bit...Ultrafunkula said:
Don said:
Auto for going places, manuals for fun.
Does that work with paddles being 'fun' too? I'm considering a paddleshifter for my first auto in my next car, but I don't drive to work so it's essentially a practical weekend car. If the paddleshifter is significantly less fun than a manual then that cuts down my potential choices a bit...Ultrafunkula said:
Don said:
Auto for going places, manuals for fun.
Does that work with paddles being 'fun' too? I'm considering a paddleshifter for my first auto in my next car, but I don't drive to work so it's essentially a practical weekend car. If the paddleshifter is significantly less fun than a manual then that cuts down my potential choices a bit...If that's just a PITA then a flappy paddle box lets you pretend you're in F1.
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