Adjusting to an auto after years with a manual
Discussion
Don said:
It will take an hour or two to get used to an auto in my experience.
These days I swap between the two so often it simply doesn't matter.
Auto for going places, manuals for fun.
It's not the first hour that gets me - it when you think you've got used to it, and you stop worrying about it. Say you've been driving for a while and approaching a roundabout. You've forgotten about the gearbox, but your brain says "time to change down" - you then hit the "clutch" with predictable consequences. I once stood my dad's Jag on its nose and left a perfect set of stripes on the road - pre ABS days....These days I swap between the two so often it simply doesn't matter.
Auto for going places, manuals for fun.
Grandad Gaz said:
Thanks 
Some really useful stuff there.
Probably going for a Rav4 Hybrid. The petrol models all seem to be autos for some reason?
Pretty sure it's a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)? Some really useful stuff there.Probably going for a Rav4 Hybrid. The petrol models all seem to be autos for some reason?
Never driven one so not sure how different they are. As far as I know, for every-day pootling, it'll be similar to a normal auto in 'D'.
Grunt Futtock said:
Durzel said:
Don't listen to the guy above. The correct posture is to either drape your obsolete left leg over the centre tunnel, dangling into the passenger footwell, or sit on top of your leg (some dexterity required).
I thought the official guidance was to stuff your left foot in the glovebox?It's easy.
Right foot for brake and accelerator.
Left foot goes on foot rest. Sorted.
For my own auto. I move from D to N at lights and apply hand brake.
I was taught to use the handbrake when stationary for a period of time, plus shining brake lights into the car behind is just ignorant.
Right foot for brake and accelerator.
Left foot goes on foot rest. Sorted.
For my own auto. I move from D to N at lights and apply hand brake.
I was taught to use the handbrake when stationary for a period of time, plus shining brake lights into the car behind is just ignorant.
R E S T E C P said:
Pretty sure it's a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)?
Never driven one so not sure how different they are. As far as I know, for every-day pootling, it'll be similar to a normal auto in 'D'.
A CVT doesn't have gears so when you accelerate the revs will shoot up and stay there until the road speed is where you want it to be.Never driven one so not sure how different they are. As far as I know, for every-day pootling, it'll be similar to a normal auto in 'D'.
Cold said:
What's all this "remove left foot and leave at home" stuff? Right to go, left to stop - just like a go-kart.
I had to learn to left foot brake when I had a '69 Dodge Coronet that wouldn't idle from cold, and an excruciatingly tight garage from which to extricate it - as in less than 1cm each side at the door and about 3cm in length. Fortunately the garage was a little wider inside.Since I had to keep the revs up to stop it stalling, left foot braking was the only option. Wouldn't consider doing anything else in an auto now.
My current Z4 has flappy paddles but I rarely use them - if anything mostly in lazy / eco mode when I want it to change up earlier than it otherwise would.
When pressing on I'll use the gear lever (as the paddles move with the wheel which I find annoying) and I have to say it is quite satisfying braking hard for a slow corner and flicking the lever forward three or four times in pseudo sequential mode whilst pretending I am driving a touring car!!
It would take very little time to adjust, don't worry.
At the beginning the only risk could be to accidentally press the brake with the left foot with excessive force. Generally happens in that situations when you were pressing the clutch while slowing down. For instance you see a parking space and you gently brake and press clutch without shifting down before reversing gear. In that situations what could happen is that you accidentaly hit the brake with the heavy force needed for the cluth. It can be a panic brake not very pleasant for the occupants and any car following you.
But after a while you will get used to drive both manual and automatic cars without anay issue. I drive both on daily basis and I can brake with the left or right foot indistinctly.
At the beginning the only risk could be to accidentally press the brake with the left foot with excessive force. Generally happens in that situations when you were pressing the clutch while slowing down. For instance you see a parking space and you gently brake and press clutch without shifting down before reversing gear. In that situations what could happen is that you accidentaly hit the brake with the heavy force needed for the cluth. It can be a panic brake not very pleasant for the occupants and any car following you.
But after a while you will get used to drive both manual and automatic cars without anay issue. I drive both on daily basis and I can brake with the left or right foot indistinctly.
Mike335i said:
This thread has reinforced my decision to stick with a manual box. Who thought roundabouts could be so fraught with strife?
Try an electric. No gears at all. Fantastic, utterly smooth, seamless power delivery. Really flatters the driver.Sadly the energy recovery systems for the brakes do not, quite so much. In my Leaf you have to work at smooth braking, whereas it's effortless in a manual petrol car. Ups and downs.
Patrick Bateman said:
I've never really understood people struggling to leave their left foot planted when driving an auto for the first time.
I nearly put me and my Dad through the windscreen the very first time I drove his auto, I was fine while out driving but I lost concentration when I got back on his drive and thought I was in a manual...and I slammed my left foot on the brake as I came to a stop by mistake!You do soon get used to them though as others have said.
RTFM (Read The F**ing Manual)
Can't wait to get an Auto and stop faffing about changing gear hundreds of times a day
And then i can join the "I'm going to p
s off the person behind me brigade" and keep my foot on the brake when at traffic lights so I can blind them cause I'm to lazy to secure the car properly
enjoy it!
Can't wait to get an Auto and stop faffing about changing gear hundreds of times a day
And then i can join the "I'm going to p
s off the person behind me brigade" and keep my foot on the brake when at traffic lights so I can blind them cause I'm to lazy to secure the car properlyenjoy it!
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