Automatic newbie
Discussion
For reasons I won't explain, I'm driving an automatic for the first time, a Peugeot 208.
It seems reluctant to change gear!
I'm pootling around urban streets at 30 or less, but screaming along at 5K in first!
On the road, it won't change up, 2-3, or 3-4 unless I rev it to 5.5K +.
And on slowing down, it will stay in a higher gear, until the revs are less than 800, in Drive and I can feel every ignition burn from the engine.
Is this to be expected? Will it 'learn' to change earlier as it wears a little? Less than 200 miles on the car.
Another Q re: 'economy stops'. In traffic, at rest and put into Neutral, the engine stops intentionally. It starts, instantly when Drive is engaged, but in a queue, half an hour moving two car lengths at a time, does this drain the battery? In such traffic jam situations, is it best to turn off the 'economy stop'?
John
It seems reluctant to change gear!
I'm pootling around urban streets at 30 or less, but screaming along at 5K in first!
On the road, it won't change up, 2-3, or 3-4 unless I rev it to 5.5K +.
And on slowing down, it will stay in a higher gear, until the revs are less than 800, in Drive and I can feel every ignition burn from the engine.
Is this to be expected? Will it 'learn' to change earlier as it wears a little? Less than 200 miles on the car.
Another Q re: 'economy stops'. In traffic, at rest and put into Neutral, the engine stops intentionally. It starts, instantly when Drive is engaged, but in a queue, half an hour moving two car lengths at a time, does this drain the battery? In such traffic jam situations, is it best to turn off the 'economy stop'?
John
Autos are (at best) a bad compromise so I personally will never own one of the wretched things, unfortunately that doesn't help you on point 1, but at 200 miles I hate to sound abrupt, but why haven't you taken it back?
On point 2, as they should have explained to you (but they never do) they have a battery charge sensing system & if the battery isn't up to it, it won't stop/start, or if it simply needs a bit more charge it will start the car & charge it for a bit before resuming stop/start.
On point 2, as they should have explained to you (but they never do) they have a battery charge sensing system & if the battery isn't up to it, it won't stop/start, or if it simply needs a bit more charge it will start the car & charge it for a bit before resuming stop/start.
E-bmw said:
Autos are (at best) a bad compromise so I personally will never own one of the wretched things, unfortunately that doesn't help you on point 1, but at 200 miles I hate to sound abrupt, but why haven't you taken it back?
On point 2, as they should have explained to you (but they never do) they have a battery charge sensing system & if the battery isn't up to it, it won't stop/start, or if it simply needs a bit more charge it will start the car & charge it for a bit before resuming stop/start.
For a daily driver....I cant get why anyone would want a manual. Even more so if they encounter traffic.On point 2, as they should have explained to you (but they never do) they have a battery charge sensing system & if the battery isn't up to it, it won't stop/start, or if it simply needs a bit more charge it will start the car & charge it for a bit before resuming stop/start.
A good auto is superb for that.
But good point...if it is a new purchase, especially from a dealer, get the damn thing back to them.
E-bmw said:
Autos are (at best) a bad compromise .....
Yes, and that’s why all luxury cars, all super cars, all rally cars, all F1 cars, all drag cars .......etc......etc..... are auto of some kind. The only modern manual cars left are the most boring ones!The English love affair with manual gear boxes is only due to driving cars with insufficient power where auto boxes aren’t suited.
Having said that, my next weekend car will be a manual even if my daily cars will always be auto.
And...... OP your car is is either stuck in some manual mode or f
ked. Take it back and hope it’s not a feature/“they all do that sir” like the horrid smart “auto” box which is neither smart or auto. h0b0 said:
E-bmw said:
Autos are (at best) a bad compromise .....
The English love affair with manual gear boxes is only due to driving cars with insufficient power where auto boxes aren’t suited. Having said that, my next weekend car will be a manual even if my daily cars will always be auto.
Driving along at 50 in NSL area & want to get up to 60.
Auto
Bit of throttle.....Nothing, bit more...NING, NING, NING, NING I am in second!!!!!!!!
Manual
Bit of throttle, bit more, 60. Once again I rest my case, why would anyone want an auto.
One of the most polarising debates of all time & I am firmly in the manual camp & can think when to be in what gear myself, I don't need an ill-informed ECU to do it for me.
Not sure with OP saying car is 200 miles in whether it's 200 miles from brand spankers, or 200 miles new to him.
If it's an EGC box, ie the semi automatic, then firstly a comprehensive read of the manual is recommended, and if that does not help, take the bugger back. Honest John has a record of one that wouldn't change gear and screamed along.
If it's one with the, ime, really quite good EAT6 auto box then there definitely is something wrong with it, unless OP has stuck it in manual rather than D mode.
Whilst it's not as smooth as one of the really good ZF 8 speeders, or one of the latest decent dual clutch transmissions, or even a silky smooth old style slush box driven by a big lazy torque engine the EAT6 and EAT7 versions work very well with the small engines seen today. Small petrol engines and autos never used to go well together but today things have changed.
Manual Vs auto argument too polarised to be bothered with tbh.
If it's an EGC box, ie the semi automatic, then firstly a comprehensive read of the manual is recommended, and if that does not help, take the bugger back. Honest John has a record of one that wouldn't change gear and screamed along.
If it's one with the, ime, really quite good EAT6 auto box then there definitely is something wrong with it, unless OP has stuck it in manual rather than D mode.
Whilst it's not as smooth as one of the really good ZF 8 speeders, or one of the latest decent dual clutch transmissions, or even a silky smooth old style slush box driven by a big lazy torque engine the EAT6 and EAT7 versions work very well with the small engines seen today. Small petrol engines and autos never used to go well together but today things have changed.
Manual Vs auto argument too polarised to be bothered with tbh.
Edited by FiF on Saturday 13th July 08:06
Just to answer the OP's second question re Stop Start and autos. One word, hate. They seem illogical in operation, there you are looking to enter a roundabout, looking for space, on the brakes just holding the creep a little because there's a gap after this next vehicle, oh engine stopped, fraction of a second later off the brake and engine has to start. Arse.
That's not to mention you come to a genuine stop, at lights say, engine stops, put handbrake on, and lift off brake so you don't stuff the night vision of the guy behind, engine now starts and runs constantly, illogical Captain.
As for battery worries, system should take care of that, if it detects the engine needs to be kept running because battery needs charging, engine not to temperature yet, or cabin heating / cooling requires it then it will override the stop/start system. Personally if I'm in a long line of stop and go traffic then disable it, but that then requires faffing about on a touch screen system, another story. It's not a Pug but another PSA product. Road test reviews claimed it was hideously complicated but so far seems like they had to find something to complain about, complicated it's not.
That's not to mention you come to a genuine stop, at lights say, engine stops, put handbrake on, and lift off brake so you don't stuff the night vision of the guy behind, engine now starts and runs constantly, illogical Captain.
As for battery worries, system should take care of that, if it detects the engine needs to be kept running because battery needs charging, engine not to temperature yet, or cabin heating / cooling requires it then it will override the stop/start system. Personally if I'm in a long line of stop and go traffic then disable it, but that then requires faffing about on a touch screen system, another story. It's not a Pug but another PSA product. Road test reviews claimed it was hideously complicated but so far seems like they had to find something to complain about, complicated it's not.
E-bmw said:
Driving along at 50 in NSL area & want to get up to 60.
Auto
Bit of throttle.....Nothing, bit more...NING, NING, NING, NING I am in second!!!!!!!!
Manual
Bit of throttle, bit more, 60. Once again I rest my case, why would anyone want an auto.
Drove my wife's DSG Tiguan on a 50 mile trip across Cheshire yesterday so up and down through speed limits from 30 to 70 and everything in between and it worked just fine. At a steady 50 it'll be in top (7th) and it'll accelerate to the next limit in that gear no problem.Auto
Bit of throttle.....Nothing, bit more...NING, NING, NING, NING I am in second!!!!!!!!
Manual
Bit of throttle, bit more, 60. Once again I rest my case, why would anyone want an auto.
Like some people couldn't go to a manual having always driven auto, perhaps manual users switching to auto need some help too?
E-bmw said:
I rest my case.
Driving along at 50 in NSL area & want to get up to 60.
Auto
Bit of throttle.....Nothing, bit more...NING, NING, NING, NING I am in second!!!!!!!!
Manual
Bit of throttle, bit more, 60. Once again I rest my case, why would anyone want an auto.
Diesel auto is your friend.Driving along at 50 in NSL area & want to get up to 60.
Auto
Bit of throttle.....Nothing, bit more...NING, NING, NING, NING I am in second!!!!!!!!
Manual
Bit of throttle, bit more, 60. Once again I rest my case, why would anyone want an auto.
Bit of throttle, instant torque and an instant surge to 60 and beyond. Job done
FiF said:
That's not to mention you come to a genuine stop, at lights say, engine stops, put handbrake on, and lift off brake so you don't stuff the night vision of the guy behind, engine now starts and runs constantly, illogical Captain.
Many cars now have auto-hold and newer ones leave the brake lights on. The engine doesn't restart until you touch the gas,Sheepshanks said:
E-bmw said:
Driving along at 50 in NSL area & want to get up to 60.
Auto
Bit of throttle.....Nothing, bit more...NING, NING, NING, NING I am in second!!!!!!!!
Manual
Bit of throttle, bit more, 60. Once again I rest my case, why would anyone want an auto.
Drove my wife's DSG Tiguan on a 50 mile trip across Cheshire yesterday so up and down through speed limits from 30 to 70 and everything in between and it worked just fine. At a steady 50 it'll be in top (7th) and it'll accelerate to the next limit in that gear no problem.Auto
Bit of throttle.....Nothing, bit more...NING, NING, NING, NING I am in second!!!!!!!!
Manual
Bit of throttle, bit more, 60. Once again I rest my case, why would anyone want an auto.
Like some people couldn't go to a manual having always driven auto, perhaps manual users switching to auto need some help too?
Unfortunately they are rentals that I use to get to/from work every 2 weeks & have no control over what they are, so that answer is of no use to me at all.
All I can say is EVERY one I have driven has the same issue & EVERY one was hateful to drive, and has reinforced my opinion.
h0b0 said:
E-bmw said:
Autos are (at best) a bad compromise .....
Yes, and that’s why all luxury cars, all super cars, all rally cars, all F1 cars, all drag cars .......etc......etc..... are auto of some kind. The only modern manual cars left are the most boring ones!The English love affair with manual gear boxes is only due to driving cars with insufficient power where auto boxes aren’t suited.
Having said that, my next weekend car will be a manual even if my daily cars will always be auto.
And...... OP your car is is either stuck in some manual mode or f
ked. Take it back and hope it’s not a feature/“they all do that sir” like the horrid smart “auto” box which is neither smart or auto. E-bmw said:
All I can say is EVERY one I have driven has the same issue & EVERY one was hateful to drive, and has reinforced my opinion.
If you're driving a variety of cars then the only common factor is you. If they're automated manuals (like DSG) then you can adapt your driving to take a bit more control of the box - but I'd say that's only the same as driving a manual which has oddly spaced gear ratios, or is very underpowered.
Sheepshanks said:
If you're driving a variety of cars then the only common factor is you.
If they're automated manuals (like DSG) then you can adapt your driving to take a bit more control of the box - but I'd say that's only the same as driving a manual which has oddly spaced gear ratios, or is very underpowered.
Exactly, a good auto is superior to manual in many ways, especially simple acceleration, and even more so on a turbo car because of how the TC can load the engine.If they're automated manuals (like DSG) then you can adapt your driving to take a bit more control of the box - but I'd say that's only the same as driving a manual which has oddly spaced gear ratios, or is very underpowered.
And DSG and auto are very different in their behaviour too.
But a bad setup with an auto...will also be a bad setup with a manual. He obviously just chooses to drive bad cars.
Although a lot of those big name, big power makers/cars tend to favour auto setups simply because they are typically stronger and easier to make a refined setup than it is to offer an old clutch/manual transmission to cope with the same power levels.
But a Peugeot is none of the above....lol
Sheepshanks said:
FiF said:
That's not to mention you come to a genuine stop, at lights say, engine stops, put handbrake on, and lift off brake so you don't stuff the night vision of the guy behind, engine now starts and runs constantly, illogical Captain.
Many cars now have auto-hold and newer ones leave the brake lights on. The engine doesn't restart until you touch the gas,I can accept the stop start in a manual, where it stops when you select neutral and take foot off clutch, restarting as soon as the clutch pedal starts to be depressed, but in my experience stop / start as implemented with automatics, at least the several that I have driven, just no.
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