Just switched to an 8speed Auto, feel like I need training
Discussion
jamieandthemagic said:
Now I’m old school, and used to using the gears to enable engine braking, to help slow the car, and generally drive using engine braking as a core part of daily driving.
This new car has very little engine braking ability, even when I put it down two gears. I hate relying on just the brakes to slow and drive a car.
Force your boss to swap it to an EV then you can enjoy "motor braking" (regen breaking) again.This new car has very little engine braking ability, even when I put it down two gears. I hate relying on just the brakes to slow and drive a car.
TartanPaint said:
Don't exclude the possibility that you've bought the wrong car and that no auto will meet your needs or expectations.
I love the ZF8 and I think it's an engineering masterpiece, but I don't expect it to replace a manual box for ultimate control or fun.
I'm with this. No matter how good a car with an auto box might be it never quite hits the mark if it has 2 pedals. For me it always takes away that last degree of driving enjoyment that I get from a manual.. I love the ZF8 and I think it's an engineering masterpiece, but I don't expect it to replace a manual box for ultimate control or fun.
rix said:
I’m in a similar position, I have had very high level ‘advanced’ training in the past, including with some autos but have pretty much exclusively driven manuals since. I have fairly recently gone to an auto m240i and really don’t feel as proficient driving it as I did with manuals. Main issue for me is too many gear choices so that gear selection (in manual mode) isn’t as intuitive, and no proper means of block changing which the ‘brakes to slow’ practice generally requires. Even in manual mode the auto box will obviously change itself down when braking, which means that you don’t then ‘select’ a gear to accelerate, or if you do it’s far less intuitive!
Upshot is that: a) I generally leave it in auto and b) I should have hung out for a manual!
I only find it does that if it gets to below 1000rpm by which time you should be changing down anyway !Upshot is that: a) I generally leave it in auto and b) I should have hung out for a manual!
rix said:
Even in manual mode the auto box will obviously change itself down when braking, which means that you don’t then ‘select’ a gear to accelerate, or if you do it’s far less intuitive!
I know its a safety net to protect the engine and transmission from numpties but it makes a bit of a mockery of manual mode - you just end up knowing it will downshift itself at junctions, roundabouts etc. and will upshift itself when you are using all of the revs 
MuscleSaloon said:
rix said:
Even in manual mode the auto box will obviously change itself down when braking, which means that you don’t then ‘select’ a gear to accelerate, or if you do it’s far less intuitive!
I know its a safety net to protect the engine and transmission from numpties but it makes a bit of a mockery of manual mode - you just end up knowing it will downshift itself at junctions, roundabouts etc. and will upshift itself when you are using all of the revs I have m135i and it will not auto change up in manual at the red line, and only down changes at 1000rpm.
xjay1337 said:
MuscleSaloon said:
rix said:
Even in manual mode the auto box will obviously change itself down when braking, which means that you don’t then ‘select’ a gear to accelerate, or if you do it’s far less intuitive!
I know its a safety net to protect the engine and transmission from numpties but it makes a bit of a mockery of manual mode - you just end up knowing it will downshift itself at junctions, roundabouts etc. and will upshift itself when you are using all of the revs I have m135i and it will not auto change up in manual at the red line, and only down changes at 1000rpm.
Yes the zf 8 speed in the bmws doesn't change up in manual which is good, and not does it kick down which is also good! The only limitation I have is that when (for example) coming to a roundabout etc, 'the system' would suggest an approach in whatever gear you were in, clutch down before the car labours, and then a selection of whatever gear is necessary to accelerate away. With the car changing down by itself you have no feel for what gear it is in at the point of acceleration so it's far less intuitive to 'select a gear' to pull away. Also the gear change in manual or sport is far less smooth than possible with a proper manual.
300bhp/ton said:
But that's only the opinion of the current crop of advanced trainers and isn't how things have always been. It's also bad practice to wholly rely on brakes, as you may find yourself in a vehicle that doesn't have such good brakes, so being able to use engine braking is a highly valuable and sensible thing to be able to do.
Really? I'd have thought advanced drivers would make an assessment of the capabilities of the car they are driving. I can't think of a car that I have driven in the last 20 years that doesn't have good enough brakes so I need to add engine braking in. If I do, I think I'll spot it very quickly indeed and I'm not an advanced driver, just a common or garden one.Bert
What’s the “advance driving holier than thou” line on engine braking in snow? I drive a lot when there is snow on the road, and tend to use engine braking as much as possible before using the brakes. Especially going down hill. It works a lot better and you have a lot more control.
Also for those saying that discs and pads are “cheap consumables”, a set of discs and pads for my car is €1500 fitted.
Also for those saying that discs and pads are “cheap consumables”, a set of discs and pads for my car is €1500 fitted.
bulldong said:
What’s the “advance driving holier than thou” line on engine braking in snow? I drive a lot when there is snow on the road, and tend to use engine braking as much as possible before using the brakes. Especially going down hill. It works a lot better and you have a lot more control.
Also for those saying that discs and pads are “cheap consumables”, a set of discs and pads for my car is €1500 fitted.
Most ridiculous post of the day award...Also for those saying that discs and pads are “cheap consumables”, a set of discs and pads for my car is €1500 fitted.
Nobody objects to engine braking. The point is that if having lifted off well in advance you find that engine braking is insufficient, you use the brake. As opposed to changing down to increase engine braking. It's not so much engine braking but gearbox braking or clutch braking that's disapproved of.
bulldong said:
What’s the “advance driving holier than thou” line on engine braking in snow? I drive a lot when there is snow on the road, and tend to use engine braking as much as possible before using the brakes. Especially going down hill. It works a lot better and you have a lot more control.
Also for those saying that discs and pads are “cheap consumables”, a set of discs and pads for my car is €1500 fitted.
On snow and ice gently using engine braking to help hold a speed feels fine, however being too aggressive on a change down in an effort to replace wheel braking can lock the driven wheels.Also for those saying that discs and pads are “cheap consumables”, a set of discs and pads for my car is €1500 fitted.
Flumpo said:
bulldong said:
What’s the “advance driving holier than thou” line on engine braking in snow? I drive a lot when there is snow on the road, and tend to use engine braking as much as possible before using the brakes. Especially going down hill. It works a lot better and you have a lot more control.
Also for those saying that discs and pads are “cheap consumables”, a set of discs and pads for my car is €1500 fitted.
Most ridiculous post of the day award...Also for those saying that discs and pads are “cheap consumables”, a set of discs and pads for my car is €1500 fitted.
Re: the consumables aspect which I guess is what you’re calling ridiculous... I guess my point is that if you’re mechanically too insensitive to not do damage to the car when you’re engine braking, you’re probably going to do it damage anyway. I may also understand the advanced driving idea of not engine braking on something old with a gearbox made of wood, but on a modern car, nah. I’ll keep using my engine and gearbox to brake and enjoy more kms from a set of pads thanks.
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