How do you drive an automatic?

[Pica-Pica]

Pommy said:

fk me, some people on this thread aren't half making a simple process complicated.

It's a fking automatic.

Not all automatics are born equal.

[Pommy]

Pica-Pica said:

Pommy said:

fk me, some people on this thread aren't half making a simple process complicated.

It's a fking automatic.

Not all automatics are born equal.

Do tell, which automatics require a reinvention of putting it in drive, pressing the accelerator, pressing the brake pedal to slow/stop and then move into park?

[Dog Star]

Mildlyinterestd said:

Pica-Pica said:

Driven manuals for 50 years, then went to an auto 5 years ago. Never happened. Bit of an urban myth (or just piss poor semi-comatose driving!)

Happened to me last month within 1 minute of picking up my new (old) automatic.

I drive for a living and my foot just automatically went looking for a clutch that wasn't there when I approached a junction at about 10mph and I almost got rear ended by the car behind.

I don't have the "phantom clutch pedal" in an auto but last year I did have issues "the other way". I went out to get us a commuter/shopper little petrol auto Yaris or something and came back with an Alfa 159 diesel 6 speed manual.

I've not driven manuals for well over a decade and for the first few weeks (our mileage is very low now, if it had been during commuting period of my life I guess it'd have been a couple of days) every time I hopped in this 159 I'd come up to junctions/traffic lights and lurch to a halt and stall it as I'd forgotten the clutch. Similarly I'd forget to change gear. I swap around between the two without issue now,.

[DickyC]

In automatics I brake with my left foot.

[RUSTILLDOWN]

In automatics I brake with my right foot, and accelerate with my left foot.

[jamei303]

Pommy said:

Do tell, which automatics require a reinvention of putting it in drive, pressing the accelerator, pressing the brake pedal to slow/stop and then move into park?

I never put mine in park because it does it automatically when I turn the ignition off.

[cobra kid]

I took a mate's Jaguar F Type out a few times and during the easy stuff there was no issue at all with the left foot. It's generally a piece of piss. The only issue was when my brain went into dare I say "automatic mode" when I had to stop abruptly. Without thinking, the left foot came out and clipped the edge of the brake pedal. Ouch.

Only did it once!!

[Gad-Westy]

RUSTILLDOWN said:

In automatics I brake with my right foot, and accelerate with my left foot.

Hardcore!

[DodgyGeezer]

wong said:

Missy Charm said:

That would explain why modern cars are so easy to beat at the lights, I suppose. Even worse are the stop and start ones. By the time Mr I Earn £60,000 Before Tax's posh BMW has started its engine, selected a gear and moved off, my old heap is some distance up the road. Progress, eh.

Perhaps they didn't know they had entered a race.

But, but, but, it's a traffic light - of course it's a race

[shoestring7]

RUSTILLDOWN said:

In automatics I brake with my right foot, and accelerate with my left foot.

Whenever I go karting with mates, I tuck my left foot under my arse and use my right foot for gas and brakes.

[DickyC]

shoestring7 said:

RUSTILLDOWN said:

In automatics I brake with my right foot, and accelerate with my left foot.

Whenever I go karting with mates, I tuck my left foot under my arse and use my right foot for gas and brakes.

Before seatbelts were compulsory I could sit on the edge of the sunroof, steer with my feet and operate the pedals with a broom handle.

[BFleming]

MitchT said:

Thanks all, very helpful.

In terms of "not being able to remove the key if it's not in "P"... I guess that doesn't apply to a car with "keyless go".

I have a Ford Puma auto on hire at the moment with Keyless. You can switch the engine off in Drive, but it beeps constantly at you to engage Park. On my previous BMW the car automatically selects Park if you switch off the engine in Drive (ZF 8HP feature?). My Golf (no Keyless) won't let you remove the key until you select Park.

[Pica-Pica]

Pommy said:

Pica-Pica said:

Pommy said:

fk me, some people on this thread aren't half making a simple process complicated.

It's a fking automatic.

Not all automatics are born equal.

Do tell, which automatics require a reinvention of putting it in drive, pressing the accelerator, pressing the brake pedal to slow/stop and then move into park?

In a BMW you do not ‘move into park’. You press a button for Park, should you wish, but the car automatically goes into Park, when, the vehicle is switched off, the driver’s door is opened, or the driver’s seat belt is undone (all when stationary).
However, my statement an out ‘not all automatics are born equal’ was in reference to the many automatics that allow various modes, including manual. But you probably new that.
Oh, and you can’t just ‘put it into drive’, the brake pedal has to be applied while that is being done. You can also slow by paddle-shifting down as well, without using the brake pedal, useful on long downward slopes, though if you climbe a steep slope and then go down the other side, my car will (again ‘automatically’) hold the low gear, rather than change up and let the car run away with you. As said, it will also change down when approaching a roundabout (using GPS/Sat Nav) to ensure an appropriate gear when leaving (which can be rapid on a wet roundabout with all wheel drive).

[AdeTuono]

Pica-Pica said:

Pommy said:

Pica-Pica said:

Pommy said:

fk me, some people on this thread aren't half making a simple process complicated.

It's a fking automatic.

Not all automatics are born equal.

Do tell, which automatics require a reinvention of putting it in drive, pressing the accelerator, pressing the brake pedal to slow/stop and then move into park?

In a BMW you do not ‘move into park’. You press a button for Park, should you wish, but the car automatically goes into Park, when, the vehicle is switched off, the driver’s door is opened, or the driver’s seat belt is undone (all when stationary).
However, my statement an out ‘not all automatics are born equal’ was in reference to the many automatics that allow various modes, including manual. But you probably new that.
Oh, and you can’t just ‘put it into drive’, the brake pedal has to be applied while that is being done. You can also slow by paddle-shifting down as well, without using the brake pedal, useful on long downward slopes, though if you climbe a steep slope and then go down the other side, my car will (again ‘automatically’) hold the low gear, rather than change up and let the car run away with you. As said, it will also change down when approaching a roundabout (using GPS/Sat Nav) to ensure an appropriate gear when leaving (which can be rapid on a wet roundabout with all wheel drive).

You're complicating things somewhat. As Pommy says, even with your all-singing, all-dancing BMW, you can put it in D, then press the accelerator or brake.

[wong]

RUSTILLDOWN said:

In automatics I brake with my right foot, and accelerate with my left foot.

On page 4

wong said:

Take it even further by emulating the *late/great/opinionated/deluded LJK Setright - Cross your legs and brake with your right and accelerate with your left.
Deserted road mind.

• delete as appropriate.

Do I get extra PH points?

[Cold]

wong said:

RUSTILLDOWN said:

In automatics I brake with my right foot, and accelerate with my left foot.

On page 4

wong said:

Take it even further by emulating the *late/great/opinionated/deluded LJK Setright - Cross your legs and brake with your right and accelerate with your left.
Deserted road mind.

• delete as appropriate.

Do I get extra PH points?

Now read the first post you quoted again and imagine having to cross your legs when driving - or dig out the spanners to swap the pedals around - or search for some obscure vintage car with an unconventional pedal layout.

[Pommy]

AdeTuono said:

Pica-Pica said:

Pommy said:

Pica-Pica said:

Pommy said:

fk me, some people on this thread aren't half making a simple process complicated.

It's a fking automatic.

Not all automatics are born equal.

Do tell, which automatics require a reinvention of putting it in drive, pressing the accelerator, pressing the brake pedal to slow/stop and then move into park?

In a BMW you do not ‘move into park’. You press a button for Park, should you wish, but the car automatically goes into Park, when, the vehicle is switched off, the driver’s door is opened, or the driver’s seat belt is undone (all when stationary).
However, my statement an out ‘not all automatics are born equal’ was in reference to the many automatics that allow various modes, including manual. But you probably new that.
Oh, and you can’t just ‘put it into drive’, the brake pedal has to be applied while that is being done. You can also slow by paddle-shifting down as well, without using the brake pedal, useful on long downward slopes, though if you climbe a steep slope and then go down the other side, my car will (again ‘automatically’) hold the low gear, rather than change up and let the car run away with you. As said, it will also change down when approaching a roundabout (using GPS/Sat Nav) to ensure an appropriate gear when leaving (which can be rapid on a wet roundabout with all wheel drive).

You're complicating things somewhat. As Pommy says, even with your all-singing, all-dancing BMW, you can put it in D, then press the accelerator or brake.

This.

Putting all of that together it's really not complicated.

Select D and press accelator. Go.

[DodgyGeezer]

Cold said:

Now read the first post you quoted again and imagine having to cross your legs when driving - or dig out the spanners to swap the pedals around - or search for some obscure vintage car with an unconventional pedal layout.

wouldn't that be the (very) non-obscure Model T?

[IJWS15]

Evanivitch said:

First time you drive an automatic be careful coming to a stop full-stop. People tend to dip the clutch with their left foot and find the brake instead.

First time driving an automatic, tuck your left foot behind your right leg (where safe and practical).

Was thinking about this yesterday - why do they fit a larger brake pedal in autos - is it so the people who drive autos can find it with their foot?

[PDP76]

DodgyGeezer said:

wong said:

Missy Charm said:

That would explain why modern cars are so easy to beat at the lights, I suppose. Even worse are the stop and start ones. By the time Mr I Earn £60,000 Before Tax's posh BMW has started its engine, selected a gear and moved off, my old heap is some distance up the road. Progress, eh.

Perhaps they didn't know they had entered a race.

But, but, but, it's a traffic light - of course it's a race

Who actually believes it’s that slow for them to get going lol !
My merc has the hold function and even the lightest touch on the go pedal it instantly releases the brakes and off you go. If it’s stopped the engine that also starts instantly.

Someone’s dreaming !