My first go at driving an Scirocco auto, and I'm useless!!

[Leicesterdave]

I have been seriously thinking of buying an auto next- and popped into VW to try the Scirocco. Nice car,very well built.
I was kinda nervous as I'd never driven one.
Well I made a right prick of myself. TWICE. On one occasion, I approached a mini-roundabout and I nailed the brake pedal as far as it could go (thinking clutch down). Thankfully no one behind me.
Same thing happened further up at a junction. And whack. Amazing how you cannot understand what you've done wrong. You then realise what you've done.
I then put my left leg behind the right one and thankfully was ok. I do like the box but I can't help but think it'll take a little while to get used to.
Salesman told me it happens loads but I still felt a right prick!!

[tim2100]

I had a collegue a few years ago that brought a Mondeo Auto. Was raving about, saying how great the brakes were. And then said he was always stopping to suddenly in the way you described. Turns out he was using one peddle one foot method.
He would not believe there was any other way to drive it.

[live ade]

I had a similar experience on the Paris Pherifique (ring road), whilst driving a friends Honda auto thing... thought i'd drop a gear as I merged into the sliproad to leave... I nearly went through the screen and boy did I learn some French from the cement lorry in the next lane.
I think you have to jam your left leg under the seat... if you buy.. you won't need this leg anymore

[Jasandjules]

It just takes time to get used to it.

[Waugh-terfall]

I've done a similar thing in the summer in a Dual-logic Panda. As I was still changing gear with my hand, flicking the stick back and forth, head went back to the mentality for a manual, even though my foot wasn't moving. S went to slow and change down for a corner, ended up performing a serious emergency stop from 30mph and for some reason the seatbelt didn't catch so I hit my face on the wheel, ouch...

[sebhaque]

If it's got a footrest I always found it best just to leave my left foot on the footrest. It's a bit more comfortable and you don't go to left hoof the brake whenever you slow down.

[thinfourth2]

Wait till you try an auto with a foot operated parking brake

They stop very quickly

[300bhp/ton]

Leicesterdave said:

Same thing happened further up at a junction. And whack.

So does this mean you caused a shunt??

[Leicesterdave]

300bhp/ton said:

Leicesterdave said:

Same thing happened further up at a junction. And whack.

So does this mean you caused a shunt??

Lol I know I re-read that and thought it sounded like I'd had an accident! No defo no accident, my head close to the steering wheel though.

[Leicesterdave]

sebhaque said:

If it's got a footrest I always found it best just to leave my left foot on the footrest. It's a bit more comfortable and you don't go to left hoof the brake whenever you slow down.

Footrest didn't seem to help me!

[amir_j]

300bhp/ton said:

Leicesterdave said:

Same thing happened further up at a junction. And whack.

So does this mean you caused a shunt??

I did! Hired a brand new E class, drove out of the hire place, first junction....

Was back swapping for another 30 seconds after pickup

[Urban Sports]

What's wrong with you people?

[Markytop]

And then when just when you have got used to driving an auto, you switch back to a manual and wonder why you keep stalling when you come to junctions. Then you realise you have to press the pedal on the left because it works like a clutch

[aeropilot]

Urban Sports said:

What's wrong with you people?

Indeed......

[LuS1fer]

The best way of not looking a prick is not to buy a Scirocco, surely?

[varsas]

aeropilot said:

Urban Sports said:

What's wrong with you people?

Indeed......

Very odd. Never had any trouble driving auto's, and switch between auto/manual regularly (my Jaguar is auto, my 328 manual).

Oh and I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but I use the 'one foot one pedal' method, it just seemed the most natural (possibly from my first driving experience, which was in a go-kart...I assumed that was why the brake pedal was so wide, so you could choose which foot to use) although I use the one-foot two pedal method on motorways. I will admit to struggling the first time I drove a series 3 land rover but generally I'm fairly happy jumping into anything.

Those of you who have trouble with auto boxes, do you have trouble switching between cars anyway? I mean between two manual cars, for example? It does seem that some people just can't cope with swapping between cars, while others can...must be a 'haptic memory' thing...

[thinfourth2]

aeropilot said:

Urban Sports said:

What's wrong with you people?

Indeed......

I have only driven a total of about 4 miles in 3 different auto cars, i have done more miles on my lawn mower then i have with automatic cars

[russy01]

Quite often drive an auto with a sequential stick. When I get back into the manual I generally try changing gears with no clutch!! Doesn't make for a smooth drive!!

[thecremeegg]

I always left foot brake in an auto, seems to come naturally and I dont realise I'm doing it

[jamoor]

I am 22 and alternate between manuals and autos all the time and never had a problem, just don't use your left leg.