Driving an auto - anything to watch out for?

[Jay]

Women drivers... although this goes for manuals as well.

** PLEASE DON'T KILL ME. ITS JUST A JOKE **

[finlay666]

Any excuse!! (and a very sigable quote )

I was going to say don't reach for the gearstick if your mate is sat next to you, could make for a very awkward journey!

[GoNz0]

Any excuse!! (and a very sigable quote )

[HSK]

I drove a auto (my friends) around to a couple of places recently - a couple of stop and starts on the way out of the car park and I adjusted to it.

I don't think it will be an issue / take you long!

[Uriel]

Some Sedonas have a stop/start feature. On a manual it engages when you're in neutral. Not sure about autos. On my CVT Honda insight the engine stops when dropping below 7mph with foot on the brake in Drive. If you take your foot off the brake, put it in neutral or park the engine starts again. Different systems behave differently on different cars though.

Can be confusing if you're not expecting it. Some people think they've stalled.

[Tumble]

The only problem I had with driving an auto was reversing. Driven 2, quite a way apart, 2 diferent cars. Ok going forward, reversing and then BAM emergency stop as I go for the clutch....

[Parm]

It's not the auto you've got to worry about - it's getting back in a manual after!

I've had my automatic Honda for a few years, and I now get scared whenever I see a gear stick and that weird-looking third pedal.

[badass]

First - most autos have a foot rest on the left. Use it. Keep your left foot on it when driving normally. This should stop you from accidentally left foot braking and headbutting the windscreen in the process.
In traffic jams, use the crawler feature they all have. Just release the brake pedal and let it roll forwards.

When Parking, place your right foot on the accelerator to control throttle as per normal, and use your left foot to brake. You'll get used to it quickly after headbutting the dashboard a couple of times.
The above advice only applies to people who drive a manual all the time and just use an auto for the first time. It stops you accidentally flooring it when you mean to use the brakes.

[Uriel]

Yeah. When reversing, you should always have a foot over the brake in an auto. It's your only quick protection against lurching if the engine surges. In a manual you could just drop the clutch but autos don't give you the option.

[Moby-Dick]

I've always been a subscriber of the "forget your left foot exists" when driving an auto, so I dont left foot brake either. I always park on the creep only , never had it really surge on me.

[directhex]

I've always been a subscriber of the "forget your left foot exists" when driving an auto, so I dont left foot brake either. I always park on the creep only , never had it really surge on me.

Yeah, this is vital to dealing with the clutch muscle memory. Don't try to go-kart it. Use only your right foot.

[badass]

I've always been a subscriber of the "forget your left foot exists" when driving an auto, so I dont left foot brake either. I always park on the creep only , never had it really surge on me.

The best way IMO. The left foot braking when parking applies to people that haven't driven an auto before.

[keithwalton]

I drove an auto merc a few months back and you guessed it left foot went for the clutch several times! It was a nice big pedal which didn't help! It also had a 3rd pedal for engaging the holding (hand) brake, and a pull level to release it.

In the end I trained my brain to left foot brake properly, it wasn't too hard as most of the modern cars i've driven lately have a very light clutch pedal.
Got back into my own car and boy did the clutch feel like it was set in stone.


Hopefully you wont need this piece of advice but if an auto car ever needs to be towed the driven wheels must be taken off the ground else you will knacker the box before you get home.

As per the others if it was your own car (depends on type of auto) drop it into neutral and keep your foot on the brake or apply handbrake when you stop at lights (no need for park) to prevent clutch wear. It is the same effect as holding a car on an incline using the clutch only.

[Konan555]

I always park on the creep only , never had it really surge on me.

My old Mitsi was fun in reverse. Due to the gargantuan nature of it's air con, when the compressor kicked in, the engine management took idle from 800 to just shy of 1200. When creeping in traffic or reversing, I had to be ready on the brake because it'd decide to drive off if the cabin got a little hot

Autos are easy. Don't bother going in to park at lights or anything, just sit on the brake.

[Konan555]

As per the others if it was your own car (depends on type of auto) drop it into neutral and keep your foot on the brake or apply handbrake when you stop at lights (no need for park) to prevent clutch wear. It is the same effect as holding a car on an incline using the clutch only.

They don't have a clutch, they have a torque converter which is designed to slip. There's more strain/wear on the box if you take it from Neutral to Drive every time you stop than if you just let it sit idle against the brakes.

[Saracen]

I'd agree with all the above, especially the thing about the getting the left foot out of the way (I find an unnatural position works best, as it reminds you not to use it), and to watch for 'creep' when in a queue or at lights. Especially at lights, in fact.

And don't rely so much on engine braking either.

Also, some auto's have a trick or two, and they vary. For instance, if you can't get the key out of the ignition, it's probably because you've left the car in drive. Stick it in Park. And if you can't get out of park into drive/reverse, depress the brake pedal.

And especially, when you get back in your own car, remember that pulling up without using clutch = stall.