Driving a car with an automatic transmission is an extremely pleasant experience. However, especially if we are going to do it for the first time, there are things that need our attention.
In the past, on European soil, a car with an automatic transmission was a relatively rare thing, affecting mainly cars of the luxury class.
In recent years, however, automatic transmissions seem to have taken the lead in Geria Epirus, and more and more cars, even the most affordable ones, are equipped with them. with manufacturers removing the manual gearbox option entirely in some cases.
If you are looking to buy a car with an automatic transmission and have no previous experience with it, then… prepare for the best, especially with regard to the new and clearly higher levels of comfort that you will enjoy on your daily commute and beyond..
Especially for those of you who are now preparing to make the move from manual to automatic transmission for the first time.Here are some tips and information that will make your first days together easier and help you make the most of it..
P, R, N, D the… new alphabet
These four lettering options are present in all automatic transmissions, regardless of how many ratios they have. “P” stands for “Parking” and we select it when parking, always in conjunction with activating the box.
He “D” stands for “Drive” and if we do not choose it, the car simply does not start, just as it does not start if we choose it the “N” which means “Neutral”, that is, our familiar dead. This is the option we use if the car has a breakdown and needs to move without the help of the engine, but also when we put our car on the rails of an automatic car wash. so that it can roll freely – this is not possible in the “P” position.
End, “R” is the letter we know from manual gearboxes and stands for “Reverse” and it refers to the selection of reverse gear, although we must always keep in mind that we must be completely still to change position on the selector to avoid damage to the gearbox.
Forget the left leg
the end of the body the one who receives “pension” in a car with an automatic transmission is the left foot, which we use to actuate the clutch pedal. In fact, we’ve done it so many thousands of times that foot movement and pedal operation are second nature and this is something to be very careful about when transitioning to driving a car with an automatic transmission.
The reason why we have to pay attention is precisely her. the instinctive movement of the left foot towards the clutch pedal, especially when slowing to a stop. A movement that if we drive an automatic car can even lead to a traffic accident.
Automatic transmission cars do not have a clutch pedal, and the center brake pedal is usually wider than manual transmission cars. So it’s easy to start off on the wrong foot for someone just starting to drive an automatic. And those who have tried left-hand braking know the unpleasant consequences of the car braking hard and abruptly with the risk of a rear embolism lurking.
In order to avoid the above dangerous situation, what should we do in the early days of driving is to consciously move our left foot away from the brake pedals and bring it closer to the seat. We must remember this every time we get into the car to drive and after a few days the “problem” will be subconsciously resolved.
Watch out for the brakes
The automatic transmission takes less advantage of the braking offered by the engine compared to the manual. So we must also be careful not to overheat the brake system by using it more than necessary. Where we should focus our attention is on the long downhill bends with the solution provided by the same gearboxes found in most modern cars.
In particular, automatic transmissions often have the option of “S” mode, which is also used during more dynamic driving. The function in question Mr.the gearbox usually shifts one gear down at the same speed and compared to normal (eg 2nd gear instead of 3rd) so that the driver can take better advantage of the performance of both the engine and the brakes. Therefore, you should choose this function to put less pressure on the brakes in the above cases.
Most modern automatic transmissions also have a feature that allows manual gear changes. If you don’t want to leave it in auto ‘S’ mode, then you can choose manual changes made either by the selector, or by “ears” located behind the steering wheel.
practice maneuvers
The “loss” of the clutch pedal in the automatic transmission. brings to the table new data on the control a driver has when maneuvering at very low speedssuch as when parking or maneuvering in very narrow streets.
The best thing you can do to get used to the operation of your automatic transmission at very low speeds and not find yourself in unpleasant situations. is to find a dirt road or a large empty parking lot and subsidize all kinds of maneuvers, with precision in your movements, to safely get used to the response of the cajon.