Plus its sooooooooo dull driving an auto
Good job you aren't in the market for a new Ferrari then. Then don't make a manual now!
Plus its sooooooooo dull driving an auto
Good job you aren't in the market for a new Ferrari then. Then don't make a manual now!
The Institute of Advanced Motorists says:
At traffic lights.
Leave in D. If red, stop and apply hand brake.
Just leaving your foot on the brake pedal is not a good idea for several reasons, including the fact that if you're shunted from behind you're unlikely to keep your foot there and you'll go into the car in front, or into oncoming traffic if you're at the front. The dazzle is also an issue, particularly at night in the wet. I actually usually put it into neutral if I'm likely to be there any length of time, e.g. if the lights have just changed to red; maybe I shouldn't.
So why neutral and handbrake vs putting it into park?
What's wrong with the handbrake; why wouldn't you want to use it? Putting it into park involves going through reverse on most cars, so you're flashing your reversing lights at the person behind; not a good idea if you want them to understand what you're doing.
Its got nothing to do with the 'action', just we choose not to do it.
Great. I wasn't questioning anyone's choice, I was trying to understand why they were questioning mine.
by strange coincidence i'd just been driving around in an automatic hire car whilst my manual was in the garage.... twas a bit crap but the sports button was fun on the lanes
but this thread reminded me of when i struck in traffic on the m6 a while back (i'd just bought an iphone and set up a picasa account the same day - hence the iphone photo) and had my eyes burned out after spending 30 minutes in stationary traffic behind this arsehole - in which i'd turned off my engine, but the beamer 5 series driver kept his foot on the brake light all the fricking time!

i moved lane in the end as the traffic congestion continued further up the m6 and let someone else put up with the brakelight each time we stopped
Quick question on the DSG box. If you stop and move the selector into N do you have to press the brake pedal before you can move into D?
Yes I think so, as in most autos, to stop you nudging it into drive. Not sure though - you can switch between D and N whilst moving.
I tend to leave mine in drive or occasionally put it in park at lights. All the autos I've driven have a bit of creep so move forward even though your foot is off the gas so I guess by leaving it in drive with your foot on the brake you are using slightly more fuel than if you stick it in neutral or park.
you can still change manually with an auto and its goes like as a buttered gerbil up a liberal MP
Except for using the tiptronic instead of kickdown to drop a cog or two its not worth doing with Merc boxes as they change quite slowly so best to let them do their own thing. The new 8 speed ZF in the BMW 5 series now that's quite another matter as its a torque convertor box that changes as a fast as a DSG.
20 yr old Merc. Neutral and 'hand'brake.
Pembo - Member
Quick question on the DSG box. If you stop and move the selector into N do you have to press the brake pedal before you can move into D?
POSTED 41 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
You have to use the footbrake to put it in D once you're stationary, but you can move between N and D whilst on the move
Oh and for sheer ease DSG is brilliant, it's not perfect but it's pretty damn good
Just bought the 1st auto gear in my life - Toyota 05. A bit weird somewhat as I have to keep reminding myself there is no gear to change.
At traffic light.
1. In D gear & hand brake on. (idle at 700 - 750 RPM so no problem)
Very short stop.
2. In D gear & brake on.
During a very long stop.
3. In P gear & sometimes with hand brake on as well.
In fogs ...
4. In D with/without handbrake on but will step on the brake if I see car lights approaching from behind. Just to alert them in case they are blind.
So far I quite enjoy this new auto gear thing as it feels like I have learned to drive for the first time again.
Even my boy racer mate recommends me to go for auto because I am just driving it for leisure/work ... not racing.
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