How to Drive an Automatic Car – The Beginner’s Guide
Once popular with older drivers and unable to drive manual car, automatic transmission cars are becoming more popular and common. Not only are they easier (and less stressful) to drive than a manual, in some cases they can be better in fuel consumption and less expensive in maintenance. However, if you have never driven an automatic car, you can get behind the wheel and be totally disconnected by the lack of clutch pedal and the many options offered by the shifter.
Automatic cars have very bright future; let’s take a quick tour, to help you make your opinion.
Before you start:
Most automatic transmissions allow you to choose between different letters. These are abbreviations for P (for Park), R (for Reverse), N (for Neutral), and D (For Drive).
- Park: (as in parking) should only be used when you are stopped and you get out of car. This locks the transmission by preventing it from rolling (but you still have to apply the parking break when you are parked).
- Reverse: Act as a reverse gear with a manual gearbox, and should be selected when you want to drive backwards.
- Neutral: Must not be selected when moving- coasting – but can be used (with free parking brakes) if you are stopped for a short time.
- Drive: automatically selects gear and allows the car to move forward
Some automatic transmission will give you option to select the first or second gear. This will help you in situations where you want to use the gearbox to reduce your speed. For example down a steep hill.
Having this option also helps reduce engine speeds and stop the wheel when you move forward in certain situations. For example, in case of snow or ice, it is sometimes advisable to switch to second gear to prevent the wheels from skidding. If the road is particularly slippery . However, some automatic models have a winter mode dedicated to this kind of maneuver.
Other automatic transmission will allow you to manually select any gear, using the selector or controls mounted behind the steering wheels. This allows the driver more control over how the car goes up and down.
That’s why some drivers prefer; it better fits driving style and gives them more control over the performance of the car.
However , the more you drive manual and automatic cars, the more you will know about the boxes that suit you best.
How to drive an automatic car in few simple steps:
Although automatic transmissions are generally very easy to use, confusion occurs when the starting and stopping. When you get into a car with an automatic transmission, it should have been left in the Park position.
Place your right foot on the left pedal ( the brake) and lower, start the car with the keys or start button, and ( with the foot still on the brake) , move the shift lever to “D” (if you want to advance) or “R” ( if you want to back).
By lifting the break foot, most automatic vehicles will move slowly , making parking or low –speed traffic easier. You may need a little more gas if you are on hill or want to leave faster.
Once in motion, the gear box selects the gear that suits the situation and do all the hard work for you. When you have finished your journey and the car is stopped, keep your foot on the brake, turn the lever to “P” , Turn off the ignition and exit the car.
The different types of automatic gear boxes:
While any car that changes gears without the driver having to use a clutch pedal is generally considered an automatic, there are actually a number of different types of automatic transmissions.
Conventional automatic boxes:
These use a “torque converter” to perform clutch work and more refined than other automatic gearboxes, but consume more fuel than manual gearboxes.
Luxury cars such as the Range Rover and the Volvo XC90 are offered with a conventional automatic transmission, using up to nine gears.
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT):
CVTs are popular in hybrid cars such as Toyota Prius, as they eliminate the wheels in favor of a belt that acts as a unique transmission ration.
In addition to being more efficient and reliable, they also allow for a smoother ride because the car does not have to go from one gear to another.
The disadvantage is a slower acceleration than other automatic transmission, and loud and tense engine noise can occur if you try to progress quickly.
Automatic double clutch:
These types of gearboxes are similar to a conventional automatic gearbox, but two clutches (automatically operated) replace the torque converter.
They are aligning the gears alternately, which means that the next report is prepared and allowed for quick gear changes. They are popular in VV Group Cars – from the GSG gearbox of the Volkswagen Golf to the PDK of the Porche brand.
Automated manual boxes:
There are no longer as popular as they were but still used in cheaper cars such as the Skoda Citigo. These act as a normal manual, but automatically select speeds and operate the clutch using a computer rather than a pedal. The downside is that they can be a bit jerky – like a manual, there is little pause while the system looks for the next speed.
What are the advantages of automatic transmission?
Although automatic transmissions have traditionally been known to require a lot of maintenance, they are more reliable than they were before. They also reduce the risk of defective parts. For example , if your clutch control is not perfect, you do not damage the clutch in an automatic car.
In addition to being easier to drive, auto versions of cars may actually be more efficient than their manual counterparts. They can also be faster. Many double - clutch transmissions, in particular, can change gears faster than humans, saving crucial tenths of a second between 0 to 100km/h. Ideal for a day on sports track.
However, automatic cars usually cost more, which will not work in your favor if you are a young driver and already facing high insurance premiums.
