Safe Speed Forums

Due to emergency circumstances I find myself with a Toyota Corolla automatic. I didn't want to buy a car that was an automatic or front wheel drive but, as the BMW cracked its cylinder head leaving us with no transport, I was forced to do so. I've only once driven an automatic and I'm still getting used to this after three weeks; I still reach for the gears at times.

Can anyone advise on the best way to drive? Things to consider are cornering (as it is a three gear auto), stop start traffic and waiting at lights.

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Prepare to be Judged

Rule 1: Don't use your left foot.
Rule 2: Don't attempt things like darting out into a small gap with a 3 speed.

It's quite alright to hold on the footbrake at lights or short stops. Everyone does this and autos don't have a worse accident record than manuals. Put on your handbrake for any longer pause.

A 3 speed will always be in the wrong gear, unfortunately.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

a cautionary tale on spirited cornering.....

driving an auto FWD on the track, steady state corner, close to limit, (constant) throttle demand to maintain speed. auto decides to downshift, lots more torque through front wheels, bags of understeer... glancing blow to tyre wall.

it's not always thinking what you're thinking!

I drive a fairly (over 200bhp) powerful auto and find it fine.

THIS is the best article on the use of an auto box I've found:

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/advice/ ... rboxes.htm

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I won't slave for beggar's pay,
likewise gold and jewels,
but I would slave to learn the way
to sink your ship of fools

thats why i wont touch them. i like to know what my car is doing because i am doing it myself.

i dont know if cars are like trucks but some autos need plenty of notice before pulling away. a brand new MAN TGA requires 14 working days notice before you find a decent gap

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Richie

SSAFA supporter
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Richie - I don't know how you find it, but Nos HATES reversing with autos because its too jerky.

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

Thanks prof, that was helpful.

I asked was because I was stuck in stop start traffic the other night and could smell, what seemed to me, a burning clutch but it could have been brake pads. Also, I was approaching a roundabout, saw the gap but was in too high a gear to accelerate until I kicked down. I now know that changing down would have been a better option but a friend said he used to change down but that caused the gearbox to fail. Possibly he was using it incorrectly.

The only things I've found that I like about it so far is the lack of gear changes in stop start traffic, the seats are comfortable and the savings because of the engine size - 1.3l compared to 2.0l. The kids like it because there is more room for them compared to the BMW. The wife likes it because she doesn't have to change gear which saves her back; subsequently she can drive while I drink

Still, can't complain, it's 9 years old with FSH an elderly gent previous owner, 56k and cost £800

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Prepare to be Judged

Does it have 1st and 2nd on the selector? They can be used to make the car hold the gear rather than having it change up every time you come off the gas slightly. I find it can be useful to select a gear prior to an overtake so that you do not have to wait for the kickdown or you can use it to hold a gear in a corner. Some autos seem to change up anyway if the revs get high enough but I have no idea if all will do this.

Edit - I type too slowly.

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Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

likewise. it seems that no matter how gentle you are on the fast pedal, it wont move then it suddenly takes off. not good when you are backing onto a trailer. not much good when you are backing the trailer either. loading bays arent too bad but some of the shops i do require the tail lift raised to bridge the gap. go too fast and you will do some damage

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Richie

SSAFA supporter
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That must be a "feature" of certain boxes, both my Saab Aero (2.0 high pressure turbo) and the previous Daimler I had (4.0 litre) would reverse very gently without issue. I find the Saab's box in sport mode extremely responsive when "pressing on" and have only had to resort to the "stick" on two occasions in two and half years.

I think low power engines really don't suit autos (or perhaps it's low power to weight) AND you have to take the time to "learn the box", just as with any other car...

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I won't slave for beggar's pay,
likewise gold and jewels,
but I would slave to learn the way
to sink your ship of fools

I don't recall jerkiness in reverse being a problem with the ZF boxes on any of the buses/coaches I've been on whilst my wife was driving, and it's never been an issue with any of the auto cars (Vauxhalls and Mercedes) I've driven. Though given the differences between a typical car/bus manual box and a HGV one, I presume their auto boxes are a bit different too?

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Chris

12 litres kicking out 380 horses




sorry, couldnt resist

i dont have (or want) much experience with auto cars so i can only comment on auto trucks. i hate them. give me a 16 speed manual any day

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Richie

SSAFA supporter
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i dont know much about buses but with the difference in weight alone, i would imagine the gearing would be different. the volvo in the picture has what they call an i shift. apart from the physical appearance of the controls, i wouldnt tell you what is different to any other manufacuturers gearbox. one thing i do know is that they are computer controlled so they can be set up differently if the boss so desires. maybe they could set it up to move when you want it to and to recognise the difference between gently easing and charging backwards

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Richie

SSAFA supporter
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126025031585

Keep your left foot tucked under the drivers seat! ESPECIALLY if you are "Manually selecting" lower gears!

You do NOT want to accidentally De-clutch in an Auto!!

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"The road to a police state is paved with public safety legislation"

If the automatic stick thing is just a load of switches does it really matter if you keep putting it into the manual gears?

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Andrew.

Just a bye-the-bye. Modern 5/6/7 speed auto boxes (like on Mercs and BMWs) are nothing like your 3 speed and are now fantastically good at "mind reading" and adapt well to your driving style.

Having said that, I use paddle shift for a more involving driving experience and this is the best of all worlds.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

I'd agree with that Malcolm. My boss has a Volvo with a six speed auto and it is superb. I have driven a few thousand miles in it and not once had to manually shift it. Most of the time you are completely unaware of it changing.

Interestingly the fuel economy is virtually identical to his old manual - despite the 'official' CO2 and mpg figures being considerably worse.

5 litres kicking out 362 horses, and it weighs a darn site less

Unfortunately niether is ideal for taking corners at speed.

fatboytim

Every auto truck I ever drove, going back as far as the 70s, would creep at tickover, letting you just cover the brake.