Parking an automatic on a hill.

[securespark]

Our EV is much easier.

Park up.

Press P (handbrake automatically engages).

Get out.

Lock car.

 

[securespark]

Some cars will not crank, unless you press the clutch pedal down.

Matt's i30 is the same.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I realise people have different views and preferences, however:

The right foot controls that

Two pedals; two feet. Simples.

Hill assist, or even the throttle or brake (right foot) does that

Two pedals; two feet. Simples.

No need, or just lazy?

No need.
Why is not doing something that is not necessary lazy?

Much better to use the handbrake, for efficiency especially

How is it efficient?

And I have 2 manuals and 1 auto currently.

Perhaps that is the problem.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

I realise people have different views and preferences, however:


Two pedals; two feet. Simples.

Most especially elderly people accidents in autos are caused by using 2 feet, rather than just the 1 that is needed. Why complicate things?

Two pedals; two feet. Simples.

2 pedals 1 foot. Either brake or accerate, not both

No need.
Why is not doing something that is not necessary lazy?

Why is there a requirement for a parking brake?

How is it efficient?

Wait til your mot and look at the performance of an unused parking brake

Perhaps that is the problem.

Autos are simple, why complicate them

 

[EFLImpudence]

Most especially elderly people accidents in autos are caused by using 2 feet, rather than just the 1 that is needed.

I don't know about that.
Did they do something wrong?

Why complicate things?

Surely it is making it easier.

2 pedals 1 foot. Either brake or accerate, not both

A bit like walking - one at a time - or do you hop everywhere?

Why is there a requirement for a parking brake?

For when parked - hence the name - especially on a hill.
However that doesn't mean it need be used when doing hill starts or other times when not needed.

Wait til your mot and look at the performance of an unused parking brake

Just passed.

Autos are simple, why complicate them

I am making it easier.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

How is it efficient?

In my case, my handbrake is a separate from the rear disks, drum brake, just used as a parking brake. Problem is, if only applied whilst parked, the drum interior rusts up. A coating of rust dust, acts as a lubricant to the shoes, so the handbrake becomes much less efficient, needing much greater effort at the handbrake lever. A common fault on my marque, was - The much greater effort, resulted in parts becoming distorted from the strain. A poor handbrake, was a common complaint of owners, such that the manufacturer announced a fix - one of driving round the dealership, with the handbrake partially applied.

The simple fix, to minimise the effort needed to apply it, and keep the handbrake performing 100%, was to simply use the handbrake. I habitually apply it, whilst still moving slowly, when approaching red traffic lights.

 

[johnny2007]

Two pedals; two feet. Simples.

Not that simple when you get a lady slamming on the brakes because she's used to a clutch...
God bless Audi for their anti-collition radar and the good brakes.

 

[pcaouolte]

Two pedals; two feet. Simples.

From my handbook:

 

[carmanmemoranda]

2 pedals 1 foot is as simple as it can be.

And people want to complicate it

 

[norseman]

The simple fix, to minimise the effort needed to apply it, and keep the handbrake performing 100%, was to simply use the handbrake. I habitually apply it, whilst still moving slowly, when approaching red traffic lights.

I've the same problem with my old BM, applying the HB before coming to a halt does indeed help, but I can't tolerate the bloody warning BONG !

 

[Avocet]

Come to a complete stop using foot brake.

Yes.

Shift to neutral (N).

Don't really need to, IMO but yes, I think it's best practice.

Engage parking brake (the handbrake).

Yes

Release foot brake. Ensure cars weight is being held.

Yes - the most important bit. As Noreseman says, to do otherwise put a bit of a strain on the gearbox. Depending n the handbrake and suspension setup, even if the handbrake is fully engaged, as soon as you release the footbrake, the car will roll a tiny bit, as the suspension winds-up. (You can usually see / feel the car squat a bit, depending on whether its facing up or down hill, as the footbrake is released, and the job of holding the car on the slope passes from being done by all 4 wheels, to just being done by the two that the handbrake works on. If the transmission is in "Park" at this point, (And depending on the driveline and suspension layout), you might get into a situation where the braking that was being done by (say) the front wheels, now gets at least partly done by the transmisson. This is unlikely to do the transmission any damage (the engineers should have foreseen such a use case), but it can mean it gets a bit stiff to take the gear selector back out of "Park" when you next come to use the car, as some of the car's "weight" is hanging off the locking pawl.

Engage park (P).

Yes.

Turn engine off.

Yes.

Then when driving away:

Start car.
Apply foot brake.
Shift from park to drive (or reverse if need be).
Give a bit of throttle as required.
Slowly release hand brake.
Drive forwards or reverse as required.

There seems to be two or three slightly different variants of the above. Main thing I want to avoid is putting unnecessary strain on the parking pawl and/or transmission.

Any advice welcome

Yes, absolutely. That's the kindest way to treat a traditional auto.

 

[Avocet]

I have always bought automatics since I bought my first car in 1965 - a 1955 Mk1 Zodiac - and noticed the difference.


I cannot understand why they are not the norm.

Imagine automatics had been all there was when cars were invented and then, later on someone said I have invented the manual gearbox where you can now change gear yourself hundreds of times every day.

Do you want one?

Early European ones were pretty horrible. American auto boxes could get away with only having three speeds, because they were usually mated to 10 squillion litre V8s that had so much torque they didn't really need gears anyway, but when used in small engined European cars, I always found the gaps between ratios too big. The other traditional objection to them, was the additional fuel consumption, due to the torque converter (in effect) being a constantly slipping clutch. (Note that the old DAF Variomatic "rubber band powered" cars with CVT were an honourable exception to this)!

Gradually, auto boxes evolved. They developed lock-up in the higher gears to help reduce inefficiency and they grew a load more gears. We also started seeing the introduction of "automated manual" gearboxes, like VW's DSG boxes, which did away with the torque converter altogether.

For me, however, the Achilles' Heel of all auto (and automated manual) gearboxes, has been their inability to foresee events. If I want to overtake in a manual, I can drop down a gear in anticipation. I can have my engine revved-up and right in the "meat" of its power band, ready for the opportunity. With an auto, you have to press the pedal and wait for it to faff-around kicking down.

Auto boxes have got to the point where I could just about live with one, if I really had to. The 7 speed DSG box in Mrs. Avocet's Skoda is a world away from the horrible 3 speed Borg Warner in my old 1980s Citroen or my 1970s Scimitar. However, the absolute ultimate in that respect, is the EV. No gears = no kickdown wait. It's just there, "BANG", instant, the car has started accelerating before the throttle pedal has even reached the carpet. I used to be quite impressed with Mrs Avocet's DSG, but when I get into it after the EV, it's just awful! Plant the throttle and get a good book out while I wait for it to decide what gear it wants and spool its turbo up!

 

[JohnD]

For me, however, the Achilles' Heel of all auto (and automated manual) gearboxes, has been their inability to foresee events. If I want to overtake in a manual, I can drop down a gear in anticipation. I can have my engine revved-up and right in the "meat" of its power band, ready for the opportunity. With an auto, you have to press the pedal and wait for it to faff-around kicking down.

J-drive.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

For me, however, the Achilles' Heel of all auto (and automated manual) gearboxes, has been their inability to foresee events. If I want to overtake in a manual, I can drop down a gear in anticipation.

You could always manually select a lower gear, on an auto.

 

[norseman]

!972 Vauxhall Ventora with a Powerglide 'box had just 2 speeds, behind a 3.3 litre straight 6.
I had one during the 'eighties, the 2 gears were perfectly adequate & the car was surprisingly economical for it's engine capacity.

It's getting to the stage when cars will have more gears than the 38 tonne artics I drove at the time