The world is slowly shifting towards automatic cars. They ease your work a lot and are easier to drive. If you have a license for a manual car, you can drive an automatic automobile. Thus, it is unnecessary to opt for a new automated car driver’s license. But it is not possible if you own an automatic car license and want to ride a manual car.
Here are a few tips and tricks to know before driving an automatic car. Read to learn more.
Tips and Tricks Before Driving an Automatic Car
1. No Clutch Pedal
Automatic cars do have gears; however, they handle and change most of the gears themselves. That is why there is an absence of a clutch pedal. They have the brake and accelerator. Any car, whether a manual or an automatic, will not properly work if you hit those two pedals simultaneously. Thus ‘manual’ car drivers tuck their left foot behind their right foot even if driving an automatic car as a habit.
2. Learn the Brake and Accelerator of the Automatic car
- Left- Brake
- Right- Accelerator
- NO CLUTCH
3. Practice the Gearstick
Before turning on the car, try to remember the gearstick. Yes, you will get used to it sometimes; however, if you are looking for the reverse in a hurry, you will be glad that you remember it.
Even though the manual does not require the gearstick much, the automatic cars need them a lot. However, you can hold the brake down once you shift gear, like the clutch in manual vehicles.
Here are the four basic gears-
- P – Park
Park is simply Neutral with the gears locked so that the wheels do not turn. Make sure that you are in Park before you start your automatic automobile – and turn it back in Park before you switch off the engine.
- R – Reverse
For going backward or reversing.
- N – Neutral
If you want to stop at lights or in traffic for a couple of seconds, you can switch the automobile in Neutral. It is best to use the brake or handbrake to make sure you do not roll like a manual automobile.
- D – Drive
For driving forward. Once you are moving fast, the automobile can mechanically switch to gear mechanism, then third, and so on.
Some automatics still have other settings on the gearstick. For example-
- 1.For hills, keep in first gear
- 2.For hills, keep in second gear
- L. For 1 and 2, keep in low gear
- S: For better acceleration, keep in Sport
4. The “Creep”
If you are in Drive or forward gears, your automatic car will slowly move forward. If you are in Reverse, it will start to move backward slowly. This is often known as ‘creeping’ or ‘idle speed.’
Thus, it makes it better to keep your right foot over or on the brake once you are parking or in slow traffic. You can choose Neutral and use the brake or handbrake to know that you do not move if you do not want to.
5. Be Familiar with Different Conditions
Automatic cars are easier to learn than automatic cars. There is no need to understand the gears by heart; thus, learners can easily focus on other vehicles, mirrors, pedestrians, speed, etc.
But if you are familiar with a manual car, you will notice some differences.
- On motorways, there is no difference at all. Staying in Drive is the same as staying in first gear.
- In traffic jams, automatic cars are way better. It is nice not to have to be compelled to shift between first and neutral over and over again.
- When you are parking, you may realize the ‘creep’ feature is helpful. Otherwise, you may find it very annoying.
- During overtaking or going up or down hills, some individuals realize that an automatic car does not provide them the maximum amount of control as a manual.
However, most older automatics have the ‘O or D’ (Overdrive) button* on the automatic device. This provides the engine with a small amount of extra ‘oomph.’ The latest automatic car models are good enough to understand when the driver needs the ‘oomph’ so that they do not want this button.
Overdrive is a feature that keeps the revs down. Thus, the automobile uses less fuel. An automatic car can start up with Overdrive on, thus pushing the button turns it off. You will burn more fuel. However, get more power or control over the car.
6. Practice
Lastly, it is best to practice driving an automatic car before hitting any busy roads. It should not take long to learn to keep your hand off the mechanical device and your left foot out of the way in the absence of a clutch paddle.
Conclusion
If you have any queries regarding this topic, services, or want to buy a Used Cars in Delhi, you can contact Motofoto, and they will guide you regarding the same.
