So, how do you drive an automatic?

I suspect its to do with me getting 'mature', not only do i struggle like hell with new brands of phones etc, but i found auto too wierd, but then i'm pretty proactive with the old gearstick so it felt wierd in an auto. not too bad when ya get used to it specially on a run i guess. i'd have one if it was the right car, luxury thing or yank etc.


not only driving a volvo takes some getting used to in the tight yorkshire hills, an auto adds to the experience!

You can use other selections other than PRND ;D

My T5 is Auto and when I was looking for it (or whatever it might have been) the auto box was one of the criteria...and one that I wouldn't be swayed on. For town use then you can't beat an auto, I used to hate them but trust me, after a while you wouldn't have anything else for your daily driver.
For track days or hacking around country lanes a manual is going to be better, obviously - but for everything else, go auto and relax.

Spent 4 years driving 'round central london
Auto was the natural choice.The Supra was an auto and the gallant I've got know is auto.
Once you've driven one,you'll wonder why people make such a fuss about slush boxes not being "proper"

Unless you use the other selections 3,2,1



I don't either but practive makes perfect ;D

Got plenty of spare boxes then ;D

500 quid car, scrappies round here are full of em, and suprisingly its not broken yet!

Autos in stop start traffic are brilliant, no more aching left ankle, just waft along.... I find them less flexable overall comapred to a manual. They have a habit of changing gear half way round a corner and at other moments when youd rather they didnt. Once you get used to them they are very good though. Fuel economy is worse than a manual, you cant tow them when they break down without removing the prop (unless its a very short distance) and as mentioned, if you get the discs hot then hold the car on the brake at a set of lights for example, the pads on the discs create a hot spot which can warp them.

One final thing thats worth a mention, make sure the autobox fluid is nice and bright red and isnt brown, emulsified or has a smell of rotten eggs. Autos have a nasty habit of suddenly losing all forward gears when they do go wrong, or sometimes they loose reverse. Real pain in the backside. A looked after autobox can last a very long time though, and in my experience an autobox is kinder to the engine as it "absorbs" much of the shocks and abuse that a manual box would normally transfer straight to the engine

Auto boxes are great in traffic/hills..... no more shaky left leg/stinky clutches as i had towing an Austin 1100 with my landy through 20 miles of nose to tail traffic on the M8 yesterday at rush hour should really fit a towbar to the merc