Although automatic cars used to be largely driven by elderly drivers or those that struggled to drive manuals, they are now the most favoured choice of gearbox. An automatic gearbox has always been easier and more relaxing to drive when compared to manual but these days, they are also more fuel efficient and make your car faster to accelerate too.
However, if you have always driven a manual car, attempting to drive an automatic car for the first time can be quite confusing due to the lack of a clutch pedal. However, to get you up to speed with how to drive an automatic car, we cover everything that you need to know that includes the basics to more advanced use of the gearbox.
The Gearbox Selector
One of the first things you’ll notice when jumping into an automatic car is the different gear shifter. Rather than having a manual shifter with numbers and a ‘R’, you’ll be greeted with a shifter with ‘P’, ‘R’, ‘N’ & ‘D’. In terms of the meanings of each letter, they refer to the following:
- ‘P’ is park
- ‘R’ is reverse
- ‘N’ is neutral
- ‘D’ is drive
When you get into an automatic car, the shifter will be in the ‘park’ position and this should also be the same when you leave the car. In order to shift into the other modes, you’ll need to use your right foot to push down on the foot brake. To reverse, pull the shifter down one position, for neutral, pull the shifter down two positions and finally to drive the car, pull the shifter down three positions. Once you are in drive, you can leave it in that position until you need to reverse or leave the car and put it in park.
The Pedals
Another major difference that you’ll find between a manual and an automatic car is the lack of a clutch pedal. As there is no clutch pedal, many people find that they are unsure what they are meant to do with their left foot. However, it’s for this reason that most automatic cars feature a footrest for your left foot as shown in position two in the image below.
Although not common in all automatic cars, many will feature a pedal for applying the handbrake as shown in position one in the image. In order to release the handbrake, there will be a release button or lever located near the steering wheel. If there isn’t a handbrake pedal, there may be a button located near the gear shifter or elsewhere.
By far the most used pedals in an automatic car are of course the brake and accelerator pedals as shown in position three (brake) and four (accelerator) in the image. These two pedals are located in all automatic cars with the brake pedal being on the left and the accelerator on the right.
Our Tips For Driving An Automatic Car
- Always start the car with the gearbox in ‘P’ for park and your right foot pushed down on the brake pedal.
- With the car started, keep your right foot on the brake pedal and use the shifter to engage ‘R’ for reverse or ‘D’ for drive.
- Lift your foot of the brake pedal to allow the car to creep forward or backwards.
- For driving forwards, accelerate and allow the gearbox to change the gears and do all the hard work.
- If you need to overtake, make use of the kickdown feature (as discussed below).
- Unless you feel confident to do so, don’t use any of the manual gear modes.
- For short reverse parking, it’s advised that you allow the car to creep backwards (without using the accelerator).
- After finishing your drive, keep your right foot on the brake pedal and push the shifter to ‘P’ for park before switching the car off.
Types of Automatic Gearboxes
Automatic gearboxes have improved massively over the years and they are available in a variety of types. The three most common types include a torque converter, CVT and dual clutch automatic gearbox as we discuss in depth below.
Traditional Torque Converter Gearbox
A torque converter automatic gearbox is the traditional type and the most commonly used 20 to 30 years ago. It’s still very common today but it’s mostly used in large cars (such as a Mercedes S Class) and most SUV’s.
In short, a torque convertor is similar to a clutch in the way it transmits power from the engine to the gearbox. However, instead of a physical connection, a torque converter uses a thick hydraulic fluid to transfer the drive.
Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT)
A continuously variable transmission is often called a CVT gearbox and it’s commonly used by Nissan, Honda and Toyota. It works by using two cone shaped pulleys where one is connected to the engine and the other is used for driving the wheels. As the name of the gearbox suggests, it works continuously because both of the cones are linked together by the engine belt. This makes this type of gearbox more fuel efficient but it can tend to be noisy and it doesn’t allow for any manual control.
Dual Clutch Gearbox (DSG, DCT, PDK)
Dual clutch automatic gearboxes work by lining up the gear you are likely to use next on one of the clutches whilst the other is being used to drive the car. This makes the gear changes far quicker than any other automatic gearbox and it can be found in many cars from manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and many others.
Automatic Gearbox Modes
Almost all automatic gearboxes regardless of the type will feature multiple modes that effects how the gearbox operates by adjusting the car’s throttle response and shift points.
For example, the most common gearbox mode is “sport” and this will typically improve the throttle response, hold the gears for longer and drop down the gears more often. Another common mode is “comfort”, which may pull off from standstill in second gear as opposed to first and also change gears earlier when accelerating.
Choosing between the different automatic gearbox modes is a matter of personal preference. If you prefer to accelerate faster and have more fun in the car, opting for the sport mode is highly recommended. Alternatively, if you prefer a more relaxed drive and require better fuel economy, opting for the comfort mode is advised.
The Kickdown Feature
If you need to overtake another car or simply want to use the full performance of your car, you’ll want to use the kickdown feature. In short, kickdown is where the accelerator pedal is pressed all the way down to the floor. This causes the gearbox to downshift a gear or even two gears depending upon your current speed. It’s worth pointing out that in some cars, the kickdown may be initiated by going further than the “usual” full throttle.
Manually Shifting Gears With A Semi Automatic
If your car features a semi automatic gearbox, you’ll be able to combine the benefits of both a manual and automatic. In short, you have the ease of an automatic gearbox when cruising around but the control of a manual when you require it. Nowadays, most modern cars feature a semi automatic gearbox and you can control the gears by using the paddles behind the steering wheel (one for downshifting and another for upshifting) or the gear shifter.
Many people will refer to a semi automatic as a “flappy paddle gearbox” or “paddle shifter” and they can be great fun when used correctly. Whether you are overtaking, enjoying some country roads, off-roading or on a track, they allow for complete control. You may even require the extra control for towing another vehicle or a trailer too.
Due to the improvement of semi automatics, it’s clear to see why many people are preferring them over manual gearboxes because you still have control when required.
Driving In The Snow
Driving in the snow is difficult regardless of the gearbox but driving an automatic car in the snow can make things even harder because you have less input. However, it’s for this reason why many automatic gearboxes include a “comfort” or “winter” mode. As mentioned above, whilst in either of the modes, it will cause the car to drive off from standstill in second gear. This has the result of reducing the revs and preventing the wheels from spinning in the snow. Depending upon your confidence, you may even decide to use the manual gears to keep the revs down too.
Whilst driving an automatic car in the snow, the normal guidance such as being gentle with the accelerator, increasing your distance from other cars and driving slowly still apply. If you intend to drive regularly in the snow or ice, we would also recommend installing snow chains onto your car.
Conclusion
Hopefully the above step by step guide on how to drive an automatic car gives you an idea of just how easy it is to drive a car with an automatic gearbox. However, it’s important to note that not all automatic cars will have the same setup and they may differ in how they function. For example, the shifter to shift the car from park to drive may be in the “usual gear shifter location” or located on the steering wheel stalk. Another example of a potential difference may be the handbrake because it may come in the form of a pedal next to the foot brake or a button near the gear shifter.
If you’ve read our guide and you are still not confident enough to drive an automatic car, we would strongly recommend getting automatic car driving lessons. After a few miles of driving an automatic, you’ll more than likely become very familiar with how it operates and also gain more confidence.
