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Automatic transmission cars are not new in the market, and the popularity of these cars is increasing day by day as these are easy to drive as a comparatively manual car.
These cars are also famous among new and experienced drives. Because these can be operated easily. Due to the enormous demand for these cars, new models and the latest technology cars are launching into the market.
Automatic cars are also popular among ladies and older adults because they don’t have to do much. These cars take care of a lot of work for you.
How to drive an automatic car is not a big issue. You simply need to put the gear in drive mode, and the car will run automatically. It doesn’t have a clutch, only a brake and a race paddle. You only need to operate the brake and race with the right foot.
People who move to automatic transmission from the manual gearbox find it hard not to use the left foot. But with practice, the problem goes away.
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Advantages of automatic cars:
There are many advantages of the automatic car which you should know before going towards how to drive an automatic car.
- Easy to drive.
- While driving an automatic car, you can focus on speed and traffic, not on the clutch and gears.
- Excellent to drive in heavy traffic.
- Reduces the risk of stalling.
- Great drive in hill areas.
- Modern automatic cars come with eight gears, which are far better than a manual car.
- More reliable.
- More efficient.
- Many automatic cars are faster than manual cars.
- Fuel efficient.
- Easy to maintain.
- Outstanding performance
- If you can’t handle clutch and gear, then automatic is the best option.
Types of Automatic Transmissions:
Vehicles that can change gears without clutch paddles are known as automatic. In automatic cars, different gearboxes are installed to understand automated cars better. Let’s have a look at it.
1. Automated manual gearboxes:
This transmission was available in old and cheap cars, and once it was very popular.
It worked like a manual transmission, but gear selection and clutch function was done by the computer. So it’s little jerky while changing the gear like the manual as the system takes time to works through gears.
2. Conventional automatic gearbox:
This gearbox use torque-converter to do the role of the clutch. It is much better than other automatic gearboxes, but it consumes more fuel. Mostly conventional automatic gearbox comes in luxury cars like Range Rover and Volvo XC90 with nine gears.
3. Dual-clutch automatic gearbox:
This gearbox is like the conventional automatic gearbox, but it has two mechanical clutches. Dual-clutch automatic gearbox comes in VW cars, Volkswagen, and Porsche.
4. Continuously variable transmissions (CVT)
Continuously variable transmissions are famous in hybrid Cars. This transmission is more reliable and efficient. It gives you a smooth drive. Its major drawback is slow acceleration than other transmissions, and its engine gives a loud sound when you try to make rapid progress.
Functions of An Automatic Transmission:
Before jumping into how to drive an automatic car, let’s make yourself familiar with the gearstick. So you can handle it easily while driving.
P – Park: is used when you stop and exit your car. It locks the transmission, which means your car won’t drift away, but you should also apply a handbrake to make it more secure while parking.
R – Reverse: is used when you need to reverse the car as it functions in manual cars. Applying this gear means your car will move backward.
N – Neutral: If you need to stop your car at a signal or in traffic for just a few seconds, you put your car in neutral mode. You can also put on a handbrake so your car won’t drift away.
D – Drive is used to move forwards. When you apply this gear, you need to focus on the race paddle to increase or decrease the speed of the car because drive mode automatically selects the gears and moves the car fast.
In some automatic cars, there is an option of 1st and 2nd gear in the gearbox, which you can select as per your needs. These gears are usually used in hill areas, sloppy, and snowy roads.
1st gear: it is used when you are climbing the hills.
2nd gear: is also used in hill areas. Especially when you are driving in snowy conditions, it will stop the wheels from slipping. In some cars, there is also a “winter mode.” Which is mainly used in this situation.
L- gear: it is when you need to stay in a lower gear.
S- gear: when you need to put your car in great acceleration, you apply this gear.
How To Drive An Automatic Car:
Automatic cars are easy to drive, but for some people, it’s confusing how to navigate an automatic car. To move an automatic car, you need to follow the below instructions.
- You need to know that whenever you get into the car. The gear lever should be in P-parking mode. After getting into the car, adjust your seat to drive the car comfortably.
- Fasten your seat belt.
- Adjust your side mirrors and front mirrors to help you drive on the road. Check the blind spots of your car so that you know them before a lane change or making any turn.
- Before starting your car, you should know where the mechanical parts of your car, like the brake paddle and race paddle, are at the bottom of your seat. The hand brake is on the left-hand side with the gear stick. Gearstick is marked with P, R, N, D, and L.
The light controls are on the right side of your steering wheel, the defroster, the windshield wipers control is on the left side of the steering wheel, and the steering wheel in front of you is placed in the dashboard.
- Put your right foot on the paddle, press it, and start the car by inserting the key.
- Move your gear stick to D- drive mode if you are going to move straight or to R-reverse mode. If you need to move the car backward. Release brake paddle by lifting your foot from it. Which will make your car move.
- Check around if there is someone and move your car by pushing your right foot on the accelerator.
- With the help of the steering wheel, you can move your car left or right.
- You can increase the speed of your car by pushing the race paddle more and to make the car slow speed by applying less pressure on it.
- When you need to stop the car, lift your right foot from the race paddle, put it on the brake paddle, and push it. Your car will stop.
- You can use N-neutral mode when you are at a signal or stop temporarily. So your car can’t move forward.
- When you reach your destination, stop the car by pressing the brake paddle and moving the gear lever to P-parking mode. Apply the hand brake. Check all your mirrors if they are already closed, turn off the headlights, and turn off the engine.
- Unfasten your seatbelt and get off the car.
- When you change driving modes, hold the brake down like doing with a clutch in manual cars.
When you need to move backward, ensure that your car is completely stopped before changing the R-reverse gear. Check the surroundings and drive your car slowly by removing your foot from the brake paddle to place it on the race paddle.
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Important Points To Drive An Automatic Car:
It would help if you kept a few important tips in mind while driving an automatic car.
- When you need to start your car and not pick up the ignition, it means your car is not in neutral or parking mode.
- When you put your car in the parking, or neutral mode, don’t press the race paddle. It will unnecessarily pressure the transmission and can cause breaking components parts.
- Always remember that every time you change the gear car needs to be stopped first.
- Never put your car in neutral mode when driving down the hill. It will make your car-free, and you will lose control.
- Never put your car in parking mode until it completely stops.
- If due to some problem your gearstick is not moving. Then you need to press a key or screwdriver on the shift lock to make it workable.
- The important parts of an automatic transmission are the output shaft, clutch pads, gear set, oil pump, and torque convertor.
How to Drive An Automatic Car In Heavy Traffic:
On roads, traffic is rising constantly and we have to face long hour traffic jams. In which we need to drive slowly. Automatic cars are easy to handle in heavy traffic. Here are a few tips you need to keep in mind while moving in traffic.
- When you are stuck in traffic, then you need to move your car slowly and don’t put the car at a sudden speed, otherwise, it will cause an accident. A good way to handle this situation is to keep yourself calm and relaxed. Move your car at automatic idle speed by letting go of the brake paddle and moving the car ahead when you need to stop. Press the brake. Don’t be harsh on race paddle.
- In traffic, don’t put your car in reverse gear otherwise you will hit the other car. Drive slowly and smoothly and be in your lane and apply a turn indicator whenever you need to change the lane.
- Always try to overtake from the left side, not from the right.
Drive An Automatic Car In Hill Areas:
When you drive in a hill area, it is not like driving on normal roads. It can be quite challenging, especially when driving an automatic car.
These cars worked on pre-planned principles, which the driver must remember while driving.
But when you are driving in a hill area, these principles will be changed, and you need to keep in mind it so you can drive safely.
Essential Precautions To Drive In Hill Areas:
Always keep in mind to follow the precaution while driving a car as it’s crucial for your safety and others.
Before driving an automatic car in the hill area, you need to follow a few precautions to ensure that you are not putting your and others’ lives in danger.
1. Check your car’s condition:
Whenever you plan a long trip, always check your car’s condition. It should be in excellent form; otherwise, it can become a big problem for you, and if you are traveling with your family, it can become dangerous for you and them.
You need to check the tire air pressure, fuel tank, engine oil, engine condition, brakes condition, safety features, and water in your car’s radiator. It would help if you put an extra tire in your car.
These precautions will save you from any misshape. You can safely drive and enjoy your traveling.
2. Seat belt:
Seatbelts are essentially important for your safety. Always fasten your seatbelt while driving, whether driving within the city or on a long route.
3. Signs and signals:
When you are driving in the hills, always on the indication signals so it can alert you timely and when you finish the hilly area, turn off that sign so your car would run in a normal mode.
It would help if you also focused on the signs placed on the side of the curvy roads because those are also for your safety and alert you to what is coming ahead.
4. Mirror and shoulder check:
Before starting driving, you need to adjust the side mirrors and front mirror of your car. So that you monitor your left, right, and backside of the car and make you careful, these things are essential not only for your safety but also for others.
5. Proper gear position:
While driving in the hill areas, your gear stick needs to be in an accurate position and needs to change it’s as per the need and road condition.
You need to check the proper gear installed in your car for driving up and down hills and use them accordingly.
If you are going to drive straight, then the gearstick should be in D-mode; if you need to stop it for a few seconds, then put it in N-mode; if you are going to stop your car, it should be in P-mode.
How To Drive An Automatic Car In Hill Areas:
1. Usage of handbrake:
When you drive in a hill area, the usage of handbrake increases; when you need to keep moving, your car needs to be in D-driving mode and use the acceleration and brake paddle to speed up or slow the car. But when you need to stop your car completely, always put your car in P-parking mode and pull up the handbrake.
When you need to drive the car again, put your foot on the brake paddle and release the handbrake and put your car in drive mode and push the race paddle to move the car forward.
2. Gear positions:
There were only 4 modes in gearstick in the older models of automatic cars, like P-parking, R-reverse, D-driving, and N-neutral. Then L-lower gear was also added to it.
Now in recent models of automatic cars have added more modes in gear stick, which you can use according to the situation.
Driving in hill areas, you need to check your car gearstick and use the modes for hill areas to drive steadily.
Last Words:
Automatic cars are easier to drive, but you can’t be an expert driver overnight. More and more practice will make you an excellent driver.
Keep in mind above all the tips of how to drive an automatic car, but you should also read your car’s manual. Because it has complete detail of the modes and functions of your car.
In the market, many models of automatic cars are introduced with lots of changes and variations. So reading the manual of your car will help you how to operate your car.
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FAQs:
Q1: What are the cons of automatic cars?
Automatic is more expensive than a manual car, whether you buy a new or used car. Its repair and maintenance are also costly. You always need special mechanics for this job, and most of the time, those are unavailable, or you face the unavailability of spare parts, which can be frustrating. Some automatics are also not fuel-efficient. So it is another extra burden on your pocket.
Q2: Are automatic cars worth buying?
If you need to drive a car within the city and need stress-free driving in heavy traffic. Automatics cars are the best option.
But manual cars are great for the longer routes as they give outstanding fuel mileage and need less maintenance.
Q3: What should be a first car automatic or manual?
If you are a beginner, learn to drive in the manual car and have an automatic car later.
Q4: While driving, is it fine to shift to neutral gear?
Most people believe that changing the car to a neutral mode while driving will save fuel. However, it’s dangerous to do so. Changing to neutral will reduce the hold you have over the car.
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