FabSwingers.com forum: New automatic car

By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

Taking some getting used to.... Giving myself whiplash with all the left foot braking!

Good job it's only at low speeds I do it in

On the plus side I seem to have mastered the fact that you still have to use the handbrake lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

HAHA.... I got my first automatic back in June.... its amazing just how quick you get used to it.. fast forward 5 weeks after getting it.... needed to take the works van up for a service - stalled it everytime i had to stop - forgot i needed to use a clutch !!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Driven autos before and just can't get used to it..absolutely ruins the driving experience for me.

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By *inky Biscuit DunkerMan
over a year ago

Gloucestershire

"Taking some getting used to.... Giving myself whiplash with all the left foot braking!

Good job it's only at low speeds I do it in

On the plus side I seem to have mastered the fact that you still have to use the handbrake lol "

You don't have to left foot brake if you don't want to...

Use your right foot or failing that.. the force

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I wouldn't left foot brake in a moment of panic you might end up pushing both pedals and causing damage!!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Taking some getting used to.... Giving myself whiplash with all the left foot braking!

Good job it's only at low speeds I do it in

On the plus side I seem to have mastered the fact that you still have to use the handbrake lol "

I drive a auto. You dont break with your left foot. Take your foot off the accelerater and break with your right the same as you would with a manual.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Used to driving both, and on both sides of the road as well. My brain does the switch automatically now

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Tuck your left foot up against your seat to stop yourself using it. Right foot for brake and throttle

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By *arnayguyMan
over a year ago

Durham Tees

"Tuck your left foot up against your seat to stop yourself using it. Right foot for brake and throttle "

This. You will soon get used to it.

I would never left foot brake.

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By *lue NarwhalMan
over a year ago

Iceland, but Aldi is closer..

[Removed by poster at 08/11/17 13:34:29]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Used to driving both, and on both sides of the road as well. My brain does the switch automatically now

I also drive both sides of the road. Scares the hell out the oncoming traffic!

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By *lue NarwhalMan
over a year ago

Iceland, but Aldi is closer..

Nooooo..

Don't use your left foot, the left hand side of your body is now surplus to requirements and must be disengaged.

Firmly plant your left foot on the floor and find an alternative use for your left hand once in drive..

If you need any suggestions for alternative uses for your spare hand, I'm sure the forumites can help..

(well, I totally bolloxed that post up on my first attempt)

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

As said, just drive like your left leg is broke, you should have a left foot rest it being an auto, stick your foot on it & leave it there.

You'll be replacing brake pads & torque converters in no time if you don't.

I love mine on busy steep hills, watch everyone else do the handbrake/clutch shuffle & I'm just sitting there twiddling me thumbs

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Driven autos before and just can't get used to it..absolutely ruins the driving experience for me. "

Guess it depends on what you’re driving and what you’re used to. Had a number of autos and my current suv is ridiculously good fun and handles amazingly

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By *ip_brumMan
over a year ago

Solihull

Take your left shoe off, you will be conscious not to use it then.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I may be miss reading this but I think she means she is left foot braking by accident?? Going to press the clutch? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

"Driven autos before and just can't get used to it..absolutely ruins the driving experience for me.

Guess it depends on what you’re driving and what you’re used to. Had a number of autos and my current suv is ridiculously good fun and handles amazingly"

Our neighbours with a seven speed paddle shift is awesome. I drive an Auto due to old biking injuries, I can still drive "stick" as they say in America but if I get caught in any sizeable traffic jams I could be in trouble, hence an Auto for me.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I may be miss reading this but I think she means she is left foot braking by accident?? Going to press the clutch? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding

Yup, I think this is what the OP means, I test drove a new Golf GTE recently, and did this very thing when coming to a standstill. Only did it the once though!

Mind you, you cant properly left foot brake (as in a rally or race car) on a moden road car these days as the ECU sees both pedals being depressed at the same time and cuts the fuel to the cylinders.

Jim.

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By *atcherwankerMan
over a year ago

Birmingham

I hate driving automatics at home (although I've driven a BMW i3 a couple of times and that little thing is enormous fun) but tbh they're a godsend when I'm driving abroad. Not having gears and things to worry about frees up all my attention to concentrate on weird road layouts, foreign road signs and maniac drivers.

I always get confused with my feet for a few minutes when I first set off, too. Mmmmmm, whiplash...

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By *ultry SuccubusTV/TS
over a year ago

London

"Tuck your left foot up against your seat to stop yourself using it. Right foot for brake and throttle "

What i did exactly when i first drove an auto car.

My current car has a special pad-like space for the left foot - as if its a clutch.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My mate taught me to drive his automatic by giving me a dead left leg. He hit me so hard I couldn’t move it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I love driving my auto it's brilliant 8 gears and goes like a rocket. As for left foot braking. I guess she's doing it by accident thinking she has a clutch. No one should ever use that foot for braking. You will go through the windscreen lol .

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By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"Taking some getting used to.... Giving myself whiplash with all the left foot braking!

Good job it's only at low speeds I do it in

On the plus side I seem to have mastered the fact that you still have to use the handbrake lol

I drive a auto. You dont break with your left foot. Take your foot off the accelerater and break with your right the same as you would with a manual."

I know I shouldn't but it's just my brain automatically goes to push on the clutch and I hit the brake.

Am trying to tuck my foot underneath my right leg and forget abiut it lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Driven autos before and just can't get used to it..absolutely ruins the driving experience for me.

Guess it depends on what you’re driving and what you’re used to. Had a number of autos and my current suv is ridiculously good fun and handles amazingly"

Old merc 190, merc g wagen, pathfinder and smart car (which is switchable into a kind of weird semi auto if I remember)

It just doesn't feel right at all, I can't explain it.

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By *evil_u_knowMan
over a year ago

city

I thought all automatics had the foot rest off to the left for you to put your left foot on?

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By *opsy RogersWoman
over a year ago

London

I don't own a car but I hire loads and I can safely say I detest driving automatics...unless they have that cruise control that actually drives for you. That's both unnerving and cool.

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By *mm and HerCouple
over a year ago

Hertfordshire

Lol. We had this conversation when I (Hmm) recently got my first auto. She thought it was obvious you'd just use one foot, whereas I was thinking... finally just one pedal for each foot to worry about! Yes dear, you were...right (not easy to say

It didn't help that I occasionally would left foot break in my old manual car, a (bad) habit I picked up as a teen after hearing that's how rally car drivers did it...

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By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"I thought all automatics had the foot rest off to the left for you to put your left foot on?"

They do.... Doesn't switch off the brain from wanting to use it on a pedal though does it

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By *UNKIEMan
over a year ago

south east

I love mine on busy steep hills, watch everyone else do the handbrake/clutch shuffle & I'm just sitting there twiddling me thumbs

I have a manual car but has anti roll back its great

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Driven autos before and just can't get used to it..absolutely ruins the driving experience for me.

Guess it depends on what you’re driving and what you’re used to. Had a number of autos and my current suv is ridiculously good fun and handles amazingly

Wow! You just reminded me (after 18 months with my new car) that it’s got paddle shift.

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By *ficouldMan
over a year ago

a quandary, could you change my mind?

It's take your left shoe off while driving and tuck it under your mat or at least your other leg..

You will quickly get used to it,, but if you go on a long journey,, you will go into auto pilot so again remove the shoe. All it does is make your foot feel different (also you don't put as much pressure down)

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By *igerstyle2k2Man
over a year ago

Oxfordshire

Better get used to autos!

I heard that within the next few undisclosed years that Japanese car manufacturers will stop making pure petrol cars and concentrate on electric and hybrid cars only. I guess that means all new cars will be autos.

If the Japanese manufacturers do that then it's only a matter of time before all the others follow suit.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I don't own a car but I hire loads and I can safely say I detest driving automatics...unless they have that cruise control that actually drives for you. That's both unnerving and cool.

Detest driving autos... mines 0-60 in 4 seconds, 180mph and you can fit a couch in the boot! I would guarantee you wouldn’t detest it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Better get used to autos!

If the Japanese manufacturers do that then it's only a matter of time before all the others follow suit. "

I'm gonna cling on to the last vestiges of petrol and diesel with manual boxes, I don't want an electric or hybrid at all nor an automatic..I'll end up in what will be then classics I guess, if they're not able to be used, I'll sack driving off all together probably if I'm not already too old to be driving.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Taking some getting used to.... Giving myself whiplash with all the left foot braking!

Good job it's only at low speeds I do it in

On the plus side I seem to have mastered the fact that you still have to use the handbrake lol "

Your left foot should be idle now

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By *ystical_InkedBBWWoman
over a year ago

somewhere in the Shire of Derby

I've been driving an auto with a left foot pedal adaption for 24 years lol. Now that was confusing trying to get used to it. And I still drive with my hand ready to change gear

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By *riskynriskyCouple
over a year ago

Essex.

But if you can left foot break in an auto properly, it's a lot of fun...

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By *ammyDodgaMan
over a year ago

Nottingham/and everywhere my location says i am ;)

"But if you can left foot break in an auto properly, it's a lot of fun...

In any car.. Heel, toe tap, makes the slide round the roundabout a whole lot more arse cletchy

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By *inky Biscuit DunkerMan
over a year ago

Gloucestershire

"I've been driving an auto with a left foot pedal adaption for 24 years lol. Now that was confusing trying to get used to it. And I still drive with my hand ready to change gear

Love to be a passenger in your car

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

"Driven autos before and just can't get used to it..absolutely ruins the driving experience for me.

Guess it depends on what you’re driving and what you’re used to. Had a number of autos and my current suv is ridiculously good fun and handles amazingly

Wow! You just reminded me (after 18 months with my new car) that it’s got paddle shift. "

Don't, our littlest was messing in the car while I washed it the other day & all of a sudden the mirrors folded in!

"How'd you do that?"

"What?"

"The mirror thing"

"Turned this dad".

Only had it three years didn't even realise it has powerfolds

Doh!

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By *entleman55Man
over a year ago

S’th West Mc/r

Right foot only !!

I’m an ex driving instructor !!!

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By *ittle_brat_evie!! OP Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"Right foot only !!

I’m an ex driving instructor !!!"

I know right foot only buy my left foot feels left out now I've switched to manual!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

As somebody correctly pointed out, the left side of your body becomes redundant after you buy an automatic. There is a reason for this. It's going to cost you an arm and a leg the first time your automatic gear box packs up

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By *umpkinMan
over a year ago

near the sounds of the wimborne quarter jack!

I spent 10 years driving tractors with power shuttle gearboxes. There is a clutch which you need in traffic or manouvering close to implements when connecting them, but otherwise they can be driven clutch-less, even when shuttling between forward and reverse which is brilliant when you`re loading with a front bucket. When hill climbing you just keep the throttle wide open but just drop it back a gear as required so power on all the time! When loading you would come up to you tipping point, brake and move the forward/reverse shuttle into neutral, tip your load then move the shuttle to reverse and so on. Really rapid when you get used to it so when I changed my car, it was a forgone conclusion that an auto would be the choice. They`re great for those that tow trailers and caravans too!

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By *loswingersCouple
over a year ago

Gloucester

"Taking some getting used to.... Giving myself whiplash with all the left foot braking!

Good job it's only at low speeds I do it in

On the plus side I seem to have mastered the fact that you still have to use the handbrake lol

I drive a auto. You dont break with your left foot. Take your foot off the accelerater and break with your right the same as you would with a manual."

100% this !

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

"As somebody correctly pointed out, the left side of your body becomes redundant after you buy an automatic. There is a reason for this. It's going to cost you an arm and a leg the first time your automatic gear box packs up

Never a truer word spoken, our last MB cost us £2k for a box rebuild & we had issues with the previous one! Changed makes now, consensus on this one is the engine will fall out the bottom of the car before the gearbox plays up!

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By *haky 80Man
over a year ago

Wellington

Have 2 auto cars and a manual van like to auto tho just put it in drive and away you go...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I drive for a living, well not so much now as I teach HGV drivers to drive. Automatics are very common now in cars as the technology regarding the box has advanced greatly. Nearly all lorries off the production line are now fitted with autos. With the state of traffic on the roads in this country now an auto is a god send, saves dipping the clutch every 5-10 yards when sitting in roadworks, jams due to an accident or just general build up of traffic. With the auto less concentration is needed for changing gear therefore more control and awareness is applied on the actual driving of the vehicle. I apply this thinking when instructing new drivers.

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By *naconda 87Couple
over a year ago

Derry

"Right foot only !!

I’m an ex driving instructor !!!"

But why?

Two feet

Two pedals??

It's also a very standard method of braking in the motorsport world where fast changes between throttle and brake are needed , just takes practice to control the pressure on the left foot...

Not a bad thing to learn.!

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By *inky Biscuit DunkerMan
over a year ago

Gloucestershire

"Right foot only !!

I’m an ex driving instructor !!!

But why?

Two feet

Two pedals??

It's also a very standard method of braking in the motorsport world where fast changes between throttle and brake are needed , just takes practice to control the pressure on the left foot...

Not a bad thing to learn.!"

These are public roads, not a racetrack... Unless you're a boy/girl racer of course.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Taking some getting used to.... Giving myself whiplash with all the left foot braking!

Good job it's only at low speeds I do it in

On the plus side I seem to have mastered the fact that you still have to use the handbrake lol "

Left foot braking

no just NO not unless your Viki Butler-Henderson, right foot does it all still.

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By *riskynriskyCouple
over a year ago

Essex.

"Right foot only !!

I’m an ex driving instructor !!!"

To be fair a couple of the worst drivers I have known were driving instructors...

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