Herlp needed. How do I drive an AT car?

Pororoka · Jun 5, 2019

Good day everyone!

My car broke some time ago (RIP crankshaft) and I don't think I can fix it on time this weekend as we are goin to travel. My brother in law agreed to lend me his car (A Mexican Chevy Optra), but can't go to his house until the weekend. I have always used stick since I learned to drive on my grandpa's Sakura.

In short:

What does the D does? Why is there a 1 on the stick? When does the 2 come to use? Do I have to put it on P every time I brake on a stoplight? How do I "shift" speeds? And other questions that I may have but can't remember.

I could ask a friend to experience beforehand a car and how to drive it but I haven't come with one that owns an AT.

The only thing I know well is that you can't really rev down the engine by shifting down as in a MT car. Sorry for the dumb questions, I really don't know how to drive an AT an I feel dumb for that.

Thank you in advance!

mescalineeyes · Jun 5, 2019

D is drive, R is reverse, N is neutral.

you just stay in D all the time, you brake by using the brake. you never need to shift.
you only put it in P when you wanna stop the car for good.

also, move your left foot all the way away from the pedals so your muscle memory doesn't try reaching for the clutch and you hit the brakes.

ClivePwned · Jun 5, 2019

D is drive. stick it in drive to go forward. ignore 1 and 2

Just keep your right foot on the accelator until you need to brake. And don't use your left foot for anything

Deleted member 57378 · Jun 5, 2019

D is your main drive selection that will automatically shift for you.
the 1 and 2 are options to stay in those gears if you are hauling something.

Dest · Jun 5, 2019

D is drive. You'll keep your car in this whenever it's in motion. P is for when you park. Like... actually park. 1 and 2 are used in very rare scenarios, but if you feel like you should be using 1/2 or L (low gear) you probably shouldn't be out driving.

ILikeFeet · Jun 5, 2019

stay in D, all the time. even at a stoplight

you'll never need the 1, 2 (low gears). if you needed them, you'll learn about them when the time comes

Deleted member 3058 · Jun 5, 2019

D is for drive. Use that to drive.

You shift gears by putting pressure on the gas pedal or brake pedal.

Ignore the 1 and 2.

Shift the car into R when you want to reverse.

P is for park. It's good for parking the car.

The general flow is you start with the car in P. Shift it into D to start driving and keep it there until either you need to get out of the car (put it in P first) or you need to reverse (put it in R first). Otherwise keep it on D, even at red lights or stop signs.

PeskyToaster · Jun 5, 2019

I feel like you could just google this and get an answer in half a second.

Grimsen · Jun 5, 2019

Someone driving stick shift being completely lost on an automatic transmission just boggles my mind. Stay safe on the road.

CyborgNumberBlue · Jun 5, 2019

Gattsu25 said:
D is for drive. Use that to drive.

You shift gears by putting pressure on the gas pedal or brake pedal.

Ignore the 1 and 2.

Shift the car into R when you want to reverse.

P is for park. It's good for parking the car.

The general flow is you start with the car in P. Shift it into D to start driving and keep it there until either you need to get out of the car (put it in P first) or you need to reverse (put it in R first). Otherwise keep it on D, even at red lights or stop signs.

It's easy to remember, D for "Don't forget, you're not in Park", P for "Put it here when you're not in D or R", and R for "Remember, this isn't D or P."

Microsoft · Jun 5, 2019

Is this real?

Cpt-GargameL · Jun 5, 2019

You have good replies here OP.

But this is definitely a once in a lifetime thread. It's always the other way around (how do I drive manual)

Mendrox · Jun 5, 2019

Grimsen said:
Someone driving stick shift being completely lost on an automatic transmission just boggles my mind. Stay safe on the road.

Why does it boggle your mind? I've never driven automatic so I would question too at first. :) Never automatic those past 11 years.

Edit: OP ignore those geniuses that know everything. By knowing how to drive stick you know the more difficult part already.

Number45 · Jun 5, 2019

Herlp is making me laugh harder than it should.

You'll get used to it OP. I've driven manual all my life and the first time I drove auto it took a little adjusting (particularly having to force my left foot not to try and dip the clutch) but it won't take you long.

Heromanz · Jun 5, 2019

Why was this your first place to get answers?

WhySoDevious · Jun 5, 2019

Saw this girl entering a mall parking lot and I'm pretty sure she placed her car in P to take the entrance ticket.

Once she had the ticket and was good to go, she accelerated but the car wouldn't move. It was just revving.

I guess she must have panicked (cause there were cars behind her) cause when she remembered she had to move the stick down to D, she only shifted down once to R and reversed right into the car behind.

So, be mindful that it's two down to D from P and tap the accelerator slightly to be able to correct yourself just in case you're in the wrong gear.

Grimsen · Jun 5, 2019

Mendrox said:
Why does it boggle your mind? I've never driven automatic so I would question too at first. :) Never automatic those past 11 years.

Edit: OP ignore those geniuses that know everything. By knowing how to drive stick you know the more difficult part already.

Having a driver's license should mean you know basic stuff like this.

shnurgleton · Jun 5, 2019

Microsoft said:
Is this real?

yeah this kind of blows my mind, somebody having no familiarity with automatic transmission. must be a (highly sheltered) european

Mendrox · Jun 5, 2019

Grimsen said:
Having a driver's license should mean you know basic stuff like this.

I have a German drivers license and never had to learn or learned that through driving school so...no you don't need to know stuff like this. He will also manage easily now because he alreadys knows stick driving which is way more difficult (and way more fun...).

thesoapster · Jun 5, 2019

CranberryChocolateSundae said:
The only thing I know well is that you can't really rev down the engine by shifting down as in a MT car.

Yeah, you step on the gas more, and the car decides whether to downshift or not.

(I hate automatic transmissions.)

score01 · Jun 5, 2019

I have driven an AT once. Just remember to move your left foot out of the way using only your right and you will be fine.

Oh and...

Landy828 · Jun 5, 2019

Only use P to Park

The car automatically idles in D when you stop at a light or sign, only use D to drive around.

R to reverse...obviously.

Go from R to D to keep driving after backing out of something (come to a complete stop first).

If you're backing into a space with R, go straight to P once stopped (with foot on brake) if you're parking.

Typically you have to hold the brake to go from P to D or P to R or D to R or D to P.

I'm use to driving everything, but my new Explorer does have a mode I've never had in a car. Selective, active shifting (even though it's an automatic). I can put it in selective and use the + - on the shifter to manually shift (like a paddle shifter). Pretty cool.

danowat · Jun 5, 2019

People REALLY overthink things these days.

Pagusas · Jun 5, 2019

Put the car in D when you are ready to drive. your entire drive will be in D. All you have to worry about is the gas pedal and brake pedal. that is all. When done, put the car in P. If you need to reverse put it in R.

Nightfall · Jun 5, 2019

danowat said:
People REALLY overthink things these days.

I thought the same.

Seriously, like everyone pointed out already: put it in D and start driving. Once you want to get out of the car, put it into P.
If you wanna go backwards put it into R.

Under normal circumstances you'll probably won't need N.

16bits · Jun 5, 2019

shnurgleton said:
yeah this kind of blows my mind, somebody having no familiarity with automatic transmission. must be a (highly sheltered) european

Ive been driving for years and never got near an automatic car. Ive never known anyone who has owned one neither.

They are actually quite rare in the UK, almost everyone learns to drive a manual gear car (as you cannot drive a manual with just an auto licence).

Laserdisk · Jun 5, 2019

limerobot said:
Ive been driving for years and never got near an automatic car. Ive never known anyone who has owned one neither.

They are actually quite rare in the UK, almost everyone learns to drive a manual gear car (as you cannot drive a manual with just an auto licence).

Yep, I passed in a manual but drive autos due to a bad knee and a like of German saloons.

Best tip is tuck your left leg out of the way to avoid using it

Pororoka · Jun 5, 2019

Thank you all for the kind answers. And yeah, I recon that I was overthinking this one due to not being my car and this being an alien experience to me. Sorry if my question came as dumb as it is, I have never put attention to this until now.

And I didn't really thought of the muscle memory for the clutch, I'll take that into account!

Heromanz said:
Why was this your first place to get answers?

Because I like the community here and I really like the answers I get with every member more than on a search engine. I feel it more like a discussion and less than consulting a book.

Also I'm all in for the occasional snarky commentary.

shnurgleton said:
yeah this kind of blows my mind, somebody having no familiarity with automatic transmission. must be a (highly sheltered) european

Or a Mexican that grew up in the country side. :P

Deleted member 8468 · Jun 5, 2019

The 1 and 2 represent lower gears. Even though you aren't shifting you can set it to a lower gear for hauling stuff, steep inclines, etc.

Just lay attention to Park, Neutral, Reverse, and Drive. Forget the clutch exists.

Pagusas · Jun 5, 2019

limerobot said:
Ive been driving for years and never got near an automatic car. Ive never known anyone who has owned one neither.

They are actually quite rare in the UK, almost everyone learns to drive a manual gear car (as you cannot drive a manual with just an auto licence).

Like how is that working in this modern age, even major sports car manufactorers are dropping pure manual cars for dual clutch automatic systems. Manual transmissions wont exist at all in a few years. Is everyone in the UK just going to switch to paddle shifters/dual clutch systems? is Hybrid/EV tech adoption also slow in the UK with eCVT's dominating that area?

BlueTsunami · Jun 5, 2019

You put it in 2 when you want to over take minivans

Metalix · Jun 5, 2019

You only drive them with one foot.

Did a whole bunch of impromptu emergency stops when I was driving in the US thinking the break was the clutch, haha. You'll get used to it after a few miles.

danowat · Jun 5, 2019

Pagusas said:
is Hybrid/EV tech adoption also slow in the UK with eCVT's dominating that area?

There is a fair uptick in HV uptake, the fact that they are eCVT (both myself and my wife have one) doesn't make much of a difference, AT's aren't that rare in the UK.

PoppaBK · Jun 5, 2019

Ever drive a bumper car. An automatic is basically as easy as that. As someone pointed out, make sure you don't use your left foot at all, beyond that stick it in D to go forward, R to go backwards, P when you want to park. Forget neutral, 1 and 2. You will roll forward slowly when in drive, which is a godsend in traffic.

FernandoRocker · Jun 5, 2019

Everyone should learn both automatic/manual before getting a driving license. It should be required.

I judge people who can't drive a manual car.

Flavius · Jun 5, 2019

All the advice about ignoring 1 or 2 is fine, I guess...unless you are driving mountain roads. Then you'd be kinda fucked, potentially.

Pororoka · Jun 5, 2019

What I learned here is that I must not touch 1,2 and L (unless overtaking a minivan) nail my left feet to the door basically and give up my driver license, got it!

Number45 said:
Herlp is making me laugh harder than it should.

Oh crap. I didn't saw that, at least it made you laugh!

Thank you too for your tip. I'll really take that into account!

score01 said:

Thank you for this, I'm laughing more than I should! 🤣

chuckddd · Jun 5, 2019

Metalix said:
You only drive them with one foot.

Did a whole bunch of impromptu emergency stops when I was driving in the US thinking the break was the clutch, haha. You'll get used to it after a few miles.

This is the most difficult thing transitioning to an automatic. Every once in a while, your left foot will just reflexively go for the clutch and the brake pedal is super wide and then you're screeching to a halt.

Landy828 · Jun 5, 2019

chuckddd said:
This is the most difficult thing transitioning to an automatic. Every once in a while, your left foot will just reflexively go for the clutch and the brake pedal is super wide and then you're screeching to a halt.

Thankfully this has never happened to me. If I take my Mustang out of the garage and drive it a lot, I tend to reach for the clutch in our other 2 automatics for a few days afterward.

16bits · Jun 5, 2019

every so poften there is an article in the local press of cars that have ended up reversing through walls or ending up in the sea by driving off a quay.

Most of the time, its down to someone not used to an automatic car slamming in into R

I Don't Like · Jun 5, 2019

Do you put your manual in park every time you're at a stoplight?

That's just a silly question.

OnkelC · Jun 5, 2019

What helped me a lot:

1. Keep the left foot firmly planted on the footrest.
2. NO, the car won't stall when stopping at traffic lights.
3. Keep the left foot firmly planted on the footrest.

Metalix · Jun 6, 2019

PlayALLTheGames said:
Do you put your manual in park every time you're at a stoplight?

That's just a silly question.

To pass the UK driving test you have to put the handbreak on & revert the gearstick to neutral at every red. A habit I imagine most shed after passing but not unheard of.

_Karooo · Jun 6, 2019

Just put it i d to drive and in p when you want to get out.

Interested Observer · Jun 6, 2019

You're definitely, definitely going to slam on the brakes a few times because muscle memory will make you go for the clutch, but you'll get over it pretty quickly.

thetrin · Jun 6, 2019

1 and 2 are for when going down steep hills. You'll automatically drive slower, and won't need to break every 5 seconds to slow your speed down.

Otherwise, just use D to drive. You don't need to shift into 1 or 2 to get to drive when going from Park.

MrKlaw · Jun 6, 2019

WhySoDevious said:
Saw this girl entering a mall parking lot and I'm pretty sure she placed her car in P to take the entrance ticket.

Once she had the ticket and was good to go, she accelerated but the car wouldn't move. It was just revving.

I guess she must have panicked (cause there were cars behind her) cause when she remembered she had to move the stick down to D, she only shifted down once to R and reversed right into the car behind.

So, be mindful that it's two down to D from P and tap the accelerator slightly to be able to correct yourself just in case you're in the wrong gear.

well depends on the car. Mine is sprung self centering - pull Down for drive, push up for reverse (so really difficult to accidentally choose reverse) and push a button for Park. My wife's is the more classic like you describe wher eyou click through reverse to get to drive.

Cpt-GargameL · Jun 6, 2019

score01 said:
I have driven an AT once. Just remember to move your left foot out of the way using only your right and you will be fine.

Oh and...

Omfg 🤣 I'm dying

Maso · Jun 6, 2019

Shift into D Mode. VROOOM! Fuck it sucks.
I've never had a powerful enough car to be worth driving automatic.

Ruruja · Jun 6, 2019

Metalix said:
To pass the UK driving test you have to put the handbreak on & revert the gearstick to neutral at every red. A habit I imagine most shed after passing but not unheard of.

I don't think the neutral part is a must.

Herlp needed. How do I drive an AT car?

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