Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: r1 on 18 November 2013, 18:38:05

Title: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: r1 on 18 November 2013, 18:38:05
been a long time sine I drove a auto but I was told that just before it changes gear you ease of a little on the throttle to help with the change.drove a auto benz today and was told just to keep your foot down all the time.
so which way is right?
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Shackeng on 18 November 2013, 18:41:28
been a long time sine I drove a auto but I was told that just before it changes gear you ease of a little on the throttle to help with the change.drove a auto benz today and was told just to keep your foot down all the time.
so which way is right?

 :y :y :y
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 18 November 2013, 18:44:01
LOL What they're probably referring to is this....

If you're coming up to a gear change and it's not upshifting as quickly as you'd like you can slightly ease off the throttle and some times it will change up for you  :y
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 18 November 2013, 18:45:00
been a long time sine I drove a auto but I was told that just before it changes gear you ease of a little on the throttle to help with the change.drove a auto benz today and was told just to keep your foot down all the time.
so which way is right?

It's automatic ....... so no need to dissect how to do it. :y :y
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Dan282 on 18 November 2013, 18:46:14
Some of the early semi autos like the sensodrive system Citroen had recommend doing that as it was a manual gearbox with electronic sensors to change gear.
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: tunnie on 18 November 2013, 18:53:54
Never eased off when driving the 3.2, just press pedal and go. Let gearbox sort it all out :)
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Andy B on 18 November 2013, 19:14:57
Driving an auto ....... go foot & stop foot!  :y :y :y :y :y

Modern autos with all their sensors & ECUs already do something like that by themselves. Even as far back as a Senator, the gearbox ECU told the engine's ECU to back off a bit as the gearbox changed to give a smoother change. A mate at work has a M3semi-auto, and that will give the throttle a blip on the downchange.
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Macduff on 18 November 2013, 19:43:32
the auto box does it all for you put the lever into waftmatic that's D the gearbox does the rest
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Entwood on 18 November 2013, 19:47:08
If its a 3.2 Omega ....  place the selector in 2, press the sports mode button, find a nice empty piece of winding road, floor the right foot ... and SMILE ..  :)

(if you want to stop smiling look at the instantaneous fuel consumption .....  :)  )
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: PhilRich on 18 November 2013, 19:48:50
And engaging the 'Sport button gives a fair degree of engine braking when slowing for junctions etc and a quicker getaway from same ;)
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: chrisgixer on 18 November 2013, 20:33:28
Ease off?   ???

Pin it man. If you need to ease of summats wrong or it's a shite box. :)
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: omega3000 on 18 November 2013, 22:02:35
If its a 3.2 Omega ....  place the selector in 2, press the sports mode button, find a nice empty piece of winding road, floor the right foot ... and SMILE ..  :)

(if you want to stop smiling look at the instantaneous fuel consumption .....  :)  )

And blow the cam gaskets . Smokin  ;D
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: 05omegav6 on 18 November 2013, 22:08:38
Never been much of an auto fan tbh :-\

But I occasionally get to drive decent trucks, and have to say that Volvos I shift and VEB+ is all you could ask for...

For plodding around, set the Exhaust brake to a mid setting, leave the selector in Auto/economy mode, and it will skip shift up and down the box all day long, never getting the wrong gear. When it comes to stopping, simply flick the Exhaust brake lever down and you only need the brake pedal for the last 15-20 km/h.

If you're empty and bored, exhaust brake to Max setting, selector to Manual/performance mode, and foot down... gear changes happen the instant you press the button. For stopping, simply hold the Exhaust brake lever down, and it will pretty much stop itself. Not summat to be trying with a trailer or on greasy roads, as it won't end well...

Of course once you get to 90km/h, you might as well pop it back into Auto mode and set the cruise control ::)

Even in Auto mode you can force changes at the push of a button, but in reality, the gearbox is that good, you don't need to
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Andy B on 18 November 2013, 22:15:47
Never been much of an auto fan tbh :-\
 .....

You don't 'feel in control' ..........  ::)
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: 05omegav6 on 18 November 2013, 22:19:21
Not at all ::) but having a clutch is handy at times, auto boxes in the cars I have owned have always been a bit all or nothing... with the notable exception of a Renault 25... that was mostly nothing ::)

I should add, the only modern (for modern, read post 2010 vehicle) auto I have driven is the Volvo I shift, basically an automated 12 speed manual :y

Newer 7/8 speed car autoboxes might be better than the older 4/5/6 speed ones, but selecting 2 or 3 in an Omega/Granada doesn't select the gears, it simply stops it from changing above the gear chosen. Changing down you have to force it either manually or by kicking it down, and if you change manually you might have moved the selector, but the gearbox will grudgingly change in its own sweet time :-\
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Andy B on 18 November 2013, 22:40:47
.... but selecting 2 or 3 in an Omega/Granada doesn't select the gears, it simply stops it from changing above the gear chosen. ...

That's still the case of the 7 speeder on my Merc, except it's done via a rocker switch on the back of the steering wheel  :y
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Vamps on 18 November 2013, 22:47:27
.... but selecting 2 or 3 in an Omega/Granada doesn't select the gears, it simply stops it from changing above the gear chosen. ...

That's still the case of the 7 speeder on my Merc, except it's done via a rocker switch on the back of the steering wheel  :y

So, a semi auto then?......... :-\ :-\
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Andy B on 18 November 2013, 23:11:13
.....
So, a semi auto then?......... :-\ :-\

No. There are actually two of them, but both do the same, they just limit the max gear  :y
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: 05omegav6 on 18 November 2013, 23:13:37
I think car and truck designers have approached the conundrum from opposite ends...

Car designers seem to be trying to build in a manual control input, whilst retaining a torque converter.

Whereas truck designers in looking to make trucks much easier to operate, they've taken their manual gearboxes, complete with clutch, and automated them. The benefit of this is that the gearbox can still be used as a manual, albeit without a clutch pedal. (iirc Scania still offer a (electronic) clutch pedal as an option on their automated manual boxes)

An obvious benefit to this is pulling away on snow, the idea being to pull away in the highest gear you can get away with. Easy in a manual, but with a car based autobox, you can politely suggest that the gearbox starts in third/fourth, but even in winter mode it will laugh at you and drop down to second, and by the time you've said 'stupid bloody gearbox' the car will have dug itself in ::)

Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Vamps on 18 November 2013, 23:14:45
.....
So, a semi auto then?......... :-\ :-\

No. There are actually two of them, but both do the same, they just limit the max gear  :y

 :y :y
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Vamps on 18 November 2013, 23:18:41
I think car and truck designers have approached the conundrum from opposite ends...

Car designers seem to be trying to build in a manual control input, whilst retaining a torque converter.

Whereas truck designers in looking to make trucks much easier to operate, they've taken their manual gearboxes, complete with clutch, and automated them. The benefit of this is that the gearbox can still be used as a manual, albeit without a clutch pedal. (iirc Scania still offer a (electronic) clutch pedal as an option on their automated manual boxes)

An obvious benefit to this is pulling away on snow, the idea being to pull away in the highest gear you can get away with. Easy in a manual, but with a car based autobox, you can politely suggest that the gearbox starts in third/fourth, but even in winter mode it will laugh at you and drop down to second, and by the time you've said 'stupid bloody gearbox' the car will have dug itself in ::)

Something similar was available on busses in the 70's and upwards, they had a tiny electronic gear selector, you could pre select a gear and would change up when you backed of the power as you would do with a full manual but change down like an auto..... :y :y
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Andy B on 18 November 2013, 23:25:33
I think car and truck designers have approached the conundrum from opposite ends...

Car designers seem to be trying to build in a manual control input, whilst retaining a torque converter.
 ....

I'd disagree. Loads of manufacturers are making automated manuals ie VW's DSG, Vauxhall's Easytronic, Smart cars use an automated manual, Volvo & Ford make one too ...... can't remember the names now though. They're better on fuel than a torque converter auto.
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Andy B on 18 November 2013, 23:28:38
....
Something similar was available on busses in the 70's and upwards, they had a tiny electronic gear selector,  ....

I remember those ...... as a passenger, not a driver.  :y :y
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Vamps on 18 November 2013, 23:30:50
I think car and truck designers have approached the conundrum from opposite ends...

Car designers seem to be trying to build in a manual control input, whilst retaining a torque converter.
 ....

I'd disagree. Loads of manufacturers are making automated manuals ie VW's DSG, Vauxhall's Easytronic, Smart cars use an automated manual, Volvo & Ford make one too ...... can't remember the names now though. They're better on fuel than a torque converter auto.

Citroen also do this, flappy paddles or auto mode with a manual box and electronic clutch / change noticeable difference is no 'creep' as in an auto and slight pause when pressing go from stationary - that gets a little getting used to, a bit like waiting for the turbo to come in on a diesel...... :) :)
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Vamps on 18 November 2013, 23:31:27
....
Something similar was available on busses in the 70's and upwards, they had a tiny electronic gear selector,  ....

I remember those ...... as a passenger, not a driver.  :y :y

Both for me...... :y :y
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: 05omegav6 on 18 November 2013, 23:36:31
Fair dos :y Perhaps the commercial designers were forced to go down that route by virtue of torque converters not being able to reliably tolerate the loads being imposed, and car mnanufacturers haved just cottoned on to the benefits :-\

Are any of the car systems reliably any good though :-\
Title: Re: how do you drive a automatic?
Post by: Vamps on 18 November 2013, 23:58:26
Fair dos :y Perhaps the commercial designers were forced to go down that route by virtue of torque converters not being able to reliably tolerate the loads being imposed, and car mnanufacturers haved just cottoned on to the benefits :-\

Are any of the car systems reliably any good though :-\

I had a new Citroen Grande Picasso 7 seater for 3.5 years, did 45k miles without a fault 99.9% of the time driven in auto mode without a problem but that was a new car, how the will be with 70 or more thousand miles I don't know, in part, a reason why I still don't have it or another.......I loved that car........ :'( :'(