Auto box question . . . . . ?

MehulLakhani · 4 Apr 2006 at 10:08

Hey guys

Just got my first automatic car, and having never driven one before, was just wondering if I could pick your brains.

Its a boxster 2.5 tip. When in drive, like most auto's, it creeps forwards a little. If I am at the lights say, should I use my foot on the brake pedal to stop it creeping, or should I put it in neutral+handbrake, or park ?

R

Mehul

Gilly · 4 Apr 2006 at 10:11

Depends how long you're gonna be there, its a bit of a bind to have to keep your foot on the brake, but if you're gonna be setting off in seconds there's no point going through the hassle of taking it out of drive and putting the handbrake on, etc.

Its just the same as putting a manual in neutral and applying the handbrake...

merlin · 4 Apr 2006 at 10:14

Mine creeps forward and it's a manual!

Clutch down, in gear - edges forward. Something to do with the diff I guess.

Bill101 · 4 Apr 2006 at 10:18

Just put the handbrake on if you are going to be there a while,some people say that the foot on the brake method upsets people behind due to the glare.I don't think I have used neutral on mine yet, there does not seem to be much point unless you are in a huge traffic jam

Rilot · 4 Apr 2006 at 10:23

merlin said:
Mine creeps forward and it's a manual!

Clutch down, in gear - edges forward. Something to do with the diff I guess.

Nothing to do with the diff. Your clutch is dragging.

merlin · 4 Apr 2006 at 10:28

Rilot said:
Nothing to do with the diff. Your clutch is dragging.

I thought the LSD did something strange with the front wheels - if you jack the car up the wheels rotate slightly, I saw it do it when it was jacked having the suspension done & the tuner guy said nothing about it.

:confused:

merlin · 4 Apr 2006 at 10:39

merlin said:
if you jack the car up the wheels rotate slightly, I saw it do it when it was jacked having the suspension done & the tuner guy said nothing about it.

Doh, ignore that bit, car was in neutral obviously - the guy was rotating one wheel by hand & that made the other rotate.

Lashout_UK · 4 Apr 2006 at 10:45

Yes MehulLakhani, just hold it on the brake - this is what it's designed to do. If it does seem you're going to be there longer than a few minutes, just put the box into park (you can put on the handbrake but it's not really necessary unless you want the added security).

I hold my 1850 on the brake all the time, not a problem.

Gilly · 4 Apr 2006 at 10:59

merlin said:
Doh, ignore that bit, car was in neutral obviously - the guy was rotating one wheel by hand & that made the other rotate.

Thats as car-noobish a thing as I'd do

Ukadder · 4 Apr 2006 at 12:24

I always use to just put my foot on the brake in the auto, can't remember ever putting the handbrake on while at lights. In a manual I tend to use the handbrake more often as my left foots a little weak after brakeing it, and it hurts to hold the clutch down for ages.

Desmo · 4 Apr 2006 at 12:40

Just plonk the brakes on here too.

Morba · 4 Apr 2006 at 12:56

depends how long you will be there as already mentioned.

you shouldnt sit for a long time with foot on the brake.
you also shouldnt put it in park, this normally takes the gears past 'Reverse' which will cause 2 flashes of the reverse light which can cause confusion from behind.

Mickey_D · 4 Apr 2006 at 13:54

Coming from somebody that lives in "the land of the automatic", you just hold it on the brake. As said above, that's what how it's designed to be done.

And for the drivers being annoyed by the brake lights, WAH!! Tel them to come drive over here. NOBODY uses thier hand brake unless they are getting out of the car......

DannyDan · 4 Apr 2006 at 14:32

Very few people seem to use the handbrake over here either. Even when I'm behind police cars, the brake lights normally stay illuminated when they're stopped at lights.

Dr Who · 4 Apr 2006 at 15:18

Mickey_D said:
Coming from somebody that lives in "the land of the automatic", you just hold it on the brake. As said above, that's what how it's designed to be done.

And for the drivers being annoyed by the brake lights, WAH!! Tel them to come drive over here. NOBODY uses thier hand brake unless they are getting out of the car......

I agree with Mickey_D

you have just found out what your left foot is for in an auto...

If you want a quick pull away you can hold it on the brake with the left foot, stand on the accelerator with the right (on amber) and on the green, the car should just be hitting stall on the torque converter, release the brake... pow...

Almost as quick as manual.. usually quicker 0-30

Mine is mere lowly 240bhp Forester turbo Auto, but it embarrases many cars for the first 100ft in the traffic light GP

Clarkey · 4 Apr 2006 at 15:28

you'l be saying goodbye to your gearbox pretty soon if you keep doing that Dr Who

And yeah I think its been covered pretty much, hold on the brake unless its going to be for a long time, holding it on the brake for ages can cause an excessive heat buildup.

Alibaba99 · 4 Apr 2006 at 15:42

Stopping an auto at traffic lights leave the car in drive and use the handbrake (only take out of drive if the car will be stopped for a significant time). Just because other drivers use the footbrake doesn't mean you have to be an idiot as well and dazzle the driver of the car behind.

Also, if someone rear ends you when you are using the footbrake the chances are high that your foot will come of the brake causing the car to hit what ever you have stopped for.

Gilly · 4 Apr 2006 at 15:54

Alibaba99 said:
Stopping an auto at traffic lights leave the car in drive and use the handbrake (only take out of drive if the car will be stopped for a significant time). Just because other drivers use the footbrake doesn't mean you have to be an idiot as well and dazzle the driver of the car behind.

Idiot? Get off your high horse dude, there's no need for it here.

This is the reason I said it depends how long you're there for. No need to use the handbrake if you're going to be setting off a couple of seconds later.

Can't see how brakelights would dazzle anyone :/ Maybe you should back off a bit?

Lashout_UK · 4 Apr 2006 at 16:31

Also, if someone rear ends you when you are using the footbrake the chances are high that your foot will come of the brake causing the car to hit what ever you have stopped for.

Don't think your handbrake would make much difference at that point

Dr Who · 4 Apr 2006 at 17:09

Clarkey said:
you'l be saying goodbye to your gearbox pretty soon if you keep doing that Dr Who

And yeah I think its been covered pretty much, hold on the brake unless its going to be for a long time, holding it on the brake for ages can cause an excessive heat buildup.

Really, amazing that in 24 years I havent killed a gearbox yet...

So I guess longer than 24 years is pretty soon right?