Really? How do I make it stay in top under all conditions? How do I make it change down a gear BEFORE I start accelerating?
Automatics
- Thread starter mlbtheshow
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Really? How do I make it stay in top under all conditions? How do I make it change down a gear BEFORE I start accelerating?
Autos are very straightforward. Press the accelerator and depending upon how hard, the car will accelerate at different rates. They'll change gears as necessary, end of story really. Sure, they can't mind read and change gear before you press the loud button, but they a lot easier to deal in traffic than a manual box.
The only thing that pops to mind that may confuse a new driver is that they don't have engine braking like a manual car. What I mean by that is that back off in a manual car, and the engine will slow down, thus braking the car (if fairly slowly). In an auto, no engine braking occurs, so you need to (a) plan better and (b) use the brakes a little more. Once you've some experience, it's easy to plan around.
The only thing that pops to mind that may confuse a new driver is that they don't have engine braking like a manual car. What I mean by that is that back off in a manual car, and the engine will slow down, thus braking the car (if fairly slowly). In an auto, no engine braking occurs, so you need to (a) plan better and (b) use the brakes a little more. Once you've some experience, it's easy to plan around.
Why would you want it do that? Don't most decent autos downchange within a split second of accelerating these days?
It might not be quick enough.
The chain of events could be:
1. Floor the accelerator
2. Engine revs speed up momentarily
3. Gearbox changes down
4. Engine revs speed up some more
5. Gearbox output speeds up - delayed because of the torque convertor
6. Car accelerates
Changing down manually could eliminate steps 2-5, especially if the gearbox can lock the torque convertor.
I'm no engineer, but this is what I believe would happen
Why would you want to do that?
Just start accelerating earlier! Or my auto box has a 'sport' mode in which it always hangs on to lower gears in anticipation of you wanting to get a move on.
As for engine braking, it is reduced slightly but definately still present. I rarely use it for actively decelerating, even in a manual, as that's what the brakes are designed for, but if for some reason I need a little more than normal coasting, really can't be arsed to operate the brake pedal and my hand is on the gear lever, I can engage the aforementioned sport mode to knock it down a gear and increase the engine braking.
Auto - it's the only way to cruise
Pretty simple really isn't it. When I want to perform an overtake there will be a certain window of oppurtunity, the gap between 2 oncoming vehicles. I want to go at full throttle as soon as the first car has passed, I don't want to have to wait what seems like an eternity for the gearbox to find a way of putting some power on the road for me.
Fortunately almost all autos now have manual override so you can drop it down by yourself anyway.
On mine I keep it in S mode for overtakes (fast ones) and quick getaways. That way its in the right gear in the rev range. Some times in D mode it can get caught out but its rare.
What's that got to do with Dogbreath's strange desire to remain in top gear in all conditions?
As for overtaking, in a manual you have to pre-plan your acceleration and manually downshift in anticipation. In an auto you have to pre-plan your acceleration and prod the throttle pedal in anticipation. That's actually less effort, and you need to do that anyway!
You've driven some poor autos if you think it takes an eternity to kickdown and put some power on the road.
- Joined
- 17 Feb 2009
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:O Got the wrong day for my test drive, some reason thought it was 24th today, how i never know. Luckily i called up and they set me straight.
Anyway i hope this thing has an S mode... its this car im going to drive but tbh its not the config i want.... colourwise anyway.
http://www.pooleaudi.co.uk/details/2316/
Im after the drug dealer blue with those grey/black spokes
Anyway i hope this thing has an S mode... its this car im going to drive but tbh its not the config i want.... colourwise anyway.
http://www.pooleaudi.co.uk/details/2316/
Im after the drug dealer blue with those grey/black spokes
- Joined
- 17 Feb 2009
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Oh, it's the diesel. Will be the worst car ever
Is it that bad?
I cant seem to find any petrol ones
I was joking, will be fineIs it that bad?
I cant seem to find any petrol ones
Honestly the car will be wonderful to drive. Better than 90% of the rest on the roads.
The 3ltr diesel is widely regarded as the best engine (as a package) in the audi lineup. The only thing I'd take as a preference in the q7 is the 4.2 diesel.
You won't see many/any diesel q7's for sale because they probably didn't sell any lol.
You won't see many/any diesel q7's for sale because they probably didn't sell any lol.
It's not the best engine at all, not even near, it's just cost effective. It's a good engine but to say it's widely regarded as the best engine is misleading.
One suggestion if you've never driven an auto before..
Tuck or tie your left leg under the drivers seat.
At no point whatso ever use it
If you go and use it on the pedals, expect your head to go through the windscreen.
Lol, so true.
But it is. And widely regarded. And note that I said "as a package", so yes of course it's not fastest nor is quiet as a petrol, but as a package its the one to have. Same is true of the same engine on the a4, a6 and q5
It completely isn't. "As a package" doesn't absolve you of claiming it's widely regarded as the best engine - you are basically implying it's the one to have over everything else, and it really isn't if you can afford the myriad of better engines than the 3.0 TDI.
Buying an A5? Want the 4.2 V8? Nah, get the 3.0 TDI because it's the best package! The reality is the 4.2 V8 is much better in every single way except cost.