So, I just realised no one ever told me how to drive an automatic!

[AudiCraig]

After having my 2008 A6 2.0T Avant with a CVT Tiptronic transmission for just over a week, I realised whilst driving home today that no one had ever taught me how to drive an auto!

Sure, I'd driven many before, but they'd all been hire cars and in all honesty, who cares how you drive them right!

So, I've mustered some questions for the guys who have more experience than I...

1. How do I pull away fast-ish without spinning up the front wheels? Not having a manual clutch is making it hard for me to gauge engine torque.

2. When stopped at traffic lights, I could leave my foot on the brake whilst in drive. What's happening to the gearbox, clutch, engine when I'm doing this? How long can i effectively get away with doing this for before i should drop it into Neutral?

3. The transmission selector (I'm guess they're not called Gear Sticks in an auto?) has a little chrome button to press. Sometimes I need to press it, others I can just move through the positions. When should I press it? When shouldn't I press it? Is it doing more than just lift a gate that allows another position to be selected?

4. Any idea what triggers the turbo to kick in? Is it solely engine revs or is there some cleaver electronic mind behind it? What rev limit does the Turbo need before it kicks in? In Sports mode, the the turbo always on?

5. Is there any difference between the Paddle-Shift or moving the "gear stick" into "manual" mode? I thought I'd be excited about the Paddle-Shift, but in all honesty I can't see the point.. it's a A6 Estate not a Caterham, I bet they hardly ever get used and I sure hope someone didn't spend a lot on it as an optional extra.. or am I wrong? maybe I'm missing something neat with having it?


lol, that should do for now... I guess I've always had the questions, but this is my first auto where I've cared

Thank you

[Guest 2]

After having my 2008 A6 2.0T Avant with a CVT Tiptronic transmission for just over a week, I realised whilst driving home today that no one had ever taught me how to drive an auto!

Sure, I'd driven many before, but they'd all been hire cars and in all honesty, who cares how you drive them right!

So, I've mustered some questions for the guys who have more experience than I...

1. How do I pull away fast-ish without spinning up the front wheels? Not having a manual clutch is making it hard for me to gauge engine torque.

Plant it - the ESP will sort things out

2. When stopped at traffic lights, I could leave my foot on the brake whilst in drive. What's happening to the gearbox, clutch, engine when I'm doing this? How long can i effectively get away with doing this for before i should drop it into Neutral?

Yes its OK to keep your foot on the brake while in drive

3. The transmission selector (I'm guess they're not called Gear Sticks in an auto?) has a little chrome button to press. Sometimes I need to press it, others I can just move through the positions. When should I press it? When shouldn't I press it? Is it doing more than just lift a gate that allows another position to be selected?

You need to press it

4. Any idea what triggers the turbo to kick in? Is it solely engine revs or is there some cleaver electronic mind behind it? What rev limit does the Turbo need before it kicks in? In Sports mode, the the turbo always on?

Revs enable the turbo. Anything from 2000 rpm upwards - sports mode just keeps the selected gear for longer for optimum thrust

5. Is there any difference between the Paddle-Shift or moving the "gear stick" into "manual" mode? I thought I'd be excited about the Paddle-Shift, but in all honesty I can't see the point.. it's a A6 Estate not a Caterham, I bet they hardly ever get used and I sure hope someone didn't spend a lot on it as an optional extra.. or am I wrong? maybe I'm missing something neat with having it?

No difference - only there for a bit of fun. Drive or Sport is what I use normally.


lol, that should do for now... I guess I've always had the questions, but this is my first auto where I've cared

Thank you

See above

[snozzle123]

Autos have confused me in the past. I've driven American pickups with the stick thingy on a stalk, they confused me.

I've never driven a flappy paddle car.

Only ever owed manuals.

[MarkTM]

Now here's the thing...I only learnt to drive auto and no one ever taught me those things!

But seriously at 16 I figured I'd only be driving Jags, Rollers and Bentley's and have had 2 out of the 3 so far...don't fink Audi's were a known quantity to me in 1980!

And to all those naysayers should appreciate that technically an autos puter should be able to react quicker than the human mind/hand in choosing the right gear.

[Hex69]

2. When stopped at traffic lights, I could leave my foot on the brake whilst in drive.

No, unless you consider yourself a **** for keeping your brake lights on and blinding everyone behind.

[MarkTM]

No, unless you consider yourself a **** for keeping your brake lights on and blinding everyone behind.

Erm Hex I think you need a trip to the opticians as brake lights aren't supposed to have that effect....well never have on me.

From memory (albeit a long time ago in a gal....) you're taught to put into Neutral and apply handbrake...which would still result in brake lights being lit.

[Sam]

Best piece of advice I can give - don't change gear thinking you're in a manual, you'll cause the gearbox to **** itself all over the road.

Other than that, it's much like operating a sewing machine.

[Hex69]

Erm Hex I think you need a trip to the opticians as brake lights aren't supposed to have that effect....well never have on me.

From memory (albeit a long time ago in a gal....) you're taught to put into Neutral and apply handbrake...which would still result in brake lights being lit.

I think you're the one who needs a opticians visit, as when you put your handbrake and release the footbrake the brake lights aren't lit.

It's just a bit of common courtesy not to blind everyone.

[MarkTM]

Nowt wrong with my eyesight (tested last week) only my brain as just tested the hand brake thang and you're right...I never knew that...so thanks!

I've still never found brake lights bothered me though...however those that think front/rear fogs are driving lights is a diffo matter

[Hex69]

It's normally those with an automatic suv who are the worst, surly it doesn't take much to put it into park?