Driving an automatic: what are the advantages?
Automatic driving is becoming increasingly popular. During our driving lessons we usually learn to drive in a shift car, but nowadays more and more people are switching to an automatic. Driving an automatic has several advantages, something that more and more young people are noticing. Where an automatic used to be seen as something for older people, it is making inroads among the younger generation. Are you in doubt about an automatic? On Alpina.nl you can read all about driving an automatic!
Why drive an automatic?
As mentioned, more and more people are choosing to drive an automatic. Especially for long commute trips, an automatic can be nice. That way, you don't have to keep depressing the clutch and shifting gears when driving slowly, stopping and starting again. This can be very tiring, especially if you drive quite a bit every day. This is the main reason why more and more people are driving an automatic.
How does driving a car work?
An automatic does not have a manual gearbox, but works with an automatic gearshift system. By means of this system, the car automatically changes between the different gears while driving. There is no regular gearshift lever in the car, but there is a control lever with a number of positions, such as park (P for Park), reverse (R for Reverse), neutral (N for Neutral) and drive (D for Drive).
How does automatic driving work in the mountains?
Do you regularly vacation by car to mountainous areas? With a shift car, you normally drive uphill in a lower gear and brake on the engine. What about an automatic? An automatic often has a separate mountain gear. These are usually designated 1,2 or 3. If you leave the car in Drive, the car shifts up too fast when going up the mountain and does not brake on the engine as you go downhill.
What are the advantages of driving an automatic?
More and more people are discovering the advantages of driving an automatic. The following advantages are often mentioned:
- You can fully focus your attention on the traffic. This ensures greater safety.
- You don't have to think about upshifting and downshifting, so many people find driving more comfortable. Especially for longer driving distances.
- An automatic has a high ease of operation.
Do I no longer suffer from ramp test?
With an automatic, you no longer suffer from the incline test. This is because when you release the brake, the car starts to drive by itself. No more hassle with rolling backwards, changing gears quickly and accelerating.
Is an automatic transmission useful in the snow?
If you have an automatic, driving in the snow can take some getting used to. When it has been snowing, the roads are often slippery and the car is less stable on the road. With a shift car, you can sense when you have grip and respond accordingly by gently pulling up and accelerating. If you drive an automatic, it clutches immediately when you release the brake. This makes it less able to sense when you have grip. Driving an automatic in the snow is not more dangerous, it just takes some getting used to. You have to pay attention and drive carefully. So do not release the brake and immediately give a lot of gas, but carefully feel how much gas you have to give to drive away without skidding.
What to do at a traffic light?
If you are waiting at a traffic light with your automatic, you can simply leave the car in Drive. The automatic gearbox is made for this purpose and you can easily drive away again. If you are standing still for a long time, for example in front of a crossing or bridge, you can also put it in neutral. However, this is not necessarily necessary.
First time driving automatic what tips do I need to know?
Are you switching from a shift car to an automatic? That always takes some getting used to, because you drive differently in an automatic than in a shift car. There are a few things to watch out for when you first drive an automatic:
- To start the car, hold down the brake pedal and move the gear or control lever from Park to Drive.
- An automatic does not brake as quickly as a shift car. Therefore, start braking a little earlier than you would in a shift car.
- When the automatic is in Drive, it never stops on its own. Therefore, you must always hold down the brake pedal.
Is a caravan with an automatic transmission convenient?
If you regularly take a caravan on vacation, you obviously need a car that can pull the caravan properly. For this, you do not necessarily need a shift car; an automatic is also suitable for towing a caravan. In fact, some drivers find an automatic to be more comfortable towing a caravan.
Does an automatic drive economically?
In an automatic, you can't drive economically by changing to a higher gear in time, because you don't have to change gears. You can, however, let the gas pedal rise slightly when you are in the right gear. The car will then shift to a higher gear, making you drive more economically. Also, there is often an Eco mode on an automatic. If you use this or the normal mode, you drive more economically than if you drive in the Sport mode, for example.
Is traffic jam driving convenient with an automatic?
Filming in a shift car often means constantly letting the clutch out slowly, shifting up and down again. In an automatic, you can just leave the car in Drive as long as you keep the brake depressed. Then when you can drive again you just release the brake. Do you find it annoying to constantly keep your foot on the brake? Then you can also put the car in Neutral for a while and put it back in Drive when you want to drive again.
Get auto insurance for an automatic through Alpina
Do you drive an automatic and are you looking for good car insurance? Then you've come to the right place at Alpina! Through our handy online comparison tool you can compare different car insurance companies. If you compare on price and content you will quickly find the best car insurance for your automatic.
Do you have any questions? Then be sure to contact us! You can reach us by phone from Monday to Friday at 088 - 6883700. You can also send us a message via chat, WhatsApp or Messenger.
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