A/T Driving - 101 (Basic)
Recently, I came across some posts related to A/T and thought to add a topic to give some ba sic understanding about how it works without going in technical details. A/T is not popular in India because it will add about Rs. 40-60 K to the cost of car which is significant for under 10 lakh car + about 25 Kg of extra weight, which may be meaningful for low powered engine.
These days A/T controller occupies same spot in your car floor/console as your stick shift controller. Controller is used to change the position. Each A/T will have at least three position, namely, D (Drive means forward), P (Parking), R (Reverse) and may have few others (N, 1, 2, L etc.), which you need not to be concerned at the moment.
Your car should be in P position and you fully press brakes to start the car. Keep brakes pressed and move the controller lever (a locking button on the side will be required to be pushed to move lever) to D or R position as desired and slowly release the brake and press accelerator as desired.
Advantages of A/T
A/T cars have only two pedals (Brake and Accelerator NO clutch pedal)
You need only one leg to drive the car
Having a left foot rest is especially useful in A/T for left leg to relax
After putting the car in D, you will not change anything unless you are ready to turn off the engine. A/T will change all gears for you and press clutch as and when needed
At traffic lights, you will apply brakes but no change of gear, as soon as lights are Green you press accelerator slowly
It is much easier to drive - no hassle of clutch. Ladies love it, first timer and learner love it Because engine will not stall due to lack of clutch synchronization
In a traffic jam or stop and go traffic, A/T is the best thing you want
For city driving, A/T is much better than M/T. Just use Brake and Acc as you want
If you can steer your car with one hand, your left hand is free too
After stopping the car put it in P before turning off the engine and apply hand brakes
Fuel Economy (A Major Concern)
Gear Ratio is little higher in A/T than manual (don't worry about gear ratio)
Older and obsolete A/T had only three gears, which is still used by Maruti in A/T models. FE is badly effected.
More common is 4 gear A/T. Some A/T have O/D(Over Drive) and P (Power) modes (selectable by switch of a button) but basically all are 4 gear A/T. With modern technology they work very well and switch gear (internally) very smoothly. For average driver FE of A/T and M/T will be very close in busy city traffic. But expert drivers, who know exactly when to up shift and down shift gears will get little better FE with M/T. On highway, in comparison to Fifth gear of M/T, FE will be less by 10% (depends on gear ratio, you have no control over it)
More modern and high tech A/T have 5, 6, 7 gears and are better computer controlled. Even expert drivers are not able to beat FE of these A/T. Because computer can change gear at the precise moment - all the time. Some other A/T have Triptonic type A/T (developed byPorsche). But are expensive.
Hope this is enough for the day and feel, will help people who have not driven A/T car.
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