Automatic - leave it in Drive or go to Neutral?

[Paul_W1]

"On the other hand, I nearly always know what the MX-5 is doing, because I am doing it (glossing over the DBW throttle, ABS, EBD, DSC and TCS!)"

 

Sounds as complicated as my big BMW .

My NB has a proper throttle cable, no ABS, EBD, DSC or TCS.

My “fun” car hasn’t even got a brake servo or power steering and runs on crossply tyres - but that’s real seat of the pants stuff.

[Steve398]

@Pete George

There’s a reason why the traffic lights go from red to red/amber to green. Red/amber is giving you warning that the lights are about to go green. You put the car in gear (or “D”) and prepare to release the handbrake/footbrake. When the lights change to green then you can go. Any competent driver can do this in the couple of seconds between light changes. Unfortunately, too many people think that a red/amber light means you should already be moving. I’m pretty sure no-one is in such a rush that those couple of seconds will mean you will be late for wherever you’re going but frankly, if you are cutting things that close, you’re already late!  At least it’s not like in the US where the traffic lights go straight from red to green.

 

The Highway Code - Light signals controlling traffic - Guidance - GOV.UK

Corrected for you…    Bulgaria and other countries have a system of count-down where  it tells you how many seconds are left on a red light and also green light, shame they don’t have them in the UK. 

 

[PeteG1]

@Steve398

@Pete George

There’s a reason why the traffic lights go from red to red/amber to green. Red/amber is giving you warning that the lights are about to go green. You put the car in gear (or “D”) and prepare to release the handbrake/footbrake. When the lights change to green then you can go. Any competent driver can do this in the couple of seconds between light changes. Unfortunately, too many people think that a red/amber light means you should already be moving. I’m pretty sure no-one is in such a rush that those couple of seconds will mean you will be late for wherever you’re going but frankly, if you are cutting things that close, you’re already late!  At least it’s not like in the US where the traffic lights go straight from red to green.

 

The Highway Code - Light signals controlling traffic - Guidance - GOV.UK

Corrected for you…    Bulgaria and other countries have a system of count-down where  it tells you how many seconds are left on a red light and also green light, shame they don’t have them in the UK. 

 

 

[Chris_Phillips]

Perhaps we should all apologise to Parker for inadvertently hi-jacking his ‘auto transmission’ thread, and turning it into a ‘should I keep my brake lights on at hold-ups thread’.

This brake light subject has cropped up on numerous occasions since I’ve been a member, and we never ever agree what the correct protocol is, so what’s the point in arguing ?  We’ll all simply go back to doing what we’ve been used to doing for decades anyway ! 

So, sorry Parker - I’m as guilty as the rest I know - just going with the flow really - that’s my excuse  (and I’m sticking to it !).

[Parker]

No worries Chris - I’ve always enjoyed the free-styling that usually develops in any of these threads, and think that it’s all very healthy. 

[Mk1-GNW]

Hmm I’m pretty sure the Eunos does creep; at least our one which is a 1992 Mk1.
Gosh I’d better check that to make sure!

Having mostly driven Manuals,
Out of habit I put the Auto Eunos in neutral at the lights with handbrake on if the lights have just changed to stop (as in I’ll be waiting more than a moment) as
A) I’m used to the manual being in Neutral force of habit.
B) If indeed it does ‘creep’ then surely there is a touch of strain on the gearbox however minimal.
C) If there’s creep then I don’t want to inadvertently move forward.

There’s enough time at the lights to change from Neutral with a Handbrake as it would be to move off from a Manual. Plus around here I’ve noticed a lot of Amber-Gamblers and even some that’ll sail through a red light just because they think they’ve waited enough time at the lights so it’s not worth the shunt.

[Art_Tidesco]

Just to return to the original question for a moment, there are no definitive answers but with three different types of automatic out there, here are some intresting suggestions on how to and not to approach the question according to the different type of automatic transmission being used :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y5ctu2fYgA

[IanH]

‘Other car’s’ a Toyota with an automatic (well CVT) transmission, the manual specifically says to leave it in drive when temporarily stopped.

This has been my understanding for other automatics as well, neutral exists to allow the box to switch between modes and Park/Drive/Reverse are the only settings it should normally operate in.

[Dean_S550]

The automatic cars I’ve had were all fitted with zf 6hp torque converter style boxes and the ford equivalent 6r. All I ever did was foot on brake in drive when waiting or stopped in traffic as you’re always ready to move by lifting your foot, of course for any considerable lengths of time it would be thrown in neutral but only to free up the leg. Never once had a transmission related issue across 3 cars and many miles.