Advanced driving experience with automatic transmission

If you have never driven a vehicle that uses automatic transmissions sooner, then you might be better off starting to understand how you should actually drive a car before you start.

This will mean you get the most out of the car, but it's more than just putting it in drive and leaving the car to do the rest.

Instead, as a driver, you still have a number of responsibilities that mean you will have a truly wonderful driving experience.

1. Watch out for engine creep

The first thing worth mentioning is the warning. An automatic transmission car will have something called engine slip and this basically means that it will creep forward as soon as you start the engine. To stop this, make sure you keep your foot on brake. However, a number of more modern machines will not even start until they realize that you are actually pressing the brake pedal.

2. Be prepared to brake harder

This is a rather idiosyncratic practice that you need to get used to fairly quickly, as automatic transmission vehicles require the driver to brake harder. The reason for this is that they don't provide the same level of engine braking when you release the accelerator pedal, so you have to work the brake pedal a little more to get the same effect.

3. Watch out for high gears on hills

Whenever you find yourself on a steep descent, an automatic car will immediately try to select a higher gear as your speed increases accordingly. However, it takes away more engine braking, so if you want to benefit from it, it's a good idea to choose a fixed gear setting if you have that option.

4. Watch the corners

Typically, the automatic has the ability to upshift when you release the accelerator pedal to enter a corner. However, this is not best driving practice, so you're better off releasing the accelerator earlier than usual, as this will prompt it to downshift before you can accelerate out of the corner in a more normal fashion.

5. Work on slippery roads

There will be a few occasions in the UK during the winter when you have to contend with slippery conditions and when this happens and you have an automatic you should still be looking at pulling off in a higher gear. This is the same as in a car with a manual transmission, so use a fixed gear, and ideally use two or three gears.

If you've never driven an automatic before, it might be tempting to slow down with your left foot, but honestly, this should be avoided. The reason for this is simply a security issue as it can annoy you when it comes to crashing.

Driving an automatic car is easy, but don't think you're exempt from driving because it's far from it. Instead, you must learn to get the most out of engine in order to provide you with the best driving experience.

All about gearbox / transmission

• Make your transmission last longer
• What are automatic transmissions?
• Best price when driving with automatic transmission
• What is transfer?
• How to change gear