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Auto box usage
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- Member
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 10:15 pm
- Location: Ashtead, Surrey
Auto box usage
Never owned an auto before. Was wondering, when sitting in traffic is it better to change to neutral or parking rather than sitting in drive?
59 plate sDrive23i 2.5
- mr.tourette
- Lifer
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- Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:16 am
- Location: north wales
Auto box usage
not necessary really unless you want to lift your foot off the brake..dont think using either technique will do any harm
if its got tits or tyres..its trouble
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Auto box usage
I've been wondering that myself. I have a DCT which is basically an automatically controlled manual clutch with 2 clutches. Does the same advice apply to these?
Z4 S-Drive 35i
Audi TT S-line
Mazda MX5 Mk2.5 (for sale)
Wokingham Berkshire
Audi TT S-line
Mazda MX5 Mk2.5 (for sale)
Wokingham Berkshire
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- Senior Member
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- Location: Leamington Spa
Auto box usage
well, I prefer to not sit with my foot on the brake for extended periods of time, so at lights I'd normally knock forward to neutral and use the handbrake.
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- Senior Member
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- Location: Plymouth
Auto box usage
Its a toss up between wear caused by the action within the box of going into neutral and the wear of holding it in drive. Personally I think you are worrying about nothing.
Just leave it and enjoy driving it. If the box goes then worry, it'll probably cost more than the value of your car to fix it.....
Just leave it and enjoy driving it. If the box goes then worry, it'll probably cost more than the value of your car to fix it.....
Mark
Plymouth
E89
35i
Carmine Red
Black leather
Plymouth
E89
35i
Carmine Red
Black leather
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- Lifer
- Posts: 9537
- Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2015 9:09 am
- Location: South west Buckinghamshire
Auto box usage
I just use the hand brake, it holds the car when sat in drive.
BMW Z4 30i 2003 auto 107's Whippy Toledo Blue
Beige M sport seats, wood dash
Toyota MR2 NA 1995
Triumph GT6 1972 (project)
Land Rover Discovery 1994 TDI (Tow car)
Mini 1000 1981
Beige M sport seats, wood dash
Toyota MR2 NA 1995
Triumph GT6 1972 (project)
Land Rover Discovery 1994 TDI (Tow car)
Mini 1000 1981
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- Lifer
- Posts: 5277
- Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:01 pm
- Location: NW London
Auto box usage
For full auto leave in Drive with the handbrake applied. For DCT or an auto box based on a manual change into Neutral.
3.0si Sport: F10 Illuminated ZHP, Retrofit Cruise, OE Stubby, Gaptech RCH+, Kenwood BT73DAB + Handsfree, HIDs, LED Sidelights, OE LED Number Plate Lights, Custom LED strip bootlight.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8202
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 2:52 pm
Auto box usage
DCT disengages clutches after a second at standstill. No need to take any action, safe to leave in drive.
Normal auto also safe to leave in drive as lock up clutch disengages and runs on torque converter only. Changing to neutral etc makes no to minuscule difference to anything.
Normal auto also safe to leave in drive as lock up clutch disengages and runs on torque converter only. Changing to neutral etc makes no to minuscule difference to anything.
- Jasper ham
- Member
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Auto box usage
I leave mine in drive at standstill most of the time, the only time I knock it into neutral is if I have been driving harder and I don't want to sit with the brake pads heated up sitting on the discs in one spot for a long time as that can warp the discs.
BMW Z4 e89 35i white, black roof, 296 wheels emap to 390 BHP and running Vredestein Ultras. Second cat delete and straight through pipes.
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- Location: Ashtead, Surrey
Auto box usage
thanks for the info, I only thought about it while I was parked in the outside lane of the M25 the other day
59 plate sDrive23i 2.5
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Auto box usage
I don't like being blinded by bright red brake lights from the car in front when I'm stuck in traffic, and I'm sure the person behind me is the same, so I always pop it into N so I can take my foot off the brake and save their retinas (If only the person in front of me did the same)
10-plate E89 35i, Deep Sea Blue
67-plate F15 X5 35d, Space Grey
67-plate F15 X5 35d, Space Grey
- mcbeee
- Lifer
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- Location: Chestermere, Alberta
Auto box usage
Keep it in gear, when you take your foot off the brake, the numnuts behind you who isn’t paying attention is more than likely to step on the gas.....some of them will actually hit you. Not worth the risk.
The only time most people pop it in N is when braking on ice or packed slippery snow, it is quite helpful in that scenario.
The only time most people pop it in N is when braking on ice or packed slippery snow, it is quite helpful in that scenario.
Sold the Z4 M Roadster and a 911 Carrera S now I have a 2021 Z4 3.0i
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- Senior Member
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Auto box usage
Have driven autos of one form or other for 20+ years: 2 Buicks, 2 Jaguars, a Porsche and the 35is. Foot on brake when stopped in traffic.
Use 'hand'-brake only for parking.
Use DCT 'actively', switching between Normal, Sport, Sport kickdown, Sport M, Sport/S, Sport/S kickdown, Sport/S-M. Love it.
The only aspect of the DCT I don't like is its occasional slow pick-up from zero in Normal.
Use 'hand'-brake only for parking.
Use DCT 'actively', switching between Normal, Sport, Sport kickdown, Sport M, Sport/S, Sport/S kickdown, Sport/S-M. Love it.
The only aspect of the DCT I don't like is its occasional slow pick-up from zero in Normal.
Vidi, vici, veni
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- Member
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Auto box usage
I know on my old Audi s tronic, they advised against putting it in neutral. They are built to be held on the brake.
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- Member
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- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 10:15 pm
- Location: Ashtead, Surrey
Auto box usage
yeah, I have been using the DCT actively more and more, it really is good
59 plate sDrive23i 2.5