automatic driving, tap off ???

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wiinuts

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ok so i've always driven a manual but recently bought a new vehicle and went for automatic, when i test drove the vehicle they only had the auto available so took a chance with it on the test drive and loved it! so decided that auto was best.

uh but how exactly do you drive an auto efficiently (fuel wise) how do you tap-off on higher revs ? please explain in detail ...

i've been driving by just puttng my foot down but ofcourse this means it changes at higher revs all the time and thus higher fuel consumption ...

so basically i just need to know how do you tap off to change faster ?

is there a specific method
 
wiinuts said:
ok so i've always driven a manual but recently bought a new vehicle and went for automatic, when i test drove the vehicle they only had the auto available so took a chance with it on the test drive and loved it! so decided that auto was best.

uh but how exactly do you drive an auto efficiently (fuel wise) how do you tap-off on higher revs ? please explain in detail ...

i've been driving by just puttng my foot down but ofcourse this means it changes at higher revs all the time and thus higher fuel consumption ...

so basically i just need to know how do you tap off to change faster ?

is there a specific method
Click to expand...

Tap in not off

O no wait that is for changing back.

Crap i have no idea :D
 
what car is it and i know generally from driving auto's you need to give a little petrol and when its in high gear then add bit more for speed ...that way it kept the fuel down abit.. ..

cos like a manual if you speed on 1st and 2nd its going to use petrol
 
Well you will need to "learn" to drive the specific car / gearbox. Basically what you do is to accelerate, and once you reach the revs you want to effect the gear change, reduce pressure on the accelerator slightly, i.e. lift your foot say 2mm to 5mm, and then after the gear change increase pressure to what it was originally. This is where you need to "learn" how the gearbox responds for that particular vehicle. Every vehicle would be different, but in essence the principle remains the same. It could well take some time to get it perfect in respect of smooth and optimal gear changes, just keep experimenting until you get it just right.

An auto can be quite nippy if you do it right, but practice is the key. I drive a Merc C200 auto, which took me some time to get used to the accelerator action, and how the gear changes work. Some gearboxes (like mine) also have an adaptive gearbox thingy, which "learns" when to do gear changes based on your driving style, i.e. low rev gear changes or high rev gear changes. However, for max response/acceleration it is probably best to learn the "tap off" method.
 
MFour said:
Well you will need to "learn" to drive the specific car / gearbox. Basically what you do is to accelerate, and once you reach the revs you want to effect the gear change, reduce pressure on the accelerator slightly, i.e. lift your foot say 2mm to 5mm, and then after the gear change increase pressure to what it was originally. This is where you need to "learn" how the gearbox responds for that particular vehicle. Every vehicle would be different, but in essence the principle remains the same. It could well take some time to get it perfect in respect of smooth and optimal gear changes, just keep experimenting until you get it just right.

An auto can be quite nippy if you do it right, but practice is the key. I drive a Merc C200 auto, which took me some time to get used to the accelerator action, and how the gear changes work. Some gearboxes (like mine) also have an adaptive gearbox thingy, which "learns" when to do gear changes based on your driving style, i.e. low rev gear changes or high rev gear changes. However, for max response/acceleration it is probably best to learn the "tap off" method.
Click to expand...

that helps thanks!

its an ix35 btw
 
There's not much you can do other than pulling away more slowly if your car doesn't have a semi-automatic mode. ie, letting you change gears by either tapping the gear lever when you want to change gears, or using the flappy paddles on your steering wheel if your car has that.
 
Isn't there a "sport" and "eco" setting.

I found that the most important thing with an auto was breaking. That's how the transmission knows how to change down, if you coast you could find your self taking a sharp corner in 5th....
 
genetic said:
There's not much you can do other than pulling away more slowly if your car doesn't have a semi-automatic mode. ie, letting you change gears by either tapping the gear lever when you want to change gears, or using the flappy paddles on your steering wheel if your car has that.
Click to expand...

Indeed, if fuel consumption is the main concern, then light and gentle pressure on the accelerator is key. Gear changes should take place at low revs, and also be very smooth. Quick and harsh pressure on the pedal might see "quick" gear changes at say 4000 revs, but is heavier on fuel. A slow and deep push down (close to max) on the pedal might well see slower gear changes at higher revs (say just before the rev limiter kicks in), again higher fuel consumption. It all depends on the tech built into the gearbox, and for me anyway, the fun part of driving an auto is to find that sweet spot on the vehicle.

wiinuts, also remember that there is such a thing as a "kick down" which in essence forces the gearbox to down shift to help with acceleration. This is achieved by basically slamming the accelerator to the floor through the "gate". You will feel towards the bottom end of the pedal's travel there will be some resistance (I call it a gate, not sure what the correct term is), once you push through that the gearbox is forced to gear down regardless of your current rev / gear, giving you some extra power. However, if at that stage you are already at high revs and in a low gear, don't expect much more power as the vehicle is probably already giving all its got.

But like I said, play around and find that sweet spot. Of course you can also just choose to chill and use moderate and smooth acceleration to give you a nice smooth drive. Choice is yours. :)
 
Depends on the car and the gearbox

On old cars, you would have to tap off. Now days, it believe it shifts on how and how far down you have depressed the pedal.
 
Ecco said:
Depends on the car and the gearbox

On old cars, you would have to tap off. Now days, it believe it shifts on how and how far down you have depressed the pedal.
Click to expand...

True, but the driver can still influence the shift by "tapping off", still happens on new boxes. My wife drives a 2009 i10 auto which you can play around with quite nicely. I often drive a variety of new an old vehicles and same holds true for them all. Things might work slightly different with a DSG gearbox, or high end sports cars (have not had the privilege yet), but your normal everyday type vehicle, you very much have a say in the matter, or you can leave it up to the gearbox to decide :D
 
I don't know if the iX35 has it, but it should have a "manual" option, in which case you can control things like changing down or dropping a gear for overtaking.

If it's an old fashioned box, you will have to kick down to pass - if it a modern box, you can simply drop a gear by either using a paddle or dropping a gear on the stick.

You asked for fuel saving tips and here's one that most people forget.

When you are at a robot, or having to idle at a standstill for a while, knock the car into neutral, and pull up you handbrake. There is then no drag on the box, and it's not much, but it does save on fuel.
 
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