[Rahul Rao]

Originally Posted by travelwriter

I have seen that, when I am going downhill at constant speed, the engine revs to nearly 3K while the speed remains constant.

The european automatic gearboxes are programmed to give you some amount of engine braking at all times. VW dsg's down shift when you brake, and hold low gear on descents.
My Ecosport doesn't shift beyond 4th gear while descending ghats holding about 2500rpm on descents. This is adequate for Pune Mumbai Exp way, but not for other 2 lane ghats. On flat roads it upshifts at 2000 except 5th to 6th which happens at 2500.
Hyundai 6 speed gives you engine braking only on demand. Shift to manual and double downshift, it downshifts and also locks the torque converter so engine revs rise and you get engine braking.
The Crysta AT has sequential limiter. That is you shift to S mode, and use a toggle button on gear handle to limit highest gear you want to upshift too.
Hexa has a very passive control. If you are aproaching a toll booth, and are at about 80 in 6th, just leave the throttle and touch the brake, you will feel a single down shift to 5th, and much later to 4th, or may be even to 3rd if you have adequate distance.
Every automatic has something for control, you only have to read the manual thoroughly to understand, most of the ill informed sales executives will not tell you anything.

Rahul

[d_himan]

Originally Posted by Rahul Rao

The european automatic gearboxes are programmed to give you some amount of engine braking at all times. VW dsg's down shift when you brake, and hold low gear on descents.
My Ecosport doesn't shift beyond 4th gear while descending ghats holding about 2500rpm on descents. This is adequate for Pune Mumbai Exp way, but not for other 2 lane ghats. On flat roads it upshifts at 2000 except 5th to 6th which happens at 2500.
Hyundai 6 speed gives you engine braking only on demand. Shift to manual and double downshift, it downshifts and also locks the torque converter so engine revs rise and you get engine braking.
The Crysta AT has sequential limiter. That is you shift to S mode, and use a toggle button on gear handle to limit highest gear you want to upshift too.
Hexa has a very passive control. If you are aproaching a toll booth, and are at about 80 in 6th, just leave the throttle and touch the brake, you will feel a single down shift to 5th, and much later to 4th, or may be even to 3rd if you have adequate distance.
Every automatic has something for control, you only have to read the manual thoroughly to understand, most of the ill informed sales executives will not tell you anything.

Rahul

Interesting, just to add, the Baleno CVT also has pretty aggressive engine braking in normal city driving with no inclines ..almost as aggressive as the DQ200 DSG.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by Rahul Rao

The european automatic gearboxes are programmed to give you some amount of engine braking at all times.

Never knew, never noticed either, but I will give it a try next time I'm descending. As I currently in, a very flat, the Netherlands it might be a while.

But don't just about all autoboxes have some form of slotting the box into a lower gear. It's not just P, R, N, D? On my (old) jaguar with a a five gear autobox i can manually select 2,3,4. On our Ford I can select any gear as well.

Also on this one:

I have seen that, when I am going downhill at constant speed, the engine revs to nearly 3K while the speed remains constant

I dont see any problems with revs at 3K and the speed remaining constant. taht's just how you want to descent.
Even on a diesel 3K is no problem, much better than braking!

Only if you have an (very) old two stroke engine, prolonged engine braking can cause (big) problems.

Jeroen

[shipnil]

Is there a way disable creep feature in Drive mode in automatics?

I haven't used automatics, but while having a discussion on benefits of auto like, to be able to rest left leg, with a relative who mostly drove automatics, got a different perspective. Now instead of using left leg, you'll have to keep using right leg and press/depress brake to control movement.

When I try to visualize my driving, in bumper to bumper traffic, I use brake only when it is a slope or an incline. So in manual transmission, my right leg is relaxed.

So I was thinking if there is a way to disable creep feature, I could use accelerator to move the vehicle ahead as needed but won't need to keep the brake pedal pressed all the time.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by shipnil

When I try to visualize my driving, in bumper to bumper traffic, I use brake only when it is a slope or an incline. So in manual transmission, my right leg is relaxed.

Even I have felt that when you drive an AT, your right leg is overworked, while left leg doesn't share any load Creep function is an irritant at times.

[blackasta]

Originally Posted by shipnil

Is there a way disable creep feature in Drive mode in automatics?

I haven't used automatics, but while having a discussion on benefits of auto like, to be able to rest left leg, with a relative who mostly drove automatics, got a different perspective. Now instead of using left leg, you'll have to keep using right leg and press/depress brake to control movement.

When I try to visualize my driving, in bumper to bumper traffic, I use brake only when it is a slope or an incline. So in manual transmission, my right leg is relaxed.

So I was thinking if there is a way to disable creep feature, I could use accelerator to move the vehicle ahead as needed but won't need to keep the brake pedal pressed all the time.

Originally Posted by Guna

Even I have felt that when you drive an AT, your right leg is overworked, while left leg doesn't share any load Creep function is an irritant at times.

You wouldn't want to disable the creep function in an AT car, that's poor man's hill hold !

Also - on flat terrain, if you plan to stay put in a place for longer than 10 seconds, slot the lever to N - no need to keep the brake pressed. Once you wanna move, slot it to D and creep forward. There's a reason why in AT cars, the N<->D movement is not gated/restricted.

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by blackasta

Also - on flat terrain, if you plan to stay put in a place for longer than 10 seconds, slot the lever to N - no need to keep the brake pressed.

I feel if I have to tinker with gear level as well in addition using brake similar to clutch in the manual, there won't be big benefit of moving to an auto, especially in bumper to bumper traffic.

Asking all these questions, as I am contemplating moving to auto for convenience and comfort.

BTW, the CVT in scooters is different from cars. There is no creep. It only moves forward if given accelerator.

[manim]

Originally Posted by blackasta

Also - on flat terrain, if you plan to stay put in a place for longer than 10 seconds, slot the lever to N - no need to keep the brake pressed

Even on a flat terrain, I would pull the hand-brake when I put in 'N', for safety reasons.

[blackasta]

Originally Posted by manim

Even on a flat terrain, I would pull the hand-brake when I put in 'N', for safety reasons.

If you are in stagnant traffic in between stationary cars, sure - even I sometimes do it while I fiddle with my phone.
But I generally avoid the same if I am the last car - you never know when that careless driver hits you from behind (and I've faced this myself) - and having the handbrakes on would basically result in the car absorbing more of the impact instead of rolling ahead (again rolling ahead has it's own share of issues including hitting the car in front).

[Sridhar K]

I recently bought the XUV300 AMT and just learning the tricks of the trade of driving an AMT. The car up shifts at 2.2 K RPM for 1-2 and 2-3 whilst starts up shifting at 1750 RPM for subsequent up shifts. The hill hold assist and creep functions does it jobs nicely. The "A" mode also seems to identify downhill descents and does not seem to up shift when the RPM shoots up but I haven't fully checked it as I shift to "M" model to be on the safer side.

While I have driven automatics in the US (till mid 2008), this is my first AMT. So far, I have driven around 1000 KMs and already missing my Swift ZDI manual in terms of driving pleasure while my left knee is thankful for the change. I am learning to understand, accept and adopt to the downside of AMTs. e.g forgetting the fun factor of driving a manual, feathering the throttle, taking the foot off the accelerator to force an up-shift at the right RPM at lower gears, ensuring shifting to manual mode while overtaking, factoring for the slow shifts, moving to "N" at stops etc.

The car seems to be a different beast when driven in the manual mode except for the auto downshift, which sometime coincides with the manual downshifts and ends up with double shifts.

I have some fundamental questions or doubts on AMT.
a) Does driving an AMT frequently in "M" mode affect the clutch adversely?
b) Can I use the M mode only for up-shifts and leave the downshift to the AMT system without causing any damage to the clutch?
c) Any other dos and don't on driving an AMT?

Would really be grateful if people familiar with AMTs can provide your insights. Thanks in advance for your responses.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by Sridhar K

I have some fundamental questions or doubts on AMT.
a) Does driving an AMT frequently in "M" mode affect the clutch adversely?

Nope. Of course - if you consistently red-line it all the time in M-mode - it will wear out the transmission and clutch earlier. If you drive it like a normal manual car, absolutely no problem in always staying in M mode.

Originally Posted by Sridhar K

b) Can I use the M mode only for up-shifts and leave the downshift to the AMT system without causing any damage to the clutch?

Surely. No problem.

Originally Posted by Sridhar K

c) Any other dos and don't on driving an AMT?

The most important one - stay in tune with the AMT unit's preferences in D mode. That will give you the best mileage & minimum (0) head-bobs with upshifts. Trick? Learn where it prefers to upshift on the RPM band with a light foot.

1. Accelerate in a linear fashion with a sedate foot. AMT is at its absolute best when driving gently. You won't feel the shifts at all. You'll achieve unbelievable mileage numbers in this fashion.
2. Plan your acceleration well & lift-off the gas pedal just before the typical upshift RPM. You'll notice that the smart little AMT uses this tiny lift to quickly upshift.
3. This way you can give a chance to the AMT upshift & since you planned it - there will be no headbob. Its as good as manual.
4. This way will give you the best mileage & the least wear and tear of components.
5. On inclines etc - intentionally press the gas pedal slightly more in D mode. This way the AMT doesn't upshift too often and holds gear longer sensing that you need more torque.

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by abhishek46

The DSG's clutch(s) is electronically disengaged when you have your foot on the brake and car is stationary, so there is no clutch wear.
Once you take your foot off the brake the relevant clutch engages instantly (automatically).

This is good information. So does that mean one can keep it on D with the foot on the brake? Many posts and other forums mention that it need to be shifted to N always or else the wear and tear of clutch is more.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

This is good information. So does that mean one can keep it on D with the foot on the brake? Many posts and other forums mention that it need to be shifted to N always or else the wear and tear of clutch is more.

As far as I know, the clutch disengagement happens in the Tiguan. I don't know if that's common across all DSG cars available here. I don't expect it to be the case to be honest.

[fhdowntheline]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

As far as I know, the clutch disengagement happens in the Tiguan. I don't know if that's common across all DSG cars available here. I don't expect it to be the case to be honest.

Out of abundance of precaution, I keep the gear in N during extended stops in my Polo GT. In fact, I do the same for my CVT Honda City as well. At least keeps the left hand occupied while driving in B2B traffic

[ashishskapoor]

Sharing a video with you all, on how EASY it is to drive an Automatic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMR2xvRZuZE