Driving Auto After Manual

"djgreenlava" (greenlavaproductions)
06/02/2016 at 22:19 • Filed to: Automatic, Malibu

I'm having some minor technical issues with the Si so I've been borrowing a 2010 Chevy Malibu. It's been a while since I've driven an auto so some manual driving traits have snuck out. When starting the car I've reached for the clutch a couple times only to hit the floor. I also dearly miss engine braking. Has anyone had trouble adjusting to the automatic world?

DISCUSSION (61)

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:26

My mom has laughed at me multiple times because she’s heard my foot try and fail to find a clutch when I’ve gone to start the car.

The true test is if you've hit the brake pedal with both feet yet when coming to a stop. That's always fun.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:28

Every time I drive my wife’s car after not having driven it for a week or two I slam my left foot into the floor at the first stop sign But I adjust back pretty quick. I will always put my left foot down instinctively if I panic stop in an automatic, though.

The CVT in her Outback can actually engine brake pretty good if you switch it into “M” mode and have it hold a ratio.

Tripper > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:29

Happens to me all the time. My E46 is a stick, and after driving it for a few days then going back to the Audi I’ve nearly put myself through the windshield clipping the left side of the brake pedal reaching for the imaginary 3rd pedal. I don’t have to give up engine braking because DSG

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:29

I’ve only driven a select few autos where engine breaking wasn’t possible.

djgreenlava > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
06/02/2016 at 22:29

Both feet on the brake sounds horribly jarring. Good way to check belt tensioners.

djgreenlava > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
06/02/2016 at 22:30

I must be missing something simple. How can you engine brake an auto?

Sam > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:31

I’ve stomped the space next to the brake when I panic brake. I switch back and forth regularly, though, since my DD is auto and my 924 is a manuel.

djgreenlava > Tripper
06/02/2016 at 22:31

The DSG keeps the hands busy but maybe a drummer bass pedal for your left foot will do the trick.

Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too) > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:32

This used to happen to me a lot. Now I drive an auto more often, so have got used to it. Changing between mine and my wife's car does require multiple brain switches - auto to manual AND swapped indicator/wiper stalks. Usually it's the second one I stuff up the most.

djgreenlava > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
06/02/2016 at 22:33

CVTs can be useful. I imagine with a Boxer it can sound interesting holding revs.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:34

Don’t worry about it, most people don’t even realize you can.

Most cars have either a “sport” mode, or a selector for specific gears. It’s literally the exact same concept as a manual, sans clutch. If you’re traveling at 45 in fourth, downshift to 3rd, or 2nd, some magic happens, and you’re engine braking.

Invinciblejets > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:35

I feel ya went from my rx7 to a cvt Altima.... Buzzkill for sure.

Caught my self a few times going for the clutch when coming to a stop and stuff lol.

djgreenlava > Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too)
06/02/2016 at 22:36

There are only two things I can't stand in this world; thin flimsily stalks and The Dutch.

djgreenlava > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
06/02/2016 at 22:38

I've never driven a car where the gear selector moves over for a sports mode. Only the traditional PRDL with sometimes a second gear.

MM54 > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:39

I don’t even daily a manual, but I’m so used to the concept of “not my normal car = it’s a manual” that I’ve spiked the brake looking for a clutch in rentals and such.

djgreenlava > Invinciblejets
06/02/2016 at 22:40

Going from the RX7 screaming to redline to the CVT shuffling about must be the real heart break.

Urambo Tauro > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:43

In addition to reaching for the nonexistent third pedal or the shifter that’s now on the column, the other thing that I find awkward is how an automatic sometimes makes me feel like a bad driver, because I can’t control the shifting as well.

With a manual, I can modulate the clutch and throttle to smooth things out, but I feel kind of helpless in an automatic.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:44

Ah I see, the ones with a second gear can do it too, but only at lower speeds. On my current cars it’s PRND321 with D acting either as just plain automatic, or 4th gear (OD) and PRND432 with D being 5th. Unfortunately there’s no first gear selection on that one, but both will hold the respective gears even after fuel cutoff.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:44

I used to inadvertently left foot brake autos while trying to go for the clutch pedal, I finally broke that buy burying my left foot on the dead pedal. One thing I do that freaks my wife out is touch the shifter alot. I never actually do anything with it because as soon as I touch it I realize it feels wrong, but she always thinks I’m going to try to shift it.

wafflesnfalafel > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
06/02/2016 at 22:45

Interesting about the engine braking - that was one of the pleasant surprises I had with my wife’s new crosstrek. It’s really kinda nice. Subie seems to have their CVTs well sorted.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:46

I own a 2009 Hyundai Accent hatchback with a stick, but my brother and mother both have a 2009 and 2010 Accent sedan, respectively, both with autos.

Same engine...it’s insane just how much more peppy and different my car feels just by having the stick. Everything is exactly the same in their cars when I drive them, so it’s even more likely I let “manual traits” sneak out as everything control-wise feels/IS EXACTLY the same as my car except the trans! :S

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:49

Subaru switched to equal length headers with the FB25/CVT combo so it doesn’t really have that boxer rumble any more. It’s now just generic unrefined 4-banger drone.

E90M3 > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:51

Despite the fact that I change between two BMWs, temporarily, I don’t find myself reaching for the clutch in the 1. I drove a manual rental car for two weeks in Europe, and when I got back to the us and was driving my explorer, my left leg was pretty much twitching cause it wasn’t doing anything, it felt so weird to go back to an auto, I didn't have a stick car then.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:53

I got so used to leaving it in gear that I forget to put autos in park and then get all confused when it won’t let me take the key out.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > wafflesnfalafel
06/02/2016 at 22:57

I’ve heard some folks complaining about the Subaru CVT, but they must have never driven some of the early CVT Altimas. We drive it from SA to Albuquerque to Phoenix a lot and sometimes it hangs out in the wrong ratio in the NM and AZ mountains, but overall it’s pretty seamless. We’re only at 50,000 miles but no mechanical issues whatsoever. Also gets better MPG than my smaller 6MT Forester with the same motor.

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 22:59

oooooon an unrelated note, how do you like that auto? Does it have the optional paddles?

djgreenlava > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
06/02/2016 at 23:04

That's unfortunate.

djgreenlava > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/02/2016 at 23:05

The wheelbase is a little shorter in the hatch too? That must add to the fun.

djgreenlava > Urambo Tauro
06/02/2016 at 23:06

Man over machine. Until the machines say otherwise.

djgreenlava > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/02/2016 at 23:06

At least it's not like runaway FCA cars.

djgreenlava > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S.
06/02/2016 at 23:08

It's (I believe) the last year of the five speed auto. Upshifts can sometimes be rough but it will go to redline. Also none of the transmission recalls have been done so that would greatly approve things.

djgreenlava > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
06/02/2016 at 23:09

Do you rest your hand on a manual shifter? An instructor at a rookie event auto cross told me I could probably left foot brake. I was not thrilled to try.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 23:12

I don’t normally rest my hand on my shifter, but I do in her car. I reach for it in situations when I would normally be shifting, like while braking or accelerating. But my shifter is leather and hers is wood with so much lacquer it feels like plastic, so the second my finger brushes it I realize there is no shifting to be done because of how wrong it feels.

One of my HDPE classroom instructors once told me there was someone she had known that heel-toed the brake and clutch with their left foot pretty effectively. I’ve never even tried because of how wrong that seems in my mind. Also, I doubt I have that level of finesse control of my left foot.

djgreenlava > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
06/02/2016 at 23:15

That's why I prefer leather shifters. I don't want my hand slipping off wood or metal while driving with zeal.

smobgirl > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 23:18

I rent cars about once a week for work. I own an Abarth, and the absolute worst is when I rent an automatic Fiat. The phantom clutching and shifting gets ridiculous (especially when I'm trying to will the damn thing to just. Go. Faster.)

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 23:22

I prefer them just because the heavily lacquered wood feels cheap to me.

djgreenlava > smobgirl
06/02/2016 at 23:29

At least you have the joy to return to that Abarth sound.

190octane > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
06/02/2016 at 23:30

That's what I have my car in 95% of the time... somehow I still fry brakes like crazy.

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 23:30

I have a 2008 (same generation) with the 6 speed auto with paddles. Its decent enough, but the paddles are laggy.

gawdzillla > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 23:35

i wish my whatever i drive was manual everytime i hope onto the driveseat :(

smobgirl > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 23:38

Oh god yes. I'm so obnoxious in the parking garage at the airport.

facw > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 23:46

My shifter is like this:

Kinja'd!!!

So you can tell it you want lower gears and get some braking. I never bother with it though, I’m not driving anywhere mountainous enough that cooking the brakes is a concern.

GUYMANDUDE > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 23:48

We have a shop car at work that I have pressed the imaginary clutch and shut the car off, then put it in park. More than once. Woops.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > 190octane
06/02/2016 at 23:51

What kind of car? I imagine heavier cars go through pads pretty fast. I just changed out my front rotors and the pads still had plenty left after being in over 2 years. Of course I also don’t have power brakes so I brake as little as physically possible.

AntiSpeed > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 23:57

Just make sure you don’t catch the brake when you try to step on the phantom clutch.

djgreenlava > facw
06/02/2016 at 23:57

That's plenty of choice if you want to. Looks like it would be good to trailer with.

stuttgartobsessed > djgreenlava
06/02/2016 at 23:57

Totally! But only when I drive an auto with a gear selector on the transmission tunnel. After backing out of parking spaces, I throw the gear lever forward, looking for 1st, but end up in “P” instead and rev the engine... Column shifts don’t give me any trouble though.

djgreenlava > stuttgartobsessed
06/02/2016 at 23:58

Speaking of column shifts, I really want to drive a manual column shift.

stuttgartobsessed > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
06/03/2016 at 00:00

It’s not a real wood shifter unless you get an occasional splinter. Hand polished wood (phrasing?) or cold metal is the way to go IMHO.

stuttgartobsessed > djgreenlava
06/03/2016 at 00:00

Yah! I’d love to give it a try but I think I’d fuck it up. Always looks like black magic and totally wrong when I see it done.

djgreenlava > stuttgartobsessed
06/03/2016 at 00:09

Tilt the shift pattern 90% except I think there's a few oddball ones.

190octane > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
06/03/2016 at 00:20

G37, I’ve had it for a year and I’m starting to feel a slight shimmy in the wheel with hard braking.

On my old IS300 I had to change the brakes every year or two, not because of pad wear but because of vibration in the wheel. Changed rotors even and still would burn them up.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > 190octane
06/03/2016 at 00:26

Vibrations/shimmy can be one of the most annoying problems to isolate. I would wager that the front rotors on your g37 are a wee bit warped, exact same symptoms as my old ones. Couldn’t tell by just looking but you could notice when they were spinning. Just put the front in the air, remove the front wheels, and spin the rotor, while watching from the side. You might be able to see a slight wobble. If that’s not it I’d guess lower control arm bushings, but since you said only under heavy braking, I’d start at the rotors.

190octane > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
06/03/2016 at 01:03

I’m sure it’s the rotors, it’s only slight right now but as it gets worse I’ll have them resurfaced and put new pads on.

I'm planning on putting a bbk on it sooner or later.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > 190octane
06/03/2016 at 01:09

Nice! You can usually find some nice slotted rotors for about the same price as the OEMs. Couple that with some stainless steel lines and it’ll be more than most tires can handle.

MGS315 > smobgirl
06/03/2016 at 03:30

It's not obnoxious if other people enjoy it too :)

Illegitimus Prime > djgreenlava
06/03/2016 at 06:36

I don’t have trouble with the transmission anymore or ghost clutching, but the first turn I take going from my car to my wife’s is always super exaggerated. I swear I’m going to crash into a wall one day. (My car has no power steering)

twochevrons > stuttgartobsessed
06/03/2016 at 07:29

I got the chance to drive a Citroën DS a while back, one of the late ones with 5 on the tree (!). I was expecting it to be a nightmare, but aside from figuring out where reverse was (which isn’t always straightforward in a floor shift either!) it was actually pretty straightforward – kind of like going from a floor to a column shifter automatic.

spanfucker retire bitch > djgreenlava
06/03/2016 at 07:56

You haven’t driven very many newer cars have you? My 2013 Mazda3 can do engine braking just fine. I flip it over into manual mode and can upshift or downshift as I please.

Very handy in the winter.

TahoeSTi > djgreenlava
06/03/2016 at 16:08

When I drive and Auto i find myself paying less attention to driving...i think it’s because auto’s bore the crap out of me.....just remember R is for Race in Automatics.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > djgreenlava
06/03/2016 at 18:43

For sure! :)