Automatic cars - talk to me about good and bad cars and which ones do and don't have a creep function?

[Witchofzog]

I am looking for an automatic car and learnt in a car which has a "creep" function. However my understanding is that not every automatic car does this.

Please can you let me know which automatic cars do this as I am looking to buy a car soon.

Also which automatic cars do you rate / not rate and why? This will be my first car so any advice will be welcome

I have an 2009 semi automatic Toyota Yaris and have had no issues, it does creep forward if break isn't on

We've got two auto Ford Focuses and they're great, love them.

I'm still not sure what creeping is,can someone explain?

In an automatic, when you’re on the flat and in D for drive, if you take your foot off the brake but don’t put it on the accelerator so it’s just hovering the car will move forward slowly on its own. (Creep). If you do the same uphill it will hold it on the hill when you move you foot from the brake to accelerator. You never use your left foot so can’t press both at the same time. You should keep your foot on the brake until ready to move.

Volvo v70

Seats so comfortable. Like driving in an armchair. Great acceleration - no lag. No rolling back on hills. Don’t know what the creeping function is so probably don’t have it.

Reading the explanation I think mine does have creep function after all. Would go faster than a creep though unless I used the brake.

I love the VW Polo. It's pretty small, good for parking etc but has a reasonable boot for it's size. I like it as I am driving in the city lots and want something smallish. I see someone else mentioned the Golf, which I think is a bit bigger.

I have a Mercedes auto.

It has a parking break that I can press to go on (automatically engages when I open the car door when parked)

I also have a hold feature on the foot break. This is really handy on a hill. It automatically disengages when I set off. To engage it I just press it with my foot in a certain way and there's no rollback.

It's also very smooth and has power when I need it.

I have an automatic Mercedes coupe, it doesn’t roll back on hills, and yes it rolls slowly (creeps forward) when I take my foot off of the brake.
Could be the same with smaller Mercedes cars, not sure, but they seem universal.

Mine does. Its a 15 plate yaris hybrid!

I love it. Costs me £35 for a full tank of fuel which lasts me ages. It doesnt like motorways much though. (Eats through fuel)

I think the "creep" function is how old-school automatic gearboxes with torque converters work. The torque converter replaces the clutch and allows the car to sit in gear with a slight "pull" on the gearbox so releasing the brakes lets the car "creep" forwards (on the flat).

That's different to the newer style "autos" which are basically manuals with some clever bolt-ons to manage the clutch and gearchanges.

That said, our last 2 Citroens were new-style, our current one old-style and they all drove perfectly fine - I can't say I really noticed any difference.

The key mechanical difference is the presence of the torque converter. Which is something you can test your salesperson on when you're looking around. Anything other than a "yes" means "no" ...

I will say DO NOT get a fiat punto auto. I had one for a week before it broke down and on speaking to a garage about it they said it was a common fault and about £1500 to fix.

I will say DO NOT get a fiat punto auto.

Haven't driven one for a while, but FIAT did go through a phase of using the infinite-ratio gearboxes developed by DAF which relied on a steel equivalent of an elastic band ....

That's CVT @DGRossetti and I think the Qashqai auto uses it.

@Witchofzog but surely almost all cars have an automatic version. If you want a Range Rover or a Suzuki Swift get it but in the auto version, no?

Ooh DGRossetti I love the way you talk torque

I have an Audi S3 Quattro Tronic - it's so easy to drive. Spent too many years in manual terror but driving this is an doddle.

Agree with DGRossetti about CVT boxes. I briefly owned a Honda Jazz with one. It used to decide it wasn't going to be in any gear at all at scary moments, like in the middle of a roundabout or just as the lights went green... argh.

I have a little Vauxhall automatic and it creeps. It's 10 years old and only has a 4 speed gearbox but my God can it go! It's turning me into a boy racer it's so nippy.

thesnapandfart I really do feel the older auto torque converter boxes were a million times better than the newer CVT or MM things.

thenightsky yes thats exactly what the fiat did. On the busiest imaginable junction. At rush hour. 6 days after i bought it.

I've driven an 09 Fiesta and just had a week diving a 16reg Corsa and they were both awful, they're fine once you get them to over 30 but take so long getting there and rev like crazy before they change up.

It made it very difficult pulling out of a busy junction into fast moving traffic.

Surely you just put the handbrake on to stop rolling?

I think OP wants the opposite and actually wants something the 'creeps' forward.

Not 100% sure through, and if it is that, I don't know why it would be a major factor, if you want to move forwards slowly you just touch your accelerator pedal gently.

OP says they have a fear of mistaking the accelerator for the brake, so I guess in slow moving traffic they want the car to roll because they are scared to be in control of it using the normal methods, which is a tad worrying.

But. Like I say, I don't even know if that's what OP actually means by 'creep'

Joining those who love the Focus to say we have a 2013 Focus auto and think it's great.

It's easy to drive, easy to park, cheap to run.

I've also driven a Hyundi Tucson automatic which is also a great drive. Better on motorways and longer journeys than the focus.

Many moons back i did have a VW polo automatic which was like driving a go cart. A very reliable car that was great for city driving.

I’ve only driven Range Rover and merc autos and they’ve all creeped forwards but I have never mistaken brake for accelerator.

You just put the hand brake on, Rev and release when you pull away.