Automatic car help! I can’t do it!

[ghostyslovesheets]

I feel like such a twat but my hire care it a bloody automatic and I can’t even reverse it of the drive!
always driven with gears - not even sure how to control this thing. Take foot of break it shoots backwards- break and it stops. How do I reverse slowly?
holy hell I have to do a 200 mile trip tomorrow - considering hiring a car with gears!

can anyone talk me through it like a 5 year old?

im 56 and have no problem driving a normal car

It’s not my choice of car - it’s a comp car while my little i10 is being repaired

Take your foot off slower? You will get used to it very quickly once you’re driving.

I was really scared of it first time. It does start moving as soon as it's in gear and your foot isn't on the brake but it's a slow creep, it shouldn't shoot off anyway. You just have to lift off the brake slowly.

You'll get the hang of it. Although everyone says once you've had an automatic you never go back but we had ours for about a year and when it was written off after someone rear-ended us we did replace it with a manual. I still preferred a manual after a whole year.

Just ease your foot off the break. And if it’s “shooting” backwards, the car has a problem. The car will creep if no throttle is applied.

Are you doing everything with your right foot? When I first tried I put a foot on each pedal and nearly gave myself whiplash!

It is a normal car. Why didn’t you ask when you got it, if you really had no idea?!

when you’re in gear (drive or reverse) the gearbox will drive you gently. This is hugely helpful when doing a manoeuvre like getting off the drive or parking. Just ease your foot off the brake and slowly move the car back.

Very slowly ease your foot of the brake pedal with your right foot. Tuck your left away so your not tempted to use it. My car has a fake pedal to rest my left foot on

Yes,only use your right foot for driving.

Check to see if you have a hold button, make sure it’s activated that way you don’t have to keep your foot on the brake when you stop. It feels weird at first but 10p_% would not go to a manual now

Automatics will creep if you don't have your foot on the brake, but it's going to be slowly and certainly not "shooting off".

Just ease your foot off the brake and let it move.

Thanks - I’m trying to use both feet which I’m going to have to learn not to - might lash my left to the seat 😂

break is really stiff which isn’t helping - not my choice of car, as I said .

I did this the first time I got in and was nearly in tears because the movements were so violent - switched to correct foot and it was easy.

It nearly broke me. Someone said to me, drive like you only have a right foot. Don’t move your left foot at all. Good luck.

Thanks that’s it exactly! Will try very had to use one leg!

You must get used to putting your left foot well out of the way to the far left and only using your right. Otherwise you'll risk various unintended actions by behaving as if you were trying to use the clutch, or otherwise drive like in a manual car.

But even in your manual car you aren't using your left foot on the brake pedal?

Just tuck your left foot behind your right leg.

Surprised you are trying to use both feet. In your manual you’re only using your left for the clutch.

are you parked on a hill?

Your left foot is redundant in an automatic, you won’t need to use it at all.

Take your foot off the brake slowly to ease off either in Drive or Reverse (especially if on a hill).

A long journey in an automatic will actually be a more comfortable drive, just take your time while you get used to it.

Edited, I thought you said use your left foot for the brake.

Tuck your left foot behind your right leg to remind you not to use it. Do not touch the accelerator when you begin to reverse unless the car slows significantly and then just accelerate in the same way as you would with a manual in reverse gear. Sometimes automatics don’t “pick up” from stationary as quickly as a manual but avoid the temptation to stand on the accelerator or it will shoot off

Swapped to an automatic in January after 30 years driving a manual. Shit myself at first as it’s a very nippy Mini. I bloody love it now. It’s like a go-kart. wtf was I thinking crunching about with gears all that time! You’ll get used to it OP x

This is the mot likely problem. If you have never driven an automatic the first time you do you will use both feet and apply the wrong pressure.

Like others have said you only use your right for to control braking and acceleration.
Right foot on brake, car in drive mode, ease off brake and car starts slowly moving, control with brake until you are ready to accelerate and off you go. Leave left foot on the floor of the foot well, some automatics have a static foot rest where a clutch in a manual would be.

Do not use both feet. Its very dangerous and probably half your problem.

Ease off brake gently and slowly.

Automatic is a breeze but I would be practicing today before you do a long journey