Almost had a big crash today

oneman

VIP Member
VIP Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
7,504
Reaction score
1,284
Location
Essex
I had a pool car to visit one of our sites. Very nice brand new focus titatium spec with TDCi with dual clutch powershit gearbox, sat nav, video reverse camera (which works really well btw).

Was looking at pulling out into a main roundabout, saw a gap and went for it. Only problem, I instinctively went to change up a gear the car slammed to a stop in the middle of the roundabout with an artic lorry heading towards me !

Took me a few seconds to remember that I was driving an auto and I just just slammed on the brakes with my left foot. Luckily the truck managed to swerve around but I was sat there looking pretty stupid. Better that then dead, phew!
 
Lucky to escpe there mate.
Reminds me of the time many moons ago when i had my first (and only) auto. went to the petrol pump to fill up, paid for petrol then went to start the car. It wouldnt start.
No matter what i tried the key just wouldnt turn. I was there a good 15 minutes and people started looking lol. was even ready to phone the AA out.
Turned out you have to have them in park or neutral to start autos lol
 
I had a pool car to visit one of our sites. Very nice brand new focus titatium spec with TDCi with dual clutch powershit gearboxQUOTE]

No wonder those powershit gearboxes are well....shit.
 
Lucky to escpe there mate.
Reminds me of the time many moons ago when i had my first (and only) auto. went to the petrol pump to fill up, paid for petrol then went to start the car. It wouldnt start.
No matter what i tried the key just wouldnt turn. I was there a good 15 minutes and people started looking lol. was even ready to phone the AA out.
Turned out you have to have them in park or neutral to start autos lol

happen to me not so long ago got a replace car while my car was being service.
i was also ready to ring the AA when i just saw it was in d so put it in park,
was judt about to go and make a phone call to the AA when i thought i give it one more try and hey it started.:proud:
 
I remember when i was a young teenager i was around 13-14.. my dad took me to sainsburys and said i could drive the car on the carpark.. This was the first time id drove an automatic.. i did the exact same thing and slammed on the brake with my left foot.. he hit the windscreen and nearly went through it..

And only last week did i try starting an automatic whilst in Drive.. exactly as the dentist..

These autos are shyte tbh.. i dont think theyre responsive enough for my style of driving..
 
Tuck your left leg behind your right leg when driving auto for first couple of times. This will stop you doing emergency stops every time you want to change gear lol.

Personally I hate auto's I don't think they are responsive enough when pulling out of junctions etc also seem to use brake pads left right and centre.

Don’t you think its over kill for a little focus to have a reversing camera? The other day a passed a micra with reversing sensors i mean ffs its a micra you can touch the back window whist still sat in the driver’s seat :)
 
Personally I hate auto's I don't think they are responsive enough when pulling out of junctions etc also seem to use brake pads left right and centre.



It depends on what car it is. According to Parkers figures the 0-60 time for my car, Jag S-Type Auto, is only 0.6 second slower than the manual version and the top end is 1mph slower and the MPG is the same.

The Merc E-class we used to have was very similar with a slightly better MPG than the manual version, but it had one of the best auto boxes made by BorgWarner.

Both cars have a "learning" electronic auto gearbox, so they change the style of driving depending on the driver.

The Mrs has a Volvo S60 and Parkers figures state that it's 0.3 seconds faster 0-60 with the auto than the manual and 4mph faster top end.
 
It depends on what car it is. According to Parkers figures the 0-60 time for my car, Jag S-Type Auto, is only 0.6 second slower than the manual version and the top end is 1mph slower and the MPG is the same.

The Merc E-class we used to have was very similar with a slightly better MPG than the manual version, but it had one of the best auto boxes made by BorgWarner.

Both cars have a "learning" electronic auto gearbox, so they change the style of driving depending on the driver.

The Mrs has a Volvo S60 and Parkers figures state that it's 0.3 seconds faster 0-60 with the auto than the manual and 4mph faster top end.

I've drove most top end auto's mercs/jags/Jeeps with work my car's a manual but when it goes in for a service or repair etc they always give me a bloomin auto.

Don't get me wrong they have improved don't feel like being on a boat anymore when changing gear etc but you still have a slight lag when you put the pedal to the metal.

Obviously everything is down to personal preference and maybe if I was not trying to pull out into a tight spot on a busy junction (which is the only way to get out of said junction lol unless you want to wait until next week)

With a manual you get it in the right gear and no need to brake the engine does it for you. With a auto one min its second then 3rd then 2nd then 3rd then 2nd then 3rd then 4th lol up and down like a fiddlers elbow :) ok slight exaggeration but ............
 
Tuck your left leg behind your right leg when driving auto for first couple of times. This will stop you doing emergency stops every time you want to change gear lol.

Personally I hate auto's I don't think they are responsive enough when pulling out of junctions etc also seem to use brake pads left right and centre.

Don’t you think its over kill for a little focus to have a reversing camera? The other day a passed a micra with reversing sensors i mean ffs its a micra you can touch the back window whist still sat in the driver’s seat :)

Problem is rarely drive autos, only the pool ones normally. I guess its like right hand drive, you soon get used to it if you do it often enough.

Response wise, tbh its not bad. Not quite as good as manual but when you are sitting in traffic on M25 for half and hour, definately feel the benefit.

As for camera, focus estate is definately not small car, its not much smaller then mk1 mondeo. Camera is OK but it does not replace common sense. The other niggily thing that would take getting used to is the blind spot mirrors which have a much wide angle of view but it does make other car look closer then they are. So there are gaps you can pull into that don't look big enough. Also the sat nav is very fiddly compared to my smax.

The auto lights are much better, drove another focus with them last year and they seem to come on way to easily and also the auto wipers behaved themselves yesterday.

Overall it is a great car but it would take a few weeks to get used to all the toys.
 
With a manual you get it in the right gear and no need to brake the engine does it for you. With a auto one min its second then 3rd then 2nd then 3rd then 2nd then 3rd then 4th lol up and down like a fiddlers elbow :) ok slight exaggeration but ............

I've had auto's for around 25 years, driven the odd few manuals as well though.

I know what you mean to an extent, if I have mine in sports mode it's all over the place, but in economy it just changes up the box as fast as it can and stays there.

Some boxes are crap, I had a Land Rover Disco 3.9 Auto that would wheel spin all 4 wheels if you slapped your foot down, but you felt like waynes world listening to queen, when it was changing gear.

Even the Range Rover wasn't good.
 
but you felt like waynes world listening to queen, when it was changing gear.

Great analagy made me chuckle,

but your right they have improved and they certainly have their place city driving etc, especially in conjested areas like the m25 car park sorry I mean road.

Jeep has a heavy clutch and 1st and 2nd are very short infact most times I do away with first. so I could complain about my manual too :)

Maybe I just like to moan lol
 
Well I love my Auto, it's a Kia Sedona 2.9 and drives superbly for me.

Problem with Auto's is drivers who are not used to them drive them like a manual but to change gear properly you have to accelerate constantly and it will change at the correct point unless you accelerate harshly.

The best thing is to put your left leg under your right to avoid left foot braking, that's unless you are used to left foot braking in an auto.
 
i have an auto for nearly two years now, have to say i'm not mad about it, and would much prefer to be driving a manual in the snow and ice.

good to hear you're okay oneman :)
 
Back
Top