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[Ian_D]

I tried getting the highest MPG other day, I drove down the ring road (so going 60 ish) and once I saw the roundabout, I put it in N (Yes, the engine uses fuel to make it idle, BUT, it wouldn’t role to the roundabout if I left it in D due to engine breaking!)

When Im a bit closer to the roundabout I put it into 3 (going about 50mph now), and a few seconds later, select 2... and then when im almost ontop of the roundabout, select 1st... and then at the last few car lengths, apply the brakes (I will have been going about 15-20mph at this point.

Its important that there is no car behind you though, as there is obviously no brake lights when using engine braking!

I have only done this a few times because I don’t know if its bad for the auto gearbox? or should it be fine?

[Vamps]

I tried getting the highest MPG other day, I drove down the ring road (so going 60 ish) and once I saw the roundabout, I put it in N (Yes, the engine uses fuel to make it idle, BUT, it wouldn’t role to the roundabout if I left it in D due to engine breaking!)

When Im a bit closer to the roundabout I put it into 3 (going about 50mph now), and a few seconds later, select 2... and then when im almost ontop of the roundabout, select 1st... and then at the last few car lengths, apply the brakes (I will have been going about 15-20mph at this point.

Its important that there is no car behind you though, as there is obviously no brake lights when using engine braking!

I have only done this a few times because I don’t know if its bad for the auto gearbox? or should it be fine?

Engine braking is how real drivers drive... Auto? but certainly with manual, none of this modern brakes are cheaper that a gearbox stuff, ask any advance driver

[jereboam]

I tried getting the highest MPG other day, I drove down the ring road (so going 60 ish) and once I saw the roundabout, I put it in N (Yes, the engine uses fuel to make it idle, BUT, it wouldn’t role to the roundabout if I left it in D due to engine breaking!)

When Im a bit closer to the roundabout I put it into 3 (going about 50mph now), and a few seconds later, select 2... and then when im almost ontop of the roundabout, select 1st... and then at the last few car lengths, apply the brakes (I will have been going about 15-20mph at this point.

Its important that there is no car behind you though, as there is obviously no brake lights when using engine braking!

I have only done this a few times because I don’t know if its bad for the auto gearbox? or should it be fine?

Engine braking is how real drivers drive... Auto? but certainly with manual, none of this modern brakes are cheaper that a gearbox stuff, ask any advance driver

Here we go again - sorry.  My IAM "observer" and the big red IAM book said "use the the brakes not the gearbox to slow the car", which was one of the reasons I was so disappointed with what they were trying to teach me.

But that apart, on the Omega Auto, you don't actually get any noticeable engine braking effect by changing from D to 3.  I have only very rarely experienced circumstances where D to 2 was appropriate, but it does slow the car.  

The 5 speed Mondeo diesel auto that I had before the Omega was really special - it was absolutely never in the right gear at the right time, and the "tiptronic" mode had a mind of it's own - it changed when it wanted to, not when you told it to.  

And I'm firmly in the one foot camp - you don't use the left foot when driving an automatic.  

I'm a committed auto driver - my last 6 cars - about 25 years, I think - have been autos.  Manuals are mostly a waste of effort - a nuisance round town and once you're into top gear on the motorway, it doesn't make an awful lot of difference.  But I now live in Suffolk, and we have some really narrow winding roads round here.  The Omega is OK, but not ideally suited to that kind of driving.  I tend to prefer driving a smaller manual car if I'm not going on the dual carriageway.  

[Andy B]

........
on the Omega Auto, you don't actually get any noticeable engine braking effect by changing from D to 3.  I have only very rarely experienced circumstances where D to 2 was appropriate, but it does slow the car.   ......

Surely dependant on what speed you're doing in the first place. :-/ If you're around town you're unlikely to be in 4th so going from D to 3 will only knock the g/box out of 3rd gear lock-up.
As to going from D to 2, I used this several times last week when I was on the rollercoaster back roads of Northumberland where 1 in 4 or 5 hills weren't uncommon.

[Vamps]

I tried getting the highest MPG other day, I drove down the ring road (so going 60 ish) and once I saw the roundabout, I put it in N (Yes, the engine uses fuel to make it idle, BUT, it wouldn’t role to the roundabout if I left it in D due to engine breaking!)

When Im a bit closer to the roundabout I put it into 3 (going about 50mph now), and a few seconds later, select 2... and then when im almost ontop of the roundabout, select 1st... and then at the last few car lengths, apply the brakes (I will have been going about 15-20mph at this point.

Its important that there is no car behind you though, as there is obviously no brake lights when using engine braking!

I have only done this a few times because I don’t know if its bad for the auto gearbox? or should it be fine?

Engine braking is how real drivers drive... Auto? but certainly with manual, none of this modern brakes are cheaper that a gearbox stuff, ask any advance driver

Here we go again - sorry.  My IAM "observer" and the big red IAM book said "use the the brakes not the gearbox to slow the car", which was one of the reasons I was so disappointed with what they were trying to teach me.

But that apart, on the Omega Auto, you don't actually get any noticeable engine braking effect by changing from D to 3.  I have only very rarely experienced circumstances where D to 2 was appropriate, but it does slow the car.  

The 5 speed Mondeo diesel auto that I had before the Omega was really special - it was absolutely never in the right gear at the right time, and the "tiptronic" mode had a mind of it's own - it changed when it wanted to, not when you told it to.  

And I'm firmly in the one foot camp - you don't use the left foot when driving an automatic.  

I'm a committed auto driver - my last 6 cars - about 25 years, I think - have been autos.  Manuals are mostly a waste of effort - a nuisance round town and once you're into top gear on the motorway, it doesn't make an awful lot of difference.  But I now live in Suffolk, and we have some really narrow winding roads round here.  The Omega is OK, but not ideally suited to that kind of driving.  I tend to prefer driving a smaller manual car if I'm not going on the dual carriageway.  

Maybe I used the wrong phrase, the drink you know On this I should have perhaps said 'old school experienced driver' enjoying some country roads. I did not mean IAM.
Sorry for any confusion

[Vamps]

........
on the Omega Auto, you don't actually get any noticeable engine braking effect by changing from D to 3.  I have only very rarely experienced circumstances where D to 2 was appropriate, but it does slow the car.   ......

Surely dependant on what speed you're doing in the first place. :-/ If you're around town you're unlikely to be in 4th so going from D to 3 will only knock the g/box out of 3rd gear lock-up.
As to going from D to 2, I used this several times last week when I was on the rollercoaster back roads of Northumberland where 1 in 4 or 5 hills weren't uncommon.

Agreed, it depends on the road. There is a particular road around here that I use 3rd in My V6 Galant Auto and changes the driving experience considerably if driving in a 'spirited' way, will kick down into 2nd if needed.....
Guess it all depends on the car, road and conditions and driver's mood.

[woodsy_mv6]

Just thought i'd add to the descussion....


Thats why manual is far superior in my book......I know what gear I want for any given situation..........so I put it there :-?

[Andy B]

Just thought i'd add to the descussion....


Thats why manual is far superior in my book......I know what gear I want for any given situation..........so I put it there :-?

It's only taken 5 pages before we got a manual is best post!!! It had to arrive eventually!!!

[Jimbob]

Just Thank break Paul M is no longer a frequent visitor here  

[Vamps]

Just thought i'd add to the descussion....


Thats why manual is far superior in my book......I know what gear I want for any given situation..........so I put it there :-?

It's only taken 5 pages before we got a manual is best post!!! It had to arrive eventually!!!

I was waiting for that too But I am not being drawn into that one we are all individals and there are arguments both way's so each to their own.

[Andy B]

Just Thank break Paul M is no longer a frequent visitor here  

I did resist the temption to mention him. I think I might have some thing to do with his frequency of visiting!

[Vamps]

Just thought i'd add to the descussion....


Thats why manual is far superior in my book......I know what gear I want for any given situation..........so I put it there :-?

[/highlight]

We can see the evidence of that in your Avatar

[Andy B]

....
I was waiting for that too But I am not being drawn into that one  .......

Me neither 'cos I know that auto's are best!      

[woodsy_mv6]

 

 

[psychnurse]

 

Well I intend to give equal love to both my little babies   There will be no favoritisim shown and they will both get the same treatment. (weekly spa, wax massage, checks ect)