Automatic with handbrake on

Is it ok to stop in traffic, leave the car in drive and put the handbrake on
to stop it creeping forward? or should you put it in neutral? I ask only
because this is my first automatic. It's a 745 2.0 with the AW70 box (3
speeds + O/D).

 

I personally keep my foot on the brakes. I have seen friends use the
handbrake tho, I guess it works, tho I like to have the brake lights on in
traffic (if there is no one behind me an approaching car would recognize the
need to slow down faster). Putting the car in neutral is an excellent idea,
as the transimission isn't loaded, if it is a long light I will use neutral,
I still keep ths brakes on tho.

How did you hold your car in traffic with your manual transmission? neutral
and the handbrake? or neutral and the normal brakes? I do neutral (or clutch
fully depressed and first gear... tho I know this isn't the greatest idea in
case my foot slips, never happened... yet) and the brakes on.

 

From a point at sea, to the circles of your mind, this is Stuart Gray:

I do it. Since I replaced the handbrake shoes it is actually possible.

I wish more people would do it at traffic lights and suchlike in the
dark. Some of the brighter brake lights are painful to sit behind.

Ah, shucks; I'm just developing middle aged grumpiness, aren't I?


--

Stewart Hargrave

A lot faster than Royal Mail


For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name

 

That is actually my point, funnily enough. The handbrake cable broke and I
haven't got round to replacing it. I just replaced the front pads tho
because of a siezed caliped which is now freed, so I have good brakes now.
The handbrake seems a bit redundant in an automatic, but I am conscious of
blinding the people behind me in a traffic queue, and I feel I may annoy
them by putting the lever in park because it goes through reverse to get
there. I have noticed a look of alarm in some people behind me when I put it
in park then put it in drive when the traffic eventually moves, especially
now it's dark when going home. I have heard that it is better for the auto
gearbox to leave it in drive for less wear in the long term, but this may be
an old wifes tale like the one about never changing the oil in it.

Stuart

 

It won't hurt anything, though I like to keep my foot on the brake pedal
just in case. At any rate make sure the car behind you has come to a stop
before you do it.