Auto/Manual

[Gina-B]

I've driven manual gearbox vehicles all my life until getting my wonderful automatic Cali Ocean 6.1 in 2021. What a great driving experience it is!

When leaving my local supermarket I have to drive through a traffic light which, if I don't get the timing right, keeps me waiting 90 seconds (yes, I've timed it) before turning green. This is no problem for me as I'm usually listening to something interesting on Radio 4, and in my manual gearbox car I knock it into neutral and wait happily for the green light, with the handbrake on. (roadworks with 3-way traffic lights can take even longer, and we've got one of those not far away at the moment!)

My question is, what do most of you, with automatic gearboxes, do at a traffic light, especially if it's a longish wait? Do you pop it into neutral, leave it as it is 'in gear' or something else - surely not in 'park'? Which is best for the DSG?

 

[WelshGas]

I've driven manual gearbox vehicles all my life until getting my wonderful automatic Cali Ocean 6.1 in 2021. What a great driving experience it is!

When leaving my local supermarket I have to drive through a traffic light which, if I don't get the timing right, keeps me waiting 90 seconds (yes, I've timed it) before turning green. This is no problem for me as I'm usually listening to something interesting on Radio 4, and in my manual gearbox car I knock it into neutral and wait happily for the green light, with the handbrake on. (roadworks with 3-way traffic lights can take even longer, and we've got one of those not far away at the moment!)

My question is, what do most of you, with automatic gearboxes, do at a traffic light, especially if it's a longish wait? Do you pop it into neutral, leave it as it is 'in gear' or something else - surely not in 'park'? Which is best for the DSG?

Footbrake and leave in Drive. DSG gearbox will disconnect automatically.

 

[Gina-B]

There we go - I knew you'd have the answer (as always)! Thanks WelshGas.

 

[Barbara]

Footbrake and leave in Drive. DSG gearbox will disconnect automatically.

That's what I do but I have started to wonder if I should put it in neutral and take my foot of the brake as the brake lights will be shinning into the vehicle behind. So far only tied it once and it took a while to get going.

 

[Gina-B]

There we go - I knew you'd have the answer (as always)! Thanks WelshGas.

It's actually what I do - footbrake and leave in Drive. But I wasn't sure if that was like keeping your foot on the clutch in a manual vehicle, which I never do if I can avoid it. So all will be well. Thanks.

 

[Gina-B]

That's what I do but I have started to wonder if I should put it in neutral and take my foot of the brake as the brake lights will be shinning into the vehicle behind. So far only tied it once and it took a while to get going.

Yes, I get that re the lights in the eyes of the driver behind - something I don't like when someone does it to me.

 

[Corradobrit]

That's what I do but I have started to wonder if I should put it in neutral and take my foot of the brake as the brake lights will be shinning into the vehicle behind. So far only tied it once and it took a while to get going.

Not sure I understand why applying the brake lights is bad. Surely you want the people behind and those behind them to know you are stationary. Without them you risk a shunt by a distracted diver.

 

[Barbara]

Not sure I understand why applying the brake lights is bad. Surely you want the people behind and those behind them to know you are stationary. Without them you risk a shunt by a distracted diver.

When in a stationary queue for a long time.

 

[Barbara]

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/lighting-requirements.html

In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.

 

[ardm17]

Left in drive and foot on the brake is the only way the stop/start system will kick in (T6.1 anyway). Brake light thing annoys me and saw an article on line a few days ago saying Highway Code now advises against brake lights being on. But then says using stop/start is good ... Ah, life's little dilemmas ...

 

[Vagophile]

Same thing for my T5.1. I usually disable stop/start if I'm driving in slow traffic,which probably negates the purpose of it.

 

[B J G]

Usually foot on brake pedal if 'normal' light sequence but in neutral with handbrake if I know a long wait.

Actually read that Officially you should always put in neutral and use handbrake as is considered 'driving without consideration for other road users' brake lights blinding them.
As normal can't find it to copy but made me think about my habit.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Footbrake and leave in Drive. DSG gearbox will disconnect automatically.

Same. It’s an automatic. That’s it’s job.

 

[Corradobrit]

Y'all's eyes must be ultra sensitive as brake lights have never bothered me. Rear foglights without the fog is a different matter.

 

[Crasher]

Only negative to sitting with foot break I can see is if been braking hard .was told years ago can transfer too much heat into discs and warp them.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I don’t remember ever being frustrated by brake lights in front of me, apart from perhaps at night when I’m tired. But that’s kind of a different problem I think.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Only negative to sitting with foot break I can see is if been braking hard .was told years ago can transfer too much heat into discs and warp them.

I believe that's true. But in any case a lot of "warped" discs aren't actually warped at all but actually have uneven deposition of friction material from the pads.

Anyway brakes are over-rated, they just tend to slow you down.

 

[B J G]

Same. It’s an automatic. That’s it’s job.

Not quite the same, conventional automatic has constant drive via Torque Converter into the gearbox and is trying to move the vehicle. DSG has a clutch which disengages the gearbox drive.

 

[B J G]

Y'all's eyes must be ultra sensitive as brake lights have never bothered me. Rear foglights without the fog is a different matter.

Many don't realise that it is actually illegal to have Front or Rear Fog lights on when visibility is more than 100yards (metres). ie only use is in under 100 yards visibility.

Came as a surprise to me a few years ago that the Front was included in the use restriction.

Always used to find some switch them on in November and off in March.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Not quite the same, conventional automatic has constant drive via Torque Converter into the gearbox and is trying to move the vehicle. DSG has a clutch which disengages the gearbox drive.

I might I do the ‘same’ as Welshgas! Not clear perhaps.

 

[tedgina]

Y'all's eyes must be ultra sensitive as brake lights have never bothered me. Rear foglights without the fog is a different matter.

I think they are the same wattage 21watts from memory

 

[G3WRT]

I've driven manual gearbox vehicles all my life until getting my wonderful automatic Cali Ocean 6.1 in 2021. What a great driving experience it is!

When leaving my local supermarket I have to drive through a traffic light which, if I don't get the timing right, keeps me waiting 90 seconds (yes, I've timed it) before turning green. This is no problem for me as I'm usually listening to something interesting on Radio 4, and in my manual gearbox car I knock it into neutral and wait happily for the green light, with the handbrake on. (roadworks with 3-way traffic lights can take even longer, and we've got one of those not far away at the moment!)

My question is, what do most of you, with automatic gearboxes, do at a traffic light, especially if it's a longish wait? Do you pop it into neutral, leave it as it is 'in gear' or something else - surely not in 'park'? Which is best for the DSG?

I find my 6.1 a total pain . I am sure i can change the thing but have yet to do so. It cuts the engine and restarts. What wear is involved! it is simply stupid. Know doubt for emissions control - nothing to do with longevity. That is the point. They assume the latter is not important neither is battery life.......

 

[Barbara]

I find my 6.1 a total pain . I am sure i can change the thing but have yet to do so. It cuts the engine and restarts. What wear is involved! it is simply stupid. Know doubt for emissions control - nothing to do with longevity. That is the point. They assume the latter is not important neither is battery life.......

Start stop OK our battery is over 7 years old .

 

[WelshGas]

I find my 6.1 a total pain . I am sure i can change the thing but have yet to do so. It cuts the engine and restarts. What wear is involved! it is simply stupid. Know doubt for emissions control - nothing to do with longevity. That is the point. They assume the latter is not important neither is battery life.......

Starter and battery type designed for Stop/Start, and you know who is responsible for that, and it isn't VW.

 

[flying banana]

I find my 6.1 a total pain . I am sure i can change the thing but have yet to do so. It cuts the engine and restarts. What wear is involved! it is simply stupid. Know doubt for emissions control - nothing to do with longevity. That is the point. They assume the latter is not important neither is battery life.......

can't you turn it off on the 6.1 ? on the T6 press the A button so it lights up. start stop won't work now