Automatics, how do you pull away quickly?

[volvo always]

On my 1989 240GLT auto I always generally hold the car in Drive with the brake pedal and when the lights change and I want a good getaway eg for the fast lane to merge into single lane after the traffic lights, I release the brake pedal and floor the accelerator pedal, until doing the speed limit.

It seems to work very, very well Look in the rear view mirror and all traffic has only just pulled away.

Never seem to get wheelspin as my rotar arm is a rev limiting one.

In my area most roads are 40mph on the town outskirts and some drivers do 30mph in a 40mph zone not paying attention to the signage.
Another thing at 70mph my speedo under reads by 6mph according to the satnav. I need my speedo to indicate 76mph to be doing 70mph.

James

[Lgbpop]

Originally Posted by volvo always

On my 1989 240GLT auto I always generally hold the car in Drive with the brake pedal and when the lights change and I want a good getaway eg for the fast lane to merge into single lane after the traffic lights, I release the brake pedal and floor the accelerator pedal, until doing the speed limit.

It seems to work very, very well Look in the rear view mirror and all traffic has only just pulled away.

Never seem to get wheelspin as my rotar arm is a rev limiting one.

In my area most roads are 40mph on the town outskirts and some drivers do 30mph in a 40mph zone not paying attention to the signage.
Another thing at 70mph my speedo under reads by 6mph according to the satnav. I need my speedo to indicate 76mph to be doing 70mph.

James

Are you running oversized tires on your auto?

[jonnyv]

tt82 and Volvo always have nailed it! I have a 97 p1 V70 2.5 20v. Always in drive, unless not bothered to do a quick getaway! Will always pull cleanly in drive and surprising what it leaves behind as the manualers select 1st and gun it! You're already on your way! Game over in many cases.
It helps to see the amber change on the opposing traffic light and you're ready to go!

I've left a few stunned faces...even with my old barge(sorry baby!)!

Cheers,

Jon

ps. in drive at standstill as a norm!

[MTerry]

I didn't see what you were driving, but with a B230, the simple answer is that you can't. Most 240's, almost every 700, and all 900 series cars in the US came with automatics. They're wonderful cars with horrible transmissions. To the point that I ripped out the AW-71 in my 740 and replaced it with an M47 out of a 240. But I hate automatics in general. For quick merges into faster traffic, you have to play a game that I don't quite like. You see your space coming in the lane next to you, then floor it and hope that you timed it right and the transmission kicks down quick enough that you can merge into the space, but not so quick you ram the car in front of you. And you still don't have the acceleration you get downshifting to 3rd with a manual. The other solution is to buy a Volvo with a turbo. My wife's V70, just takes off when you give it the gas.

[TurboZutek]

The problem with 'pedal to the metal' from a standing start is you're likely to spin the wheels and won't get the power down properly. With my 2.0 850 the front wheels would scream for about a second before any actual motion occurred if I dumped the power in a one-er!

I found with that car that you need to press that accelerator a little bit and once you're moving nail it then.

Do it quick enough and you'll keep up with even a fairly fast clutch footed driver. The whole movement can be done in fractions of a second with some practice.

Also, IMHO, never dump the throttle in Winter mode - the stress you'll place on, well, everything by starting in that higher gear with lower box Line Pressure isn't good. Winter mode should be used in poor conditions / ice and well, that's it.

Chris...

[TimS]

Picked up my new V70 Geartronic yesterday (my first auto, though not the first I've driven). By default, it stops the engine in traffic. I was surprised how frequently this happens; as soon as you stop, so does the engine, even if you're only stationary for a couple of seconds. However the restart is instantaneous - I was a bit concerned about pulling out of quick junctions, & whether this might be dangerous, but it seems to be OK. I remember a colleague's original diesel Mondaeo in the '90s. I drive that once, & the turbo lag pulling away at roundabouts was bloody dangerous.

Tim.

[gillberry]

The other thing to do is when you see a gap as you are already in drive release your foot off the brake pedal so that as the gap is by you when you floor the throttle you are already rolling .

[Bill_56]

I've only ever driven autos for limited periods, like hire cars on holiday, and a BMW loaner I had for a month. Must say, I never quite felt happy in the quick-off-the-line scenario. In all likelihood, I was simply driving them wrong.

But... it does seem to me that in a manual car, when you see a possible gap in approaching traffic, you raise the revs a little, then make a last minute decision whether to engage the clutch, or just release the throtle and wait for a bigger gap. And if you do decide to wait there's been no uneccesary strain on engine, clutch or gearbox.

In that process, raising the revs will store energy in the flywheel, which gives an extra boost to get you off the line if you decide to proceed. But additional boost is denied in an auto, unless you actually apply throttle with left foot on the brake, and surely that must put extra mechanical strain on engine and gearbox?

[RUTV70]

Originally Posted by TurboZutek

The problem with 'pedal to the metal' from a standing start is you're likely to spin the wheels and won't get the power down properly. With my 2.0 850 the front wheels would scream for about a second before any actual motion occurred if I dumped the power in a one-er!

I found with that car that you need to press that accelerator a little bit and once you're moving nail it then.

Do it quick enough and you'll keep up with even a fairly fast clutch footed driver. The whole movement can be done in fractions of a second with some practice.

Also, IMHO, never dump the throttle in Winter mode - the stress you'll place on, well, everything by starting in that higher gear with lower box Line Pressure isn't good. Winter mode should be used in poor conditions / ice and well, that's it.

Chris...

Yep..agree with that, Chris...it's what I do.
I find autos much quicker off the mark if you do it that way...and I've driven them for over 30 years.

My fave bit of fun in the past, particularly at traffic lights, was to hold a little way back from the "line" as it were (if I was first up)..probably at the tail end of the car in the other lane,..usually a go faster Renault/Corsa et al..then on amber start to gently roll and THEN plant it..I'm on full throttle going over the lights ON GREEN..!! ...I'm usually the first across the other side.!!.LOL
Of course I don't do that now...(much!)

Neil

[Thanatos]

if you really want to get away fast before waiting for 15mph lift your foot and reapply as that will change up a gear and your gone amd the poor manual is still sat there engaging 1st

i love planting hte foot down at lights watching the evo get smnaller in the rear view