'Drive' or 'Neutral' at traffic lights?

Colin Lambert · Post by **Colin Lambert** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:06 pm

The argument rages on about whether one should put the gear selector in neutral when waiting for shortish times such as traffic lights. I have always been a 'put it in neutral man'.
I have just spoken to a chum with a Scooby auto estate and apparently Scoobies put themselves into neutral after a short stationary wait such as traffic lights and then re-engage D when you hit the accelerator.
So that answers the question, at least as far as Subaru are concerned and confirms what I have always thought/done.

trevd01 · Post by **trevd01** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:59 pm

Thats intersting Colin.

I had never heard of this feature . Do Subarus still have 'Hill Holder' footbrakes? That would work well if the box actually puts itself into neutral. I assume you are talking about the Prodrive Sportshift box, which AFAIK is a full auto, not a robotised manual?

Certainly modern autos (which clearly excuses the basic Bongo autobox) hardly creep at lights (but they don't roll back either). Although in fact I first had a 'no creep' autobox on a Vectra in about 1995 or thereabouts. So the Mercs , Audis and Landies I have had in recent years cleverly transmit little or no drive with your foot off the accelerator at the lights. Those sort of feel like they are in neutral, but are not.

I drive an auto because it is automatic, though - I let it get on with its job and leave it in D.

Mr Halibut · Post by **Mr Halibut** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:01 pm

I tend to slap it in Neutral if it looks like it is going to be a while. The Jaguars all have creep, especially the 4.2 Supercharged ones.

trevd01 · Post by **trevd01** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:09 pm

I have posted the ROSPA advice ("When stationary in traffic, even for many minutes, it is not necessary to move the gear lever into neutral") before.

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/advice/ ... rboxes.htm

Here is another source that gives the same advice.

http://www.autoboxes.co.uk/drivingautos.html

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:36 pm

I'm inclined to agree trev, i used to knock it into neutral everytime...but i had a few panic moments,where i'd apply throttle as the lights turn green,but nothing would happen, as i'd left it in neutral!

I pretty much leave it in drive now...

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:44 pm

bigdaddycain wrote:I'm inclined to agree trev, i used to knock it into neutral everytime...but i had a few panic moments,where i'd apply throttle as the lights turn green,but nothing would happen, as i'd left it in neutral!

I pretty much leave it in drive now...

Leave it in D and imagine you're a cyclist - don't stop at red lights

Majorbloodnock · Post by **Majorbloodnock** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:19 pm

francophile1947 wrote:
Leave it in D and imagine you're a cyclist - don't stop at red lights

Oi! No stereotypes please, I'm a cyclist and I never ride on the road, so I avoid all lights be it green, amber or....errm, whats the other colour? oh yeah, red!

Majorbloodnock · Post by **Majorbloodnock** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:22 pm

bigdaddycain wrote:I'm inclined to agree trev, i used to knock it into neutral everytime...but i had a few panic moments,where i'd apply throttle as the lights turn green,but nothing would happen, as i'd left it in neutral!

I pretty much leave it in drive now...

I tend to swing either way, but that's another story...

It can be worrying if you have also forgotten to re-select D and you roll back a little after sitting with your foot on the brake!

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:27 pm

I have never accidentally released the brake when leaving the auto in drive at lights... It just seems to be the best way to go in my opinion.

If you are at the front of the queue especially.... If those lights suddenly turn to green,and you arent prepared for it, a bit of a mad scramble for drive coud ensue...you could just as easily put it in reverse if you move the lever quickly enough in a rush...

John the sparky · Post by **John the sparky** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:30 pm

I put it in reverse for a bit..... just to see the look of fear on the driver behinds face

only joking, I'm too lazy.... I leave it in D

John

trevd01 · Post by **trevd01** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:45 pm

The old ones are the best, eh?

I love the way we can debate the same old subjects, over and over. Just takes a new slant like Colin's observation about Subarus, and we're off.

That's one of the things that makes the forum so addictive.

(Discovered today, by the way, if you are writing in brackets you can't put February 08)

Code: Select all

(Discovered today, by the way, if you are writing in brackets you can't put February 08)

is the code for the 'cool' smiley

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8) is the code for the 'cool' smiley

coco bongo · Post by **coco bongo** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:35 pm

Im a neutral man, I go by the driving instructors procedure "If a pause turns into a wait, put in neutral".

lizard · Post by **lizard** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:15 pm

Thanks Trev

I have always put auto boxes in neutral at lights etc and there is always a mad panic as bigdaddy says in trying to find a gear, always thought it was doing the drive system some damage.

No more neutral for me after reading ROSPER and will use a few more gears

tigs · Post by **tigs** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:19 am

Leave it in D, ya can get way that bit quicker

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:22 pm

coco bongo wrote:Im a neutral man, I go by the driving instructors procedure "If a pause turns into a wait, put in neutral".

I thought that only applied to a manual car, where the clutch could burn out,if you were holding the car on an incline,riding the clutch.