Do automatic cars lurch forwards without warning?
We are buying a Honda Jazz shortly, but we have been advised by friends that we should go for an automatic as they say "once you have driven an automatic you will never go back to a manual". We have heard of the odd horror story of people having accidents in autos due to the car lurching forward unexpectedly. We have always had manual cars in the past. What do you think?
Asked on 2 April 2012 by AB, via email
Answered by
Honest John
Automatics only ever lurch forwards unexpectedly when the driver puts his or her foot on the accelerator instead of the brake. The way to make sure you don't is to drive them two-footed. Left foot for the accelerator, right foot for the brake. If you can't learn to do this out on the open road, at least do it while manoeuvring. This can mean the difference between being able to stop the car within two feet, or careering into a pedestrian as much as 15 feet away because you can't get your right foot from the accelerator to the brake quickly enough.
Tags:
automatics
driving techniques
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