Thanks for the reply. That's not quite what I meant. LOL
I mean, in order to preserve the clutch more, should I:
1. Best longevity in Auto, Sport, Sport-Auto, or Corsa?
2. Best longevity to let the E-gear auto-shift, or manually shift (despite being in Sport, or Corsa)
3. Best longevity to put in N when at traffic light? Or will the constant go in and out of gear in fact wear out the clutch more?
4. If going to N at traffic light is the way to go, can I: switch directly to N from, say, 2nd or 3rd gear, and then throttle the brakes to let the car coast to a stop; or should I: let the car shift to 1st by itself when stopping, and then shift to N after it stops?
Thanks.
Wow.
It wont shift up in sport until you tap the paddle but will shift down as I said.
A lot of people say never use auto mode, I would go with that as majority rules on that one.
Did you not get a owners manual with the car?
This is the best way to learn how to use the functions the cars have.
You dont worry about N unless you are stopping to change into Reverse.
The TCU ( transmission computer ) places the gearbox into Neutral hold when you brake to a stop - your brake pedal acts like a clutch AND brake pedal in one, if you are sitting too long in gear though with your foot off the brake pedal and still in 1st or R ( car wont move until you hit the gas pedal ), the gearbox with fully go into N and this will show on the dash.
I have been caught out by this a few times, embarrassingly I might add.
You release the brake pedal and gently accelerate away - dont have your foot on both pedals at the same time this slips the clutch and definitely shortens the clutch life.
If you are on a hill, I recommend you use the handbrake lever to drive off from stationary otherwise you are bound to roll backwards and panic as auto drivers do when they try driving a "manual" car.
Use the brake pedal, tap up to first if in N, take your foot off the brake pedal, ease on the accelerator and slowly lower the handbrake as you accelerate harder away.
Try not to take too long to accelerate "harder" away though as you can hear the engine revving more than the car is actually moving off, this is like as if the car was a full manual and you used the clutch pedal to slip the clutch to move off until you have your foot off the clutch pedal and have full engagement of the clutch.
I hope this doesnt confuse you too much.
Can you find someone close by, maybe on this forum, that could show you?
Practice makes perfect.
Mark.
