Modern automatic gearboxes don't (yet) know if I am approaching a sharp bend, or a steep incline. I tend to notice these things before the gearbox does, because I see them coming and plan for them.
Typically autos don't offer engine braking unless locked in a gear with the selector.
Thanks, Steve, but not sure I get that. Isn't an auto always in gear unless changing from one to another in a similar way to using a clutch on a manual? However, strikes me that brake maintenance and fuel economy must be higher as you're simply wasting the momentum of acceleration. This would be odd as I gather that there's little or no difference in fuel consumption between the two types nowadays.
I asked her that (it's a lease car and quite new) and she said 'petrol, not hybrid'. Maybe she was unaware or I confused her answer. Anyway, it's certainly quick but unsettling with it ! For that size of car, it's cramped both front and back and difficult for ingress/egress. My li'l old Fabia is capacious in contrast.
All auto gearboxes have a quasi-manual mode where the driver can select a gear and the box won't change up or down unless the engine rev range exceeds the limits for that gear. It can be very useful when descending long or steep hills, for example, where the normal 'semi-coasting' default mode isn't much help.
auto boxes are complicated. I can strip and reassemble a manual box but I wouldn't know where to start with an auto. Watch some stripdowns on you tube. Manual boxes are actually always in gear unless in neutral, autos less so. Autos use Sun and planet geartrains (epicyclic) and the gears are engaged by brake bands and hydraulic ally operated clutches. They therefore don't have locked gears as such and so have less engine braking.
Think we need to make the distinciton between torque converter and dual clutch automatics here. As far as I'm aware unless a dual clutch has a specific coast mode (e.g. not all Porsche PDKs do, only from 981 onwards), then as far as I'm aware if you lift off the throttle the clutch is still engaged and there will be (for a while at least) some manner of engine braking. Until such time the gearbox software decides it should change down at least.
All my Lambretta days in my yoof and slightly swinging sixties were 2 stroke but of course I can't remember engine or any other braking. Travelled to Greece via France, Germany, Austria Yugolavia and boat bouncing off Italy to Corfu in '63/4 in a very dodgy 150 cc Lambretta with a 14 stone friend on pillion + luggage. Tried to get it repaired in Italy on the way back 3 months later and somehow, we made it (I think).
Maybe 'lurched' is a bit OTT, but I've driven several and they all behave exactly the same. There's nothing to sense a bend coming so there's no guarantee it'll be in the right gear mid-bend, which it often isn't. In normal driving its not much of an issue but its enough for me to disagree with those who assert that the ZF auto is 'perfect'.
My example was about being in auto but your point about using paddles is of course an option. But there's no need to use the throttle in manual mode - the car does it in response to the request for a new gear.
