Having researched this topic thoroughly and not coming up with a decisive answer, I wanted to ask - being the first 'automatic' I have owned I worry when parked at traffic light's or in slow moving Queues, that by covering my foot on the brake pedal and leaving the car in Drive that I am damaging the gearbox?

I've been researching this extensively and it seems so many people have strong opinions on what is the right thing to do in this situation

I wanted to ask fellow RRS owners their thoughts on this?

Surely leaving the Gearbox in 'D' creates unnecessary wear on the moving parts? brake disks & pads are constantly engaged, the transmission is holding itself on the clutch etc? On the other hand I've read that certain types of Gearbox's are made in such a way that you can leave in 'D' and it completely disengages itself? Do we have those said Box's in our RR's?

On the other hand I've read that constantly shifting into 'N' and then back to 'D' in slow moving traffic queues/waiting for a red light etc will damage the transfer box and could cause more damage over time than the above method?

I've created a poll - would be interested to see what everyone here does.

I do a mixture of both.

If I think I will be stationary for more than 30 seconds or so then I pop it in N and apply parking brake otherwise I just leave it and cover the brake.

+1

I'll select N if I'm going to be sat there more than 20 seconds...

Otherwise it stays in D

And I never touch the park brake That WILL go wrong with continual use!! RRS gone
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Yip, do the same, but I do use the parking brake, as that is what it is supposed to do!! (mine comes on automatically after 10 seconds anyway) and if u are sat in traffic with foot on the brake dreaming away , it is amazing the number of people who still manage to let the car roll away into the car in front / behind!!
Cheers
Dave MY10 TDV6 SE (debadged ), Santorini Black, Flappy paddles, Privacy Glass, 20" Stormers, Mudflaps!

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I do a mixture. Sometimes N+EPB, sometimes N+footbrake, sometimes D+footbrake. Depends on how long I think I'm going to be sat there.

One thing to think about is the people behind - sitting looking at brake lights (which are pretty much eyeline for ordinary motorists sat behind us) isn't very nice; especially at night.

Thinking of other motorists isn't usual these days it seems judging by the number of people with rear fogs on when sat in traffic. If I use my rear foglight at all, I make sure I turn it off once I have someone behind me. Turning it back on as required (car behind tunrs off the road for example).

Little things that can make everyones life a bit better.

And don't get me started on people who say "thank you" (e.g. if you give way on a double parked street) at night by flashing main beams at you! I'd rather they didn't thank me than try to bloody well blind me! 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
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If lights have just turned to red on approach when ive stopped i will put it in P with no handbrake rarely use handbrake, as said above i don't like to dazzel the person behind me with my brake lights. If i'm not going to be standing there for long then i will just leave it in drive with foot on brake, 10-15 seconds at the most, i never just put it in N and sit there with my foot on the brake, this will eventually burn the solenoid out between the foot brake and the gear lever on pre 10 year models anyway

Southern Jock wrote:

I do a mixture of both.

If I think I will be stationary for more than 30 seconds or so then I pop it in N and apply parking brake otherwise I just leave it and cover the brake.

Same as this  MY10 3.0 HSE Santorini Black, Ivory Premium & extended leather, privacy, paddles, diamond turned alloys, Ipod lead that charges, tasmods, rrsport.co.uk stickers

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Southern Jock wrote:

I do a mixture of both.

If I think I will be stationary for more than 30 seconds or so then I pop it in N and apply parking brake otherwise I just leave it and cover the brake.

Leaving your foot on the brake pedal, especially at night can be construed as inconsiderate driving. a few years ago people were reported for it but you would be unlucky nowadays unless of course its over a period of time and its a trafpol car thats behind.

Its one of those ways and means offences...........................

I was taught to use the handbrake and leave the car in drive.
You would do more damage by rushing the transmission into Drive from Neutral.

A mixture of both. Mostly leave in drive but if stopped for a while then will drop into Neutral. 2013 Discovery HSE Luxury - 3.0 SDV6 - Santorini Black
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sam006 wrote:

Southern Jock wrote:

I do a mixture of both.

If I think I will be stationary for more than 30 seconds or so then I pop it in N and apply parking brake otherwise I just leave it and cover the brake.

^^ same as above

Spent quite a while researching this after having to replace (out of warrantee) both a gearbox and transmission box on an X5. I always put that in N any time I was stationary.

I now, as above, only put in N if likely to be sat for more than 30 secs. my thinking is you'd do more damage rushing from N to D and driving off without it being properly engaged if you don't anticipate a light change right than if you just leave it in D.

Have also read that modern auto's are designed to have the car remain stationary whilst in D? Either way I try and play it safe!!

I went through exactly the same thing with my X5 Sam, hence the reason for my post. I'm paraniod ever since owning that car, everything that could go wrong with a car did in that pile of junk! Interesting results on the poll guys - thanks for the feedback.

olyb223 wrote:

that by covering my foot on the brake pedal and leaving the car in Drive that I am damaging the gearbox?

18 year old Volvo estate driven 200,000 miles by using the brake pedal method = no damage to auto gearbox. Go figure  ============
2010 TDV8 HSE - ooo laa laaaaaaaaa
2007 TDV8 HSE - superb car and very reliable
============
2012 - dearly departed, sadly missed.. to return in late 2013 with a new TDV8!

For Gods sake lets just hope it's that the X5 was just plain sh:censored:t !!

Think i'm going to stick with the D and brake, unless standing still for a period of time, then in N and sorry to those behind me who are going to get annoyed with the glare from my brake lights  Range Rover Sport HSE and for a bit of weekend fun a S1 Lotus Elise with a few track biased additions!

sam006 wrote:

For Gods sake lets just hope it's that the X5 was just plain sh:censored:t !!

Think i'm going to stick with the D and brake, unless standing still for a period of time, then in N and sorry to those behind me who are going to get annoyed with the glare from my brake lights

How inconsiderate of you