Anyone Driven a semi-automic car with hand controls

[wheels5894]

I am very stuck deciding what car to get next and have to hand back my old one, an automatic Kangoo, in January so don't much time. I rather fancy the Citreon C4 Picasso which come as a diesel semi-auto but am concerned it might be awkward to drive - at least in stop start conditions going uphill.

Anyone had any experiences that might help?

[Gary Anderson]

Not had much experience of this. However, a mate with a semi automatic and h/controls ahd to get rid of his. Far easier he said to have a fully automatic and h/controls. I would seek advice from a garage.

[wheels5894]

Well, I expect to get my new Motability car in the next couple of weeks. I need better fuel consumption so I am getting a Citroen Picasso 1.6 diesel semi auto. It drives in auto mode and should be OK with hand controls. However, in manual mode there are paddles under the steering wheel for gear changing and of course no clutch. This car also has an electric hand brake (operated by a large switch in the centre of the console) which, in auto mode, releases as the car tried to move forward so hill starts should be simple <crosses fingers>

I'll post pictures and a report once I get the car.

[Andy]

will be very interested to hear your verdict on the semi-auto, I've got a grand scenic auto diesel at moment and replace it next year

good luck

Andy         

[Gary Anderson]

Whatever floats your boat is best I think.
I prefer a totally auto car with hand controls.
However, I was lucky, before I had to give up driving I was able to get by with just an auto.

My mate is a total para and has paddles on his car and he has had nothing but trouble. So reverted back to auto/h-c.

[wheels5894]

Well. the car is sitting at the dealership waiting to be collected on Tuesday. We only have light snow so should be OK to drive it home!

Oh, and it has an auto position for driving as well as manual and I gather many people just leave it in auto and just drive. Anyway, reporting back on Tuesday...

[wheels5894]

Well, first report on new car. We collected the C$ Picasso 1.6 EGS on 22nd, last Tuesday and there was a little snow on the ground though the main roads were clear. My wife drove it home (it was her turn!) about 10 miles and then I drive her into town (about 2 miles) after we had lunch and dropped her off at work. the snow was settling quite a bit by then.

Driving the car consists of pressing the brake (pedal or hand control) and turning the key to start. Moving involves putting the selector lever (mounted on the steering column at top right) into R verse, N eutral, A uto or M anual. The electric handbrake holds the cars until the wheels are turned by the engine so there is no roll-back on hill starts. There is really no difference between driving the car in auto mode where the car changes gear and a standard auto box. There is no creep but the electric handbrake takes it up instead.

The Motability version in 2nd from top of the range and has lots of toys as well as being very comfortable and very quiet despite being diesel. Of course since Tuesday we have been driving in rotten conditions with lots of snow and so on yet the computer says we are getting nearly 33mpg whilst driving as an average of 11mph. Urban is claimed at 44mpg but I would not be surprised to see 40mpg when the snow has gone. My old auto Kangoo was giving 22mpg in town so quite an improvement.

Once the weather has cleared up - maybe by Sunday - we will get the car on the road and see how it really drives but first impressions are that is should be just fine and is much more comfortable and economical than our last car.

[wheels5894]

Gosh, it took while fopr the snow to clear! Went out for a 10 mile drive this afternoon. Drove the car in manual mode so the paddle either side of the steering wheel control the gears while the car does the clutch. easy driving but somehow not very satisfying.

Changing up, the car only obliges if it thinks the car is going fast enough while when slowing down the car tends to change down on its own if it thinks it a good idea. The effect is to see the experience as an automatic system generously allowing a user to click a few bits whilst eh car gets on with it job - like a child with a toy steering wheel in the back. This is not really a complaint. The car is very sure footed and very capable of doing most of the driving job to the extent that leaving it on automotive mode is the natural thing to do.

I'll post some picture next week and an account of my propsed 120 mile round trip to Ikea for some furniture!

[Andy]

sounds interesting get my vehichle replaced this year so interested to hear IKEA report too, my auto grand scenic diesel coped pretty well on ice and snow which was a relief

Andy