Bought yourself a brand-new automatic car? Well, congratulations! You’re now an esteemed owner of a vehicle with a cutting-edge transmission that will make your driving experience smoother and more enjoyable than ever before.
But there’s one thing you might not be familiar with yet – the numbers and letters on your automatic shifter. These numbers indicate the different gears your car can shift into, and they’re there to help you get the most out of your vehicle’s performance.
Here’s a quick guide from Mike Patton Honda to what those numbers and letters on your automatic transmission shifter mean:
P – This stands for “park.”
When your car is in the park, it should not be moving – so make sure to come to a complete halt before shifting into this gear. Once shifted, the car will not proceed further since the transmission is locked.
R – This stands for “reverse.”
As you might expect, drivers use this gear when they need to back up. Be sure that you are at a complete stop before shifting into reverse, as your car will lurch backward if you don’t. Use this option when backing out of a parking spot or driveway.
N – This stands for “neutral.”
When your car is neutral, the transmission is not locked into any gear, so the car will roll freely – even if you take your foot off the brake. You should only shift into neutral when your vehicle stops, and you must coast for a bit – like when going down a long, steep hill.
D – This stands for “drive.”
This position you’ll use most often, as it allows your car to move forward at various speeds. Each speed will depend on how much pressure you put on the accelerator pedal. Drive mode will also automatically shift your transmission up and down as needed, so you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself.
S – This stands for “sport.”
Your car will shift gears in sport mode differently than in drive mode. The idea behind sport mode is that it allows you to get the most performance out of your engine by holding onto lower gears longer and upshifting at higher RPMs.
L – This stands for “low gear.”
Low gear is essentially a special drive mode that’s only used when you need extra power, such as climbing a hill or towing something heavy.
And these were the numbers and letters on your automatic shifter you will most likely find. Next time you see them in your new car, you’ll know exactly what they mean!
At Mike Patton Honda, serving Antioch, GA, we want to ensure you understand your car from bumper to bumper. If you have any queries about what something on your car means, feel free to give us a call or visit our dealership. We can also help if you’re looking for a brand new automatic Honda.
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