how to rev a car automatic Page 10

Want to make your automatic clear its throat? First, let the engine warm up, select Park or Neutral, plant your foot on the brake, and give the accelerator a gentle squeeze. Keep the revs well shy of the redline—this is a warm-up, not a concert encore—and never do it in gear unless you like buying transmissions. Avoid “neutral drops” or brake-torque heroics; they cook fluid faster than a Sunday snag on a Bunnings hotplate. If you want a bit of sound on the move, use manual mode or paddles, downshift a gear, and keep it legal and smooth. After you’ve had your fun, let it idle a moment so temps settle, then carry on like a responsible adult (or your best impression of one).