"D" or "D" with a square around it?

[Eug]

I'm on a less well-developed Bahamian island with no major car rental companies. So, tourists like just rent old POS cars from local small shops. There is no manual, but this is so simple that I guess they figure everyone just knows. But I will freely admit I don't.

Do I put the car in "D" or the car in the "D" with the square around it?

What's the difference?

P.S. The rental process was kind of interesting. I just emailed the guy from North America and when I arrived he was waiting at the airport for me. Then he handed me the keys and had me sign a generic paper form with just my name etc. and I paid him. I showed him no driver's licence or other ID.

 

[thedarkwolf]

D with the square around it allows the car to shift into over drive. Regular D limits the car to just the first 3 gears.

 

[Jimzz]

Yep OD is what you drive in, not D.

 

[mmntech]

I guess fraud and theft of rental vehicles isn't a big deal in the Bahamas.

This might be quite the old car as it's been a very long time since I've seen that symbol. The 90s anyway. As the others said, it's the over drive. The square is supposed to be an "O", get it?

D uses the first 3 gears. Only need that for hill climbing really. 2 uses only the second gear. Good for starts on slick roads.

 

[cbrsurfr]

I immediately thought of this.

Put it in H! http://eyeonspringfield.tumblr.com/post/4027556792/put-it-in-h

 

[kitatech]

If you want acceleration, and quicker MPH, if you need the AT to shift down more quickly more often (for a lot of lane changes?) use D, otherwise use "OD" to get the gears UP to the higher gears and Overdrive as soon as possible for cruising and better MPG...
Island driving, whether Manhattan or Bahamian, may need both....

 

[Eug]

OK. Thanks.

As for the rental, I'm on Eleuthera which has very little development. There are more expensive cars, but the car I got truly is a POS. For the amount I paid to rent it, I probably could have bought the thing. I just got it off the guy who manages the house I rented and who has a very small car rental business on the side.

Check out the rates on this local somewhat bigger car rental place:

http://bigescarrental.com/rates.html

I paid much less, but got an ancient Chevy midsize with ripped seats. So yeah, they're not too concerned about theft. I'm just happy the AC works fine.

Unfortunately, gas is $6 per gallon, and this thing eats gas like crazy. (I'm used to a Prius and a Yaris.)

 

[ProchargeMe]

OD my friend thats overdrive and thats what you want

 

[Lambocon]

who needs a button to activate overdrive? lol just shift like a manual.

 

[LTC8K6]

OD my friend thats overdrive and thats what you want

Unless pulling a trailer.

Or in hilly terrain where it would be shifting in and out of OD a lot.

 

[Railgun]

Or in slow traffic.

 

[LTC8K6]

Or in slow traffic.

Not going to get to the high gears in slow traffic, so D or OD is probably not a factor.

 

[kitatech]

Or in slow traffic.

...or for "spirited" driving in a car with a tranny that's slow to downshift quickly...modern ATs are too often like THAT...

 

[Railgun]

Not going to get to the high gears in slow traffic, so D or OD is probably not a factor.

What I meant was if you're constantly in and out of od, it's better to leave it out.

 

[LTC8K6]

What I meant was if you're constantly in and out of od, it's better to leave it out.

Yes. There will be words to that effect in the owner's manual. :biggrin:

 

[David Solis]

David Solis... Please find threads that are much newer before posting again...

AT Moderator
Bartman39



I drove my 94 gmc in the drive that is only first three gears on the freeway for a couple min before I noticed what kind of damage could that have done

 

[thedarkwolf]

just to your fuel mileage

 

[KentState]

Probably nothing as long as you aren't bouncing it off the rev limiter.