Hello from South Wales

[Jimmympv]

Just wanted to say hi, been lurking here for a while and finally made the plunge and will be picking up my Alphard on Saturday. It's a 350 S C Package, with I believe quite a lot of factory options. I have about 120 mile trip back home and will be my first time driving an automatic so I'm hoping that experience goes pretty smoothly for me. 

 

If anyone has any top tips for a new owner I'm all ears!

[Picasso]

hello james welcome enjoy the ride im sure you will love it .

[starider]

Hi Lee,

As I said these S/S bespoke exhaust "builders" are franchises from a national company and have heard good reports on the quality of product and workmanship. I'll ask my wife to find the name of the main company.

We live a few miles out of Holsworthy where there is an outlet[the one which is closed for 6 weeks]. The one we have booked is about 25miles away in Tavistock. When we deliver the Alphard I'll get as much info. as is useful and report back when work is completed.

[Jimmympv]

21 hours ago, Picasso said:

hello james welcome enjoy the ride im sure you will love it .

Thanks for having me. I received the owners manual from JPNZ yesterday so I’m having a good old read of that before picking her up. 

[Rojie]

On 10/15/2024 at 1:17 AM, Jimmympv said:

Just wanted to say hi, been lurking here for a while and finally made the plunge and will be picking up my Alphard on Saturday. It's a 350 S C Package, with I believe quite a lot of factory options. I have about 120 mile trip back home and will be my first time driving an automatic so I'm hoping that experience goes pretty smoothly for me. 

 

If anyone has any top tips for a new owner I'm all ears!

 

New to driving an automatic ?

 

Keep your left foot firmly on the floor at all times (apart from operating the parking break).

Preferably, keep it back against the front face of the drivers seat.

You will find this much harder than you think.

 

Should you use your left foot on the non-existent clutch pedal; you will create some 'excitement' immdiately behind you.

(Similarly, if you stamp on the footbrake whilst driving).

 

The good news. You will get used to not using your left foot very quickly; whch just leaves you with the opposite issue when driving a manual.

 

Take care, and enjoy your Alphie

 

 

[Jimmympv]

5 hours ago, Rojie said:

 

New to driving an automatic ?

 

Keep your left foot firmly on the floor at all times (apart from operating the parking break).

Preferably, keep it back against the front face of the drivers seat.

You will find this much harder than you think.

 

Should you use your left foot on the non-existent clutch pedal; you will create some 'excitement' immdiately behind you.

(Similarly, if you stamp on the footbrake whilst driving).

 

The good news. You will get used to not using your left foot very quickly; whch just leaves you with the opposite issue when driving a manual.

 

Take care, and enjoy your Alphie

 

 

Yep first time in an auto. The foot operated parking brake definitely has me worried, certainly going to make for an interesting drive back home 😂 

 

I’m so used to stopping at lights shifting to neutral with the electronic handbrake applied and letting stop start do its thing. Would the auto be ok with me popping it in neutral and applying the handbrake whilst I’m at the lights? Or it better to just sit my foot on the brake keeping it in drive?
 

Out of interest does the foot operated handbrake automatically release when you accelerate like on the Kuga or is it a manual operation every time? 

 

[Rojie]

1 hour ago, Jimmympv said:

Yep first time in an auto. The foot operated parking brake definitely has me worried, certainly going to make for an interesting drive back home 😂 

 

I’m so used to stopping at lights shifting to neutral with the electronic handbrake applied and letting stop start do its thing. Would the auto be ok with me popping it in neutral and applying the handbrake whilst I’m at the lights? Or it better to just sit my foot on the brake keeping it in drive?
 

Out of interest does the foot operated handbrake automatically release when you accelerate like on the Kuga or is it a manual operation every time? 

 

 

I have an earlier model. the footbrake does not have automatic release.

 

I do have a vehicle with auto brake release and I love it.

 

Keep vehicle in drive while waiting, unless your anticipated wait is a very long one.

You should be able to 'hold' the vehicle on an upward slope while waiting for traffic lights, or gently use your left foot on main brake once stopped.