[Chalupa102]

Kind of a silly question, but for an automatic transmission, why can't you start a car while in drive? Anyone maybe shed some light why this is. When starting the car back up at a stop light, is it ok to go right from neutral to drive the moment the engine is started, or do you need to wait a few seconds? Do you need to wait a few seconds before accelerating after switching to drive? Also, is it good or bad to downshift, so to say, with an A/T to use fuel cutoff and minimize brake usage? For example, if your coming to a stop sign and you take overdrive off, which begins fuel cutoff, then after slowing down more (<25mph), put it in 2nd to maintain fuel cutoff still slowing the car, and using the brakes to stop.