[brucepick]

Maybe we need an item in the main FAQ "Read owner's manual thoroughly before purchasing a new vehicle".

I'm sorry I don't know the answer to your question about putting it in D when you're done coasting and still rolling. In my '89 Volvo (automatic) I found the trick was to put it back into Drive with my foot OFF the gas, that gave a smooth engagement. Attempting to rev-match gave a "hard" engagement.

However - regarding killing the engine to coast - it's important that you find the section where it describes if your car can be towed with the engine off and the drive wheels on the ground (rolling). Usually there's a limitation on both speed and distance. This tells you what you can do coasting an auto trans with the engine off. What happens is that the wheels "drive" the output end of the transmission. Depending on its design this can have the transmission internals rotating without the needed lubrication and fluid pressure. That's why they give you a speed/distance limit.