Driving an automatic Car

[Whickerman]

I need to go to the US, and will be hiring a car. I've never driven an automatic, and had no worries until i just checked a website that recommended using lower gears when going downhill to reduce braking. How do you select lower gears in an automatic? Thought there was just reverse, drive, park and neutral?

[deltawiskey]

Like Whickerman, I'm going to the US shortly, and expect to be driving a Chevy Cobalt (actually, I drove one last year without any trouble). Fairly hilly area - southern Arizona.

BUT (always a 'but') I've seen a post elsewhere which claimed the guy had wrecked his transmission by failing to stop before selecting one of the lower gears (D2, D1).

Seems unlikely, but what do you think?

Also what is the correct procedure for brief stops at traffic lights? Mine was to stop on footbrake/engage handbrake/select neutral , then moving off select D/release handbrake.

All helpful comments gratefully received.